So, I stopped using Unraid after a sever rebuild over a year ago onto WHS2011, due to not having much int he way of time and being way more familiar with the Windows Environment.  I've been using FlexRAID which works, but is rather complicated in it's setup and I'd really like to start using UnRAID again.

 

My server started off on UnRAID as a simple NAS but has evolved over time to become a very multifunctional device.

 

Before I get stuck in with trying to get UnRAID setup I do have a few questions.

 

I've been using VMs more and more in VirtualBox, but would love to try either Xen or KVM. 

 

An essential for me would be the ability to passthrough my quad tuner DVB-T2 card (TBS6285) into either Windows 7/8/WHS2011 and run ArgusTV or alternatively into Mythbuntu or some other Linux distro to provide PVR functionality.

 

I'd also like to use pfsense or some other router VM to provide an OpenVPN client gateway to my VPN provider.

 

Other tasks I think I can use with various Docker Containers such as web serving.

 

MY questions are:

 

What have been people's experiences with DVB hardware in VMs?

What direction is UnRAID taking in terms of virtualisation?  Is Xen or KVM going to be the hypervisor of choice?  I don't have any experience in either at the moment, but if I'm going to invest time into it then I'd rather know which one to invest my efforts in.

 

Thanks Guys.

 

 

We currently have support for both hypervisors in terms of kernel capabilities and software packages.  management at this point is handled for Xen in the same way it was originally implemented.  For KVM, dmacias from our community has create a great plugin for VM management whilst we work on the unRAID native tool.

 

As far as passing through a tuner card, that's been another person's goal on the forum as well, but had some issues thus far.

 

For now, we are continuing to support both hypervisors as it's possible to do so and there hasn't been a real glaring reason for us to stop.  That said, some folks have had better experiences with one over the other based on their needs.

 

My personal favorite right now is KVM based on capabilities with PCI device pass through through VFIO.

Thanks for your reply and wise words.  Think I'll start with KVM as my general impression has been that is the way things seem to be going. 

 

I'll give the tuner card a shot, I have been giving things some thought and an alternative plan might be to build a small ITX system just for a MythTV back end or possibly Argus and accept that I can't do everything on one box.  The benefit to that would be that if I have a problems with my array the wife can still watch Live TV and vice versa.

 

I'll keep looking for some info on virtualising PFsense on Unraid and I've just got a dual Intel NIC to add to the native realtek on my MB to play around with.

 

Excited about getting back into UnRAID, been playing more and more with Linux systems and finding Windows just a bit too much and overly complicated.

 

Thanks Jon, appreciated.

Thanks for your reply and wise words.  Think I'll start with KVM as my general impression has been that is the way things seem to be going. 

 

I'll give the tuner card a shot, I have been giving things some thought and an alternative plan might be to build a small ITX system just for a MythTV back end or possibly Argus and accept that I can't do everything on one box.  The benefit to that would be that if I have a problems with my array the wife can still watch Live TV and vice versa.

 

I'll keep looking for some info on virtualising PFsense on Unraid and I've just got a dual Intel NIC to add to the native realtek on my MB to play around with.

 

Excited about getting back into UnRAID, been playing more and more with Linux systems and finding Windows just a bit too much and overly complicated.

 

Thanks Jon, appreciated.

 

No problem.  Hope you enjoy the new features and of course, feel free to come back here to have any questions answered!

@CHBMB

 

Im created over weekend packages with modules for dvb tuners, we dont will be must touch anymore bzroot.

Just put packages to /boot/extra (i will be must do more test, but eveything looks good) so you will be able to run VDR, Tvheadend etc, just from unraid without any virtu

 

About KVM with friend we successful passthrough DigitalCine S2 DVB-S2 v6.5 tuner and DVBSky S960 ver3.

That'd be great Piotr,

 

I'm currently just testing Argus-TV running in a Windows 7 KVM,pretty much just using it for the first time tonight to watch Broadchurch (A brilliant British TV series - I recommend it )

 

I'd love to give an install of TvHeadEnd or VDR a go on UnRAID as my feeling is that it's likely to be more stable and it would free up memory and a CPU core for other things.

 

I'll keep my eyes open for when you post the necessary info.

 

Thanks for all your hard work.