Home Network (Netflix Stream) -- Where to find more?

So here goes, I don't know where to look for this, I don't know if anyone else has tried but here is my idea. I like linux, I have Netflix, I am building a home server... that will have Vista (probable dual boot). I want to know if it is possible for me to use my minipc (AMD Neo x2 325 based, running openSUSE) as a CLIENT to my new server, while it is running Vista, to stream Netflix. Even remotely possible? Anyone have anywhere I could maybe post this that isn't Notebookreview? I tried to do a search for Home Networking Forums but came up with wegotserved, a Windows Home Server forum...

 

Netflix runs on flash, you could use VNC to view the remote desktop, but that's a terrible idea. Why can't you run it on your small machine in standard def? Either way you won't be able to view HD content on it most likely, so I'm trying to figure out what your goal is.

 

I don't care about HD honestly, I am trying to come up with a workaround until Moonlight supports Netflix streaming. I don't want to spend money for 7 (which would run so terribly on a 325 w/ 2gb ram), and have a capable server. I want to run my small machine as a client to the server (think thin client [browser running on server]) to actively use the minipc as my streaming pc.


Making sense yet?

I see what you weren't understanding, the minipc runs ONLY linux, I don't want to buy windows 7 for it... see above.

 

Errr oh netflix is silverlight? Sorry. Now I understand... I still don't know what you'd do besides use VNC, and that's going to be chop city.

 

So have you ever been to a school that used a thin client system? The "thin client" is usually a small ultra low power system that simply sends requests to the server and puts the information on the screen, the server is what takes all the workload. I don't know much about networking but am trying to learn, which is another reason I want to do this instead of the easy way. So the "thin client" aka my minipc would simply display the information from my server, much like VNC except that I am just using the resources, not controlling the system.

Sorry if I am not making this clear, it is a kind of dumb workaround but you can maybe see why I want to do it, I plan to go to school for networking next year but hey might as well have fun now too...

 

I do understand what you're getting at.

The problem is getting a reliable video stream in a format that's not going to choke your amd neo system. The other problem is that you're not dealing with a normal format like a file that you can open and stream normally. Streaming from a plugin in a web browser is a different challenge. That's why I said VNC, but I don't think it's going to give you anything close to acceptable framerates.

Normally if it was silverlight I'd say just bite the bullet and load it in a VM with audio support, but that's not an option on a low power system.

 

I also don't have a copy of XP I thought about VM (something else I don't know much about). So streaming with a DRM loaded plugin will cause problems? That is definitely something that I had in mind. I am going to look into the client/server system some more, see if I can find some more information but honestly don't know where to look.

 

Using a VM is your best bet at this point. You can download Virtualbox, grab a copy of XP Home edition for cheap online and just use that. Running a VM is pretty much foolproof at this point. If you know how to install an OS you won't have trouble creating a VM.

 

Virtual box is how I do all my cant live without windows software. Free and stable and allows me to never have to boot into my windows partition.

 

Netflix or any service/site/source -> record -> recode -> transfer file -> watch anytime.

ps.:
Whoever I asked locally who has or tried netfix told me: there is nothing on it worth watching ..

 

I have had it for probably almost a year, I love it, always something to watch, I don't usually even watch much tv but it is great to just have in the background. I really don't think Virtualbox will run well on this little thing, I would be better off booting into the XP partition. This is obviously not the most practical way to do it but I am looking not just for the end result but the practice itself.

 

Look into a program called PlayOn. You'll need something like djmount for your Linux media center to be able to access the streams.

 

Purely opion based. I love their stream collection and whatever I cant get on xbox or streaming is literally at my door the next day after I request it. All for $8 a month. Well worth it.

My t400 with 2008 tech runs this in a win 7 VM running on 512mb of ram. No chop and it runs really well and only sets me a 30w (much less then running an optical). All in all more then good enough on a WXGA+ screen running at ~1024x600 on the VM.

 

iirc last night someone suggested this Stream media - Opera Unite applications but after looking into it a little more awake it doesn't look like it will serve my purpose