That would be perfect! +1!

I have seen this (client/server) request so many times, and I still wonder what people are really getting at. Running in the background is usually a method to limit and control resources, such as CPU priority. Other than that, what advantage is there of running in the background vs. running in a minimized window (which could also be made to be hidden)?

DVDP already has a true client server mode. Both the client and server run in the foreground. But in a multitasking OS, that doesn't matter much, right? What am I missing?

Do you really mean running as a service? Even so, what advantages does that offer?

As for me, I run a DVDP on a Windows Server, which is available 24x7. I couldn't care or tell the difference if DVDP were running as a service, or in the background, or in the foreground, either minimized or not - cause it is on a headless server anyway. I put it in Start Programs, so that it starts up whenever the server is rebooted. DVDP and backup could also be controlled as simple scheduled tasks, available in all Windows systems.

Quoting mediadogg:

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I have seen this request so many times, and I still wonder what people are really getting at.

They wan't to edit profiles profiles from server. Downloading layouts from server would be nice too.

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DVDP already has a true client server mode. Both the client and server run in the foreground. But in a multitasking OS, that doesn't matter much, right? What am I missing?

You can only view profiles and change Personalize data using client.

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Do you really mean running as a service? Even so, what advantages does that offer?

For example, services start at boot. Login is not required.

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As for me, I run a DVDP on a Windows Server, which is available 24x7. I couldn't care or tell the difference if DVDP were running as a service, or in the background, or in the foreground, either minimized or not - cause it is on a headless server anyway.

How do you connect your server? Using RDP? If you use RDP, it has a limitation of two simultanious connections, unless you have actual Server OS with a RDS server role installed. Of course server OS cost a "bit" more than workstation version of Windows and you have to buy RDS CALs for clients etc. It gets quite expensive to setup RDS application shares, so you don't have to open RDS desktop client each time.

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I put it in Start Programs, so that it starts up whenever the server is rebooted.

There are several ways to start process as a service during start up. Which one you use? If you just move DVDP to Startup folder it don't start unless you login. All users (most?) don't wan't their servers to autologin.

Ok, all valid responses. My replies:

- Yes, I use a real Windows Server OS (Windows Server Essentials and WHS 2011). I forgot that most people don't want to do that, and the cost is a legitimate concern. But once you do, the server and any apps you want are always available, regardless of whether any user is logged on. There is a hidden Administrator that is always logged on, and you can't explicitly use it, although you can assign administrative privileges to another user that typically logs in to do stuff. So DVDP runs as normally in this mode, and all my clients just use the shared database based n the IP address / port. No need for additional RDP sessions.

- Your definition of "true" client server is your own. Client / Server specifies a paradigm for operation, but the number and extent of functionality is arbitrary. So DVDP has perfectly valid client / server. But it is missing a specific set of functions that you want - I get your point on that.

- A plugin could provide much of the functionality talked about here, along with a script that packages and runs DVDP as a service. I have seen internet posts on methods to do that. In fact some plugins already do some of this. In my case, LoadDVD and LoadDVD Pro have an Automation protocol that sends commands and responses over IP and specific port. For example, you can request the execution of a Command file, retrieval of a profile XML string, select a specific DVD profile, and I have other functions in test. I could make it do any of the things that have been mentioned, but my purpose has not been to generalize it so far. If you want to try it, you can send a string such as "[XML]" to the IP address: port of your server, and LoadDVD will send you the XML string for the currently selected profile back. That is just an example. See more details here.

I would love to see one of the real plugin wizards make a robust version of this concept (I won't mention any names, heh heh  )

I know that some developers have scripting engines and SQL APIs built using plugins. I do not know if anyone has developed a comprehensive data model that includes all the profile info from XML, DP_VARS and other metadata about the database and system configuration (paths to images, database names and sizes, etc.)

Quoting mediadogg:

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Yes, I use a real Windows Server OS (Windows Server Essentials and WHS 2011).

Real Server OS, hardly  But that's beside the point.

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No need for additional RDP sessions.

Unless you want to edit your profiles too, which I think most of the DVDP users like to do. Then your only option for multi user is MS RDS server or Citrix XenDesktop/XenApp, but in that case we are talking about real server solutions which cost real money, and a lot of it.

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- Your definition of "true" client server is your own. Client / Server specifies a paradigm for operation, but the number and extent of functionality is arbitrary. So DVDP has perfectly valid client / server. But it is missing a specific set of functions that you want

I beg to differ on this one. You can get two DVDPs communicate in some level, but it's not a real server/client solution.

Quoting Kulju:

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Quoting mediadogg:

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Yes, I use a real Windows Server OS (Windows Server Essentials and WHS 2011).

Real Server OS, hardly  But that's beside the point.

True - but what about this: Imagine a Linux-version of the server-part, capable of running on a NAS (Synology and/or Buffalo)? Now THAT would be cool!

Okay, I'll go and take my pills now... 

Quoting mediadogg:

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Or DJ Doena will do it one day while half asleep, watching a movie and eating dinner. Fastest programmer I have ever seen ...

Quoting mediadogg:

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With all due respect Rander, that seems to be the typical response: "oh that would be cool!"

But with a few exceptions, nobody talks about what they would actually do with it - in other words, what functions need to be there, and why?

(Don't take this personally, I mean the following comments - in general, ok)
I see so many posts where people don't even take advantage of what DVDP already has, and plugins, and HTML sections. I wonder just how many people are empowered to take advantage of, say, a SQL-based API to a DVDP database server. The most likely of those, could probably create their own - and in fact, probably already have. I get the impression that many users don't even take advantage of command files, don't understand filters, layouts, reports and HTML sections. There is an incredible amount of feature in those tools.
(Ok, general comments off.)

So, just for grins, please describe what YOU would do with it (that you can't do now with existing tools)? Not trying to pick on you - just hoping I steer the conversation in the direction of describing what is needed - that will definitely increase the chances of getting it, right?

If DVDP would use a MySQL database to store its data, I could setup my homepage to access that data directly from it without the need of doing an export and import.