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HOW-TO (draft): Mythtv as a backend on sme server

Offline cactus

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Re: HOW-TO (draft): Mythtv as a backend on sme server
« Reply #45 on: February 10, 2008, 10:16:28 AM »
very frustrating.... looks like the only way to configure mythtv-setup will be to install X on SME server, and I just don't want to do that....
Yes that is the only and proper way, the MythTV docs state that as well AFAIK.
Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than its worth ~ Baz Luhrmann - Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)

Offline christian

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Re: HOW-TO (draft): Mythtv as a backend on sme server
« Reply #46 on: February 10, 2008, 04:25:11 PM »
..added --enablerepo=dag as found lirc in dag... now gets through:

Ah ha!!! Just checking back into the How-to, I note someone removed the "--enablerepo=dag " from the yum commands. I know some of our friends here were cleaning up the how-to soon after it was done and may have left this off by accident.

In hind-sight and as I suggested earlier, if you ran through the individual lines at the beginning of this thread we could have found this. But who knows. At least you found the problem and I'll go clean up the How-to.

Christian
SME since 2003

Offline christian

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Re: HOW-TO (draft): Mythtv as a backend on sme server
« Reply #47 on: February 10, 2008, 04:31:19 PM »
very frustrating.... looks like the only way to configure mythtv-setup will be to install X on SME server, and I just don't want to do that....

Check Mythweb and see if you can configure from there as an alternative. I can't remember. HF added mythweb to the How-to.

You shouldn't have to add any more X than what is in the How-to. It does work for me (still) and I believe a few others. I think the next step is to track down what precisely is segfault'ing.
SME since 2003

Offline mmellon

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Re: HOW-TO (draft): Mythtv as a backend on sme server
« Reply #48 on: February 10, 2008, 07:36:20 PM »
Hello all, and thank you so much for your continued assistance.  I do apologize for not having figured this out yet... so here's some more info:

re LIRC, that stopped that one dependency error, so is a helpful, albeit minor correction to the howto (but a correction is a big help, so thank you!).

re mythweb, doesn't mythtv-backend daemon have to be running for that to work, and thus wouldn't I not be able to connect and run setup via mythweb even if it does have some sort of setup in it?  I haven't gone as far as to configure mythweb in the howto, as I regarded it as a useful add-on for once the install is working.

finally, re /var/log/messages, there seems to be nothing at all interesting in that on either the sme server or on the desktoppc frontend:

desktoppc/frontend:
Feb 10 12:17:21 desktoppc -- MARK --
Feb 10 12:37:21 desktoppc -- MARK --
Feb 10 12:57:21 desktoppc -- MARK --
Feb 10 13:17:21 desktoppc -- MARK --
(running the ssh -X commands in this time period; nothing....)

SME server/to-be-backend:
[root@sme ~]# tail /var/log/messages
Feb 10 12:33:02 sme last message repeated 2 times
Feb 10 12:33:53 sme sshd(pam_unix)[13973]: session opened for user root by (uid=0)
Feb 10 12:34:40 sme sshd(pam_unix)[14010]: session opened for user root by (uid=0)
Feb 10 12:34:40 sme sshd(pam_unix)[14010]: session closed for user root
Feb 10 12:34:50 sme last message repeated 3 times
Feb 10 12:35:40 sme sshd(pam_unix)[14044]: session opened for user root by (uid=0)
Feb 10 12:36:02 sme last message repeated 5 times
Feb 10 12:37:16 sme last message repeated 3 times
Feb 10 12:38:32 sme last message repeated 2 times
Feb 10 12:39:49 sme last message repeated 3 times



could it be something missing?  is there a command I could issue to list all installed packages?  ssh -X root@sme server does work, but I still haven't launched *any* x applications.  I'll search for an xcalc install that won't pull in lots of dependencies maybe....

thanks!

--matt

Offline mmellon

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aha!.....Re: HOW-TO (draft): Mythtv as a backend on sme server
« Reply #49 on: February 10, 2008, 08:02:41 PM »
i installed xpdf on sme, which pulled in some dependencies.  ran reconfigure, and then successfully ran ssh -X etc.. mythtv-setup!  only snag was no text/fonts on the main setup screen, so i navigated by memory.

how can i be sure that xpdf didn't pull in any xorg stuff that would potentially compromise the sme's security?

thanks!

