Choosing Locations
Where to place your LinuxMCE components
Media Directors
Media Directors are easy. They usually connect to a TV and should be placed next to the TV, just like a DVD player or a VCR. The Media Directors do have computers inside and need ventilation, so you cannot put them in an enclosed cabinet (unless you put some ventilation fans in the back, which can be rather noisy). The ideal placement, therefore, is on an open shelf. Media Directors should have stylish, small cases (such as high quality brushed aluminum), so they will look good anywhere you put them.
The Core server
The LinuxMCE Core requires a bit more consideration. First, remember that your phone lines and your internet connection (DSL/cable modem/router, etc.) will need to plug into the Core.
Normally all the CAT5 cabling in your house will terminate in a central wiring closet. Hopefully your internet connection, phone lines, alarm panel, lighting control system, etc., all terminate here as well. If thgis is the case, this is the logical place to put the Core.
For more information about types of wiring, see wiring considerations.
On the other hand, if the LinuxMCE Core is not located close to the place where all your cat 5 cables are located, then the LinuxMCE Core will be connected into the switch using whatever cable you have running through your walls. If this is the high-speed cat5e/6, this is not a problem--the Core will still be able to feed 100 simultaneous movies into your switch. However, cat 5e/6 is not very common in homes. Normal cat 5 is nearly always used. Therefore, if the LinuxMCE Core is connected to the switch using a cat 5 cable, the LinuxMCE Core will only be able to feed about 7 simultaneous movies at one time, because that is the limit of the cable. Keep this in mind when deciding where you put the Core. You do not need to worry about running out of bandwidth for audio and phone calls. Those take up very small amounts, so even if the LinuxMCE Core is connected with only cat 5 cabling, you will still be able to have hundreds of simultaneous phone calls, and dozens of different music throughout the house.
The other consideration when choosing the location of the LinuxMCE Core is that it needs to stay cool. It is a powerful, multi-processor commercial server. Be sure to put it somewhere where the temperature will not exceed 75 F/24 C. In fact, the cooler the better for all electronics. Your other electronic devices, such as lighting systems, and so on, will also run more reliably when they are in a cool place.
The Orbiters are easy. Put them wherever you want to control the system. They are wireless and battery operated. They are available with either a table-top cradle, or a wall-mount cradle. Either way, the cradle needs only electrical power so it can charge the Orbiters batteries.
