[mythtv-users] Myth backend: Console or GUI OS ? Init level 3 or init level 5 ?

[Kris B.]

On Tuesday, September 13, 2011 1:33 PM, "Ian Clark"
<mrrooster at gmail.com> wrote:
> If you're happy installing the packages you need (ie the graphical
> tools) from an ssh session, then don't bother with a GUI, just install
> something like xterm to bring in enough to allow remote X sessions
> (overs SSH for instance) to work okay.
> 
> >> So, other than a bit of disk space, is there any reason why I
> >> shouldn't install KDE when I set it up ?
> >
> It'll be running in the background, which means more stuff started at
> boot so slower boot times, and a greater load on the system. (although
> this last point is probably moo.*)

I tend to ssh into my boxes, so I am with most people with that... you
rarely need a monitor to work on a machine... any updates/tweaks/etc. on
my frontend is done via a laptop.  

However, just my opinion, but in regards to a DE, you know text editors
are fine, but sometimes having a "clipboard" is handy - when I work on
the .xml files of a remote machine, it is nice to be able to copy and
paste between two windows when working on a remote machine.  Those kind
of features are only available with the extra crud of a DE, as far as I
know.  If they are available in terminal text editors, I bet they are a
pain to use :)

Having said that, if all you need to do is install xterm for your
package manager to install just enough x to work, that sounds like a
good solution, too. :)  It isn't like you can't add that stuff later if
you are against the wall.  Then you can just run in init3 and go to 5 if
you need to.  And if you find you have to often, just change it to stay
in init5 :)  

I hope you will be using all those spare cpu cycles to transcode -
that's what I do in my setup so I can have my video available on other
systems in the house :)  On the opposite spectrum, my backend is also a
samba file share, a webserver for the house and videos, a cups server
for the computers, sql server for some other apps, a vm for
windows/quickbooks, main transcoder for video, a radio modem for ham
usage, a video editor, dvd creator and burner, and my main computer for
scouring the internet when I am at home (the wife uses a laptop).  The
only slowdowns are transcoding, so I do them from 11pm-4pm (though they
rarely need that long), so during primetime I am good :)

-- 
  Kris B.
  krisbee at krisbee.com