I run a networked system at home. My most recent configuration was with an 'always-on' server and I used fusesmb to browse the network for MythVideo (etc.). The problem with this is that we would get inconsistencies in Video Manager between the FE on the server and the other FEs

The configuration before that I was still using an always on server and had mounted the nfs shares using fstab. The problem with this is that during boot up I would get internal errors related to mounting the shares that would slow the boot time considerably (but once it finally booted mythvideo, mythmusic, etc. all found their shared files without a problem).

One configuration before that I was using only a combined FE/BE and I was using acpi to switch it on and off for recording.

I am now trying to combine all three of the above. I am setting up the server with ACPI, I want consistent file sharing between the FEs and I don't want any problems trying to mount shares during boot up.
I have managed to get the FE waking up the BE (WOL) but logically that means that the FE boots before the server... before I start experimenting what is this going to mean for mounting shares? My gut feeling is that fstab mounted shares won't mount.

Sitting here brainstorming the best solution that I can think of (based on my intermediate knowledge of such matters) is to set up all FE clients with fusesmb including the server (it would look out to the network and then back in on itself I guess). Since fuse allows the samba shares to be browsed I wouldn't need to worry about mounting drives and if I used the network paths on all the FE clients then I should have consistency in Video Manager.

Is there a more elegant way to achieve my desired goal? Has this situation been discussed before? (I have no idea how to google this one "mythtv mount network shares after waking the server")
Just had a thought... how does MythTV access the TV storage directories? You can watch recorded TV no problems after waking up a BE with a FE; can you set up the video and music shares in the same way?

Sorry for the rambling but I am planning to spend this weekend tweaking all the settings. I don't mind a bit of trial and error but I really want to work as efficiently as I can,
Cheers,
Glen