New user, need help/ideas

[XioPod]

First off let me say I found xlobby about a week ago and have been playing with it and reading this forum non stop ever since! great app!!

To give you a little background, I'm currently working on building a home theater in my basement. I've built a DIY projector and started acquiring other components like a 7.1 sound system, 6 disc dvd changer, N6 and an xbox. I've also started building my HTPC (AMD 4200+, 2 gb ram, 250gb hdd, dvd burner, 7.1 sound card w optical out).

Now on to the problems I'm having... I've got xlobby installed on the HTPC and a database of my MP3s setup and working (well mostly working). I used dvd profiler and created a list of my dvd collection and exported it to xml but can't import it to xlobby, "object reference error"? not sure what i'm doing wrong. I followed the directions found in this forum (sorry can't seem to find the link, it was a ~47 page pdf guide)

Also, I'd like some advice on my setup based on my future plans: world domination.. wait.. i mean home automation
I'm getting ready to remodel my basement and install a drop celling and new lighting in my theater room, I'd like to be able to control the lights and maybe even the AV equipment, but don't know where to start or what to use.

Another thing I'm planning for is content sharing to any area of the house. Currently I have everything on my HTPC (mp3s, movies, etc..) I've started to build a file/web server and I have plans to place an old p4 1.7 ghz behind the TV in the living room and another 1.5 ghz in the bedroom. but i'm lost on how to configure xlobby.

I've seen settings for running it as a server, do i need to setup xlobby on the server itself? or should i simply setup file shares on the server and setup xlobby independently on each box (I really don't have a need to control one box from another - i.e. control the living pc from the bedroom pc)

The file server will be on 24/7 but all others will be on a as needed bases.

ps, can anybody recommend a good PCI dual tuner card to record TV? is there any way to set scheduling via a web interface?

sorry for the long first post. Thanks in advance!!

[bmblank]

Well, you're in the right place to ask quesions. Unfortunately I'm the wrong person to answer them. But I will add a couple quick things of advice from one n00b to another. In the forums go to the Documentation page. There is so much in there (including a couple on importing from dvdprofiler). Another thing that you're going to want to look up is a fat client. That way you can have the one server but then be able to go to your tv and watch your movies there if you so choose (I think...).

Good luck on it. I'm just workin out how to connect our projector and sound to the rest of it. It's pretty freakin sweet.

[P3rv3rt B3ar]

wellcome our 2000th member! Sorry to tell u that theres no prize though...

[Marbles_00]

There are lot's of ways to connect the central server. The one advantage of fat clients to every machine, is then you only have to maintain one set of databases on the server, because everytime a fat client loads, it copies the databases from the server to it. If every computer was independent, then you would have to maintain seperate databases on every machine. Which in itself at time is not too bad either as maybe you don't want your porn collection database on a computer that children may access...you get what I mean.

The other nifty thing about running fat clients, is that if you get into multizoning, then those client can be setup and considered zones on their own (but just don't expect good sync if you decide to use them for a party). They can be used to control other zones as well.

Sorry, can't answer you home automation questions, as I'm so far behind in even considering what I want for home automation. Check out XAP though...seems to have a little bit of a stir.

As for DVD profiler...have you considered trying out XANT and Ant Movie Catalog (AMC) instead? All movies are maintained in AMC and everytime Xlobby is started, it creates/updates the movie database. It may even work by refreshing the database from within Xlobby, but I haven't tried.

Hope this helps.

[XioPod]

Thanks for the replies! so my setup should look something like this:

Main File Server
Xlobby in server mode (does this run as a service? or does a user need to be logged in?)
read only file share(s) to media
Automation hardware/software to control lights
TV tuner hardware/software (save video to shared folder)

HTPC & other PC's
Xlobby as client connected server
winamp/dvd software/etc..

Then i just setup all the databases on the server version of xlobby and the client PCs will pull changes? do i have to set any on the client besides the server settings?

Do skin changes effect every client? i.e add/edit a button? or do i have to make the change on every pc?

I haven't read much of anything about xlobby servers yet, can you point to a few good posts?

thanks again for your input!!

[cinOxen]

As I understand it Xlobby server is where the media will play.

Main File Server
No Xlobby or only for home automation
read only file share(s) to media
Automation hardware/software to control lights
TV tuner hardware/software (save video to shared folder)

HTPCs
Xlobby as server
winamp/dvd software/etc..

Other PCs
Xlobby as client

Then i just setup all the databases on the server version of xlobby and the client PCs will pull changes? do i have to set any on the client besides the server settings?

I believe each HTPC will need to maintain it's own databases.

Do skin changes effect every client? i.e add/edit a button? or do i have to make the change on every pc?

You will probably have to copy new skins to each Xlobby installation.

[Marbles_00]

does this run as a service?

Xlobby does not run as a service, but you can get free service software and then set it up to run XLobby as a service.

do i have to set any on the client besides the server settings?

If your asking what I think, you still have to configure each client's audio and video players. It's been a while since I last played around with fat clients, but only the main databases like music and movies are pulled over. Databases like weather will still be pulled in on each client (don't quote me on that though).

Do skin changes effect every client? i.e add/edit a button? or do i have to make the change on every pc?

Skin changes are not like the databases. They have to be done on each machine, OR, you can make the changes on one machine, then just copy the skin directory over to all the machines.

I haven't read much of anything about xlobby servers yet, can you point to a few good posts?

You can read a good post here from dgemily. He explains very well how to set up for clients.

Steven's post here for setting up clients (mainly thin clients).

Hope that helps.

[bmblank]

If the clients were set up as thin clients then the only place the music/movies will play is the server, though I believe set up as fat clients then the music can be directed to each client, set up as zones. I can't remember the rest of the comments..

I was replying to cinOxen but marbles already took care of that I guess.

[cinOxen]

You can read a good post here from dgemily. He explains very well how to set up for clients.

Steven's post here for setting up clients (mainly thin clients).

Hope that helps.

Informative posts. After reading them I see mine should be ignored.

[XioPod]

damn you guys are quick!!

thanks for the info, it looks like my setup should work and now i understand why i would run xl as server and have each pc connect as a 'fat client'

having a central file server with media shares and XL running in server mode will allow each client that connects to have a updated music/movie database (assume server version is most update). Each database will point the network share to pull the content and play it locally (plays on client not on server)

As far as skin changes go, i can write a script to sync changes as needed.

[rbziggy]

Also, I'd like some advice on my setup based on my future plans: world domination.. wait.. i mean home automation
I'm getting ready to remodel my basement and install a drop celling and new lighting in my theater room, I'd like to be able to control the lights and maybe even the AV equipment, but don't know where to start or what to use.

The xAP plugin does give opportunities for integration (perhaps not entirely troublefree) with other HA kit including lighting (X10 or CBus for instance). I use it pretty well for displaying in xL various HA info (temperatures, status of doors etc) and also for controlling various things.

The IR plugin for USBUIRT allows you to control IR controlled AV kit.

I believe (but dont use so im not sure) that the Girder plugin allows more sophisticated IR controls but also an RS232 interface that can control AV kit with such interfaces.

For an AV room you should be able to do most things. Best to get one thing at a time working!