This is the long awaited follow-up to Part 1, where I assembled the actual system that would serve as my ultimate HTPC. After the system was built, I needed to get some software on the system. I chose to go with MythBuntu since it was the distro that I had used in the past and was the one I was familiar with. There are a few options for MythTv:
- Getting the backend and frontend software from the Synaptic manager
- A multitude of distros. For some comparisons of the popular ones, check out this (slightly out-of-date) comparison
- Finally, as it seems to be with everything on a Linux system, you can compile from the source.
Since I chose to go with MythBuntu, I downloaded the 64-bit live cd image, as that was what I needed for my system. I burned the cd, put it in the system, and followed the prompts.
That was it. Well… mostly.
I had issues with the install hanging at the last step. At first it was an issue with the live cd, and after that the problem was betwixt the keyboard and monitor. I had become impatient, since I had built the system and started installing all the software on the same day.. I was already a good 4 or 5 hours in to this (remember: I had no idea what I was doing putting the system together). Just remember, let the final step finish on the install. It takes a little while, but if it does not finish properly, your install will not work.
Once everything installed properly, that was it. The system recognized both of my capture cards without an issue, was able to use all three hard drives I have installed, and played nice with setting up a static IP.
Speaking of static IPs… if you are planning on only having a single machine run as a backend/frontend combo, then you should be fine without setting up a static IP for the machine. If you are like me, and want this one machine to serve content to every TV and computer in your house, you are going to need to assign a static IP to the backend. This is because all of the various frontends need to know where to look for content, and not having to change settings every time your router restarts will save you tons of headaches.
The only issue I had on this backend/frontend was getting the HDMI audio to work properly. Some quick googling led me to the changes I needed to make in the audio config files. It was pretty much toggling a 1 and 0. After that, I had the foundation of my HTPC system in place. The backend was able to record 2 different cable stations, store all my video/music, and play back all this content to the TV it was attached to.
In the next installment, I will show how I set up the AppleTV. It was a smidge more “fun” than setting up the backend system. And by fun, I mean it made me pull out my hair.
