Hi there. I've used Mythbuntu for some time (currently 12.04 with MythTV .27 on a combined FE/BE), and I'm thinking of switching over to LinHES now that it uses .27 as well. Are there any particular warning or caveats that I should be aware of? Should my existing database "just work" with LinHES?

What would the process be like? Install LinHES and then run mythconverg_restore.pl?

Sorry I have so many questions! I'm just trying to figure out what pitfalls I may encounter.

LinHES keeps some of it's settings in the mythconverg database, so simply importing your mythbuntu database is going to cause trouble.
With that said if you follow the R8 upgrade guide with a few minor changes it *should* work.
I strongly encourage the use of a spare harddrive.

Here is the upgrade guide:
http://www.linhes.org/projects/linhes/w ... _R7X_to_R8

Here is a brief overview of the process and changes needed.

1) install LinHES 8.1 on a blank drive.
2) perform a backup using the webpage. This backup will be modified to hold the contents of your mythbuntu database
3) download the backup using the webpage
4) inside the backup tar file, replace the mythconverg file with your mythbuntu db backup
- keep the filename the same, or if you do change it the date_timestamp in the filename and dirname must match.
5) do a partial restore using the modified backup file, created in step 4
- This will restore your old database, and then import the LinHES specific settings into it.
6) copy over media from the mythbuntu install

The other thing to mention is that LinHES is not intended to be used as a desktop.
Some people do use it as a desktop , but it's best treated as a dedicated mythtv appliance.
It's not going to run the latest and greatest versions of stuff, but will for the most part be stable.

Thanks for the thorough response! It seems pretty straightforward. I'll definitely be installing to a spare hard drive initially.

The fact that LinHES is more of an appliance is very appealing to me. I want it to be a simple-to-operate device that my wife won't get annoyed by. The only other software I'll probably want to run are Dropbox and Transmission... just from the command line. Maybe XBMC or Plex too.