Stig Nygaard wrote: > I have always had the impression that Vortexbox was some DIY thing for > Linux users. But never really investigated it. A quick search on google > doesn't make me things very clear. > > Some places it just sounds like another Linux distribution for DIY > people. But then there's also: > > http://www.vortexbox.co.uk/ > > which might be what you are talking about? In case so,... > > 1) Does this "thing" requires you to know Linux, or does it have a > simple setup and configuration interface, and "app-system" ? > 4) Easy install of frequently updated LMS78 builds (I see no Vortexbox > builds builds on http://downloads.slimdevices.com/nightly/?ver=7.8) ? > 2) Will it support (easy install of) LAME, so LMS can do transcoding ? > 3) Supports Triode's Spotify plugin ? > > Luckily so far my NAS is back, and working fine again. But would be nice > to have a backup plan :-)
yes and no. I know NOTHING about linux. I purchased my Vortexbox Appliances from "Small Green Computer" (a vortexbox dealer in the US). The unit is essentially a headless/keyboardless low-power PC. It runs the vortebox system. Vortexbox system is Fedora linux based and has several tweaks and preinstalled programs to make serving audio or video to squeezeboxes, sonos, upnp players, etc. It also has its own built in VB PLayer (that essentially emulates a squeezebox player....one version they use is based on squeezelite). It also does automatic ripping, etc. but I don't use it for that (I use dbpoweramp). One can also simply install the Vortexbox system on any old x86 computer and get the same outcome. One doesn't need to know anything to do this other than to burn the image to a CD and insert the CD in a PC and follow a couple of menu items to install. The VB install already has LMS, LAME, etc. You control the VB from a webGUI from any computer on the network. It has a very user friendly webGUI for doing certain things (backing up files, etc.). so to summarize and answer your questions: it has a simple setup and configuration interface (no linux required); you can install 7.8 (I use 7.8). There are vB builds at the nightly location. these are the REDHAT rpm installs. Vortexbox also has a repo location with a 7.8 LMS version that is based on the community 7.8 and can be installed easily (that's what I used). Already has LAME and can easily handle transcoding, etc. It supports (and I use) Triode's 3rd party plugin. But this is a bit of DIY if one wants it to be. Its not "locked down" like ReadyNAS units. One can add all sorts of stuff to it if one wants and tweak it etc. I don't do any of that. I use it to server about 75,000 files (flac, mp3, aac) to my various Squeezeboxes. It is blazingly fast in terms of interface (browsing, etc.). I also use it to store certain documents and pictures for access on my home network. And I use it to serve videos to my ROKU on my TV. It can also rip CDs and DVDs, but I only use it for occasional DVD ripping. It can also create an mp3mirror from FLAC files. And it automates an incremental backup of the HDD to an external USB HD. *Location 1:* VortexBox (2.2) > LMS 7.8 > Transporter, Touch, Boom, Radio w/Battery (all ethernet except Radio) *Location 2:* VBA 3TB (2.2) > LMS 7.7.2 > Touch > Benchmark DAC I, Boom, Radio w/Battery (all ethernet except Radio) *Office:* Win7(64) > LMS 7.8 > SqueezePlay *Spares:* VBA 4TB, SB3, Touch (3), Radio (3), CONTROLLER *Controllers:* iPhone4S (iPeng), iPad2 (iPengHD & SqueezePad), CONTROLLER, or SqueezePlay 7.8 on Win7(64) laptop Ripping (FLAC) - dbpoweramp, Tagging - mp3tag, Spotify ------------------------------------------------------------------------ garym's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=17325 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=99928 _______________________________________________ beta mailing list [email protected] http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/beta
