HTPC mini replace by Apple TV

[sampdoria]

Yup, the ATV 2 is probably the best solution. The integration with iTunes is so thorough and solid that I have no interest in hacking it as a few do. My Mini makes a great home server since I connected external storage to it. It holds all my media and is a central backup location for my stuff. Highly recommended.

Nice setup! This is what I'm striving for.

Q#1: How is your external hard drive connected to your MacMini (USB or FireWire)? Would choosing FireWire (or Thunderbolt when avail.) over USB make a difference for streaming to ATV2?

Q#2: How is your Mac Mini and ATV2 connected to your network (via Wi-Fi or Ethernet to your Router)?

Ultimately, I'm trying to figure out where the bottleneck is going to be in this setup e.g. external hard drive to Mini, Mini to Router, Router to ATV2? And I would like to do all of this mostly through Wi-Fi instead of Ethernet.

 

[Lara F]

Unexpectedly, my "Mini as HTPC" killer may turn out to be not my Apple TV but my 11'' Sony Vaio YB laptop. I used to need the Mini for Flash video content (mainly live events like streamed concerts or figure skating comps) on the big screen, but now I've found myself surfing to the site on my Vaio and connecting it to the TV via HDMI. Having HDMI on my laptop's really made me appreciate how convenient it is.

I'm wondering now if I'd be better off selling the Mini and using the proceeds to help me finally upgrade from my 97 Macbook to a MBP or iMac. Hmm...

But yes, an ATV2 is great if you don't have one. I have my first gen and the Mini both connected via wifi and can't say I've noticed any bottleneck. My external drive is connected to the Mini via USB I believe and I haven't had any issues with say the iPad Air Video app.

 

[DustinT]

Nice setup! This is what I'm striving for.

Q#1: How is your external hard drive connected to your MacMini (USB or FireWire)? Would choosing FireWire (or Thunderbolt when avail.) over USB make a difference for streaming to ATV2?

Q#2: How is your Mac Mini and ATV2 connected to your network (via Wi-Fi or Ethernet to your Router)?

Ultimately, I'm trying to figure out where the bottleneck is going to be in this setup e.g. external hard drive to Mini, Mini to Router, Router to ATV2? And I would like to do all of this mostly through Wi-Fi instead of Ethernet.

Hey man...

I've used several different external storage systems with my Mini and they all seemed to work just fine. So far, I've used USB, Firewire, 100 mb\s and 1000 mb\s ethernet and, most recently, iSCSI. Streaming to a single ATV 2 they all worked perfectly. I hear that if you want to server more than 3-4 ATV 2 you will need a decent storage system and probably at least firewire to maintain good performance. But, I just have one, so I can't comment from experience.

You asked about bottlenecks, and I think the answer is that there isn't going to be one. 'N' class wifi is more than enough, USB is more than enough and any hard drive made in the last 5-10 years should be enough too. Thats the beauty of the iTunes - ATV system, its well integrated and tends to prefer moderate bandwidth content which means it is quite flexible as to installation methods.

There are many users who are on a pure wifi network and have no complaints. I ran ethernet to my tv many years ago. I had to eventually add a small network switch since the number of devices at my tv that require network access keeps going up! So, I've got a pure ethernet network from my closet (where I have the Mini, disks and Airport Extreme), to my desk (Macbook Pro as a desktop replacement), printer, my wife's desktop and finally to the tv. It's great since there's no bottlenecks and its super stable. Being a former networking professional, this is always my recommendation. But, if you don't live in an area with a crowded wifi spectrum you can easily get by with just wireless as long as you don't push the range too far. And if you do, just run an ethernet cable like you know you should.

 

[Scarpad]

I used an ATV2 on my Plasma upstairs and my Rear Screen Downstairs to stream from my Imac, but I may soon be moving to my mac mini for my library

I also use a ATV2 on my 2 channel music system to stream Lossless Alac files to it, have a 20 inch mnitor to use as a front end. But also mainly control it thru my iphone and the remote app

 

[sampdoria]

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Thanks DustinT, very helpful info. I'll try the wifi route first and see how it goes. I'm in no rush to get a Mac Mini yet so I'll wait a bit. I'm curious to see what TB drives will cost when they are more readily available.

 

[DustinT]

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Thanks DustinT, very helpful info. I'll try the wifi route first and see how it goes. I'm in no rush to get a Mac Mini yet so I'll wait a bit. I'm curious to see what TB drives will cost when they are more readily available.

I think we all are. The good thing is that the existing technologies are more than sufficient for the needs you mentioned.

 

[sampdoria]

I think we all are. The good thing is that the existing technologies are more than sufficient for the needs you mentioned.

Certainly. My thought though was to have 2 external drives attached to the Mac Mini (as server), one for NAS, the other for back-up. I generally like to keep the back-up drive in a separate physical location and disconnected from power when not in use. I bet it would be a lot quicker to back up the NAS drive with TB than USB or FireWire. What is your back-up strategy?

 

[DustinT]

If you are using a NAS with raid onboard, like I think you are, then backup speeds being limited due to the interface isn't much of an issue. I've got a Drobo Pro connected via iSCSI to the Mac Mini which is hosting all my Time Machine backups. This all works over the wireless or wired connection, seamlessly. I just walk in my apartment and it starts backing up automatically in the background. So, I have no idea how long it takes, it is just another background process I'm unaware of unless I need to restore a file. Offline backups are made from the Drobo Pro to an external drive with some raid in it and stored at my Bank's safe deposit box.

I guess what I'm getting at is this: TB is great, but its not really needed for backup solutions.

