Difference between revisions of "User:Elf"

Revision as of 01:09, 7 February 2009

Feb 06 2009 I got my parts (detail specs pending), but it is something like this: Rosewill case (the one with the power button enclosed on top so kids don't mess with it easily), Rosewill 550PSU, Asus P5N7A-VM mobo, 4GB DDR2, LG DVD R/W, Intel Dual Core 2.5GHz, two WD 250GB HDs, IR Remote. I already had a 720 50" TV, HDMI cable, and Logitech wireless keyboard/mouse. I first wanted to install something else to test things, so I ran Ubuntu's live CD (HDs got here one day later than the other parts and I could not wait). The In installed FC10, but did not feel like fixing the nvidia drivers to get x working, so installed Ubuntu 8.10 instead. I figured I will leave one working drive while I play with LinuxMCE so my hardware gets used ocassionally. So, I booted from the LinuxMCE DVD and got the splash screen and I selected "Install..." and then after a few seconds I got to this prompt. I am a linux newbie and not familiar with many distros so when I saw that busybox stuff I thought: "what's this". After reading a little, got rid of "quiet" from the choices using F6 and got to see what was happening. I could not read everything since it scrolled fast and the last screen had a few messages about USB devices, but nothing that looked like an error. Based on the instructions for the DVD installation I figured that if the next step is to select the hard drive, then that's where the problem is. I saw somewhere that using "all_generic_ide" helped so I tried and indeed it went further, but now I am waiting with the line "Running local boot scripts (/etc/rc.local)". I hit enter and it went to the select a hard drive menu. I thought that I saw an error message that scrolled quickly so I decided to reinstall to see. This time the install detected my previous install and I just said to do it all over again, however I did not wait long to hit enter when it was stopped in the "Running local boot scripts (/etc/rc.local)". Last night I had a failed message (after it finished copying the DVD to drive?), perhaps because the DVD could not be ejected? (case closed). Today I left the case open and will see what happens.

Jan 26 2009 Investigated the CAT6 thing. I have never installed wire through wall, floors, etc., so I am reading up on it. Looks like I'll be able to do it, but there are few parts of the house that will be challenging. I will setup the router in the basement and run cables from the basement into the walls of the floor above. To reach a family room on the other side I will have to route cable up to the attic first, then down to the room. It's too cold to be doing that so for now I will continue with a basic installation in the basement. So I decided to buy parts to create a core, but I eventually can split into core and media director. I looked at HTPC cases and ITX cases and did not find any that I really liked at a good price, though I did like the looks of that Dell hybrid thing. For now I bought a regular case and PSU. I will try to revive some old hardware I have not used in a couple of year where I ran red hat before. But I already have a wish list ready, with basic parts to finish the build. Nothing fancy: case/psu for $121, and mobo/cpu/mem/dvd/hd/nic for $409 (including shipping). After I setup this hybrid system, I should get an idea for linuxMCE and how it works. I have some basics components already that I will leverage: linkstation nas, linksys wireless router, and brother printer. My plan is to build in stages, but if does not work, perhaps I will just try to setup mythtv. I have been reading stuff and I have to admit that I am almost compelled to do some coding, which has not happened seriously in 5 years.

Jan 17 2009 I am interested in learning more about LinuxMCE and create a setup at home. The thought of home automation is extremely interesting to me and I would like to manage media as well. Currently I am navigating the site and attempting to understand my choices in terms of required infrastructure.

Due to budget concerns I can estimate it will take me several months to get setup. My first step will be to improve my house with a CAT6 based network. It seems like a good idea for me to use a gigabit network for my internal network connected to the core. Now I am looking to see what materials I need what will it take to elegantly present drops in different parts of the house.