whitman;466254 Wrote: > Thought I'd pop back in here now that someone's mentioned keeping their > server on 24/7. > > So, what's an NAS when it's at home? Er, an external disk drive sitting > on the network, is it? > > And what's a server - a computer on the network? (Note to all - these > are not rhetorical questions.)
To run your SqueezeBox devices you need a computer on your system to run the SqueezeBoxServer (SBS) application, previously called SqueezeCenter(SC). Logitech have very helpfully released SBS written in Perl, a language that is cross-platform, so can be run on Windows, Apple and Linux devices - with various levels of user modifications. As long as you have SBS or SC running on your network you do not need to use MySqueezeBox (Squeeze Network). Any device running the software is effectively a "server" as it is serving up the application to "client" SqueezeBox devices. The types of Server you can use are: APPLICATIONS SERVER A fully fledged computer designed to run applications which can be controlled by "client" computers. These are usually quite powerful machines and use specialist operating systems such as Windows XP Server or some specialist Unix/Linux opeating systems. These are designed to be left on 24/7 and often combine running applications with data storage (although some enthusiasts cobble together servers from old PC parts and free Linux to save costs). Advantages: Fast, reliable, flexible Disadvantages: Large, expensive (if bought off-the-shelf), high energy consumption. PERSONAL COMPUTER Virtually any computer can run SBS. Most users will install it on a PC running either Windows, Mac OS or standard Linux distro. Logitech make simple installations of the software to run on each of these platforms. As most people already have a PC, there is no extra cost to running SBS on it. Advantages: Fast, low (zero extra) cost, flexible Disadvantages: Large (usually), poorer reliability than application server or Nas, high energy consmpution. NAS = \"NETWORKED ATTACHED STORAGE DEVICE\" A network connected hard disk (single or array). Originally these were very simple devices consisting little more than a hard drive, a disc controller chip and a very basic embedded Linux operating system. Their original function was to be little more than a repository for data files, they were never originally designed to run applications. Domestic versions contain either one or two hard drives and are usually very small and -very- low power (usually <20w). Over time NAS users have demanded more and more functionality so they are becoming more capable. What differentiates them from an application server or a PC is that the functions are generally limited to those provided by the maker. Netgear, Synology and Qnap have all released versions of SqueezeCenter to run on their NAS devices, and most Linux NAS devices can be hacked to run SqueezeCenter if you know what you are doing. The processors are not a match for a PC, however, and memory is usually limited too. This makes them slower to react to commands than a PC or server and the web browser is usually a lot slower too. Advantages: Small, reliable, low energy consumption Disadvantages: Slower, inflexible, expensive. I run a single drive Synology Diskstation NAS. It is not much bigger than the hard drive it contains, runs very quiet/cool and I have no qualms about leaving it always-on. It is also my main backup drive and it has simple to set up applications for accessing my data, photos, music and other stuff from anywhere using a web browser. -- TheLastMan Matt SB Duet (Controller + two receivers) Synology Diskstation 107+ with FW 2.0-0844 SqueezeCenter 7.3.3 on Synology Package Manager Netgear DG834GT wireless ADSL modem/router Naim 42/110 amp, B&W CM2 speakers in living room. Denon DM37 mini-system, B&W 686 speakers in kitchen. LPs ripped using Linn LP12, Naim 72/Hi-cap, Behringer UCA202. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ TheLastMan's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=16021 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=68521 _______________________________________________ discuss mailing list [email protected] http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/discuss
