Topics

1

Users / Building a snapshot

« on: February 09, 2011, 07:23:29 pm »

Hey all,

I would like to understand how the snapshots get build. I have done some searching (wiki, forum, web) and I can't find any information about building them. The web was less than usefull because the only information that came up about snapshots were camera related.

Is it a complicated process?
Is it a particular piece of software that creates them?
Can they be used as a backup tool and is there any advantage to this?

There are probably other questions that will arise from this conversation but that is all for now.

Thanks,

<M>

2

Users / UI2A size issue...yes size does matter. :-)

« on: January 31, 2011, 01:24:03 pm »

Hello All,

I have a CRT projection TV (Toshiba 16x9 widescreen HDTV) and I am wondering if there is a way to adjust the size of the GUI in UI2A while leaving the overscan/tv Picture alone.  For example, in MythTV, you can adjust the overscan to make sure that the screen is filled and then you can reduce the size of the GUI seperately if you cant quite see all the buttons.  I went through the AV Wizard and I could not get the screen to adjust to fit my TV.  I could make the image smaller and I could move it up/down and left/right.  I understand that this is normal and it's fine.  The issue is this...if I reduce the size of the image so that it fits from the top to the bottom, it is two narrow and it leaves a stripe down each side and is very disturbing to watch.  If adjust the image to fit from side to side, then it is too tall to fit the screen.  The biggest problem with the latter is that I can't see all the buttons on the UI2A.  I like the screen size for watching TV, but it would be cool if I could reduce the size of the UI2A then I could see all the buttons and my TV picture would still look correct.

I could replace the TV with a LCD and the issue would be resolved but that is a year or more away.

Clear as Mud?

Thanks for your help,

<M>

3

Users / HDD Backup

« on: January 28, 2011, 11:44:02 pm »

Since I am fairly new to Linux, I have some questions about backing up my LMCE system.

I have read on the web about using "tar" to grab what I need to a file and save it on a drive.  This seems simple and easy enough to recover using the LMCE install disk as a live Kubuntu OS.

Anyone have any better ideas.  I would like it to be simple and easy to recover from if I crash my LMCE system.  I also want to use it for LMCE 1004.  I would install Kubuntu 10.04, run all the updates/upgrades, backup my drive and start playing with LMCE.

Thanks,

<M>

4

Installation issues / [Updated] -- Diskless Setup Failed -- again...

« on: January 28, 2011, 02:54:16 pm »

Scenario:
   -- successful Kubuntu (LMCE) DVD install of snapshot 23661 (23670 was only 3.0 G)
   -- apt-get update/dist-upgrade w/o editing sources.list
   -- apt-get install subversion
   -- svn co http://svn.linuxmce.org/svn/branches/LinuxMCE-0810/src/new-installer
   -- double clicked LinuxMCE on Desktop
   -- rebooted upon completion
   -- installed HVR-1600 and setup MythTV successfully (watched/recorded TV)
   -- apt-get install libdvdcss2
   -- ran apt-get update/upgrade with no packages needed or installed
   -- rebooted
   -- ran Diskless_CreateTBZ.sh -- FAILED (MythTV issue -- CTRL-C to exit
   -- manually edited sources.list to add deb http://deb.linuxmce.org/ubuntu replacements_debian main
   -- ran apt-get update (new packages installed) apt-get upgrade (no packaged installed)
   -- ran Diskless_CreateTBZ.sh -- SUCCESS!!!  :-)
   -- rebooted

At this point, I have connected two different PCs neither one will install successfully.  One PC is an old laptop that worked as a MD when I had snapshot 23614 installed (somehow I broke this system trying to set up MythTV and couldn't fix it and I couldn't get it to install successfully again so I downloaded a new snapshot and started all over). The other PC is one that I built for Mythbuntu that is attached to my home theater systems and works like a charm. Neither will do a successful MD boot.  They both get to the point of running Diskless_Setup.sh but then fail within seconds with Diskless Setup Failed.  I have searched the wiki and forum and I have had no success in fixing this.  I can find the MD in webadmin.

