General Troubleshooting Tips

General Troubleshooting

Log Files

A good first step when things aren't working right is to take a look at the log files. There are several that may help, depending on what problem you're having. Some logs can be displayed from the frontend, for others you'll need to either ssh into your box or open a terminal and cat the log so you can see it.

/var/log/mythtv/mythbackend.log

/var/log/syslog

/var/log/mysqld/mysqld.log

Also try executing dmesg which will show you messages from the kernel ring buffer (stuff generated during system boot).

Process

See User_Manual:Diagnosing_Problems See http://wilsonet.com/mythtv/fcmyth.php#ts To display all output information:

mythfrontend -v all

Remote Access

Terminal

PuTTY (Windows)

Site: http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/

Download: http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/download.html
Direct Download (HTTP): http://the.earth.li/~sgtatham/putty/latest/x86/putty.exe
Direct Download (FTP): ftp://ftp.chiark.greenend.org.uk/users/sgtatham/putty-latest/x86/putty.exe
RSA Signature: http://the.earth.li/~sgtatham/putty/latest/x86/putty.exe.RSA
DSA Signature: http://the.earth.li/~sgtatham/putty/latest/x86/putty.exe.DSA

Ensure your Myth box is running a SSH server, for example, sshd - openSSH SSH daemon. In ubuntu, you would use 'apt-get' or 'Synaptic Package Manager' to install 'openssh-server.'

Open Putty

(location of Putty)\putty.exe

Place Hostname or IP address of your myth box in the 'Host Name (or IP address)' field. Select SSH as the protocol. Then click 'Open.'

On your first time accessing the server, verify the fingerprint of your myth box and select 'Yes.'

You will then be prompted to provide authentication to access your myth box.

File Browsing

WinSCP [Instructions...]

Graphical

VNC

This will enable you to view the graphical desktop of your Myth machine over the network without having to plug a monitor into the back. To run VNC, emerge it and review the documentation at http://realvnc.com You will also want to download a VNC client to the desktop you will be working from. Remotely login to the Myth box, then run VNC

#vncserver

Run the VNC client, and specify the IP address and display

192.168.1.102:1

Then enter your password. You should be faced with a simple graphical desktop. To run setup, simply run

#mythtv-setup

You may also want to see what is seen on the TV

#mythfrontend

Now you will not have to be running back and forth between the TV room and computer room! ;)