New System: Requirements checklist

[sid]

For lack of a better fitting forum, I will post this in the "Feature Requests".

To LinuxMCE I am a newbie; I have been planning to build a Media System for my home for months now, and finally should have a little more time in the next few weeks. The reason for my post here is twofold:

• find out if LMCE can fulfill all the requirements for the system
• get hardware suggestions

The following is a list of things I would like the system to accomplish. It would be great if I could get some feedback on what's possible/what isn't and what I would have to be cautious about, concerning the hardware choices.

• Content mirroring (RAID?)
• Handle regular cable TV (coax) and digital TV as well -- I'd like to upgrade to HD soon
• HDMI output for my LG 50PS8000
• The ability to connect my LG sound system and make use of its 5.1 output (I think it's the LG LH-RH 361 SE)
• Remote Access (ideally via web interface off site):
  - access all media data incl. streaming capability
  - watch and control live tv
  - program the dvr remotely
• Control my existing preipherals (wii, ps2)
• Network integration via WiFi (I have a Linksys WRT54L running DD-WRT)
• Add an independent client or two for the other bedrooms
• Integrate a gyroscopic remote
• Access the media files from within the network to be able to get them off the system (Samba? I have 3 Macs and 2 Ubuntu notebooks in my network)
• BlueRay playback (I am considering getting a PS3 for that but want to be able to control it all in one interface)

What hardware would you guys suggest for such a system, when the additional requirements are:

• Quiet operation!
• Low power consumption

For storage I was thinking 6x 1.5tb hdd in a RAID setup, which should give me 4.5tb of available space (correct me if i am wrong).

Thanks much in advance!
sid

[jimbodude]

These links and direct answers will get you where you need to go.  Search the wiki and forums for more, look out for outdated information.  Come back with more specific questions...

http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/FAQ
http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Media_director
http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Create_RAID_in_LMCE
http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Hdhomerun
HDMI is supported on most nVidia graphics cards - see FAQ
Digital audio (5.1 over fiber or coax) is supported for most soundcards - see AVWizard (a little out of date - http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/AVWizard_Step_by_Step )
http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/WebOrbiter
LinuxMCE can control most devices with IR, RS-232, or Ethernet, provided you have the proper hardware (USB-UIRT for IR, cabling for others) http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Control_A/V_equipment_with_RS232/USB/Ethernet and http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Control_regular_A/V_equipment
http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Using_the_Gyration_Remote_GYR3101US_%28Non-Fiire_Chief%29
BluRay playback is not available in any open source Linux system (yet)
See the market place for compatible, low-noise Media Directors
PS3 control is available, and works very well for BD playback - http://forum.linuxmce.org/index.php?topic=9392.0

[sid]

thanks jimbodude for your response. for the past year, i have been off and on digging into the matter of LinuxMCE. I just found it a bit overwhelming and came across some (to me anyways) contradicting or outdated statements on some of the issues. I'm mostly looking for a place to come to and ask questions -- which i seem to have found now. The hardest to me has been picking and choosing the appropriate hardware. Once I have that figured out, I will be able to sound less like a total n00b as well.
I guess what would be perfect is a list of some sample hardware configurations as some sort of buyer's guide. Will dog back in...

Thanks again.

[jimbodude]

See what others are using here:
http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Category:User_Setups

There is no "supported hardware database".  For most components (chipsets, memory, motherboards) refer to the Ubuntu supported hardware lists.  For more LinuxMCE-specific things (IR transmitters, lighting control modules, A/V devices) search the forums and wiki.