LinuxMCE Installation
Installing LinuxMCE-0810 is a fairly easy process that involves:
- Installing Kubuntu 8.10
- Updating Kubuntu 8.10
- Installing LinuxMCE-0810 on top of the updated Kubuntu 8.10
Before proceeding its wise to read the FAQ. Because of the fact that its a delicate installation small things make a huge difference.
Please see below for details on Internet Installation and DVD Installation methods.
Note: an active internet connection is required regardless of installation method.
Contents
DVD Installation
- Boot the DVD and select LinuxMCE (it is the top option) This will install a regular Kubuntu 810 system, with an additional button on the desktop to install LinuxMCE.
- Let Kubuntu's install run through, and after restart, login.
- Go to the Desktop and double click on the LinuxMCE icon. This will run the fullinstall.sh in /root/new-installer and install LinuxMCE-0810 on top of you updated Kubuntu installation.
Note: If you receive the error "kdesudo command not found" ignore it completely, do not even click the OK button.
Note: Once the above process is complete - the AV Wizard should start (after rebooting). If you get a black or blank screen you probably need to change your video card outputs. Instructions on how to do this are available: here
The DVD installer per default does not create the initial MD image, as that creation takes a very long time, and most people probably prefer to give 810 a test, without the MDs. If you want to setup MDs, you have to manually run
/usr/pluto/bin/Diskless_CreateTBZ.sh
(You should only have to do this once)
If you have problems running Diskless_CreateTBZ.sh, check this article.
If you then have problems netbooting your diskless media directors because you are receiving the error message "Diskless Setup Failed", check this article.
Keeping Up-to-date with updates
Note It is strongly recommend that you do not update/upgrade a stable, working system user:L3mce
Once you have installed LinuxMCE-0810, all you need to do to keep up-to-date with the latest and greatest, is run the following from a terminal on the core and each MD:
sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get upgrade
Note: You should NOT run apt-get dist-upgrade after LinuxMCE is installed, as it can cause several problems, including having different kernel versions on your core and media directors, and the installation of new Kubuntu packages that can break some features!
AV Wizard can be accessed by pressing the Shift key when the Kubuntu with LMCE boots up. In the process of booting, at a time, you'll hear a series of beeps. You must be prepared before these beeps to press the Shift key. When you'll hear them, press Shift key and keep it pressed. Then you'll enter in AV Wizard. If instead of AV Wizard you see black screen or "no signal" message on display, try to switch the connector type as it is described in section II.
Section I
Resolution Settings
Here, you can choose the desired output from your video card to TV or monitor. If you’ll choose VGA, there are many available resolutions and refresh rates. If the optimum resolution for your display is not listed, please see Custom Display Resolutions.
VGA
DVI/HDMI
You have the same range of resolutions like at VGA. Choose one that is suitable for your display device.
Component
The resolutions for component are made for using with wide screen monitors and TV’s. Choose the one that is best suited to your display device.
Composite
If you are choosing Composite, you can also choose one TV standard from the list, supported by your display.
S-Video
As you can see in the picture above, you will choose one of the TV standards in the list.
Confirmation of Resolution
After choosing a resolution, a counter will appear on your screen which will stay 15 seconds. In this time, you can decide if the resolution is good for your monitor or not. If you like it, press Continue. If not, press Back.
Select Graphical User Interface
The next step of the A/V wizard refers to the graphical aspect of user experience. Here, you have three options:
- Please look a Selecting the Right UI for more information regarding the best option to choose.
• Static images, no overlay (lightweight) – It uses only static images and works on nearly all graphics platforms.
• OpenGL with overlay (medium)
• OpenGL with alpha blending (high-end) - Requires very specific Graphics Cards
- In this case your media is always first and foremost, and the media is always full-screen. If you're not watching any media, Pluto downloads the 'most interesting' photos from flickr.com and presents smooth sliding, cross-fading gallery art as your media.
Adjust Image Size
The wizard will guide you to the adjustment of the image size. If your TV doesn't overscan, meaning crop off the edges, you will see all 4 yellow arrows completely on this step. If your TV does overscan, be sure to hit the - key to reduce the image until all 4 arrows are fully visible. Use the arrow keys to shift the image. The goal is that all 4 arrows are centered and as close to the edges of your screen as possible, but without being cropped off. Once you made the correct setup press OK and go the next screen.
This is where LinuxMCE will display the user interface. Your movies and media themselves are always full-screen and are not effected by this.
Audio Output Connector
Next set up the audio system. Again, you have to look at the sound card to see where is connected the cable which goes to the sound system. If you connected the cable to the correct output you have only to click the choice on the screen. If you will hear a melody, then everything is ok, you made the correct setup.
Dolby Audio Test
If your audio has Dolby, then you will have an additional screen, if not then you will bypass these two screen.
DTS Audio Test
If your audio has Digital Theater Sound(DTS) then you will have an additional screen, if not then you will bypass this screen.
Final Confirmation
The final screen of the AV Wizard will show you the settings that you’ve chosen for the LinuxMCE system. If you agree with these setting press I agree, if not, press I do not agree and you’ll be able to make the settings again.
Section II
To choose the resolutions and the connector during the wizard there are keyboard key shortcuts - these are only to get a display during the wizard so that you can see what you are doing. You still need to choose the correct ultimate resolution and output using the wizard for when you are actually using LMCE. By default, the AV Wizard has the resolution 640x480 on VGA. To choose the connector you have to press the keys from 1 to 5 (1=DVI, 2=VGA, 3=Component, 4=Composite, 5=S-Video) and the letters Q, W, and L (Q=DVI-2,W=VGA-2,L=LVDS - Q is under 1=DVI, W is under 2=VGA). To choose a resolution you have to press the keys from 6 to 0 (6=640x480, 7=1024x768, 8=720p, 9=1080i, 0=1080p). For choosing the resolution and connector you have to be in the initial screen of AV Wizard.
When you are in this screen press the key the desired connector. The screen will flicker and will return to this initial screen. Then, press the key for the desired resolution. Again, the screen will flicker and will return to the initial screen, using the resolution that you chose. After you made the setup, you can continue with the next settings. Note - the "flickering" whilst LMCE changes output or resolution can take up to 15 seconds to complete, so if you have no display, make sure you wait at least this long to settle down before continuing to the next keyboard shortcut.
Troubleshooting
Driver Issues
*1080i and 1080p are not fully supported because of some factory issues of NVidia drivers.
The AVWizard does not start
- I hear the beeps but I only have a black screen.
- Please refer to Section II above as it will tell you how to start the AVWizard with a connection other than VGA.
- Also confirm whether you have more than one graphics chipset - this will be the case, for instance, if you have added a graphics card to a motherboard that has integrated graphics included with it. In this case you may need to edit your /etc/X11/xorg.conf file manually. You can do this by hitting ESC during the GRUB boot menu. Choose the Recovery Console. Then from the command line type "lspci" and note the PCI Bus ID of the card you wish to use. Now use a text editor like (sudo) nano or (sudo) joe to edit the xorg.conf file - find the Bus ID option in the Device section and correct this to be the Bus ID you noted above. Save and reboot.
Re-run the AVWizard on a MD
In a Terminal window: ssh moon<deviceid> /usr/bin/pluto/RebootWithAVWizard
RC2 Location: /usr/pluto/bin/RebootWithAVWizard