I have tried the following:
   -- deleting them and letting them go from scratch
   -- filling in the blanks and rebuilding image
   -- checked to make sure they are listed as i386
   -- checked /usr/pluto/bin/files.d/fstab-diskless for the double quote at the end of mkdir*****/Asterisk line
   -- checked for i386.tar.bz2 and amd64.tar.bz2in /usr/pluto/install
   -- removed wireless usb-nic from my Mythbuntu rig prior to net-booting it.
   -- checked to make sure that sudo nano /usr/pluto/diskless/MD#/etc/hosts included 192.168.80.1 dcerouter
   -- DHCP is turned on in webadmin, the router is set to 192.168.80.1 and all the IP ranges are all filled in.

These are the things that I found in the wiki and forum to try.  Most of them are older issues that have since been dealt with in later snapshots.  I'm at a total loss as to where to go from here.  I really don't want to do a complete reinstall of my system since this is the furthest I have ever gotten.

Any help is appreciated.  If I need to post some specs or log files, tell me what you need and I will post.

Thanks,

<M>
   

5

Users / Moneual Lab MonCaso 932P HTPC Case

« on: January 21, 2011, 01:37:51 pm »

Is anyone using this case or similar? <http://www.directron.com/moneual902.html>
The touch screen uses a D-sub cable that exits through the back of the case to connect to the video card and an internal USB cable that connects to the motherboard.  I know that to get the touch panel working there has to be Linux drivers it.  Moneual Lab's website seems to be down so I can't find out if linux drivers exist or even who makes the screen. (3M maybe?)
The other issue would be, can LMCE support two monitors on the same machine with two different UIs?  In other words, (if the touch screen works) can you have the UI1 on the touch screen and use it simlar to an orbitor, and have the UI2B on your main out (hdmi, component, etc)?  I don't know how usefull this would be but it is a cool case.

Thanks,

<M>

6

Users / HDD usage and Snapshot questions...

« on: January 21, 2011, 01:16:22 pm »

1> I have a media director with a 20GB HDD installed.  I use this HDD to be able to boot the machine into Ubuntu for HW testing so if I am having an issue with the box in MD mode (net booted), I can easily see if it's hardware related or software/driver related. When I boot it into MD mode, the core detects the drive and asks if I want the it to use the drive. I'm not sure what the core will do with it.  My assumption is that it will mount it and use it for storage (not very usefull since this is only a 20GB HDD).  Is my assumption accurate or does it use it for some other purpose?

2> Are the latest snapshot revisions that are available for download here <http://linuxmce.iptp.org/snapshots/> just updates to the install scripts or do they also include software or hardware updates?

Thanks,

<M>

7

Users / Telephony question

« on: January 19, 2011, 06:30:21 pm »

I don't use VOIP. I would like to use LMCE to see CallerID on the screen and to possibly replace my answering machine.  Can I interface my analog phone line with LMCE through a data/fax/voice modem?  I have read on the wiki and it looks like LMCE can interface with analog phone lines both inside and outside the house. But all it talks about is using outboard equipment like Linksys SPA3102. Is it possible to do it with a data/fax/voice modem or does it have to be a specialized interface. I'm not looking to actually make phone calls with this.

Thanks,

M.

8

Users / Question about install scripts and snapshots...

« on: January 19, 2011, 04:02:29 pm »

All,
Is install script that is referenced in the internet install instrucitions for 810 the same version that is in the latest DVD snapshot? Also, if I apt-get update and/or upgrade, does it download the latest install script or do I need to get it from here - http://svn.linuxmce.org

I know that could always edit it myself if it is a small change.  I'm slowly learning my around the svn.



Thanks,

M.

9

Installation issues / [Solved] New Failure netbooting MD -- nVidia driver related

« on: January 19, 2011, 02:45:59 am »

Snapshot 23614 - Core running well--core has integrated Intel GPU.  I successfully netbooted a laptop that did not have an nVidia GPU.  I built my MD with an Intel core 2 duo, 4 GB ram, nVidia Geforce 9400GT.  It boots until it tries to install the nVidia driver then it says that it has missing dependencies for 195 and reboots.  It reboots and starts the process all over.  The screen goes by quicker than I can see what it is really saying.  I dropped a 20 GB HD in the MD and installed Kubuntu 8.10 and I can successfully install the 195 drivers.  This also lets me know the the computer functions correctly. All I have found in the forum so far refers to this -- http://svn.linuxmce.org/trac.cgi/changeset/23588.  I checked and my install script seems to be okay.  This MD is the only computer I have with an nVidia GPU.
Any thoughts?
Thanks,
M.

