Topics

16

Installation issues / /tftpboot/pxeboot.cfg/01-<md-mac-address> corrupted

« on: April 08, 2009, 03:36:32 am »

This ground has been plowed in other threads but it's difficult to find from the symptoms so I'm re-iterating it here in the hopes that it will help someone.

Symptom:
A media director that was successfully pxebooting now fails to boot at this line:

Code: [Select]

Trying to Load PXELinux.cfg/01-<md-mac-address>

Cause (in my case at least):
The file /tftpboot/pxeboot.cfg/01-<md-mac-address> was corrupted as follows:

good file:

Code: [Select]

DEFAULT Pluto
LABEL Pluto
KERNEL 94/vmlinuz
APPEND initrd=94/initrd.img ramdisk=10240 rw root=/dev/nfs boot=nfs nfsroot=192.168.80.1:/usr/pluto/diskless/94

bad file:

Code: [Select]

DEFAULT Pluto
LABEL Pluto
LOCALBOOT 0 #ERNEL 94/vmlinuz
APPEND initrd=94/initrd.img ramdisk=10240 rw root=/dev/nfs boot=nfs nfsroot=192.168.80.1:/usr/pluto/diskless/94

Temporary Fix
Just edit the 'LOCALBOOT...' line to read KERNEL <moon#>/vmlinuz.  MD should now pxeboot again.

17

Users / For Some Media Files Audio is Played over SPDIF, others Analog

« on: March 28, 2009, 09:16:12 pm »

Here is what I am seeing:

For the vast majority of video files and (I think) all audio files in my collection sound is played through the coax SPDIF output.  However, for a few video files (perhaps 1 in 100) the audio is played on the analog output only.

Fortunately, both receivers i have used detect the audio source and switch inputs accordingly.  The main problem is that the analog audio is *much* quieter (>24dB) than that over SPDIF.

Has anyone else experienced this?


Here are some technical details:

Sound Hardware (According to alsamixer)
Card: HDA NVidia
Chip: Analog Devices AD1986A

I was able to extract some details from one of the files using VideoInspector.  The other file I had handy was not supported by Video Inspector.  Here is the output from the first one:

Code: [Select]

File Size : 2.23 Gb.

[Movie]
Valid : Yes [Matroska]
Duration : 00:11:00
Movie complete : Yes

[Video]
Resolution : 1080x1040
Codec : MPEG4 ISO advanced
FPS : 25.00
BitRate : 0 Kbps
Quality Factor : 0.00 b/px

[Audio]
Codec : AAC HE
Number of channels : 6
Sample Rate : 48000 Hz
BitRate : 0 Kbps


18

Users / SOLVED: Can't Ctrl Rcvr Vol and No Sound for About 10 s After Playback Started

« on: November 25, 2008, 06:30:57 am »

I was wondering if anyone else can confirm whether they've seen this.

When I start playback of any media the following happens:
    1. for about the first 10 seconds the receiver volume cannot be set using an orbiter
    2. starting after a few seconds the sound cuts out for about 10 seconds then returns for good

I have both a Marantz and Denon receiver that I have used on my hybrid/core. With the Denon, (1) and (2) happen.  With the Marantz only (1) happens.

I have also determined that (1) and (2) only happen for the first item of a playlist.  That is, when a song or video ends and the next item starts playing neither (1) or (2) happen.

Thanks,

Alex

19

Developers / Missing Wikimedia Components; What Happened to the Wiki Admins?

« on: May 29, 2008, 06:40:29 pm »

I am new to LinuxMCE.  I think most new users would agree that the documentation for LinuxMCE, in particular the wiki, could use improvement. 

I have been contributing to the wiki and would like to do more.  The wikimedia installation is missing a few components that allow, for example, easily adding Navboxes.  Navboxes are common in wikipedia.  You can see an example at the bottom of this page (click the show button on the right-hand-side of the powder-blue bars):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU

There are two "wiki admins", Lozzo and Samme, listed on this page:

http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Contacts

I have attempted to contact both Lozzo and Samme and am waiting to here back from them.  I'm not holding my breath as it seem that both Lozzo and Samme have been inactive since late 2007. 

Does anyone know who "has the keys" to the LinuxMCE wiki? 

I really would like to contribute but get the feeling that the wiki infrastructure itself isn't being taken care of by anyone.

Thanks for the help.

Alex

20

Users / Survey: What Graphics Chip is Working for You?

« on: May 25, 2008, 07:19:20 pm »

For those in a hurry, please just answer the questions in bold below.

Hello all,
Anyone who has a working LinuxMCE Media Director, please take the time to answer this survey.  Based on what is in the forums and wiki, it is difficult to select a good linuxmce motherboard.  Narrowing down known-working graphics chips will help a lot in the selection of a motherboard.  At least one of the most recommended and most documented graphics chips (the GeForce 6150 used in the video) is now out-of-production.

Main Survey Questions:

1. What graphics chip is working for you? (if you don't know but know your motherboard model, just put that down)

2. What is the highest definition video that you are successfully playing with this chip?

3. Are you using UI2 with masking or UI2 with alpha blending?

4. What version of LinuxMCE are you using?


Optional Survey Questions:
5. Is your graphics chip on the motherboard or a separate graphics card?

6. What model of motherboard or graphics card are you using?

7. Did you have to perform any special installation steps to get your graphics chip working for you?

8. Is there anything else that you think others should know about your graphics chip?



Thanks for your input.  If I get enough feedback, I will compile this into a nice wiki topic.

Cheers,

Alex

21

Users / New in the Wiki: Alx9r's Sample Setup

« on: May 12, 2008, 06:54:18 pm »

Edit: This thread was originally called "Proposal: Reference Design -- A Complete Description of a Working System".

Hello all,
I am currently building my first LinuxMCE system from scratch.  I think I can contribute something meaningful by completely documenting my design for others (especially newbies) to copy, adapt, and learn from.  I am currently keeping details of my design on my user page here:

http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/User:Alx9r

I have created a proposal to move it to the wiki once it is mature.  The proposal is here:

http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/LinuxMCE_wiki:Community_Portal:Reference_Design_Proposal

Please respond with your thoughts so I can gauge the level of interest in this.

Regards,

Alex