I'm a little confused about something. When I upgraded to R4v4 I noticed a screen that came up after the system rebooted the first time and asked me to give the root password in a terminal window. The screen asked whether I wanted to install the i686 package or the i586 package. Yet the installation instructions still ask you to exit the frontend and install the appropriate package again using the commnadline. i.e. install-i686-(l)(x).

So my question is does this really install the package twice? I assume that the commandline command installs the package as well as lirc or XvMC (or both). Is that correct? Does that mean that if I don't want to use lirc or XvMC that I don't need to go to the commandline to do this?

Just trying to understand what is happening. Thanks for any insight you have into this.

The only package you should install from CLI is xvmc. This needs the nVidia drivers installed first that is why.

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cesman

When the source is open, the possibilities are endless!

Got it. Thank you. That makes more sense now.

I had the same interpretation as masonj when installing Knoppmyth: namely, the directions seem to suggest that you run install-i686-x (or lx) again after exiting the front end. I imagine you're not doing any harm by doing so, but if you don't need to, that would be great to know.

So is the correct sequence as follows?

* boot from Knoppmyth CD
* answer questions for Knoppmyth install
* let system reboot
* type root password in Xterm
* answer questions for install-i586 or 686 (which should auto-run after typing root password), including whether you want LIRC and/or have an nVidia chipset and want to install XvMC
* configure mythtv back end (I think this comes next...)
* wait for mythtv to attempt to start up the frontend

(the following only if you have an nVidia chipset (?))

* ctrl-alt-F1 out of X
* log in as root
* run install-nvidia.sh
* restart

Is this correct? Or do you indeed have to run "install-i686-lx or -x" after ctrl-alt-F1 and login as root?

If it would be a help I'd be willing to take a shot at rewriting the installation instructions.

Please refer to what I wrote above. I sorry if I didn't clarify the instructions(I'm not a technically writer). I wrote them so that if one reads it and follows step by step they should have no issues. I'm willing to look at a rewrite...

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cesman

When the source is open, the possibilities are endless!

I will try to take a shot at rewriting the install instructions and post them here to see if people think they are useful.

I guess I'm still confused, though, as you said in this thread "The only package you should install from CLI is xvmc. This needs the nVidia drivers installed first that is why."

First, the install instructions say to run install-nvidia.sh AFTER you exit the frontend and AFTER you do install-i686-lx (for instance). That doesn't seem like the nVidia drivers are being installed first.

Second, and I'm sorry if this seems dense, but I'm still not clear if you HAVE to do the "second" install-i686-lx in the CLI, since it seems you already selected those options (namely, LIRC and xvmc support) in the Xterm window after the reboot.

So, is it sufficient to select XVMC from the initial Xterm window, or is it necessary to do it twice (once from initial Xterm window, then again from the command line, just before running install-nvidia.sh)?

Don't install XvMC until after the nVIdia drivers have been installed. You can install i686-lirc, do the setup then exit MythTV. Go to the CLI then install the nVidia drivers and xvmc.

_________________
cesman

When the source is open, the possibilities are endless!

How is this? It's much of the same information, just reworded and reorganized. And hopefully correct; please check for errors.

INSTALLATION

1. In your BIOS, set the system to boot from CD.

2. Restart your system with the Knoppmyth CD in the drive.

3. At the splashscreen, press Enter if you do not have your computer connected to a TV via TV-out.

4. If you do have your computer connected to a TV via TV-out, type tv and press Enter (this will set your video adapter to a resolution of 800x600. You will still need to edit the /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 to change the refresh rate or you can destroy your TV.

5. Once the CD boots, you see six options:

1. Frontend
2. Auto Install
3. Auto Upgrade
4. Manual Install
5. Reboot
6. Quit

Options 5 and 6 are self-explanatory. Here are descriptions of the first four options.

Frontend

This allows you to use the CD as a frontend if you have a MythTV backend previously set up. Select this option by pressing Enter. After providing the requested information, the CD will boot X and start mythfrontend.

Using the CD as a frontend is dependent on the backend having already been configured with MySQL listening on the network. If you are running Knoppmyth as your backend server, you can configure it as follows:

1. Edit /etc/mysql/my.cnf and comment out 'skip-networking'.

Before: skip-networking
After: # skip-networking

2. Note that the backend will only accept the mythtv user with a password of mythtv.

3. Restart MySQL as root by opening an Xterm window and typing:

su
/etc/init.d/mysql restart
exit

4. As the mythtv user, reconfigure mythtv. In the Xterm window from step 3 above, type:

mythtv-setup

On the first screen of MythTV setup, change both instances of the loopback IP number (127.0.0.1) to the actual IP number of the backend server. Then press ESC to exit myth-setup.

Autoinstall

This will automatically perform a complete installation of KnoppMyth.

1. Provide the requested information in the various dialogs that appear after selecting autoinstall. Note that the time zone and current time may not appear to be set at this point: you will have another opportunity to set it after the initial installation is complete. You will also be warned that installation will erase all the contents of the hard drive.

2. After the initial installation is complete, the system will reboot into X, and KnoppMyth will open an Xterm window. When prompted, type the root password.

3. In the prompts that appear, choose i586 if you have a Pentium-class processor, or i686 if you have a PentiumPro or higher (or Athlon or higher). You can also choose to install remote control support (LIRC), and if you have an nVidia graphics card, XvMC support (but NOTE the additional installation steps required below and marked with an asterisk). You will also re-select a time zone and date/time.

4. Configuration will proceed, and the front end will attempt to start for the first time.

5*. If you have an nVidia graphics card, when the front end attempts to start (the Xterm window will disappear and the KnoppMyth desktop will remain on the screen), you will have to install the nVidia graphic drivers. To do this, press <CTRL><ALT><F1> to exit X.

6.* Log in as root, then type install-nvidia.sh to install the nVidia drivers.

7.* After the drivers have been installed, then type either:
install-i586-x (for XvMC support on Pentium-class machines)
install-i686-x (for XvMC support on PentiumPro/Athlon machines)
install-i586-lx (for XvMC and LIRC support on Pentium-class machines)
install-i686-lx (for XvMC and LIRC support on PentiumPro/Athlon machines)

NOTE: if you have an nForce chipset or any nVidia graphics card, and want to use its TV out capability, you may want to edit /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 and add:

Option "ConnectedMonitor" "TV"

More options are available at: ftp://download.nvidia.com/XFree86/Linux ... README.txt . There is also a sample XF86Config-4 file for nVidia and TV Out in the /etc/X11/ directory.

(auto-upgrade is similar; manual upgrade I can work on or leave as is, only replacing the description of what to do about XvMC and nVidia cards)