Difference between revisions of "Schedules Direct URL Change"

From MythTV Official Wiki
Jump to: navigation, search
Line 10: Line 10:
 
Because of this, users of older versions of MythTV will need to choose one of four options in order to continue retrieving SD data:
 
Because of this, users of older versions of MythTV will need to choose one of four options in order to continue retrieving SD data:
  
* Upgrade/update to the current stable release of 0.27.4 (preferred) or the very latest 0.26-fixes* (*packages may not be available)
+
* Upgrade/update to the current stable release of 0.27.4 (preferred), or alternatively the unsupported 0.26.2* (*packages may not be available)
  
 
* Add a line to your hosts file, which overrides the IP address returned by DNS for the name "baked" into the copy of MythTV you're running
 
* Add a line to your hosts file, which overrides the IP address returned by DNS for the name "baked" into the copy of MythTV you're running
Line 23: Line 23:
 
== What '''must''' users do prior to November 1st, 2014? ==
 
== What '''must''' users do prior to November 1st, 2014? ==
  
0.26, 0.27 and 0.28-pre (prelease) users should keep their systems up to date. 0.26 is no longer supported, and updated packages may not be available for many distributions, and it is recommended for a number of reasons that users run the latest stable release which is 0.27.4.
+
0.26, 0.27 and 0.28-pre (prelease) users should keep their systems up to date. 0.26 is no longer supported, updated packages may not be available for many distributions, and it is recommended for a number of reasons that users run the latest stable release which is 0.27.4.
  
 
<br>
 
<br>
Line 36: Line 36:
 
! scope="col" | Release Date
 
! scope="col" | Release Date
 
|-
 
|-
|0.26.1.x
+
|0.26.2
 
|{{shortgitcommit|4cb10e5}}
 
|{{shortgitcommit|4cb10e5}}
 
|October 20, 2014
 
|October 20, 2014

Revision as of 14:00, 21 October 2014

On November 1st, 2014, the existing SD service is changing the address of the server from which it provides guide data. This article is intended to be a short discussion of options for MythTV users.

Ideally, there would be a DNS change and the IP address for the existing (hard coded) URL would be pointed to a new IP address and no action would be required by MythTV SD users. However, the owner of that domain name (which is not SD) could 'retire' that DNS record at any time leaving MythTV SD users without listings.

There is a temporary DNS change in place now. mythfilldatabase users will go the new site without taking any action. As stated above, this change is likely to go away after 11/1/2014.

Because of this, users of older versions of MythTV will need to choose one of four options in order to continue retrieving SD data:

  • Upgrade/update to the current stable release of 0.27.4 (preferred), or alternatively the unsupported 0.26.2* (*packages may not be available)
  • Add a line to your hosts file, which overrides the IP address returned by DNS for the name "baked" into the copy of MythTV you're running
  • Run a nameserver and use RPZ
  • Modify your MythTV sources to use a different DNS name for the Schedules Direct data source.

The last three solutions are discussed below. Those running versions below 0.27.4 interested in testing the new server can use any of these right now. The more testers, the less the chance of a surprise on 11/1/2014.

What must users do prior to November 1st, 2014?

0.26, 0.27 and 0.28-pre (prelease) users should keep their systems up to date. 0.26 is no longer supported, updated packages may not be available for many distributions, and it is recommended for a number of reasons that users run the latest stable release which is 0.27.4.


MythTV Releases
Version Commit Release Date
0.26.2 4cb10e5 October 20, 2014
0.27.4 d78206e October 15, 2014
0.28-pre 4cb10e5 October 13, 2014


Distribution Releases
Distribution Version Release Date Comment
Mythbuntu 0.27.4 October 15, 2015 Fixed in version 2:0.27.4+fixes.20141015.e4f65c8-0ubuntu0mythbuntu# See Mythbuntu website for more info
Mythbuntu 0.28-pre October 13, 2014 Fixed in version 2:0.28.0~master.20141013.4cb10e5-0ubuntu0mythbuntu# See Mythbuntu website for more info


What must be done on November 1st.

If the above was followed, nothing.

Users running 0.25 and below should choose a solution from the next three sections.

The /etc/hosts file solution

Perhaps the simplest is to make the following entry in the backend's /etc/hosts file:

54.85.117.227 webservices.schedulesdirect.tmsdatadirect.com

Is the /etc/hosts entry a proper solution? No, because IP addresses can change. It's not a bad solution, but it's certainly not as good as running on 0.27.4 or above.

The nameserver/Response Policy Zones (RPZ) solution

If the following is used, be sure to remove the /etc/hosts entry.

Warning.png Warning: The following is of no value without bind version 9.8.1 or greater installed, running and acting as the backend's nameserver. Verify the version before going further.

Also know that this is not intended to be a bind Configuration Reference

Distributions and personal choices will likely change the names of the files in the following examples. Adjust as required.

Finally, the following was written as if the backend is running a nameserver only for itself (the appliance model.)

If a local nameserver is already utilizing RPZ, then it is only necessary to add the last line in the following box to an existing zone file.

Otherwise, add a file named: /etc/bind/db.rpz.localhost with the following:

$TTL 1h
$ORIGIN rpz.localhost.
@ IN SOA LOCALHOST. localhost. (
                  1     ; Serial
             604800     ; Refresh
              86400     ; Retry
            2419200     ; Expire
             604800 )   ; Negative Cache TTL
;   
@ IN NS  LOCALHOST.

webservices.schedulesdirect.tmsdatadirect.com CNAME dd.schedulesdirect.org.

In the file: /etc/bind/named.conf, add the following inside the options{} statement:

    response-policy {zone "rpz.localhost";};

In the same file, add:

zone "rpz.localhost" {
    type master; 
    file "/etc/bind/db.rpz.localhost";
};


The build from source solution

Apply the following patch:

--- libs/libmythtv/datadirect.cpp    2014-10-12 10:54:02.000000000 -0400
+++ libs/libmythtv/datadirect.cpp    2014-10-12 10:54:44.000000000 -0400
@@ -555,7 +555,7 @@
         "/ztvws/ztvws_login/1,1059,TMS01-1,00.html");
     DataDirectURLs urls1(
         "Schedules Direct",
-        "http://webservices.schedulesdirect.tmsdatadirect.com"
+        "http://dd.schedulesdirect.org"
         "/schedulesdirect/tvlistings/xtvdService",
         "http://schedulesdirect.org",
         "/login/index.php");

Are there any other sources of information about the change?

Yes.

The SD Going Live announcement (which has a list of open issues.)

The original announcement from SD.

The mythtv-users mailing list under the thread: Schedules Direct DataDirect replacement service testing. Or, it's archive). Please don't start new testing threads. If you make a report on the testing thread, please mention which version of MythTV you're running (if you run mythfilldatabase by hand, it will tell you, right at the beginning of its logs).

Discussions on the developer's channel.

Cast of characters (both of them.)

Abbreviated Name URL Description
TMS-DD docs.tms.tribune.com webservices.schedulesdirect.tmsdatadirect.com Tribune hosted Datadirect Server (going away)
SD-DD dd.schedulesdirect.org SD hosted DataDirect Server