May 4, 201115 yr My unRAID server is on its way and should be here this weekend. I am a complete noob to unRAID (and NAS in general) but can usually pick things up with a little direction. I will be using my server for one purpose and one purpose only: as NAS for my Boxee Box. No backups, no archiving, etc. I am switching from an Escient Fireball system controlling three Sony 400 DVD changers, for the following reasons: expand capacity beyond 1200 movies 1080p Blu-ray resolution vs. 480P DVD resolution 3D content (both from Blu-ray as well as generated content - as an aside, the GoPro 3D system seems to work pretty darn well) ability to access other forms of media (at this point I think just pictures as my receiver is Airplay compatible and so I see no reason to access my MP3s through the Boxee Box) With that in mind, I am hoping that other Boxee Box owners can give me some tips on how best to set up my server with respect to folders, user shares, etc (I'm new to all this, remember). I want the following folder structure for the Boxee Box: Movies - I don't plan on having folders within this top-level folder, as this would be all my Blu-ray and DVD rips (though I think I read somewhere that in order to avoid a big delay in having the Boxee Box show show cover art for all my movies (I have ~1,000 now and plan on that number to keep expanding), I should keep each movie in a separate folder with a .jpg of the cover art - do I have that right?) Home Videos - This top-level folder would have a number of folders within it, which will change over time, as I add videos from events, trips, etc. Let's just say for now that I would want to create 10 folders underneath this top-level folder titled "Trip1" through "Trip10" Photos - Basically the same as the "Home Videos" top-level folder, this one will have separate folders for events, trips, etc. Assume I want to start out with 10 folders underneath this top-level folder titled "Photos1" through "Photos10" In case it's relevant, my server has the capacity for 11 data drives, but I will be starting with "only" four 2TB data drives for a total of 8TB of storage in addition to the 2TB parity drive. *If* I need to separate these top-level folders onto different data drives, then I imagine "Photos" would never, ever go beyond 2TB and so that would reside on a single data drive. Similarly, I think it will be a long, long time before I have more than 2TB of home movies, so "Home Videos" could easily reside on a separate data drive as well. "Movies" will constitute the vast bulk of my data needs and so I imagine I will be adding drives solely as needed for that top-level folder. Just in case it matters, all of my "Movies" files will be .mkv files. My "Home Videos" files will be a mix of .mov, .avi, etc... basically, if there is one file format that is best for the Boxee Box (including with respect to 3D content that I generate), I will just save my finished home videos in that format. While I doubt it's relevant, my "Photos" files will be a mix of the usual suspects - .jpg, .gif, etc. I read the unRAID manual, and it seems (to my read at least), that unRAID does not "aggregate" folders (or user shares, or whatever term I should be using given that this is all new to me) so that, for instance, I cannot simple have a folder called "Movies" on three of my data drives, with say, 100 movies on each, so that as far as the Boxee Box is concerned, it simply sees a folder called "Movies" with 300 movies in it. So with all that said, any advice on how I should set up my new server? Sorry for the long-winded post, but I just thought I would throw as much info as I have out so that maybe another unRAID/Boxee Box user can point me in the right direction. Thanks in advance for any guidance or tips you might have.
May 5, 201115 yr I read the unRAID manual, and it seems (to my read at least), that unRAID does not "aggregate" folders (or user shares, or whatever term I should be using given that this is all new to me) so that, for instance, I cannot simple have a folder called "Movies" on three of my data drives, with say, 100 movies on each, so that as far as the Boxee Box is concerned, it simply sees a folder called "Movies" with 300 movies in it. You read wrong. The unRAID server does exactly as you would want. It DOES combine (aggregate) the folders named alike on the physical disks to a single like named "user-share". You can have 3 drives, each with 100 movies and they will show on the lan as a single "Movies" share with 300 movies. I personally have 11 data disks, each with a subset of the movies on my older server, and on the lan is a single "Movies" share with 1100 movies.
