Installation Guide

After installation please visit this page and fill in any information you have about the installation process. This will aid the developers in fixing any faults.

If you want to install LinuxMCE using the DVD check these steps.

Hardware notes

See this section for general hardware recommendations.

There are two components that are best installed prior to installing the software.

For the central LinuxMCE core server, most recommended installations suggest 2 network interface cards (NICs). If you don't have a second NIC card already installed, it is easiest to do so before installing Kubuntu/LinuxMCE, since the second card can then be recognised and configured correctly during the initial installation. You won't have to fiddle with setting it up later, this way.

Also, an nVidia graphics card is strongly recommended. If you don't have one installed, it is easiest to do so before starting software installation.

Kubuntu 7.10 (Gutsy)

Note: LinuxMCE 0704beta was used only with Kubuntu Desktop version 7.04 (Feisty). The current version is LinuxMCE 0710beta and is meant to be used only with Kubuntu Desktop version 7.10 (Gutsy).

Steps for installing Linux MCE on an Kubuntu 7.10 (Gutsy Gibbon) system :

Existing Kubuntu 7.10 installation

Using the 2 CD install method (but not the DVD method) you can install LinuxMCE 0710beta on a pre-existing installation of Kubuntu 7.10, but to complete the installation you will need a Kubuntu Desktop 7.10 Live CD anyway. Make sure you have one available. (If you need to obtain one, see the next section for the download link and burning instructions.)

The install process will partially overwrite your previous Kubuntu installation using those modules from the Live CD which are known to be uniquely compatible with LinuxMCE. If you have previously modified your Kubuntu system subsequent to the original installation, you may lose some of your configuration files because LinuxMCE modifies them to suit its own needs. Therefore, do not install LinuxMCE on a mission-critical PC if you don't want to risk this. You should dedicate one PC to be the LinuxMCE core server, anyway.

New installation

If you don't already have an Kubuntu system installed, follow these generic steps to install Kubuntu Desktop 7.10 from the Live CD:

1. Download either the 32-bit version or the 64-bit version, depending on your processor. Use the 32-bit version if in doubt. Note that LinuxMCE comes in both a 32-bit and a 64-bit version as well, so you must match.
2. If you don't know how to burn an .iso file to a bootable CD, then see these instructions.
3. Boot the Kubuntu Desktop 7.10 LiveCD.
4. Choose 'Start or install Kubuntu'
5. When Kubuntu's desktop appears, click on 'Install'
6. A short wizard will start and guide you; Select the language and press 'forward'
7. Choose your timezone and press 'forward'
8. Select the keyboard layout
9. Choose desktop name, a user name and a password. LinuxMCE uses linuxmce for the user and password, so it is often convenient to use linuxmce as the initial user and password at this step, as well.
10. Select the partitioning options for your disk. If this is going to be a dedicated server, you can use the entire disk.
11. Ready to install.
12. Reboot the system and remove the Live CD.

LinuxMCE

Download LinuxMCE

From within the Kubuntu 7.10 desktop, open Konqueror or Firefox (the orange and blue icon at the top), and go to www.linuxmce.com and select 'Download Instructions' to download the LinuxMCE CD`s or the DVD on your machine. You can also just download directly from this link.

Note that there is a 32-bit version and a 64-bit version of LinuxMCE. If you are using a 64-bit Kubuntu 7.10 installation, download the corresponding LinuxMCE version.

Burn download to CDs and install from CDs

If you don't know how to burn an .iso file to a CD then see these instructions.

Burn the two CDs (assuming you are using this method).

You can then simply place CD 1 in the CD-ROM and the installer will autostart. You will be prompted to put CD 2 in the drive, followed by your Kubuntu Desktop Live CD (see later sections).

The rest will take a lot of time but will essentially install automatically.

Alternatively, you can use the method in the next two sections if you don't want to use CDs.

Installing mce-installer from KDE Menu

Once you have downloaded the packages, proceed with the installation. First, you have to install mce-installer, which is the software that will guide you through the installation. Right-click on it, go to Kubuntu Package Menu -> Install Package.

Installing mce-installer from command prompt

Alternatively, you can install the mce-installer from a command prompt without the need to burn the ISOs as follows:

cd /directory/where/the/downloaded/iso/files/are/
mkdir -pv mnt
sudo mount LinuxMCE_0704_CD1.iso mnt/ -o loop
sudo dpkg -i mnt/mce-installer_2.0.1-1_i386.deb
sudo umount mnt
rmdir -v mnt

Install LinuxMCE

The installer will have put an "Install LinuxMCE" icon on your desktop. Click it to start the installation process. A window will appear saying that you will be notified when updates are available.

Choosing type of Core

After this you have to choose if you want a dedicated core or a hybrid (click hereto find out the difference between a core and a hybrid), and then click on "Forward" button.

