Considering coming back to LinuxMCE ... Status of 1004 support for Intel graphic

[JaseP]

I'm considering coming back to LinuxMCE, specifically for the 1004 version. I was kinda rigging my own thing up to now. But I have a question about the status of 1004 support for Intel graphics. Are Intel GMA 945 series graphics working out of the box on 1004 at this point. Audio support for Intel chips??? And can a LinuxMCE box work as a secondary controller for a MCV Vera (vers. 1)

Also, is the playback on LinuxMCE now VLC, or is it still Xine-based??? Are all the Haupaugge cards that are supported in K/Ubuntu supported in LinuxMCE as well (HVA 1600, specifically)

And, has anyone tried intergrating an Obi110 ATA into LinuxMCE's Asterisk support (I have an SPA-3102, also)

I know these are a lot of questions, but I'd like to know... Also, I'm studying for the RHCSA/RHCE certs, and so might be helpful when it comes to system config and beta testing on 1004...

Thanx,...

[hari]

secondary should work fine, just send a "download configuration" command to the z-wave device itself from the webadmin. Then you can add the node from vera.

[JaseP]

Thanks for the reply,...

Good to know about the secondary controller status... MCV has been crapping the bed when it comes to supporting their devices and rolling out new fixes. I refuse to update past their UI2 on Vera1 because of that & their security model...

So LinuxMCE would just pick up the z-wave devices/scenes automatically, or do they need to be set up in LinuxMCE's web portal setup??? It's been ages since I played with LMCE...

Also, anyone with Intel GMA945 experience with LMCE 1004??? That was the show stopper for me a few years ago...

By the way, if anyone doesn't know about the Obi110 ATA, it's a POTS to VOIP bridge, similar to the SPA-3102, and actually developed by the same people.  Very easy to set up,... And I'm thinking that LMCE's Asterisk implementation could be set up along side Google Voice as the second available service for the thing.  Real cheap too. $50 US as opposed to $70 US for the Sipura/Lynksys ATA.

[merkur2k]

intel support has not changed. there has been some progress towards ati support, but nvidia is still where its at. are you going to let lack of a $20 video card keep you from this project?

[sambuca]

The playback is still xine-based, although there is a mplayer device too, but it is only used in a few cases.

I don't know anything about the obi 110 ata, but the SPA3102 works. Some manual config is needed though. (It is on my list of fixes/changes to look into)

br,
sambuca

[bongowongo]

Thanks for the reply,...

Good to know about the secondary controller status... MCV has been crapping the bed when it comes to supporting their devices and rolling out new fixes. I refuse to update past their UI2 on Vera1 because of that & their security model...

So LinuxMCE would just pick up the z-wave devices/scenes automatically, or do they need to be set up in LinuxMCE's web portal setup??? It's been ages since I played with LMCE...

Also, anyone with Intel GMA945 experience with LMCE 1004??? That was the show stopper for me a few years ago...

By the way, if anyone doesn't know about the Obi110 ATA, it's a POTS to VOIP bridge, similar to the SPA-3102, and actually developed by the same people.  Very easy to set up,... And I'm thinking that LMCE's Asterisk implementation could be set up along side Google Voice as the second available service for the thing.  Real cheap too. $50 US as opposed to $70 US for the Sipura/Lynksys ATA.

GMA945 I have no idea, it is quite an old chipset. I have had succes with the GMA 3150 in 1004, see the wiki, shuttle x50v2

[JaseP]

I believe the 3150 & the 945 use the same Intel driver. Essentially, the 3150 is an "evolved" 945. So, as long as the system, including the LMCE bits, detects and configures for "intel" as the driver, there should be no problem, software-wise at least. Playback quality may be a different story.

It might help Intel users to initially install Ubuntu,  rather than Kubuntu, and just install the Kubuntu pieces over Ubuntu. I had a similar issue trying to install other Ubuntu variants, and starting from a Ubuntu as a base install helped. I don't know how "touchy" LMCE gets about what's installed as a base system, though.

The SPA-3102 requiring manual installation/configuration actually is encouraging for Obi110 support. The devices are VERY similar, except for the extra Ethernet port on the SPA-3102, and the higher voltage requirements of the Obi110 (related to driving the ringer on the attached phone). As I said, the design team was made up of the same people (spun off, or quit?!?!, from Cisco/Linksys). If you can manually configure the SPA-3102, I'm sure similar settings can be used on the Obi. Plus, the Obi is cheaper and easier to configure for use with Google Voice as a free VOIP provider.


@merkur2k:
I don't have systems that can be modified to include a new video card. I have small footprint systems (2 Dell Studio Hybrids, and one ASUS EEE Box 202) as media directors. Those systems don't have room for a new video card. That means BUYing 3 new media directors, in addition to the 2 new machines I need to buy as lab machines for my RHCSA/RHCE studies (must be 64 bit systems, capable of hardware virtualization, 4GB ram min. each).

Those new machines can be repurposed as media directors when I'm done, to flesh out my system, fully as I originally intended. The NEW machines can have embedded nVidia, but I'm not replacing the older boxes that work perfectly well (well, maybe swapping the older/slower ones down to the kids, but not outright replacing them). Plus, all three current media directors have S/PIDIF optical out audio. It's not exactly easy to find small footprint, 64 bit quad core machines with embeded nVidia, S/PIDIF optical audio & support 4+GB RAM onboard, at least at a reasonable price.

Plus, the only system that I DO have with an nVidia card can't work with my Hauppauge cards (1600s), due to a (known) hardware conflict. Five new systems at an average $700 each is about $3500. It's not like I don't have the money for new ones, but with a wife & 2 kids, I've got way better things to spend it on... I can justify $1400-$1500 to the wife unit, conditioned on the fact I need the machines for my cert studies, and they can serve a dual purpose as media directors when I'm done.

My hardware was the reason I had left the LMCE community before... It's also why LinuxMCE hasn't exploded onto the scene ... Not trying to be insulting, or anything... I'm just saying.

[mkbrown69]

Plus, the only system that I DO have with an nVidia card can't work with my Hauppauge cards (1600s), due to a (known) hardware conflict.

I have nVidia working with 2 HVR-1600's.  You just need to change the vmalloc parameter in the kernel boot line.  Google "nvidia hvr-1600 boot vmalloc" or look at
http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/Common_Problem:_vmalloc_too_small and http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/Hauppauge_HVR-1600

I'd set mine to 256M.

HTH!

/Mike

[JaseP]

Thanks, Mike... Maybe I'll install my second (unused) one in my desktop machine with the nVidia card... I only have one of my two 1600s actually installed. That'll reduce my reliance on the two HDhomeruns I have for THAT system, at least (freeing them up for other purposes).