--matt


Offline christian

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Re: HOW-TO (draft): Mythtv as a backend on sme server
« Reply #50 on: February 11, 2008, 08:26:14 PM »
Your Yum logs should tell you what was installed/updated.

I assume you did a reconfigure/reboot after all the myth installs? If this is true then I'm curious what specifically was pulled in with xpdf that you needed. The segfault info should also help us triangulate.

In regards to the blank menu entries. I had the same issue but I did the setup through a CentOS on a virtual machine on my XP box so assumed it may have been that. Apparently not.

I'm curious what you are planning to use for your frontend now? I have Knoppmyth on an old IBM Thinkpad A21m to start. Uses less than 10W powered on. Priceless considering the rather poor Cisco/Scientific Atlanta Explorer box consumes about 30W while powered "OFF"). I'm currently trying to adapt the A21m's ATI graphic card to fit a 4:3 screen properly so playing with the modeline parameters. My main box will likely be higher end so a next trick will be to adapt an HD receiver into my SME. Oh Boy!

SME since 2003

guest22

Re: HOW-TO (draft): Mythtv as a backend on sme server
« Reply #51 on: February 11, 2008, 09:13:53 PM »
FYI

How I use mythtv:

Mythbackend: SME Server 7.3
Mythfrontend A: Old XBOX with XBMC and Mythtv plugin, connected to main TV
Mythfrontend B: Winmythplayer on any Win PC on the (wireless) network able to play recordings or watch live tv
Mythfrontend C: Any linux equiped pc/laptop with mythfrontend

All running smooth.

guest

Offline mmellon

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Re: HOW-TO (draft): Mythtv as a backend on sme server
« Reply #52 on: February 12, 2008, 04:37:48 AM »
nice.

quick note w/ baby in other hand...

sme 7.3 mythbackend w/ firewire dct6200 hd cablebox (more on that to come!), works great...
mythbuntu frontend on refurb hp slimline w/ nvidia binary, xvmc, 1366x768....
...connected to vizio 32" lcd tv w/ spdif bypass to dolby recvr

frontend semi stable.

used modelines for tv from mythtv hdtv website and several careful settings in xorg.conf

will summarize the install again later, and will look up how to get yum logs...

thanks again!

Offline mmellon

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Re: HOW-TO (draft): Mythtv as a backend on sme server
« Reply #53 on: February 12, 2008, 02:57:45 PM »
first, ever look at mythtv compared to straight-on hdtv?  i'm really, really surprised at how disappointing the picture quality is in myth.  lots of horizontal lines.  enable bob2x deinterlace and not a big improvement; picture doesn't have thos lines, but OSD completely unreadable.  hate to say it but windows MCE with nvidia purevideo blew this away... (but had it's own problems, like suddenly not having rights to watch something it just recorded, so having to use media player 11 for playback where drm issues arose like that).

sigh... hoping it has something to do with chatter about "xvmc being broken in 'current' nvidia binary driver release."  anyone else notice this?  crawler text is so clear through the vizio's own qam tuner or through the cable box, but so ugly through myth, though less noticeably so from across the room.  my sincere apologies to the myth folks though if i have slurred an nvidia/xvmc issue into a myth issue.  myth *really* is impressive, and all the more so on a server so useful as sme.

anyway, heeeeeeeere's yummy!  (the yum logs, that is....)

Clean install of sme 7.3.... configured as server & gateway, enabled ssh for root, let the rkhunter complaints in admin email begin....

Enable ssh -X as per howto...
Feb 09 11:34:06 Installed: xorg-x11-xauth.i386 6.8.2-1.EL.33.0.2

