vortexbox

[kizer]

I've seen this a few times, but never really gave it a try. I'm rather curious to know if anybody here uses it and is it possible to store the files actually on a unRAID machine opposed to the machine that does the ripping. I'm rather lazy when it comes to ripping DVD's and honestly I'd like to automate the process and since unRAID currently does not have dvd support.

http://vortexbox.org/

 

I would of considered this a while back for a storage solution, but honestly it would be really tough to get me away from unRAID.

 

I know 1.17 added DVD support to MKV

Does it allow for any customizations when ripping DVDS or is it a straight complete image?

[Bolle]

I use it, and it's very good!

Started using it about a just over a year ago. I moved into a new appartment, and wanted a minimalistic look, so no 500+ CD's lying around. Therefore wanted a streaming audio solution, and ended op going for the Logitech Squeezebox system. But of course storage space on my iMac quickly ran out, and didn't want to have the iMac on all the time as Squeezebox server.

 

So started looking at simple NAS systems, but quickly decided that I wanted a bit better hardware than most consumer NAS systems can offer (SB server does run a bit nicer on better hardware, and gives you more flexibility in using more advanced plug-in and audio re-sampling). Also wanted automatic hassle-free CD ripping, but only comes on quite pricey specialist audio servers (like ripnas, 1.000 EUR and more).

Stumbled upon Vortexbox, build my own Atom330 mITX server, installed the software and never looked back. It's very easy to use through the webgui.

I haven't used the autoripper much, as I decided to fill an old windows tower with 3 optical drives as that was the quickest way to rip my CD collection. For the new CD's I purchase I tend to use XLD ripper on my Mac, as I a bit anal about checking the tags and artwork when ripping... But I've tried the autoripper and it works great.

 

Then I started abusing the little Vortexbox server to discover video streaming, and started to store HD movies on it, and quickly the need for more storage came along, and I'm now a unRAID user...

 

I was planning on installing Squeezebox Server on my unRAID box and selling the Vortexbox server, after seeing streaming audio several friend have now also got a Squeezebox system and now want to get a "nice little easy to use server as you have"!

But seeing that installing SB server is not really easy on unRAID, and do actually not mind having an extra backup of my music, and with the Server Power Control plugin in SB server you can easily sleep or wake-up your SB server so quite energy efficient, I'm probably going to keep my Vortexbox as main music server.

 

Regarding your question:

1) I believe it is possible to store the files somewhere else, if you mount the unRAID server in Vortexbox

2) I have no experience with ripping DVD's with Vortexbox 1.7

 

[kizer]

Bolle

 

Thanks for the reply and insight. It looks like I just need to man up and drop in a drive into another machine I have and give it a test to see how it does. Worst case I go back to using DVDFab and ripping ISO's the old fashion manual way. 

[queeg]

Bolle

 

Thanks for the reply and insight. It looks like I just need to man up and drop in a drive into another machine I have and give it a test to see how it does. Worst case I go back to using DVDFab and ripping ISO's the old fashion manual way. 

 

I wrote this windows console app that automates ripping with DVDFab to an iso file and then copies it to unRAID server. 

ConsoleDecrypter

[kizer]

Actually I did see that. I'll take another look at that. I will admit I didn't really read to deep into it. Thanks for the reminder.

[queeg]

I wanted to be really lazy about ripping so I made the console app to watch for DVD to be inserted.  It then runs a batch file that calls DVDFab to rip, imgburn to convert the ripped files to an iso and then copy the iso to my unraid server.  All I have to do is walk by every so often and put another DVD in. 

 

Later I decided I'd have ripped movies also converted for my phone so I added a script for running handbrake against the iso file.  You can skip that part by commenting out one line in the batch file.