Combined HTPC/NAS Build - what DE/DM?

antithesis · 2010-03-05 10:00:19

Hey all,

I've recently started putting together the hardware for what will eventually be a combined NAS and HTPC. Vitals are:

PROC: Intel Core i3-530
RAM: 4GB DDR3 @ 1333MHz
Mobo: ASUS P7H55-M-D EVO
HDD: 3x 1.5 TB WD Caviar Green Drives
OS: 8GB CF Card using CF>IDE converter running Arch

The plan is to have the 3 drives in RAID5 (software) as a NAS sharing using NFS/SAMBA etc., and as a media centre using xbmc. Most of it is straightforward, and so far everything is working fine. However, I have some questions...

Can anyone recommend a DE for the system? I'm looking for something "10ft interface" style that allows me to use the computer as a normal desktop if I like, for surfing the web etc. I could probably modify a Gnome install to get what I want, but I was wondering if anybody has any recommendations?

Also, is there some way I can get a desktop manager like GDM to just present the user with two options upon boot? What I'm looking for is two buttons, one that loads xbmc-standalone, and one that loads Gnome (or whatever DE I end up using). If not I'd probably just boot straight into the DE and run xbmc over the top of it.

Any other thoughts or experience anyone would like to add? This is the first time I've installed Arch using Intel graphics, and I have to say it is so much easier than for ATi/nVidia

toad · 2010-03-18 21:27:32

Just looking into NASy stuff myself and think: why not headless?

antithesis · 2010-03-23 07:36:29

Headless would be fine if it was just a NAS, but this is also plugged into a TV for using xbmc.

I would use xbmc-standalone, but I like being able to browse the web/do anything a "normal" desktop can do on the TV as well.

I ended up going for a straight boot into openbox with xbmc running over the top; resource usage of openbox is so small as to not be an issue in the slightest, and if I want full desktop functionality on my TV, all I have to do is close xbmc and voila.

ctarwater · 2010-03-23 08:12:40

antithesis wrote:

I ended up going for a straight boot into openbox with xbmc running over the top; resource usage of openbox is so small as to not be an issue in the slightest, and if I want full desktop functionality on my TV, all I have to do is close xbmc and voila.

That's the exact same setup I use as well. Openbox + xbmc will give you a fully functional media center with a fully functional desktop hidden right below.

eirik · 2010-03-23 12:00:07

I did something like this using awesome3. It's very lightweight, so there was no problem having it running underneath XBMC for the occasional web browsing.

demian · 2010-03-23 19:45:56

Yup, Openbox here too on an i3-530 (music server, network storage, surfing). Works great.

Btw: What driver do you use for the integrated graphics? xf86-video-intel?

antithesis · 2010-03-24 03:36:32

Yep, xf86-video-intel. I read somewhere that proper support for the IGP on the i3 exists in kernel 2.6.33 (I'm using 2.6.32). At the moment 1080p playback only takes about 30-40% of a single thread though, so I'm not sure if that indicates that it's using hardware acceleration or not (any idea how I check?).

Arch Linux

#1 2010-03-05 10:00:19

Combined HTPC/NAS Build - what DE/DM?

#2 2010-03-18 21:27:32

Re: Combined HTPC/NAS Build - what DE/DM?

#3 2010-03-23 07:36:29

Re: Combined HTPC/NAS Build - what DE/DM?

#4 2010-03-23 08:12:40

Re: Combined HTPC/NAS Build - what DE/DM?

#5 2010-03-23 12:00:07

Re: Combined HTPC/NAS Build - what DE/DM?

#6 2010-03-23 19:45:56

Re: Combined HTPC/NAS Build - what DE/DM?

#7 2010-03-24 03:36:32

Re: Combined HTPC/NAS Build - what DE/DM?

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