Posts: 172
Joined: Sep 2009
Reputation:
0
Hi--I have a HTPC Linux-based PC running Kodi on my main TV right now that works great. Have all of my music/movies/photos on the hard drive in the HTPC and backed up on a portable HD. I'm moving soon and I want to have Kodi capability on 2 and possibly 3 tvs instead of just one. What is the best option? I was thinking getting 1 or 2 Raspberry Pis to hook up locally to other tvs and then streaming from a centralized location my music, movies, etc. Do I need to be considering something like NAS to house all of my music, etc. instead of on the HTPC? Thanks for any input/help!!!
Posts: 13,680
Joined: Mar 2010
Reputation:
506
PatK
Team-Kodi Member
Posts: 13,680
Sounds like your collection isn't out of hand storage wise. NAS is certainly not overkill, but might be a little more than the budget can handle, while a router with USB3 port or two would suffice. Instead of going the Raspberry route, some of the new Amlogic boxes are plenty cheap, some ready to go with Kodi and include remotes.
Posts: 19,982
Joined: May 2009
Reputation:
451
nickr
Retired Team-Kodi Member
Posts: 19,982
There is nothing wrong with storing your media on one of your media PC's as you are. Raspberry pi 2 is extremely capable. Chromebox is a great machine.
If I have helped you or increased your knowledge, click the 'thumbs up' button to give thanks :) (People with less than 20 posts won't see the "thumbs up" button.)
Posts: 19,982
Joined: May 2009
Reputation:
451
nickr
Retired Team-Kodi Member
Posts: 19,982
USB 2 is plenty fast enough, but many routers are just too weak to be serious media servers. Ok for storing your family pics and your kids homework files, but they tend to balk at sustained throughput.
If I have helped you or increased your knowledge, click the 'thumbs up' button to give thanks :) (People with less than 20 posts won't see the "thumbs up" button.)
Posts: 172
Joined: Sep 2009
Reputation:
0
2015-05-02, 23:53
(This post was last modified: 2015-05-02, 23:58 by ArtVandalay7.)
Right, I think that is why I haven't used router USB ports to date and I guess I won't going forward either... Thoughts on the best way to upgrade my HTPC to be able to use Kodi in other rooms/Tvs in the house? Thinking Raspberry Pi x2 or 3 is the cheapest best way but not sure where to store my HD movies and music to allow seamless accessibility from wherever in the house I need it...
Posts: 19,982
Joined: May 2009
Reputation:
451
nickr
Retired Team-Kodi Member
Posts: 19,982
At present you probably don't need to upgrade it at all, just share the files via samba and point your pis at it.
If I have helped you or increased your knowledge, click the 'thumbs up' button to give thanks :) (People with less than 20 posts won't see the "thumbs up" button.)
Posts: 172
Joined: Sep 2009
Reputation:
0
2015-05-03, 03:31
(This post was last modified: 2015-05-03, 03:31 by ArtVandalay7.)
Right, upgrade was the wrong word. HTPC runs great, just wondering if I need to store my files somewhere else so that my HTPC doesn't always have to be on...
Posts: 19,982
Joined: May 2009
Reputation:
451
nickr
Retired Team-Kodi Member
Posts: 19,982
I am deeply suspicious of WD products in this space. People always seem to be complaining that their products are substandard. However I have not used one myself.
smallnetbuilder.com has good reviews and I would go there before I bought anything along these lines.
If I have helped you or increased your knowledge, click the 'thumbs up' button to give thanks :) (People with less than 20 posts won't see the "thumbs up" button.)
Posts: 19,982
Joined: May 2009
Reputation:
451
nickr
Retired Team-Kodi Member
Posts: 19,982
Nice to get a positive about the WD NAS, indeed it could well be worth a look then. Personally I would go for the 4 bay one to allow for expansion (you can never have enough disk space.)
You won't need GiGE for media, 100MBps should be sufficient. A bluray maxes out at under half that and most people have their media a lot more compressed than bluray!
If I have helped you or increased your knowledge, click the 'thumbs up' button to give thanks :) (People with less than 20 posts won't see the "thumbs up" button.)
Posts: 172
Joined: Sep 2009
Reputation:
0
cool, thanks. Probably going to pick up 1 or 2 raspberry pis to get xbmc throughout the house. Is CEC necessary, can't I just control the Pis with iphone/ipad xbmc remote like constellation?
