Operating system
A computer operating system (OS) that will run MythTV includes many "flavors" of Linux, Mac OS X, and FreeBSD. MythTV was originally built on Linux, but has been extended to a couple other platforms, including Mac OS X (frontend only) and FreeBSD.
Contents
- 1 Linux distributions
- 1.1 A.M.I.C.U.S.
- 1.2 Debian
- 1.3 Fedora
- 1.4 Gentoo
- 1.5 Kanotix
- 1.6 KnoppMyth
- 1.7 Mandrake
- 1.8 MiniMyth
- 1.9 http://resources.mini-box.com/online/iMedia%20MythTV%20Linux/imedia-mythtv-linux.gif iMedia MythTV
- 1.10 http://g-ding.tv/themes/pushbutton/Site_logo.png MythDora
- 1.11 http://plutohome.com/images/logo.gif Plutohome
- 1.12 Red Hat
- 1.13 Slackware
- 1.14 SuSE
- 1.15 Ubuntu
- 1.16 Xebian (for Xbox)
- 2 Non-linux distributions
Linux distributions
A linux distro (distribution) is a complete, installable operating system based around the Linux Kernel.
There are some that are especially good for dedicated MythTV boxes (the kind you'd have on a HiFi stand in the lounge), others are especially suited for use as workstation PCs -- though you can use them to run MythTV as well, if you're sufficiently motivated.
A.M.I.C.U.S.
A.M.I.C.U.S. - An automatic MythTV installer with a guide and menu script specifically designed for new users of GNU/Linux and/or MythTV.
- Lightweight hardware requirements suitable for older/low end PCs.
- Available as a script for Debian installs or as bootable CD ISO image
- Seeking new users, testers, and developers Sourceforge Project Page
- New major release version 0.04
Debian
Debian is a widespread distribution, Debian has a huge community and is probably the most 'free' and socially driven distribution - an excellent choice and MythTV is well supported. There are a couple of guides:
- Mythtv Installation Guide for Debian
- www.geocities.com/dlou99/mythtv.html Debian Guide (disabled the link, to bypass the Spam Filter --Gregturn 20:51, 6 April 2006 (UTC))
- Another Debian Guide
- You can also check out Pluto Home (see below) which is a preinstalled Debian Core distribution with MythTV included.
There are also several debian pages in the wiki.
Fedora
Fedora is a very popular distro - especially well supported by the famous Jarod's Guide. Some work is also being done to write a single "kickstart" script based from Jarod's Guide. You can find this script here
You can also check out MythDora (see below) which is a preinstalled Fedora Core distribution with MythTV included.
There is also the Fedora Core 2 Guide
Gentoo
Gentoo - If the command line scares you, Gentoo is not for you. On the other hand the installation is extremely well documented in the Gentoo Handbook. Gentoo is more customizable than other 'binary' distros and each install can be optimized for the specific processor you use.
Gentoo MythTV setup guides:
- Gentoo-Wiki.com Guide (2.6 kernel - very complete
- Gentoo Guide (2.6 kernel) - out of date
- Install MythTV System (2.6 kernel)
Official Gentoo MythTV Guide:
- MythTV on Gentoo - currently incomplete
Kanotix
Kanotix is one of the many Debian based Live CDs, which itself is based on the popular Knoppix Live CD, except Kanotix has the ability to be easily installed on to a harddrive, from which a fully working easy to maintain Debian system is had.
KnoppMyth
KnoppMyth is probably the easiest way to install MythTV. After all - that's what it was made to do. It's mainly oriented towards dedicated Myth boxes (though of course it runs a complete GNU/Linux OS so no worries about serving music or other files). Insert the CD into a 'blank' PC and you'll be running Myth after a few minutes. It's Knoppix-based (a Debian derivative) and, as a special trick, MythFrontend will run from the CD without installing.
Mandrake
Mandrake - Another of the big distributions - and there's a Mandrake Guide too.
- There's also the Setting up MythTV under Mandrake 10.1 Guide
- The MythTV How-To wikibook uses Mandrake as an example
MiniMyth
Minimyth was originally developed to boot over a network and run MythFrontend on diskless Via EPIA mainboards that have either CLE266 or CN400 hardware MPEG2 decoders (e.g. Via EPIA M or Via EPIA SP mainboards). This is great for 'satellite' systems - like having one in the bedroom or kitchen...
