HTPC System VS NAS

[Anthony24 2]

Just curios and wondered what is has besides seeing the same amount TB for HDD but dam expensive.

 

Late early February 2015 I built a pc for an htpc server from my main pc soon to pass over to this pc. About 9TB across 3 3TB & 1TB stuff, ALOT of media that I'm still adding, moving things around to my emby server before I move it off my main pc to my HTPC.

 

What is the different between the two?

 

NAS always stays on? Even after reboot and is ready to be used and streamed from? compared to booting up an HTPC OS and then streamed/ other stuff?

 

my 2 pc's run Hackintosh so thats a lot of stuff under OS X Extended (Journaled). Just curios of the advantages and disadvantages from the 2.

 

Choose OS X bc its one less of a problem worrying about security and virus's to deal with and without redoing my pc due to a virus / corruption OS.

 

If I do decide to change to NAS, I know there are ways reading NTFS on OS X to move stuff over to NTFS. Go with the 6TB NAS instead?

 

 

 

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Only minor difference is no with w/o tv captured card with it to have live tv & record? Like to get live tv from Direct TV on my pc with Emby but I'll have that section here http://emby.media/community/index.php?/topic/27804-emby-with-live-directtv-possible/

[Deathsquirrel 745]

A NAS is a network storage system.  It would not necessarily replace your Emby server or your HTPC roles in your network.  You need a few basic components for Emby:

1. Media Storage
2. Emby Server software
3. Playback client app/device
4. Network connectivity

A HTPC can cover all of those roles since everything can be local, eliminating any networking needs beyond the internet connection.  You could also split those out over different systems.  If you bought a NAS system it wouldn't eliminate the need for the other items.  Some NAS devices has a CPU and linux OS capable of also running Emby server though the performance may be very poor depending on the hardware.  That means the NAS device could potentially act as both storage and Emby server.  You'd still need a client device or application which could be your HTPC or any number of other options.

 

Unless you're physically unable to add storage or need the NAS for other purposes, it may not make sense to replace a working Emby server's storage with NAS storage just for Emby.  Certainly you haven't descripted any pain points that you're experiencing that scream 'buy networked stoage!!!!'

[legallink 187]

Deathsquirrel...you beat me to it.

 

To elaborate on Deathsquirrel's answer with a practical example:  I use my "NAS" as my Emby server as well (it is a self built DIY box, with an Intel i5).

 

I started with an HTPC that would only be "on" when I was using the HTPC.  I used a Harmony IR remote and it worked fairly well.  Typically HTPC's are designed to serve media to 1 location.

 

Since then, there was a desire to always have the HTPC on so that other clients (Living Room TV, work computer, nephew's ipad, etc.) could access the Emby service whenever they wanted, not just when they were controlling an HTPC (which was not setup to really serve media to multiple devices....then you get into server/nas territory). 

 

So, I migrated all the internals of the HTPC to a new box, and added a ton of storage, have set up the storage and the emby server on a dedicated machine that is turned on all the time that can be accessed from a lot of places....it now serves as a central storage location for all documents (in addition to Emby stuff....for instance my wife is a photographer...she stores all of her images on there, etc.)

 

I then added separate front ends for each device (roku's in my case).  That provides a 24/7 access, and Emby works as a personal netflix for us, except it has content that is more geared to our preferences (like the Hobbit Extended Editions).

[Deathsquirrel 745]

Exactly, where my HTPC is also a server that's always on.  Though once there is an xbox one client I'm likely to retire it from HTPC duty entirely and just have it as a server.  Buying parts for a box that is both powerful enough to act as a home server and quiet enough to be a HTPC in my house is a PITA that I'd rather avoid.

Edited November 23, 2015 by Deathsquirrel