My MythTV box build diary

Latest stuff on top.

Current Hardware:

• Master Backend and Frontend (mythtv-mbe):
  • Motherboard: MSI K8N Neo Platinum (MS-7030).
  • CPU: AMD Athlon64 2800+ 512kB, Socket 754, Newcastle core.
  • Memory: 2x Kingston ValueRAM PC3200 512MB running at 1T 2-3-2-10.
  • Video: MSI GeForce4 MX-4000 64MB-64bit (G4MX4000-T64B, MSI Part No:MS-8936-340). Has VGA and TV-OUT(S-Video).
  • Capture Card: Hauppauge PVR-500.
  • Harddrive: Seagate Barracuda PATA 160GB and 2x200GB.
  • Optical: NEC3500 DVD-/+RW.
  • Case: Rosewill Value R103A from Newegg.
  • Power Supply: Super-Flower Silent TT-520SS 520W.
  • Homemade IR receiver from Alessio Sangalli (lnx.manoweb.com/lirc/). Old Toshiba DVD player remote.
• First Slave Backend and Frontend (mythtv-fe1):
  • Motherboard: Via Epia M10000.
  • CPU: Nehemiah.
  • Memory: 1x Patriot 512MB.
  • Video: integrated.
  • Capture Card: Hauppauge WinTV-GO
  • Harddrive: IBM PATA 6.4GB 2.5".
  • Case: Casetronic/Travla C137 Black.
  • Homemade IR receiver from Alessio Sangalli (lnx.manoweb.com/lirc/). Old Toshiba DVD player remote.

Software:

• mythtv-mbe:
  • Linux: Fedora Core 4, X86_64.
  • MythTV: 0.18.1.
• mythtv-fe1:
  • KnoppMyth R5A26.

Links:

• www.fedoraforum.org
• www.mythtv.org
• www.mythtv.info
• wilsonet.com/mythtv
• www.mythtvtalk.com/forum
• http://www.gossamer-threads.com/lists/mythtv/

Updates:

Mon 7/10/06

• yum upgrade beecrypt, libgcrypt, libgcrypt11, mplayer.

Sat 7/8/06

• yum upgrade ImageMagick, SDL, alsa-lib, alsa-lib-devel, libasound2, anacron, arts, arts-devel, atrpms-package-config, audit, audit-libs, authconfig, authconfig-gtk, autofs, medley-package-config, up2date, beecrypt, bind, bind-libs, bind-utils, cpuspeed, cups, cups-libs, cyrus-sasl, cyrus-sasl-devel, cyrus-sasl-md5, cyrus-sasl-plain, db4, db4-devel, db4-utils, device-mapper, dhcdbd, dhclient, directfb, fedora-rpmdevtools. Added libdirect and libfusion.
• something created dag.repo which is unused, moved to dag.repo.unused2
• yum upgrade ffmpeg fftw2 fftw2-double fftw2-single firefox flex foomatic gaim. Added ffpmpeg-devel, libavcodec51, libavformat50, libavutil49, libpostproc51. Upgraded libquicktime, mplayer.
• yum upgrade gawk, gdm, glibc, glibc-common, glibc-devel, glibc-headers, gnome-python2-extrasm gnome-python2-gtkhtml2, gnupg, gnutls, groff, hal, hpijs, httpd, httpd-manual, info, jwhois, k3b, kdeaddons, kdebase, kdelibs, mod_ssl, kdeadmin, kdeartwork, kdegraphics, kdemultimedia, kdenetwork, kdepim, kdeutils, pilot-link. Added xscreensaver-extras, xscreensaver-gl-extras.
• yum upgrade libavc1394, libavc1394-devel, libavc1394_0, librom1394_0, libbeecrypt6, libgpg-error, libpcap, libquicktime0, librpm4.4, libsane-hpaio, libselinux, libselinux-devel, popt, rpm, rpm-build, rpm-devel, rpm-python, libtiff, libxml2, libxml2-devel, libxml2-python, mjpegtools, transcode. Added libxml2_2.
• yum upgrade libxvidcore4, lirc, xvidcore, lirc-lib, lirc-lib-devel, lm_sensors, logwatch, lvm2, man, mozilla-nspr, mozilla-nss, mtr, mutt. Added sysfsutils.
• yum upgrade module-init-tools, mysql, mysql-devel, mysql-server, ncurses, ncurses-devel, net-tools, nscd, ntp, openssh, openssh-askpass, openssh-askpass-gnome, openssh-client, openssh-server, pam_krb5, perl, perl-* (11), added perl-File-Slurp.
• yum upgrade procps, python, python-devel, python-urlgrabber, qt, qt-Mysql, qt-devel, rsync, sane-backends, selinux-policy-targeted, sendmail, shadow-utils, strace, synergy, system-config-* (3), tcpdump, tcsh, tetex, texinfo, tzdata, tetex-fonts, udev, unzip, up2date-gnome, util-linux, vixie-cron, vncserver, xmltv, xmltv-grabbers, xmltv-gui. Added perl-Locale-Hebrew and perl-Unicode-UTF8simple.
• yum upgrade xterm, xorg-x11* (11).

