XXHighEnd

Hoping to get some advice from the forum.

I'm configured with the Stealth as audio PC, and the original XXHE PC as music server.  The audio PC and music server are connected to a 4 port ethernet hub.  No DNS gateway, and I configure static IP addresses for the two machines.  The music server uses RDC to control the audio PC.  I've left the display card in the audio PC just in case. 

I would like to add wireless to the music server to get on the internet and start using Tidal. 

Wondering what others have done.  The choices are a wireless card, or USB-WiFi adapter.  The music server is standard Windows 8, and currently running XXHE 2.03a (the first version I think that supported Tidal).  I will upgrade XXHE on the music server.

My particular concern is to be able to connect the music server to the internet without the audio PC being open to the internet.

Would love to know what others have done.

Hi Ramesh,

As how you describe it, it looks like you used this as the base : Re: A secure way to prevent Windows 10 , updates on the audio PC (http://www.phasure.com/index.php?topic=3747.msg40047#msg40047).

Now, since you should have a WiFi transceiver in your router, that's it. And if you don't have that, get yourself a ($25) Wifi access point (connect with cable to the router).
The key of course is in Richard's post (link above).

Regards,
Peter

Here is how I do it (I also think this is how Peter does it):

MusicServer wired into home network and the internet.

AudioPC is direct connected (no router) to the MusicServer via a second ethernet port in the MusicServer.  I have slotted in a PCIe card that gives me the second ethernet port.  Across this direct connection I have set static IP's both ends and made sure that there is no internet access from the AudioPC by not specifying a DNS Gateway.

iPad is connected by wifi to the home network.

I RDC from the iPad into the MusicServer to run Tidal and rip cd's.  From the MusicServer I RDC into the AudioPC to play music...so two daisy chained RDC's all operated from the iPad.

It works really well.  Both theMusicServer and AudioPC have no graphics card or mouse or keyboard and the setup is quite stable.

Hope this helps.

Thank you Anthony. Yes, I have it the same except that this setup allows for the DNS server to be present. This is because the Audio PC can not pass through (and back) to the router by this setup. This only happens when you explicitly (sfotware) "bridge" the two LAN Adapters in the Music Server PC (and then things won't work in the end because of lacking services for that hence XXHighEnd needs adjustment to let such a setup operate - at this moment the RDC connection will be lost (unrecoverable) when Unattended Playback starts).

Regards,
Peter

My setup is a little different from what Richard or Peter/Anthony have.

The audio PC and music server are connected only with a switch--essentially direct wired, with no router.  What I was thinking of doing is adding wireless to the music server (maybe with a USB to WiFi adapter) and connecting the music server via wireless to the home network, and also allow me to use RDC to music server from a tablet.

I think this should work. I do not have a wired ethernet port near the audio PC and music server.  I tried powerline ethernet and it was a disaster.

Ramesh