Please give suggestions on a new torrent+media server setup

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indialogue

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(Don't know if this is the correct sub-forum to be asking this question so mods please move if it is not)

I'm looking to setup a torrent+media server and would appreciate the community's inputs on how to go about it. My current hardware

  • Room1
    • Linksys WRT54g v5 wireless router (no USB ports and not DD_WRT upgradeable if I remember correctly)
    • BSNL ADSL modem
  • Room 2
    • Macbook Air (2nd gen) - 64GB SSD - HFS+ formatted
    • Macbook (last gen) - 160GB HDD - HFS+ formatted
    • Luxman LV-112 stereo integrated amplifier (only RCA connections)
    • Bose AM-5 speakers
    • SeaGate FreeAgent GoFlex Desk - 1TB USB2.0 - triple partition - NTFS and HFS+ formatted. Used for backups
  • Room3
    • Samsung 32inch LCD SmartTV - 1080p with 2 USB and 2 HDMI port
    • Tata Sky HD+ recorder (that takes up 1 of the HDMI ports above)

What I want from my new setup is:

  • Torrents should run without the laptops and be stored directly on the external HDD
  • Should be able to do wireless backups from the laptops to the external HDD
    • Time Machine backups
    • Disk cloning
  • Should be able to stream video from an external HDD to the Samsung TV
  • Should be able to stream audio from an external HDD to the Luxman amplifier

What I'm guessing I'll need for this setup is:

  • A new wireless router with a couple of USB ports - any recommendations? Or should I look at getting a Seagate GloFlex Home/Dockstar? I will get a new external HDD to go with the new wireless router that will be installed in Room1
  • A media streamer with a WiFI dongle or inbuilt WiFi to go into Room3. Something like the WDTV Live Streaming Media Player. I know that Samsung also a WiFi dongle for its SmartTV but have not heard anything good about it - any recommendations on this?
    • Should I also look at something like the Boxee/AC Ryan PlayOn?
  • An audio streamer with inbuilt WiFi for Room2
    • Don't want something expensive like Sonos
    • An Airport Express makes sense but then that would require the wireless route software or the GoFlex Home/Dockstar to have Itunes server. Am I correct? Do these devices have this option in their firmware?
    • What are my other hardware options here?

In all, I'm looking to spend around 10-15K for this setup. Look forward to your recommendations and thanks for all the help
 
1. Router must be Asus RT N13U B1 very good coverage over the floors once you get dd wrt.- 3k
2. I would recommend to get a GoFlex Net/PogoPlug Pro for downloading torrents and not use the router for it. - 2.3k~
3. You can get portable USB Audio Adapters and plug into Pogo/GoFlex to stream audio or radio to other rooms. - 500~
4. Does your LCD supports DLNA ? If yes you would be able to stream videos.If no Playon Mini 2 would be cheapest option + wifi dongle cost around - 7k + 500= 7.5k
 
dinjo said:
2. I would recommend to get a GoFlex Net/PogoPlug Pro for downloading torrents and not use the router for it. - 2.3k~
Click to expand...
Thanks dinjo. Can you explain why this would be better than through a router?
Also, any recommended portable USB Audio adapters? I should have mentioned in the original post that my music collection comprises VBR MP3s, FLAC and Apple Lossless
 
dinjo said:
Below are the cheapest audio drivers
https://sites.google.com/site/bifferboard/Home/usb-sound-cards
Click to expand...
Thanks Dinjo. However, these look scarily cheap. Do you have any recommendations for a good-quality one considering that I'm looking to stream FLAC/Apple Lossless music as well?

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dinjo said:
4. Does your LCD supports DLNA ? If yes you would be able to stream videos
Click to expand...
Sorry, missed this completely. Yes, the TV supports DLNA. How will I stream it from the PogoPlug/GoFlex Net to the TV? It has to be a wireless connection and the Samsung peripheral WiFi dongle does not get good reviews at all
 
indialogue said:
This looks interesting. However I still need a wireless audio solution from the NAS/HDD to my audio system as the distance is over 10M :(
Click to expand...

Buy another wireless router with a USB port for the sound card. Although it is expensive, doing torrent downloads and playing music on an N13U-B1 simultaneously is going to be problematic as the router load will shoot up. This is why dinjo has suggested pogoplug which has quite a bit more muscle than the N13U-B1.
 
bobbyprajan said:
Buy another wireless router with a USB port for the sound card. Although it is expensive, doing torrent downloads and playing music on an N13U-B1 simultaneously is going to be problematic as the router load will shoot up. This is why dinjo has suggested pogoplug which has quite a bit more muscle than the N13U-B1.
Click to expand...
2 routers just to stream music seems like overkill? Sorry for being stupid here but what you're suggesting then is that the PogoPlug plays the music on the external HDD, streams it over the connected wifi router to the other router that is 10M that has 1 USB port used by the sound card that is then connected to the amplifier? So then the PogoPlug music app can be controlled over the net directly?

