Is Virtualizing multiple Media Centers and WHS on one PC possible?

[scottaudiosc]

I’m moving to a new house with a blank slate for my Media Centers. I have an idea to build a new HTPC in which I run 4 Win7 virtual machines and a WHS. Then distribute to the appropriate rooms in the house and control with iPod touches. My plan is to have a really clean system, which is centrally distributed and done a cheaply (and reliably as possible). All I want in each room is a TV, which will double as the interface for ALL media.

I first have to wire the house, so it will be some time before this comes about, but I was wondering if this may be possible. Seems like it might be cheaper than having 5 separate HTPCs or even running extenders. I really don’t like the extenders since codecs can be a pain…

Is this possible? Any ideas? Has anyone ever attempted this?

[Mike Garcen]

assuming you do virtualize that many sessions, how would you plan on getting each one to its own TV? and also, how would you use any controlling device besides a keyboard/mouse to control JUST that window?

I’m not sure if it’s *technically* feasible, but man that sounds like an *AWFUL* lot of work. Let me ask this–is TV important? As in, are you planning on using the Tuner functions of the MCE system?

and btw, do u mean run a WHS virtual server or a standalone? just asking as it wasn’t clear

[scottaudiosc]

I am assuming that I would install Win7 into 4 virtual guests (either VMware or Virtualbox) running on any host. Also, Install WHS onto another guest. To output video, I would use multiple video cards routed through the host to each guest independently. Sound would be through usb sound cards connected to the virtual machines as well. Also, I would plan on having at least 4 tv tuners for TV. All media would then be shared through the network to each virtual machine. Control would be through ipod touches running AirMouse Pro. This would provide a direct link to control each guest through the home network. By having a full “virtual” media center, I could run 7mc to its full potential.

I’m basically asking if this is feasible to do through only one pc (with tons of ram/video/sound), which would then be distributed to all the rooms of the house. I know it would be a little setup intensive, but I just wasn’t sure if anyone had tried this and if it could save the money of a system similar to an niveus media server with ZoneHDs in each room… Just virtually!

Thanks for the reply…

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