Author Topic: Run down on my experience so far with LMCE.  (Read 2638 times)

fistfight

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Run down on my experience so far with LMCE.
« on: May 01, 2009, 10:40:04 pm »
I stumbled across LMCE one day when I was looking into an alternative to my Meedio install I had been running for the past couple years.

I was instantly hooked after seeing the promo video on youtube and decided I wanted to be part of all this. I downloaded the DVD install and proceeded to load it on a system to check out.

I've since redone my entire network and installed a Hybrid in my living room and a MD in my bedroom.

I wanted to go as close to silent as possible with my Hybrid because its in the living room. For the hybrid I used some left over equipment and some equipment I bought just for this purpose.

The Hybrid consists of...

Case: Kanam Accent HT-400  http://www.digitalconnection.com/Products/Cases/ht400_4.asp

Motherboard:PA1-MVP (Real old but doing the job for now.
CPU Single core P4 3.0GB
Ram 2GB
OCZ 30GB SSD drive http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227372(Looking like this was a bad choice because of TV recordings)
Video 6800GT
VGA Cooler: Scythe USA SCVMS-1000 Sleeve VGA Cooler http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185081
CPU Cooler:Zalman CNPS 8000 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118005
DVD:Sony Dual layer drive.

I have this all connected to my 50 inch Samsung TV via DVI>HDMI Cable.

I also bought the MSI Wind PC and got past the NIC Wiki to get it to PXE boot. I have it running diskless in my bedroom connected to a 19 inch LCD with some bose PC speakers.

Im using the Gyration remote for the Hybrid and the MD and I love it. I followed the instructions here to get the majority of it working correctly.

For storage I went with a D-Link DNS-321 Diskless System 2-Bay Network Storage Enclosure and 2 Western Digital WD20EADS 2TB 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Hard Drives running in raid 1.

Like I said prior I rewired my network so I could use the hybrid as the router and I set all my wireless routers to be access points. Everything is running at 1gb with the exception of a few devices that are at 100mb.

Next I added an HDHomerun and I had a couple issues but After reading around I was able to figure it all out.

I've done a few tweaks on the system and have it running pretty well on the hybrid. I have over 40 dvds ripped to the NAS and most of my audio cds also. Im against a wall right now becasue of MythTV and its recording paths. I guess I will have to hold off until 8.10 is ready so I can take advantage of the storage my NAS provides.

The only real issue i have now is that the WindPC im using as a diskless MD is not able to playback TV. Im not sure if its becasue its reading it off of a solid state drive thats in the hybrid or not. I was thinking of using the workaround that DonPaul posted http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/MythTv:_Don%27t_scan_live_tv but havent gotten around to it yet.

I am able to play back DVDs that have been ripped to the NAS with no isssues though so Im not sure why its freakng out with the HDHomerun. I can get the menu to come up and it starts to play whats on the channel but then keeps stopping and starting every few seconds. Its totally unusable.

But this isnt why I posted.

I just wanted to say thanks for what you guys have put together and to share my setup with others.

Next up I connct my alarm panel and my Outdoor cameras.  ;D

Techstyle

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Re: Run down on my experience so far with LinuxMCE.
« Reply #1 on: May 01, 2009, 10:52:57 pm »
Fistfight,

you should create a User setup page on the Wiki http://wiki.linuxmce.com/index.php/User_Setups

regards,
Techstyle

fistfight

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Re: Run down on my experience so far with LinuxMCE.
« Reply #2 on: May 01, 2009, 10:56:34 pm »
I think I will after my next upgrade. I plan on getting another motherboard and a faster dual core CPU for the Hybrid I also might ditch the SSD for a large quiet drive.

But thx for the idea.