Great application for the GameCube

edwardedd · 07-21-2005, 03:19 PM

I just setup a Pluto Home system (smarthome + media server, plutohome.com, free open source). It’s really cool. It has a streaming movie server, music server, PVR. Plus it does home automation and controls A/V equipment too. There’s only 1 problem…

You designate 1 PC to be the server; they call it the Core. It exposes a network boot image for any other PC in the house, so your PC becomes dual purpose—normal PC, or net boot and it’s a set top box. You control it with Bluetooth mobile phones or web pads. And all the set top boxes in the house work together. Your media even follows you as you move from room to room if you keep the phone on. The problem is I don’t have enough media PCs for all the rooms in my house, and buying a full PC for each room is too expensive. Plus there’s no video cards for the PC that have component video output—which is the only way I can get HDTV into my TV.

The GameCube seems perfect as a media director. It’s a PC inside, right? So why couldn’t it boot like normal as a GameCube, or net boot as a Pluto media director? Then it would be part of a whole house solution that did everything. I could even use the GameCube to turn on my sprinklers if I wanted, and do all sorts of stuff with it. Plus, since Pluto gives it a network boot image, space is no longer an issue—all the software could be stored on the main server. And the GameCube has component video and it’s quiet and cheap.

Does anybody have an idea if it would be possible to use the GameCube as a media director like that, doing a network boot? Then I could just buy a few of the GameCubes rather than having to buy regular PCs.

Bucky · 07-21-2005, 04:46 PM

The first problem I can think of is whether or not the network adapter on the GC is PXE enabled. If it is, then the network card will be capable of going out and getting an OS. Pretty much all PC nics nowadays are, but I kind of doubt that console nics, which are specifically designed for their purpose have something like that enabled, since it would just raise the cost of the component.

I guess what I'm saying here is that I doubt if it will work, but I really have no idea whatsoever.

Nxs · 07-21-2005, 04:48 PM

The second problem would be that the GC does not network well

Akherousin · 07-21-2005, 05:34 PM

Third would be to burn the image on a 8cm mini cd. I don't know anyone who sells those.

SprigganX · 07-22-2005, 12:08 AM

they sell the 8cm dvd's at bestbuy....

Akherousin · 07-22-2005, 03:52 PM

though it's not likely the gamecube would read it unless you modded it.

07-21-2005, 04:46 PM	#2 (permalink)
Bucky Gamershell Grandpa Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Cincinnati, OH, USA Posts: 5,714 Hellbux: 98,184	The first problem I can think of is whether or not the network adapter on the GC is PXE enabled. If it is, then the network card will be capable of going out and getting an OS. Pretty much all PC nics nowadays are, but I kind of doubt that console nics, which are specifically designed for their purpose have something like that enabled, since it would just raise the cost of the component. I guess what I'm saying here is that I doubt if it will work, but I really have no idea whatsoever. __________________ Papajoe r0ckz3rz!!

07-21-2005, 04:48 PM	#3 (permalink)
Nxs Administrator Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 8,278 Hellbux: 144,840	The second problem would be that the GC does not network well __________________

07-21-2005, 05:34 PM	#4 (permalink)
Akherousin is on the 5th circle: Wrath & Sullenness Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Zurich, Switzerland Posts: 1,905 Hellbux: 178 TraumaticA	Third would be to burn the image on a 8cm mini cd. I don't know anyone who sells those. __________________

07-22-2005, 12:08 AM	#5 (permalink)
SprigganX is on the 4th circle: Avarice & Prodigality Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 987 Hellbux: 13,496	they sell the 8cm dvd's at bestbuy.... __________________ Official {TwK} video Join at the Tweakguides forums.

07-22-2005, 03:52 PM	#6 (permalink)
Akherousin is on the 5th circle: Wrath & Sullenness Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Zurich, Switzerland Posts: 1,905 Hellbux: 178 TraumaticA	though it's not likely the gamecube would read it unless you modded it. __________________

07-21-2005, 03:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
edwardedd is on the 1st circle: Limbo Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1 Hellbux: 261	I just setup a Pluto Home system (smarthome + media server, plutohome.com, free open source). It’s really cool. It has a streaming movie server, music server, PVR. Plus it does home automation and controls A/V equipment too. There’s only 1 problem… You designate 1 PC to be the server; they call it the Core. It exposes a network boot image for any other PC in the house, so your PC becomes dual purpose—normal PC, or net boot and it’s a set top box. You control it with Bluetooth mobile phones or web pads. And all the set top boxes in the house work together. Your media even follows you as you move from room to room if you keep the phone on. The problem is I don’t have enough media PCs for all the rooms in my house, and buying a full PC for each room is too expensive. Plus there’s no video cards for the PC that have component video output—which is the only way I can get HDTV into my TV. The GameCube seems perfect as a media director. It’s a PC inside, right? So why couldn’t it boot like normal as a GameCube, or net boot as a Pluto media director? Then it would be part of a whole house solution that did everything. I could even use the GameCube to turn on my sprinklers if I wanted, and do all sorts of stuff with it. Plus, since Pluto gives it a network boot image, space is no longer an issue—all the software could be stored on the main server. And the GameCube has component video and it’s quiet and cheap. Does anybody have an idea if it would be possible to use the GameCube as a media director like that, doing a network boot? Then I could just buy a few of the GameCubes rather than having to buy regular PCs.

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