 

[sampdoria]

If you are using a NAS with raid onboard, like I think you are, then backup speeds being limited due to the interface isn't much of an issue. I've got a Drobo Pro connected via iSCSI to the Mac Mini which is hosting all my Time Machine backups. This all works over the wireless or wired connection, seamlessly. I just walk in my apartment and it starts backing up automatically in the background. So, I have no idea how long it takes, it is just another background process I'm unaware of unless I need to restore a file. Offline backups are made from the Drobo Pro to an external drive with some raid in it and stored at my Bank's safe deposit box.

I guess what I'm getting at is this: TB is great, but its not really needed for backup solutions.

Hmm, I see. You have two levels of redundancy (good for you!) one on the Drobo with Time Machine Backups done in the background and another offline, which I presume you do manually (?). Mine would be one level of redundancy, just like your offline one. I don't think I'd be using RAID, just two simple hard drives- one doing NAS, always connected to the Mac Mini, and the the other just to back-up the NAS, which I would detach and store away once I'm done backing up the NAS. Thus, if using TB, then that process would be much quicker than USB or FireWire. Honestly, I don't fully see the need for RAID 0 or 1 in my home network which is shared by my family, but I also don't know that much about RAID either.

[Edit] I suppose I could schedule Time Machine to back up the NAS drive in the background, so long as I have the back-up drive connected, and therefore not need to be concerned how long it takes. But I would like to disconnect the back-up drive as quickly as possible (in case of a power surge ruining both drives!!).

 

[merman637]

Drobo

If you are using a NAS with raid onboard, like I think you are, then backup speeds being limited due to the interface isn't much of an issue. I've got a Drobo Pro connected via iSCSI to the Mac Mini which is hosting all my Time Machine backups. This all works over the wireless or wired connection, seamlessly. I just walk in my apartment and it starts backing up automatically in the background. So, I have no idea how long it takes, it is just another background process I'm unaware of unless I need to restore a file. Offline backups are made from the Drobo Pro to an external drive with some raid in it and stored at my Bank's safe deposit box.

I guess what I'm getting at is this: TB is great, but its not really needed for backup solutions.

Similar to my setup. I have a mini that pulls my data from a Drobo (not the pro, but a FW800) that has 8TB. I have a 2nd Brobo (also FW800 and 8TB) that is running Time machine backups of only the data from the first drive. the mini shares the data across my network, wireless N, to my atv2 in the living and another in the bedroom. I manage all of the files from my MBP. Including my DVD Rips, and iTunes Library.
One Note: when the system hasnt been used for a while, the drives go to sleep, and take about 30 seconds to wake up. (meanwhile youll get cannot connect errors in atv2).

 

[sampdoria]

I manage all of the files from my MBP. Including my DVD Rips, and iTunes Library.

Why not let the Mac Mini manage your files and be an iTunes server instead of your MBP? That way, your ATV can access your media anytime, without having to turn on your MBP.

 

[merman637]

sorry for the confusion

Why not let the Mac Mini manage your files and be an iTunes server instead of your MBP? That way, your ATV can access your media anytime, without having to turn on your MBP.

I am horrible at explaining myself, but here goes.
I do actually use the mini as the main unit. It is always running, with itunes open. there is a folder inside my itunes folder that allows me to drop new files, and itunes will automatically add those files to my library.since the mini is tucked away in my office, I usually just use my MBP to do all of the file transfers, itunes store purchases, etc.
My ATV2's connect to the mini.

 

[marc.garcia]

NAS + Mac Mini/ATV2 ????

If you are using a NAS with raid onboard, like I think you are, then backup speeds being limited due to the interface isn't much of an issue. I've got a Drobo Pro connected via iSCSI to the Mac Mini which is hosting all my Time Machine backups. This all works over the wireless or wired connection, seamlessly. I just walk in my apartment and it starts backing up automatically in the background. So, I have no idea how long it takes, it is just another background process I'm unaware of unless I need to restore a file. Offline backups are made from the Drobo Pro to an external drive with some raid in it and stored at my Bank's safe deposit box.

I guess what I'm getting at is this: TB is great, but its not really needed for backup solutions.

Hi, I'm excited that I seem to have found a similar setup to the one I (would like to) have.

I own a QNAP 239 NAS Server with a 1TB RAID1. I have one of the latest MacBook Airs with 128GB. Unfortunatelly I don't have a 802.11n compatible wifi router yet (my current carrier is not willing to update it if I don't upgrade my connection which I don't feel like doing) but I'm already keeping an eye on the upcoming RT-n66U by Asus... whatever...

Thing is, my current Media Player sucks and I, of course, would like to get the perfect setup.

I know that my NAS features some sort of iTunes Server but I think I've found enough information in the Internet to make me think it won't suffice for making the ATV work as expected. If this is the case I seem to need a fully-fledged Apple computer, be it a Mac Mini or an iMac (which is way too expensive for my needs).

Having my Air run the iTunes server does not interest me because I kind of don't see it being meant to do that not to mention that it only has 128GB and streamming off my NAS over 802.11g does not sound appealing.

Of course, if I upgrade my wireless router things my run a little better and the air may be able to do the job but I still have problems picturing the air dealing with that.

If my thinking is right I need to buy a Mac, and then the question is: if I must buy a Mac, why not buying one Mac Mini and connecting it to my HDTV? Is there anything the ATV does better than the Mac Mini in terms of running HTPC services? I guess simplicity may be one answer...

Now that I'm at it, one strong point of buying one "allways wired" Mac is that I could plug our two iPhones and have them unattendedly update their Podcast, backup their Camera Roll pictures and manage iPhoto albums... but then I wonder how iOS 5 "computerless" feature will change the way we backup and updated our iPhones... hehehe, I always tend to go too far off I think... so far as to even wonder if I should throw away my NAS and go for a really big Time Capsule, but that is a different story

I appreciate your insights