Install myth as per /MythTV howto adding --enablerepo=atrpms --enablerepo=dag to some lines...
Feb 09 12:17:31 Installed: libmng.i386 1.0.8-1
Feb 09 12:17:32 Installed: qt.i386 1:3.3.3-13.RHEL4
Feb 09 12:17:32 Installed: libjpeg-devel.i386 6b-33
Feb 09 12:17:32 Installed: zlib-devel.i386 1.2.1.2-1.2
Feb 09 12:17:32 Installed: libpng-devel.i386 2:1.2.7-3.el4_5.1
Feb 09 12:17:32 Installed: freetype-devel.i386 2.1.9-6.el4
Feb 09 12:17:33 Installed: fontconfig-devel.i386 2.2.3-13.el4
Feb 09 12:17:33 Installed: libmng-devel.i386 1.0.8-1
Feb 09 12:17:34 Installed: umb-scheme.i386 3.2-36.EL4
Feb 09 12:17:34 Installed: guile.i386 5:1.6.4-14
Feb 09 12:17:34 Installed: swig.i386 1.3.21-6
Feb 09 12:17:36 Installed: libstdc++-devel.i386 3.4.6-9
Feb 09 12:17:36 Installed: neon.i386 0.24.7-4
Feb 09 12:17:37 Installed: glibc-kernheaders.i386 2.4-9.1.100.EL
Feb 09 12:17:37 Installed: glibc-headers.i386 2.3.4-2.39
Feb 09 12:17:37 Installed: glibc-devel.i386 2.3.4-2.39
Feb 09 12:17:38 Installed: pkgconfig.i386 1:0.15.0-3
Feb 09 12:17:40 Installed: xorg-x11-devel.i386 6.8.2-1.EL.33.0.2
Feb 09 12:17:40 Installed: cpp.i386 3.4.6-9
Feb 09 12:17:41 Installed: gcc.i386 3.4.6-9
Feb 09 12:17:41 Installed: mysqlclient10.i386 3.23.58-4.RHEL4.1
Feb 09 12:17:41 Installed: gcc-c++.i386 3.4.6-9
Feb 09 12:17:42 Installed: python-devel.i386 2.3.4-14.4.el4_6.1
Feb 09 12:17:42 Installed: subversion.i386 1.1.4-2.ent
Feb 09 12:17:46 Installed: qt-devel.i386 1:3.3.3-13.RHEL4
Feb 09 12:17:46 Installed: qt-MySQL.i386 1:3.3.3-13.RHEL4
Feb 09 12:17:46 Installed: ncurses-devel.i386 5.4-15.el4
Feb 09 12:39:46 Installed: alsa-lib.i386 1.0.6-5.RHEL4
Feb 09 12:39:46 Installed: libraw1394_8.i386 1.3.0-3_11.el4
Feb 09 12:39:46 Installed: libiec61883_0.i386 1.1.0-0_9.el4.at
Feb 09 12:39:46 Installed: libXvMCW.i386 0.9.3-4.el4.at
Feb 09 12:39:46 Installed: lame.i386 3.97-1.el4.rf
Feb 09 12:39:46 Installed: libmythavutil-0.20.2_0.i386 0.20.2-172.el4
Feb 09 12:39:46 Installed: libogg.i386 2:1.1.3-7.el4.at
Feb 09 12:39:48 Installed: mythtv-themes.i386 0.20.2-172.el4
Feb 09 12:39:48 Installed: audiofile.i386 1:0.2.6-1.el4.1
Feb 09 12:39:48 Installed: esound.i386 1:0.2.35-2
Feb 09 12:39:48 Installed: libvorbis.i386 1:1.1.0-2.el4.5
Feb 09 12:39:49 Installed: arts.i386 8:1.3.1-2
Feb 09 12:39:49 Installed: libraw1394.i386 0.10.1-3
Feb 09 12:39:49 Installed: libavc1394.i386 0.4.1-4.EL
Feb 09 12:39:49 Installed: libfreebob.i386 1.0.0-3.el4.at
Feb 09 12:39:49 Installed: jack-audio-connection-kit.i386 0.102.20-3.el4.at
Feb 09 12:39:49 Installed: libmythui-0.20.2_0.i386 0.20.2-172.el4
Feb 09 12:39:50 Installed: libmythfreemheg-0.20.2_0.i386 0.20.2-172.el4
Feb 09 12:39:50 Installed: libmythlivemedia-0.20.2_0.i386 0.20.2-172.el4
Feb 09 12:39:50 Installed: lirc.i386 0.6.6-4.2.el4.rf
Feb 09 12:39:51 Installed: libmyth-0.20.2_0.i386 0.20.2-172.el4
Feb 09 12:39:51 Installed: libmythupnp-0.20.2_0.i386 0.20.2-172.el4
Feb 09 12:39:51 Installed: libdca.i386 0.0.5-1.el4.rf
Feb 09 12:39:51 Installed: libmythavcodec-0.20.2_0.i386 0.20.2-172.el4
Feb 09 12:39:51 Installed: libmythavformat-0.20.2_0.i386 0.20.2-172.el4
Feb 09 12:39:52 Installed: libmythtv-0.20.2_0.i386 0.20.2-172.el4
Feb 09 12:39:52 Installed: mythtv-backend.i386 0.20.2-172.el4
Feb 09 12:39:52 Installed: mythweb.i386 0.20.2-172.el4
Feb 09 12:39:53 Installed: mythtv-frontend.i386 0.20.2-172.el4
Feb 09 12:39:53 Installed: mythtv-setup.i386 0.20.2-172.el4
Feb 09 12:40:50 Installed: mythtv-docs.i386 0.20.2-172.el4
Feb 09 12:43:26 Installed: perl-Video-ivtv.i386 0.13-8.el4.at
Feb 09 12:43:26 Installed: ivtv-firmware.noarch 2:20070217-16
Feb 09 12:43:26 Installed: perl-Video-Frequencies.noarch 0.03-4.el4.at
Feb 09 12:43:27 Installed: ivtv-kmdl-2.6.9-67.0.1.ELsmp.i686 1:0.4.10-114.el4
Feb 09 12:43:27 Installed: ivtv.i386 1:0.4.10-114.el4

