[HOW-TO] Roon and RoonServer on Windows Server 2012 R2

[NAIDIVER]

...welcome you are! :-)

 

Hi.

Roon on Wins2012R2 via AO, is it only for a new version of AO? I bought AO around sep2015. Can it do that?

[NAIDIVER]

I finally had some time to get myself "into" Roon last night. Roon & Windows Server have somewhat worked in the past, but the overall experience to get it working was not very convenient. These steps were needed to get Roon or RoonServer working on Windows Server 2012 R2:

 

- Add the Windows Role "Essentials Experience" (which actually converts a standard edition into an essentials edition)

- Add the "Windows Server Essentials Media Pack"

 

So i used the last night to get rid of all this inconvenient steps, and yes it does even work in Minimal-Server Mode now. I focused my testings on RoonServer and these are the needed steps to get a Roon Core working on Windows Server 2012 R2 (no matter if GUI or minimal-server Mode):

 

- Install Windows Server 2012 R2

- Install AudiophileOptimizer 2.00

- Install your DAC Driver

- Install RoonServer

- Stay in GUI mode or switch to minimal-server mode

- Run AudiophileOptimizer in advanced or ultimate mode

- Say yes to "Install Kernel-Streaming and MediaPlayer support"

- Say yes to "Add roon support"

- Say no to "disable network related services"

- Do not disable Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI)

 

 

Enjoy,

Phil

 

 

OPENGL WARNING: If your graphic card driver for Server 2012/2012 R2 offers no OpenGL support (and you get OpenGL Errors when you start Roon) there is nothing AO could do against it. AO cannot change or extend the functionality of a graphic card driver.

 

Consider using RoonServer instead of Roon or switch to Windows 10 if no OpenGL compatible graphic card driver is available for server 2012/2012 R2.

Hi. Phil

How can i check my vga card, supporting open gl or not?

My mainboard is msi h97 with vga onboard.

Does it support open gl.

 

Another question is..

If i change OS to wins10,how about it?

Is it sound good as 2012R2?

 

Ps

Because AO 2.0 can work with both of 10 and 2012. For the roon case, i think 2012 will cause me more a lot of trouble in the future because it is not friendly with some new up coming softwares at least Roon for example.

[NAIDIVER]

Easy - Check with the Video card or MB Vendor - there should be something on their site stating specifications. If not drop an email to their support asking.

 

 

I have run Roon, RoonServer, and RoonBridge all on 2012R2. Run Roon where OpenGL support is, RoonServer for devices that do not support OpenGL, and RoonBridge for the Client/Server architecture Roon was designed for.

 

If 2012R2 is too difficult to use/admin etc. then run Windows 10.

 

Thanks dtb300

You meant that you run roon on 2012R2 with no AO2.0, is that correct?

It means that i have to install roon server and then it ready to go, isn't it?

[NAIDIVER]

Nope, never said that. AO is needed for 2012R2 for player/playback support.

 

Ok thanks dtb300 ^^

[NAIDIVER]

Hi all

 

Sorry dtb300, you are correct about OpenGL but you are not correct about core mode, experience Role and Media Pack.

 

- No version of Roon will work in Core Mode (yet).

- All version of Roon will work on Server 2012 R2 in GUI & minimal server mode, with the help of AO 2.00.

- If you use AO 2.00 you don't need to install the Essentials Experience Role nor the Essentials Media Pack

- If you don't use AO 2.00 on Server 2012 R2 Roon will only work in GUI mode and not all file types (like MP3)

will work, even if Roon officially supports Server 2012 R2.

- Not AO or anything else can add missing OpenGL support to a graphic card driver. Only the vendor of the graphic card can do that.

 

Everything is described in Detail in Post #1 of this thread.

 

Background info: Technically the Essentials Role is not needed at all, but it's a prerequisite for the Essentials Media Pack. AO 2.00's Roon Support feature will install the Essentials Media Pack without the unneeded Essentials Role. Aside from that AO 2.00 will also install all other needed Windows components to make Roon work for 100%, including playback all file types like MP3 etc.

 

Best,

Phil

 

Thank you, Phil

It's all clear for me now. I plan to buy the 2.0 next month.

By the way... a little bit discount for old customers for upgrading to 2.0 would be very very appreciated.. ^^ lol!!!

Don't blame me. I'm just kidding. ^^

[NAIDIVER]

very welcome

 

baah, we had discount during the pre-order phase!

 

thanks Phil. ^^