Wed 1/11/06

• After ivtv upgrade of last Monday, should have redone the capture card setups in mythtv-setup. The input definitions are changed, no more Tuner0, just Tuner. Some recordings between 1/9 and 1/11 are of the wrong channel.
• yum upgrade mplayer, mythweb, xine-lib.

Mon 1/9/06

• yum upgrade ivtv, also added ivtv-kmdl and kernel for 2.6.14-1.1656_FC4.
• yum upgrade kernel-devel.
• yum upgrade alsa-driver, also added alsa-kmdl.
• yum upgrade lirc, lirc-lib, lirc-lib-devel.
• yum upgrade lirc-kmdl, nvidia-graphics7676-kmdl.
• yum upgrade aalib, libasound2, alsa-lib, alsa-lib-devel, alsa-utils, arts, arts-devel, atrpms, caching-nameserver, cups, cups-libs.
• yum upgrade directfb (to 0.9.24), added libdirect and libfusion.
• yum upgrade faad2, fedora-rpmdevtools, flac, gjdoc, hpijs, added k3b. Installed cdrdao, libFLAC++5, libFLAC7, libOggFLAC++2, libOggFLAC3, libsane-hpaio.
• yum upgrade ivtv-firmware-audio, ivtv-firmware-dec, ivtv-firmware-enc, kdelibs, lftp.
• yum upgrade libavc1394 and libavc1394-devel (0.5.1) conflicted with libavc1394_0 (0.5.0).
• yum upgrade medley-package-config, installed atrpms-package-config.
• yum upgrade mysql, added mysql-server and mysql-devel.
• yum upgrade perl-*, 16 packages, installed kakasi-dict.
• yum upgrade python-elementtree, sane-backends, synergy, transcode, util-linux, xmltv. Added xmltv-grabbers, xmltv-gui. Installed perl-HTPP-Cache-Transparent.
• yum upgrade beecrypt, dhclient, imlib2, less, tzdata, xterm, libbeecrypt6, libdc1394_control13, libXvMCW.
• yum upgrade mythtv-suite, installed mythtv-theme-Retro and mythtv-theme-ProjetGrayhem.
• nvidia-graphics7676 doesn't work with latest kernel. Something about memory error during kernel module load, maybe BIOS configured card wrong. Trying 8178. Conflict with the non-working Win-TV GO card.

Thu 12/29/05

• yum upgrade to the latest mplayer from atrpms fixed the no audio probem with NerdTV mp4 recordings.

Wed 12/28/05

• Added the Via Epia box.

Sun 12/18/05 PM

• yum upgrade acl, arts, arts-devel, attr, cups, cups-libs, curl, curl-devel, dhclient, kbd, kdeaddons, kdebase, kdelibs, kdeadmin, kdeartwork, kdegraphics, kdemultimedia, kdenetwork, kdepim, kdeutils, libacl, libacl-devel, libattr, libattr-devel, perl, selinux-policy-targeted, sudo, tetex, tetex-fonts, xterm.
• yum upgrade yum. /etc/yum.conf conflicted with medley-package-config from atrpms, so rpm -Uvh --force the rpm.
• yum upgrade libogg, libogg-devel. Added libogg0.
• yum upgrade libtool, libtool-ltdl, libvorbis, libvorbis-devel, libvorbis0, libvorbisenc2, libvorbisfile3.