What about something like this: Amazon.com: Creative Labs Sound Blaster Wireless Audio Transmitter and Receiver Bundle: Electronics
Or an Airport Express? Do the PogoPlug/ArchLinux have support for AirPlay? I see that Totem is there on the ArchlinuxARM distro
 
What i suggested is to keep the music and torrents separate. Dedicate one router for torrents and setup wds to extend your wifi network to the other room. Buy a second router and sound card, setup mpd to stream the music from your NAS. Hope it is clear now. You are not going to buy pogoplug, are you ?
 
bobbyprajan said:
What i suggested is to keep the music and torrents separate. Dedicate one router for torrents and setup wds to extend your wifi network to the other room. Buy a second router and sound card, setup mpd to stream the music from your NAS. Hope it is clear now. You are not going to buy pogoplug, are you ?
Click to expand...
I should not? Price seems very good and unable to find equally good price for the Seagate options
 
indialogue said:
I should not? Price seems very good and unable to find equally good price for the Seagate options
Click to expand...

By all means. I didn't mean to discourage you. Pogoplug is excellent value. Should be much better for your needs than any router in that budget. But how are you planning to connect it all together ?
 
Use the wired LAN connection on ur TV. It works much better than the wifi and can stream full HD movies also in my case. Since my TV and router are at the same place I prefer using a wired connection.
I reckon you watch vdos of this old nerd on youtube's finitecomedy channel. Posting link for one vdo. You can watch the entire series and make a better decision.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7q-UW9XT4BM&feature=plcp
 
bobbyprajan said:
By all means. I didn't mean to discourage you. Pogoplug is excellent value. Should be much better for your needs than any router in that budget. But how are you planning to connect it all together ?
Click to expand...
No tool to lay it out graphically but this is how I see it. Please comment if it does not make any sense, @bobbyprajan

  1. Room 1 - where the MTNL line terminates
    1. MTNL ADSL modem
    2. Connects through Ethernet to Asus RT N13U B1 router (to replace the current Linksys WRT54G v5 router) that is flashed with DD-WRT
    3. Ethernet cable from Asus router to PogoPlug Pro (Pogoplug Multimedia Connector, Black POGO-P21)
    4. PogoPlug to be flashed with ArchlinuxARM
    5. USB from PogoPlug to the external HDD
  2. Room 2 - audio room
    1. Get this: Amazon.com: Creative Labs Sound Blaster Wireless Audio Transmitter and Receiver Bundle: Electronics
    2. Or the Apple Airport Express, if I decide to get network printing running as well
    3. Both will connect over wireless to the PogoPlug
    4. I'm leaning towards the Apple Airport Express, purely because v2 has dual-band 802.11n and might ease congestion
    5. Either way, take lineout from Apple Aiport Express into the amplifier (or RCA output from the Creative)
  3. Room 3 - video room
    1. Samsung TV
    2. WDTV Live or Asus O!Play or Dune HD TV-101W (any recommendations here) connected over wireless to the PogoPlug and through HDMI to the TV

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onlyravi said:
Use the wired LAN connection on ur TV. It works much better than the wifi and can stream full HD movies also in my case. Since my TV and router are at the same place I prefer using a wired connection.
I reckon you watch vdos of this old nerd on youtube's finitecomedy channel. Posting link for one vdo. You can watch the entire series and make a better decision.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7q-UW9XT4BM&feature=plcp
Click to expand...
Distance is too great for a wired connection - over 10M. Rented acco as well so no option of building in-wall Ethernet connections :(
Maybe one day soon will have my own place with Power Line Comms in each room!
 
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The planned layout seems fine. However please note that the Asus RT-N13U B1 is not a dual band router. If you want a dual band router get one of the Asus RT-N56U / Netgear WNDR3700 / Linksys E3200, all are between 6.5K to 8.5K
 
bobbyprajan said:
The planned layout seems fine. However please note that the Asus RT-N13U B1 is not a dual band router. If you want a dual band router get one of the Asus RT-N56U / Netgear WNDR3700 / Linksys E3200, all are between 6.5K to 8.5K
Click to expand...
Thanks for catching that - will go with the Asus RTN56U then
 
@bobbyprajan, @dinjo would you recommend going for the PogoPlug Series 4 instead of the PogoPlug Classic. The USB 3.0 and SATA connections in the PogoPlug Series 4 should make for better streaming right?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
PogoPlug Pro too has SATA port but you will need to open it up to get access.
 
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