Kept getting seg faults trying to run mythtv-setup over ssh -X.... so wanted to try any x program.  Saw xpdf in server-manager panel.

Install xpdf + it's deps...
Feb 10 13:41:18 Installed: xorg-x11-font-utils.i386 6.8.2-1.EL.33.0.2
Feb 10 13:41:19 Installed: xorg-x11-deprecated-libs.i386 6.8.2-1.EL.33.0.2
Feb 10 13:41:19 Installed: openmotif.i386 2.2.3-10.1.el4
Feb 10 13:41:19 Installed: desktop-file-utils.i386 0.9-3.el4
Feb 10 13:41:21 Installed: redhat-menus.noarch 3.7.1-2
Feb 10 13:41:21 Installed: htmlview.noarch 3.0.0-8
Feb 10 13:41:21 Installed: chkfontpath.i386 1.10.0-2
Feb 10 13:41:21 Installed: ttmkfdir.i386 3.0.9-20.el4
Feb 10 13:41:23 Installed: urw-fonts.noarch 2.2-6.1
Feb 10 13:41:26 Installed: fonts-xorg-base.noarch 6.8.2-1.EL
Feb 10 13:41:26 Installed: xpdf.i386 1:3.00-14.el4
Feb 10 13:41:27 Installed: xorg-x11-xfs.i386 6.8.2-1.EL.33.0.2
...and suddenly mythtv-setup runs, though w/ no fonts on main menu.  That'll do though.

Thought this would help autostart mythbackend; doesn't:
Feb 10 16:06:28 Installed: smeserver-service_control.noarch 1.1-2

For firewire control of dct.6200 for use with ivtv (not yet installed) or firewire-direct tuner, need firewire mod.
... googled firewire kernel module el4 and output of 'uname -r' -- found in .ch....
Feb 10 17:00:26 Installed: firewire.i686 1286-5.sl4.psi
Feb 10 17:00:28 Installed: kernel-module-firewire-2.6.9-67.0.1.ELsmp.i686 1286-5.sl4.psi


Again, frontend is mythbuntu w/  nvidia binary and xvmc (gray osd, not blue/red), running over cat5e 100mbps direct through a switch.

To do:
- add two more 500gb sata hds in as an independent raid array for "media" -- all myth, photos, videos, music.  why?  back up far less often, no need to mix in with primary array which would cause far longer backups, far longer rebuilds after reinstall/recovery.  have drives, just have to follow the single sparse post in theforums on how to do this....
- test egroupware w/ gallery2 plugin for security holes
- port-forward vpn pptp inbound to sme from hardware firewall (my insurance against my mistakes); currently not accessible from outside.
- once sme is household gateway (currently an isolated branch), test funambol syncml w/ egroupware w/ php5-cgi which is already running (funambol syncml from windows mobile currently gives errors, possibly because wifi access point on house net with external eth1 to sme, not in little switch that's local to sme.
- if pptp vpn stable, fast, best, disable all other open ports (egroupware https) on external nic (unless i read up and find https facing outside not as scary as it sounds and i shut out all unathenticated users...)