Fri 12/2/05 PM

• yum upgrade apr, chkconfig, ntsysv, cpio, cpp, fedora-rpmdevtools, file, gaim, gcc, gcc-c++, gcc-gfortran, gcc-java, libgcc, libgcj, libgcj-devel, libgfortran, libstdc++, libstdc++-devel, libtool, gdk-pixbuf, ghostscript, gnupg, gtk2, mysql, mysql-devel, mysql-server, perl, pkgconfig, rsh, selinux-policy-targeted, shadow-utils, synergy, xterm, atrpms.
• yum upgrade lftp. Added perl-string-CRC32.

Sat 11/12/05 PM

• yum upgrade NetworkManager, bind, bind-libs, bind-utils, wireless-tools. Added dhcdbd.
• yum upgrade audit, audit-libs, cpio, esound, esound-devel, gawk, gdb, hwdata, kdenetwork, kudzu, kudzu-devel, libungif, logwatch, net-tools, openldap, openldap-devel, pam, pam-devel, php, php-ldap, php-mysql, php-pear, selinux-policy-targeted, sudo, sysreport, tar.

Sun 10/30/05 PM

• Playing the NerdTV mp4 gives no sound.
• Downloaded the all codecs tarball from mplayerhq.hu and copied them to /usr/lib/codecs and softlink it to /usr/local/lib/codecs.

Sun 10/23/05 PM

• did yum upgrade java-1.4.2-gcj-compat and squid.
• did rpm -e squid.
• installed Synergy (synergy2.sourceforge.net). This is just too cool!!!
  • setup sulu (laptop) as the server and mythtv-mbe as client.
  • had to recompile from src.rpm for x86_64 support.

Sat 10/22/05 PM

• Worked on lircd.conf and lircrc using the Toshiba DVD player remote. Sent a copy of my lircd.conf to the lirc people.
• Working good, even with the IR receiver just sticking out the back of the computer not line of sight of the transmitter.

Fri 10/21/05 PM

• Received the IR receivers from Alessio Sangalli. Ordered 10/7.
• did yum install lirc-kmdl-$KVER. Installed the kmdl as well as lirc-devices.

Thu 10/20/05 PM

• Changed php max memory use to 16M in /etc/php.ini memory_limit parameter. Solved the mythweb recorded programs screen coming up blank.
• did yum upgrade dhclient, wget, selinux-policy-targeted.

Mon 10/17/05 PM

• did yum upgrade of texinfo,openssl,openssl-devel,libdvdread,info.

Thu 10/13/05 PM

• Been importing CDs. Using High quality (i.e. ogg).
• did yum upgrade of wget, mplayer, directfb, gnupg.

Sun 10/9/05 PM

• did yum --exclude=directfb upgrade. Had to exclude directfb since a specific version is needed by mplayer.
• installed xine (from freshrpms).
• Trying multiple xsessions. Edit /etc/X11/gdm.conf, uncomment 1=Standard line. Moved syslog dump to /dev/tty9.

Sat 10/8/05 PM

• installed and played around with mythstream.
• Trying rip and transcode a DVD, in excellent mode.

Fri 10/7/05 PM

• Finally managed to recompile mythtv from at src rpm. Went through a few iterations, forgot all the details.
• mythfrontend runs fine now.

Thu 10/6/05 PM

• Trying yum upgrade. Maybe this will solve my problems.
  • libdirectfb-0.9.so.20 provided by directfb required by mplayer. Had to yum remove mplayer plus mythmkmovie.
  • yum upgrade again, 27 installs, 47 updates, 28M.
  • yum upgrade again, 25 updates, 21M.
  • Had to install dries and jpackage GPG keys.
  • After a reboot, everything looks ok.
  • Tried yum install mythtv-suite. Couldn't install mplayer and transcode, needed specific versions of mjpegtools and directfb. So removed those two and retried mythtv-suite, 13 installs, 17M.
  • mythfrontend segfault trying to initialize VCD after DVD.