May 5, 201115 yr 1100 movies? holly batman. how did you, when did ever have time to...that's a lot of of movie. I wish I have that many to choose from. I have stack upon stack but the last time I counted it only about 150..brought from the good old golden days of pre 2000.
May 5, 201115 yr The Boxee Box and unRAID are a great combination. The easiest thing is that there is not a folder structure that you have to navigate through, and just a single movie wall created. I also use MKV, which is a good choice as I prefer the main movie only, chapters/HD Audio codes are supported and no need for external subtitles. The Box allows you to setup your user shares as simply as "Movies". Additionally, create a folder for each movie/TV Series under the Movies user share for individual jpg, external subtitles, or nfo file (support for nfo will be in the next public release). The individual .jpg is useful for cover art that doesn't exist on boxee's server version of imdb or tvdb. The cover art is cached on the Boxee ram, which in the future will also be able to be stored on a flash/usb/alternate location. There is not a significant delay after the initial downloading of the cover art. I keep my Boxee "ON" all the time as there is not any power savings benefit between on and sleep. Right now I only have a MOVIES share (split level 1) with each movie folder under the Movies share, but I need to change them slightly to help troubleshoot any playback issues etc. As I'm sure you know, the Boxee will sort your movies by genre etc, but not by Blu-Ray/DVD. You can modify any way you wish to help troubleshoot or organize on the file browser side, but I would set up my movies this way: Split Level 2 Movies--->DVD----->Movie Folder--->Files Movies--->BluRay--->Movie Folder--->Files Movies--->TV Shows->TV Folder----->Files More explanation and examples of user shares and split level: http://lime-technology.com/wiki/index.php?title=Un-Official_UnRAID_Manual#Split_level Your home videos will have to be browsed through Files-->Browse on the Boxee Box menu. They will not appear on the movie wall. You could just setup your Photos folder as a disk share, or as a user share with included/excluded disks. There is a lot more, but ask away..also check out jira.boxee.tv and the boxee forums for more info.
May 5, 201115 yr Author Your home videos will have to be browsed through Files-->Browse on the Boxee Box menu. They will not appear on the movie wall. You could just setup your Photos folder as a disk share, or as a user share with included/excluded disks. Thanks for all of the helpful info. Just to be clear, am I understanding that the Boxee interface is set up so that when I click on "Movies" on the Boxee screen, it will default to a movie wall with my Blu-Ray and DVD rips (which are in a "Movie" level 2 share on my unRAID server) and I want to watch Home Movies or photos, I access those through "Files" on the Boxee screen (with folders and subfolders allowed under the "Files" screen)?
May 5, 201115 yr That is correct. Upon initial setup, you will determine the SMB source for each category (Movies, Music, Photos); you can have multiple sources for each category (not required if only using unRAID). Just for clarification Level 1 split would be: Example: Movies (user share created on every disk)---->Individual Movie Folders--->Movie Files Level 2 split: Example: Movies (user share)----->BluRay folder---->Individual Movie Folders--->Movie Files Use the same naming convention for your folders as the filename. Here is the Boxee naming convention to help with the initial identification: http://boxee.zendesk.com/entries/42693-correctly-naming-local-media-files I found my way back to this thread to update some information. The upcoming NFO support (to be released shortly) will allow you to browse your movies under the Boxee "Movies" Menu and appear on your movie wall. "Tag home movies with custom metadata and artwork" Not sitting in front of the Box, but IIRC - photos can be accessed through "Files"-->Photos. Edit: btw, Boxee Box only supports 3D SBS or Over/Under.
May 5, 201115 yr Here is how Boxee has configured their initial .nfo files http://support.boxee.tv/entries/510215-creating-an-nfo-file
May 5, 201115 yr Author OK so based on what I initially posted (and adding the possibility of wanting a shared "Backup" folder in the future for non-Boxee Box use), does it look like I am on the right track here?
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