You're serious about a whole house LinuxMCE installation, right? So go ahead and make one primary PC as your designated core server (not a hybrid).

If you're just playing around or checking out the system, you can choose hybrid and then use your PC as a Kubuntu desktop as well.

Choosing Video Card

• Only for Nvidia cards - LinuxMCE will detect that you are using a nVidia Card, but you are not using the proprietary video driver. Only that driver works well with LinuxMCE and nvidia cards and it will ask you it you want to switch to it now.

Network Configuration

The next screen will ask you want to keep your current network configuration or if you want to set your network options manually. Then press "Forward".

If you chose manual installation, you must set your network using static IP or DHCP.

Choosing Mirror for Packages

You have to choose a mirror. Pick one geographically close to you. Downloads will be faster.

Choosing DHCP Server

You will be asked whether you want (the LinuxMCE core server) to Run a DHCP Server or not. The LinuxMCE core server must be the DHCP server for your home automation network in order to provide plug-and-play detection of network devices like IP Cameras and VOIP phones, and to provide network boot images to any other PC's in the home you want to use as media stations.

Hopefully you took some advice and installed a second NIC card. That second NIC card is used so that LinuxMCE can provide a DHCP network to the PCs (Media directors), orbiters, and devices within your automated home network. All Ethernet connections from these devices within the home automation network must be connected to a switch (or router with DHCP turned off), that is then connected to this second NIC card so that the LinuxMCE core server performs the DHCP functions for the home automation network.

If you already have a home LAN, run through a router-with-DHCP (connected to your DSL, cablemodem, or T1 line, for example), then, in essence, LinuxMCE will run a "nested" home automation LAN within your overall LAN.

The first NIC card communicates to your overall home LAN administered by the router-with DHCP, which can have some PCs outside of the home automation network, while the second NIC is connected to the home automation LAN. The LinuxMCE core server acts as the DHCP server for the home automation LAN only, through the second NIC. Savvy?

Generally, you should answer yes to this question.

You will be then asked if you want to keep the default Internal Network address for the home automation LAN or if you want to change it. You might as well accept the default, unless you have some specific reason for specifying a unique IP range.

Then press 'Forward'.

Choosing Orbiter Interface

In the next window you need to choose what interface you want to use and you have to pick one of three possibilities. There are currently three options: UI1, UI2 with masking, and UI2 with alpha-blending. UI2 requires specific video cards. It is best to choose UI1 for the initial installation as the interface can be changed later. This will reduce the possibility of video card related errors during installation. After installation, you can check to see if your video card can do masking and alpha-blending by following the instructions at Graphics Test

Installing Additional Packages

On the next step you have to choose if you want to install lame and libdvdcss and if it is legal in your country to use them.

Choosing How to Primarily Use the Computer

You have to select how do you plan to use your computer: Primarily used as a PC- you can start LMCE manually when you need it or A dedicated LinuxMCE and you can start Kubuntu when you need it.

Installing LinuxMCE Discs

This step is very important you have to insert

LinuxMCE DISC 1

LinuxMCE DISC 2

Kubuntu 7.10 Live CD

You can see the message about the Linux MCE system installation.

Installation can take a long time

Don't worry if the system seems to stop at points or report what seems like error messages. This is normal since at places it will be testing drivers out, and is only there for the advanced Linux user. You will get a dialog box if something really does go wrong. And, understand this may take a very long time since it will in parallel be updating your Kubuntu system to the latest version. Just leave it for an hour or two and come back later.

Installation Complete

After the installation is done you’ll receive a message from the installer that will tell you to restart the system

Next follow the QuickStart Guide to tell LinuxMCE about how you want to use it.

Additional Notes

Note that if you said you want LinuxMCE to startup by default, after rebooting you'll have LinuxMCE, not Kubuntu. If you will only use this as a media pc, that's fine; you won't ever need to access the Kubuntu desktop to set anything up and can do it all from either the LMCE UI and a remote control, or with the LMCE web admin panel using the web browser of any pc in your home. But, if you want to use this as a normal Kubuntu PC too, and you want to start Kubuntu after LinuxMCE is going, there's not yet an icon to switch to Kubuntu from within LinuxMCE, so press Ctrl+Alt+F2, login, and type StartX. If you said you want Kubuntu by default, it will boot to the Kubuntu desktop and you can choose Applications, Sound & Video, Start Media Center to start LinuxMCE manually. When both LinuxMCE and Kubuntu are running, you can toggle between them by pressing ctrl+alt+f7 for Kubuntu and ctrl+alt+F11 for LinuxMCE. Unfortunately, at this moment, once you start LinuxMCE there is no way to stop it. The Kubuntu integration is still a work in progress.