What is your server choice? Pros and Cons

Much like a lot of other people I have started to delve into the CS scene and have succesfully managed to setup a share on DM500 and on a Linux PC/Laptop (Both for experimental puposes) thanks to tuts on here and other similar forums. Personally I cannot tell the diference in quality for the end user in the picture they recieve ie both methods offer glitch free and stable images. So why would anyone chose a Linux PC/Laptop setup over a dm500 setup?

If you take the cost of hardware into account then its a no brainer, dm500 is the cheapest option, quality of picture is the same so that doesnt justify the extra expence for a PC/Laptop server.

The Only thing I can possibly think of is maybe the amount of clients one can have (from what i have read), I believe a dm500 is limited to between 20-30 clients (if you wish to offer a stable picture) and the Linux PC/Laptop option theoretically allows the share to accomodate a lot more clients (how many i am not sure as am yet to find anyone talking figures on this subject) ... is this true?

Also what about security (traceability)... which method is more secure in your opinion and why? ... I know about dyndns options for hiding IP but for those that know how you can still track an IP with just the dyndns name

afaik it will just increase the number of clients you can handle.

The dyndns certainly does not hide your ip address and the pc server will definately not increase security at all

Mark_The_Yid said:

afaik it will just increase the number of clients you can handle.

The dyndns certainly does not hide your ip address and the pc server will definately not increase security at all

Click to expand...

So how can you increase security on a share?

I've read about VPN but don't you have to have it installed on host aswell as client box for it to be completely secure? if so then this isnt always possible as the "non-open source" linux boxes such as Openbox and Spiderbox etc wouldnt allow you to do this, I have seen VPN plugins on Dreamboxes only.

Better to configure the VPN on the firewall IMHO - saves a lot of faffing around

Him Her said:

Better to configure the VPN on the firewall IMHO - saves a lot of faffing around

Click to expand...

Now we are getting somewhere lol ... how would this be done?

Lets say I am using a service such as OpenVPN how would one set up their system so that there is no interference with the actual share with their clients?

BigMAQ said:

Now we are getting somewhere lol ... how would this be done?

Lets say I am using a service such as OpenVPN how would one set up their system so that there is no interference with the actual share with their clients?

Click to expand...

Usually the box from the ISP is not particularly bright but you can replace it with summat else and forgo the 'support'. A Draytek router will provide the necessary with wireless built-in too if you need. They're cheaper if you buy direct from Seg usually. A Vigor 2110 will likely do all you need at around £120.

Although the spec. may not mention compatibility with your ISP I've installed them on pretty much everything. You just call the ISP and ask for router configuration parameters.

These work for Orange (and most others):

encapsulation:

PPP over ATM

multiplexing method:

VC-Based

virtual circuit:

VPI=0
VCI=38

modulation:

Multi mode

authentication:

CHAP

MTU (Maximum Transmission Unit)

In case of problems with a third party router, change MTU to 1492 (Livebox default setting)

Then configure the VPN on the Draytek - I'd stick with PPTP as older versions of Windows don't like IPsec much. Most recent versions of Windows have a PPTP client built in.

Haven't tried OpenVPN I just set up direct tunnels...

Tbh that's all a bit much for a private server between family and friends, just change all default ports and passwords, and it will be fine

Sent from my X10i using Tapatalk

BigMAQ said:

The Only thing I can possibly think of is maybe the amount of clients one can have (from what i have read), I believe a dm500 is limited to between 20-30 clients (if you wish to offer a stable picture) and the Linux PC/Laptop option theoretically allows the share to accomodate a lot more clients (how many i am not sure as am yet to find anyone talking figures on this subject) ... is this true?

Click to expand...

A 500s does a fairly good job as a server but it lacks memory and as a result it can crash or CCcam can drop connections.
Running Oscam and CCcam together on a 500s is even more demanding and Oscam releases are constantly increasing in size.

I'm considering setting up a linux server to replace my 500s when I get time ,I'm not sure if it will offer improved performance but I have nothing to lose as I have a few old pcs laying idle.

I have seen a DM500 running with 49 active clients and there was no glitching. Reading a white card with 12mb broadband.

theblueirish said:

I have seen a DM500 running with 49 active clients and there was no glitching. Reading a white card with 12mb broadband.

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49 active clients ,wow thats a huge amount for
a)white card and
b)a Dm500 server

Thought that too.
Over 30 of the clients were watching the one channel (Setanta Ireland when Man U were on)

theblueirish said:

Thought that too.
Over 30 of the clients were watching the one channel (Setanta Ireland when Man U were on)

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Ah that explains it so,the ecm's were cached ,30 people watching the same channel is effectively only 1 ecm.
I have read that the whitecard struggles when it has to decode > 15 different channels simultaneously .15 unique ecm's.
Not that I've ever had a chance to test this .:grayno:

lots of myths going about. take it from me a white card will easily handle 100 clients.

dm500 will handle 80 clients safley.

see where im going with this....

oscam uses ecm cache as well....
pc server much much better.....


i build em and use atom.based systems with 1 gig ram etc and these easily handle 350 clients with 4 cards, using smargo readers.


people think a quad core will run beterr!!!! save your money use low power atom based boards...

if a dream box can runn 100ish clients you dont need quadcore lol.


got my strawberry pi on order wait till i have that running.......

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2

TheCheekyMonkey said:

lots of myths going about. take it from me a white card will easily handle 100 clients.

dm500 will handle 80 clients safley.

see where im going with this....

oscam uses ecm cache as well....
pc server much much better.....


i build em and use atom.based systems with 1 gig ram etc and these easily handle 350 clients with 4 cards, using smargo readers.


people think a quad core will run beterr!!!! save your money use low power atom based boards...

if a dream box can runn 100ish clients you dont need quadcore lol.


got my strawberry pi on order wait till i have that running.......

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2

Click to expand...

So ave yo got your PI up & running m8?

sorry for late reply, yeah all working great, im actually gonan use it simply as a proxy reader for a vps server, scatter a few about luverly jubberly