Best OS to Use for BTV4?

[jdgonko]

Hello. I'm currently running BTV4 on a dedicated WinXPpro machine (1.4ghz) using a Hauppauge 500 card, nVidia-based DX9 AGP video card, RAID0 controller card (four 80gb disks), and an Intel gigabit card. Nothing else is installed on the machine except for the mininum needed to act as a "BTV server." I even removed Solitaire, instant messaging, and other garbage, heh.

Would it help performance if I set Windows to "optimize performance for background services" as the BTV engine runs in the background? I never use the machine "locally" (i.e. touch the keyboard or mouse) unless I have to update the OS, vid driver, or BTV version. Recorded movies/shows are moved from the BTV4machine to my workstation via a shared directory, gigabit links, and a Dlink DGS-1008D switch inbetween it all.

Also, would it help if I set Windows to optimize for the "system cache" too?

Or, would it be better to use Windows 2003 Server as the OS as that may be better suited all-around for running a dedicated BTV4 box?

BTW, it would be nice if someone were to develop "bare-bones" OS configurations for Win2000, WinXPpro, and Win2003server for those who are creating dedicated BTV4 boxes. Something similar to what BlackViper provides with his minimal, gamer, safe, etc Windows configurations. A LOT of background Windows services automatically installed and running can be shutdown or eliminated completely.

Thanks for your thoughts.
Joe

[karhill]

XP is a smaller OS than Server 2003 and runs in a smaller footprint. If you are looking for the smallest system (both disk and memory footprint), it would be XP. I'm sure you can find web sites out there that will talk about cutting the fat out of XP to make a smaller system. There's a lot that can be done.

[weezer1024]

Might also be worth pointing out that Windows 2k3 server is not supported at all by Snapstream. Don't expect much if something goes wrong.

[Deuce911]

Considering BTV4 checks for Windows XP and if it and the Service Packs are not found it will not load this seems like a moot point. I used to run Server 2003 on BTV3.x and it worked great but BTV4 needs items that are specific to XP so you have to run XP, unless anyone has found a way around it but to my knowledge it is not an option but a requirement for XP.

Thanks
Mike

[cpmiv]

XP SP2 is only required for HD. Now the question is do you need XP SP2 to record HD or just to watch HD? If you are puting a dedicated BTV "server" together the OS is fairly negligable, unless you have problems then if its not a supported OS your up the creek.

[jdgonko]

Thank you all for your thoughts. Sounds like sticking with XPpro is the best choice and I'll start "paring down" the OS by getting rid of unneeded services (carefully, of course).

But, a question still remains. Is it best to put the OS into servicing background programs and setting the OS to keep the system cache as full as possible?

Thanks again. Joe

[weezer1024]

If it's a dedicated box, I honestly don't think you'll ever notice the difference. We're talking marginal performance gains (or even losses) under specific conditions here, but still marginal and the server you've got specified looks more than up to the task.

[Keith]

Originally Posted by Deuce911

Considering BTV4 checks for Windows XP and if it and the Service Packs are not found it will not load this seems like a moot point. I used to run Server 2003 on BTV3.x and it worked great but BTV4 needs items that are specific to XP so you have to run XP, unless anyone has found a way around it but to my knowledge it is not an option but a requirement for XP.

As cpmiv stated, 2k3 will install and configure for a analog tuner but will fail the OS check for HD. You need to setup the channel line up on SnapStream.net and rerun the setup and configure a analog tuner to download the new lineup and then go into web admin to configure the HD tuner and choose the HD lineup.

I can vouch that it works and works well but again - it is NOT a supported OS.

kth

P.S. You would need to follow this TK before the install:

http://kb.snapstream.com/?kbid=304

[obonaventure]

Originally Posted by jdgonko

BTW, it would be nice if someone were to develop "bare-bones" OS configurations for Win2000, WinXPpro, and Win2003server for those who are creating dedicated BTV4 boxes. Something similar to what BlackViper provides with his minimal, gamer, safe, etc Windows configurations. A LOT of background Windows services automatically installed and running can be shutdown or eliminated completely.

Checkout http://www.nliteos.com/. You can create a "scaled" down version of WinXP.