New Vortexbox - hardware sugestions

[pre65]

No idea. I don't run a Raid back up array. VB has a simple ext USB arrangement to back up your files onto a VB formatted HD that you can keep NOT CONNECTED to the system for 99.999998% of the time. Once the back up HD is formatted all back ups (that you yourself have to remember to do, no biggie) as incremental, so it only backs up what you've added or deleted from the VB HD since the last back up. Super simples and done using the VB GUI.

That's great, I have a powered caddy for the backup drive, so that would save the cost (and complication) of a NAS device.

[pre65]

Another thing.

The VB site suggests that when the software is downloaded and installed the hard drive is wiped clean of everything.

So, is it best to load a memory stick with the software from a running PC then use the memory stick to load up the VB computer ?

[Dave the bass]

I'm not 100% there TBH Phil. Sure VB formats the entire HD its using to store all your music files, as regards installing it from scratch, I've only done it twice before with the ISO file burnt onto a CDr, never a flash drive. I think you'd been to tell the VB computer to boot from the flash drive perhaps?

[pre65]

A little while ago I queried connecting up a Vortexbox computer directly to a SB Touch, and Chris said it was not that simple.

I've now found an powered 8-port switch (in a box of computer junk) with LAN type sockets, would that be any use ?

IE VB to switch and switch to SBT with LAN cables.

[The Stratmangler]

Not unless you can get the Vortexbox to run as DHCP server as well as being the LMS serving machine.
If you can get a DHCP server program that is happy to run on the Vortexbox distro then you might get somewhere - this might be of use https://sourceforge.net/projects/dhcpserver/

It's easiest to use a router, coz they pretty well all do DHCP serving.
The router does not need to be connected to a tephelone line to do its DHCP magic.
Just take your router with you if you want to inflict your Des O'Connor collection on us all at Owston

[Nick]

You can assign the ip address of the SB and the VB as static addresses, so run without a DHCP server. Its what I did to demo the dac setup a shows. SB talking to a laptop running the server, then a wifi interface to allow a tablet to drive it all. All using static addresses.

[The Stratmangler]

That sounds like a tech support offer

[pre65]

This is going to show my computer ignorance.

On my DIY vortex box I will have two hard drives.

The C drive will be fairly small, and just for the VB software.

The other drive will be 1TB for the music files.

Question. When I load the VB software is it best to install only the C drive, and then after install the 1TB, or does the software installation need to "see" both drives ?

[Nick]

VB is (if I remember, Linux based). There ain't no stinking C:

I would plug it all together and run the VB installer and see what if finds. I would expect it will partition the first driver as / and swap, then mount the 1Tb drive as /music or whatever. But that will probably make no sense to you at the moment, so just see what it finds. If it gets it wrong, or you want to change it, just run the installer again and start from scratch.

[pre65]

Thanks Nick.

I picked up a cheapo PC today in Pudsey that should do for the VB.

Won't have much spare time next week as I'm helping Mike H to move house, but then I'm in no hurry.