10

Installation issues / [Solved-not really sure why] -- Diskless Setup failed

« on: January 16, 2011, 08:28:46 pm »

Hello All, I have a core and a media director. The installation of LMCE for the core seemed fine. I ran the "Diskless" install script and that seemed to go well.  My MD is my old MythTV box. It tries to netboot for the MD but the screen says "Diskless Setup failed" just a few seconds after it says "Running Diskless_Setup.sh". I found a few things on the wiki and in the forum but none of them seem to work.  What I have tried detailed here (http://forum.linuxmce.org/index.php?topic=8425.msg61787#msg61787) and here (http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Diskless_setup_failed_error_in_0810_beta). Everything seems to be in order according to what I read but it doesn't work. I don't know what information I need to post (logs or whatever) to ask for help. If you tell me what I need to post, I will do my best.

Thanks,
M.

11

Users / Dual NIC issue...

« on: January 16, 2011, 01:35:11 pm »

Good Morning All, Backgroud -- I downloaded and am installing snapshot LinuxMCE-8.10-23614-i386.iso 13-Jan-2011 16:16  3.5G. I have two NICs, one built in (primary) and one on a PCI expansion slot (secondary).  I read in the wiki that you need the primary connected to the internet for the install. Or, just to be safe, connect both. I connected both.  The install into Kubuntu went fine.  The update and dist-upgrade went okay but seemed slow. When I ran the LMCE installer script on the desktop, things really got bound up.  I also noticed that I was having trouble connecting to the internet. All the other machines on the network could connect fine so it wasn't my home network. I disconnected the secondary nic and the installation went fine.  I am at the point of the installation after the av wizard but before the set-up wizard (screen is black with big white letters telling me that it is installing stuff like Pluto Text to Speech, etc).  It seems that all the activity on the NICs is now on the secondary.  I plugged the secondary back in because when I rebooted after running the install script, it got hung up on looking for an IP address on the secondary. Once I plugged it back in, it went on its merry way. According to what I understand, after the installation is complete, the primary nic runs the LMCE network (media directors, NAS, DHCP, and all that) and the secondary nic is for internet connectivity.
So this is my question.  Having the primary NIC connected to the internet during the initial install (ie, running the install script on the Kubuntu desktop) and the secondary NIC connected after that would be a normal indication?
Thanks,

M

12

Users / HDHomeRun-Dual vs. WinTV-HVR-2250 vs. HD-5500

« on: January 12, 2011, 06:57:18 pm »

I'm slowly narrowing down my gear list.  One final piece of the puzzle is the tuner/capture device.  I have done quite a bit of research into these and I have narrowed the list down to the three listed in the title.  The top pick for me is the WinTV-HVR-2250 for the following reasons:

Dual Tuners with a single cable in one slot. (I like neat installations)
It has a couple of quirks but I know what they are and I am successfully using one in my MythTV system

I know that there are advantages/disadvantages for all of them but the information that I am looking for is more about which one works best with the LMCE software.  Is there one that is better supported than the others?  My understanding is that they are all plug-n-play but does one work within LMCE better than the others.

Thanks,

M.

13

Users / Correct image?

« on: January 12, 2011, 06:27:14 pm »

Is this the correct image for downloading the installation DVD?

LinuxMCE-8.10-23605-i386.iso 12-Jan-2011 08:16  2.2G

It was listed at the bottom of this page:

http://linuxmce.iptp.org/snapshots/

Thanks,

M.

14

Users / Hardware that I would like opinions on.

« on: January 11, 2011, 08:15:04 pm »

I am reposting this now that I can put links to the hardware.

Thanks Uplink!!!  

I am thinking of buying the following hardware to build a hybrid core.  This will eventually be moved into a core only position with media directors when I can buy more hardware.  I am limited on what video cards I can use as my entertainment system is based on component video.  I can upgrade later.

MB -- http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0314336
Proc -- http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0314336
GPU -- http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0310468
Memory -- 4 or more GB of DDR2-1066

Thanks,

M.

15

Users / Posting Links -- I'm looking for a clarification.

« on: January 11, 2011, 03:44:32 pm »

I was getting ready to post a question about some computer components that I would like some opinions on.  I included links in the post but the system kicked it back.  Obviously, I could change the links to hxxp://yada.yada/yada.  But I didn't want to get yelled at by breaking a rule.  So, if I want to put a link to something that I want an option on, and if I am not selling or advertising anything, is that Okay?  Or do I have to just cut and past the specs which would make for a very long post.

Thanks,

M.