Wed 10/5/05 PM

• Trying to compile mythtv from atrpms sources.
  • Installed fedora-rpmdevtools rpm.
  • Ran fedora-buildrpmtree as mythtv, i.e. non-root.
  • Installed mythtv source rpm from atrpms, as mythtv.
  • Ran rpmbuild -bl the-spec-file. A bunch of devel packages needed.
  • Installed (using yum):
    • XFree86-devel, which actually installed xorg-11-devel plus freetype-devel and fontconfig-devel.
    • lame-devel.
    • qt-devel plus libpng-devel, libmng-devel, and libjpeg-devel.
    • alsa-lib-devel.x86_64, since there's an i386 version also.
    • arts-devel plus audiofile-devel and esound-devel.
    • lirc-lib-devel. Had to upgrade lirc first which installed directfb and lirc-lib and updated mplayer.
    • libiec61883-devel plus libiec61883_0.
    • libraw1394-devel.x86_64. Had to upgrade libraw1394 first which installed libavc1394_0, libquicktime0, libraw1394_8, and libraw1394_0 and updated libavc1394, libquicktime, and mjpegtools. Also had to remove transcode.
    • libavc1394-devel.x86_64.
    • Must re-source bashrc/profile to make sure new env variables are set.
  • Ran rpm-build -bc the-spec-file. Getting error in mmx_gcc.cpp.

Sat 10/1/05 PM

• Stalled while ugradding httpd-manual, similar to what happened last time. Reinstall FC4.
  • Added "*.* /dev/tty8" to /etc/syslog.conf.
  • Alias root to mythtv for mail in /etc/aliases.
  • Turn off bluetooth, pcmcia services via "chkconfig whatever_service off".
  • Turn off graphical booting by removing 'rhgb quiet' from grub.conf.
  • Config autologin of mythtv user after 15 sec through 'Login Screen'.
  • Ran "yum upgrade", 3 installs 175 updates, 361M.
  • Stalled again. Retried using RedHat's up2date, stalled also.
  • Flashed BIOS to 1.8.
  • Reinstalled FC4 yet again. Start with just X, KDE, and MySQL.
  • Ran 'yum upgrade', 6 installs, 136 upgrades, 254 MB. Same thing.
  • Having issues with the 1.8 BIOS. All of a sudden it doesn't like 1GB of memory, works fine with only 1 512MB stick. Reflash with 1.7 BIOS, seems OK so far.
  • One more time reinstalling FC4. This time doing the 'yum upgrade' in pieces, i.e. 'yum upgrade a*' and in run level 3. Success!!
  • Ran sensors-detect, so I can run sensors to monitor temp.
  • Turn on vncserver, nfs, and httpd services via "chkconfig whatever_service on".
  • Config /etc/sysconfig/vncserver to start as mythtv. Run vncserver once as mythtv user.
  • Backtrack to kernel-2.6.12-1.1456. ATrpms kmdls not available for 2.6.13 yet.
  • Installed nvidia drivers version 7676. Two packages with kmdl and 3 packages with the drivers.
  • Installed alsa kmdl and driver. Created .asoundrc from DigitalSoundHowTo at mythtv.info.
  • Connected to TV and amp., worked without any changes!
  • Installed mythtv-suite, 84 packages.
  • mythfrontend seg faults. Had to remove all plugins, so rpm -e on mythtv-suite, mythplugins, mythdvd, mythgallery, mythgame, mythmusic, mythphone, mythvideo.
  • Seems to be OK. No VBI. Need to try 'ivtvctl -w cc,wss; ivtvctl -b cc,wss; ivtvctl -x 1'. More reading says, no VBI for the PVR 150/500 yet.

Fri 9/30/05 PM

• System has been up for a week, no issues. I am reinstalling FC4. I think something went wrong when yum update locked up last week, because the older rpms are still around.
  • Added "*.* /dev/tty8" to /etc/syslog.conf.
  • Alias root to mythtv for mail in /etc/aliases.
  • Turn on vncserver, nfs, and httpd services via "chkconfig whatever_service on".
  • Turn off bluetooth, pcmcia services via "chkconfig whatever_service off".
  • Config /etc/sysconfig/vncserver to start as mythtv. Run vncserver once as mythtv user.
  • Config autologin of mythtv user.
  • Ran "yum upgrade", 6 installs 154 updates, 294M.

Sat 9/24/05 PM

• While adding the second 200GB drive, I decided to start from scratch. Installing FC4, following Jarod's guide which is now FC4 and more x86_64 friendly.
  • Added "*.* /dev/tty8" to /etc/syslog.conf.
  • Alias root to mythtv for mail in /etc/aliases.
  • Turn on vncserver, nfs, and httpd services via "chkconfig whatever_service on".
  • Ran "yum update", 6 installs 151 updates, 291M.
  • Installed nvidia drivers version 7676. Two packages with kmdl and 3 packages with the drivers.