xlobby on 2 PC's

[GadgetBoy]

Good morning all.

This weekend I began installing xlobby around the house - what a great application.

My question is this: I have a dedicated server for my house that runs my multi-zone audio. I was using JRiver Media Center and a Delta 410 to accomplish this. I also have a PC connected to a TV in my living room that outputs sound to my surround sound system. Running wiring from my dedicated PC to my surround sound system in my living room is not an option.

Can I run xlobby on both PC's, yet have the ability to control zones across the PC's? In other words, I would like to be able to use the PC that is connected to my surround sound in my living room and running xlobby to also be able to control the whole-house audio on the dedicated server PC. Not necessarily vice-versa.

Thanks in advance,
GB

[Marbles_00]

Yes, you could run the Xlobby on the server PC as a server. If you go to F2/Setup/Xnet, you then configure your server IP address, and to always start as a server. Remember to restart Xlobby. If all goes well after the Xlobby restart, then you go back to F2/Setup/Xnet, it should indicate that computer at IP address (whatever you set) has started as a server. For first time, I don't recommend changing port numbers or anything...just do the basics to get you going. In your skin "Splash" screen, it should indicate that the computer is starting as an Xlobby server.

Then on the HTPC goto F2/Setup/Xnet, and configure that computer to connect to your server. Restart Xlobby, again goto F2/Setup/Xnet, and it should indicate that it has connected to a server. This is a "Fat" client connection...meaning that it is a full running Xlobby, and all databases (well for sure music and movies) should be transfered over from the server to the client.

Now back to the server computer, now in F2/Setup/Xnet where it show zone information, it should indicate that the HTPC is a zone. From here, it's a little foggy, but I think you have to set control to the HTPC zone to be able to control zoning on the server.

Oh yeah, you also will have to use UNC paths for your database on the server. Your paths should look like this //Computer/music (or something similar). Using directory sturture paths will not work on a fat client as it will try and search for the databases on its local drive...which will give you major problems when loading.

Here is a post on some further Fat client setup info:
http://www.xlobby.com/forum/viewtopic.p ... fat+client

I also posted something a question a while back which got an excellent response, but I can't seem to find it right now. If I do, I will post that link as well.

Finally, you should also note that you can connect multiple fat clients at the same time to the server. Each fat client will then be considered a seperate zone. The problem here is you won't be able to successfully sync the clients together should you want synced music to all the zones.

Hope this was helpful.

[Marbles_00]

Re-reading your post, you may not even want to do the above. If your server is setup to run the M-audio already, and you understand using multiple instances of winamp for different zones. Then you could just easily run the HTPC as a thin client, just for the purpose of controlling the server.

But if you want to take advantage of the HTPC to act as an additional zone, then follow what I indicated above.

[GadgetBoy]

Thanks for the detailed response... I am sure I will have additional questions on this.

Have a great day,
GB