Minimyth[1] has since evolved to support more hardware and different boot methods.
http://resources.mini-box.com/online/iMedia%20MythTV%20Linux/imedia-mythtv-linux.gif iMedia MythTV
iMedia MythTV is smallest out-of-the-box MythTV distribution for Via EPIA mainboards. It fits in 128Mb Compact Flashes (including 2 weeks of program info) and has ability to store recordings to external usb drives, harddrives, NFS mounts. Is designed to run without any configuration on VIA mainboards and Hauppauge PVR like cards. Support for other hardware can be provided thru custom packages. Includes optimised kernel for i686 and Eden CPU and XWindows drivers for MPEG/3D/DRI acceleration.
http://g-ding.tv/themes/pushbutton/Site_logo.png MythDora
MythDora is a Fedora Core and MythTV "All-In-One" CD. The CD will load a preconfigured Fedora Core 4 installation on your computer as well as install and configure MythTV-0.19. There are extras included with MythDora such as MythBurn, MediaMVP and MythStreamTV for some extra fun.
http://plutohome.com/images/logo.gif Plutohome
Plutois the only all-in-one solution for your home that seamlessly combines media & entertainment, home automation, security, telecom and computing. You can control your whole house with a mobile phone, a touch-screen tablet or a web-interface. A Pluto system is like an appliance - not a computer. It is self-configuring, maintaining and updating. No technical skills are required to use or install Pluto. Pluto is above all simple. The devices are all plug and play. Pluto is also an open platform, offering unlimited expansion potential, and requiring no special cabling. This is Pluto: a complete, comfortable and secure solution for your home.
Red Hat
Red Hat - Now oriented as more of a commercial distribution and philosophically superceded by Fedora, Red Hat nonetheless has it's devotees and a Red Hat 9 guide.
Slackware
Slackware is one of the eldest linux distributions and still going strong. Historically often used for servers. Some of the MythTV users use this for both backend as well as frontend purposes.
SuSE
SuSE, a popular distro in Europe and the US. Known for it's YaST installer. The company was recently purchased by Novell.
- 8.2
- 9.1
- 9.2
- 9.3
- 10
- Suse Howto wiki here. Yast and RPM. (covers 9.3 and 10.0)
- SuSE MythTV from YaST and RPM Howto
- version6.net apt - SuSE 10.0 apt repository where development SVN builds are available
- Øystein Olsen apt SuSE 9.0, 9.1, 9.2, 9.3 and 10.0 apt repositories with MythTV. For SuSE 10.0, there is also a 64 Bit version available.
- 10.1
- Packman RPMs and APT Repository MythTV 0.20 RPMs are available from Packman for SuSE 10.1 32 and 64 Bit versions.
Ubuntu
Ubuntu is a Debian based solution.
- Ubuntu 6.10 (Edgy Eft) Binary Installation - The official guide for setting up MythTV in Ubuntu 6.10 (Edgy Eft)
- Ubuntu Hoary Installation - A step-by-step guide for setting up MythTV on Ubuntu Hoary (5.04)
- Ubuntu Breezy Installation - Installation guides for setting up MythTV on Ubuntu Breezy (5.10)
- Ubuntu Dapper Installation - Installation guides for setting up MythTV on Ubuntu Dapper (6.06)
- Ubuntu Edgy Installation - A guide for installing and configuring MythTV 0.20 on the ucoming Ubuntu Edgy (6.10)
Xebian (for Xbox)
Xbox-linux - With this distro you can run MythFrontend on your Xbox (ie you need another 'proper' machine too!). Most are for the Xebian distribution which is based on Debian. Here are some guides:
- MythTV Xbox source code
- Xbox Guide
- MythTV frontend HowTo
- Complete Xebian V1.1.4 MythTV frontend HowTo
Non-linux distributions
FreeBSD
FreeBSD isn't a Linux distro, but MythTV runs on it too. FreeBSD as with all "flavors" of BSD is Unix-based, and Linux is also Unix-based.
- FreeBSD - Stacey Son has provided a FreeBSD port of MythTV
Mac OS X
Yes, Mac OS X is Unix-based (as is Linux), as I'm sure you already know from Apple's Mac OS X site, and MythTV runs there too!
- Category:MacOS
- Myth on Mac OS X
- Myth_on_Mac_x86
- Open Darwin is a distribution that runs on Mac hardware
- Mac OS X Frontend build instructions
Microsoft Windows
A MythTV frontend has been written using the Microsoft .NET Framework (at http://winmyth.sourceforge.net/). However, it's still pretty flaky.
Native MythTV code works in Cygwin to a limited degree. Hopefully, it will eventually be possible to compile MyhTV easily in Windows under Cygwin.