--matt

guest22

Re: HOW-TO (draft): Mythtv as a backend on sme server
« Reply #54 on: February 12, 2008, 04:52:33 PM »
Tried Xming yet on a windows PC's opposed to a mythfrontend? Just to test if that runs cleanly.

Do you have the same problem (lines on screen) when you watch a recording? (or didn't get that far yet?)

For the record, recordings and live TV are as clear and crisp with Mythtv on my setup as they are broadcasted.

guest

Offline mmellon

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Re: HOW-TO (draft): Mythtv as a backend on sme server
« Reply #55 on: February 12, 2008, 11:03:40 PM »
I'll have to find and try xming -- great idea.  Free, right?  You are using a tube-tv, right?  Interlaced tv over svideo or rca?  the lcd's are progressive, and firewire from the cable box actually captures the cable stream (mpeg-ts), so if it is interlaced, then deinterlacing is required.  since there is just the stream from the cable box over firewire, recording profiles just don't enter into it -- those are for things like the ivtv driver.  I've been recording tv and watching live.  recording worked great on my test box, and appears stable so far on the sme box (though I have a nagging feeling of uncertainty about firewire on sme, but that's just because it wasn't there out-of-the-box in a default sme install).

strange that OSD looks terrible when deinterlacing is active (and did with my test box over either firewire or ivtv encoder card).  If "video scan" is set to "detect" then things are occasionally jumpy, flipping back and forth from "progressive" to "interlaced" I presume.

i suspect it must be xvmc.  the nvidia driver might just be broken, resulting in the nasty "tearing" effect of horizontal lines (the interlaced frames that comprise the picture).

thanks,

--matt

Offline christian

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Re: HOW-TO (draft): Mythtv as a backend on sme server
« Reply #56 on: February 13, 2008, 05:02:39 AM »
Feb 10 13:41:18 Installed: xorg-x11-font-utils.i386 6.8.2-1.EL.33.0.2
Feb 10 13:41:21 Installed: chkfontpath.i386 1.10.0-2
Feb 10 13:41:21 Installed: ttmkfdir.i386 3.0.9-20.el4
Feb 10 13:41:23 Installed: urw-fonts.noarch 2.2-6.1
Feb 10 13:41:27 Installed: xorg-x11-xfs.i386 6.8.2-1.EL.33.0.2

I think we found it. I had these packages already installed on my system likely pulled in by Hylafax.

Quote
Feb 10 13:41:26 Installed: fonts-xorg-base.noarch 6.8.2-1.EL
was brought in later with the mass SME updates (likely due to a dependency with above).

I think the best place to put those changes is in the mythtv specific part on X11 Forwarding as I think that is the actual dependency. In other words, I think mythtv draws a few more specific X dependencies than you need for a base X11 Forward; so the base X11 Forward How-to shouldn't change.

HF, cactus any thoughts on that? Also is there an easy way to determine if one of these entries will pull in the others?

Christian
SME since 2003

guest22

Re: HOW-TO (draft): Mythtv as a backend on sme server
« Reply #57 on: February 13, 2008, 07:32:47 AM »
When I have a little time, I'll try to run a fresh install on a vm and log as much as possible each step.

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Offline ntblade

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Re: HOW-TO (draft): Mythtv as a backend on sme server
« Reply #58 on: February 15, 2008, 07:01:47 PM »
Hi all,
I've been struggling with this for a couple of days now without success :sad:

I've had the same issue as mmellon had with the mythlib* despite enabling the repositories
Also, if 0.20.2-171 needs MYSQL 5 then does anyone have a collection of the correct 0.20.2.x RPMs?

Help!

Thanks
N

guest22

Re: HOW-TO (draft): Mythtv as a backend on sme server
« Reply #59 on: February 15, 2008, 11:12:57 PM »
20.2 does not requiere MySQL 5. The upcoming 21.x series of mythtv does. You've got the right packages.

Best would be to follow the how-to and exactly log every step, outcome and whatdiffers from expectation, PER step.

guest