User:Linux-SA

Introduction:

The vast majority of LinuxMCE users and developers live predominately in The United States and Europe - which means that if you're like me and live/work in AUSTRALIA, you need to be very selective about the advice given both on the LinuxMCE wiki as well as on the IRC channel because some of the hardware that works in Europe and America will NOT work in Australia.

For example: TV Tuner Cards (to run Myth TV) that work PERFECTLY in Europe/America, will NOT work in Australia because we use different standards/formats then Europe/America.

For those that don't know anything about Australia, Australia is a country in the southern hemisphere comprising the mainland of the world's smallest continent, the major island of Tasmania, and a number of other islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The neighbouring countries are Indonesia, East Timor, and Papua New Guinea to the north, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and New Caledonia to the north-east, and New Zealand to the south-east. Australia is the only country that is also a continent.

My AUSTRALIAN Hardware:

This wiki outlines all of the 100% Linux MCE compatible AUSTRALIAN hardware that I'm currently using to run my Linux MCE 0710 - i386 setup.

It's been posted so that you (the new person to LMCE) can have a better understanding of what just works (plug and play) here in AUSTRALIA without messing around with drivers or 'hacking' the kernal - or any other nonsense... (I don't know about you - but I don't WANT to mess around with such stuff - I just want it to WORK with minimal effort!)

Please check back regularly as this is most definitely a work in progress... Every month (at least) I'm constantly updating my setup as I add and take away different pieces of hardware that works pnp (plug and play) with Linux MCE.

Core/Hybrid - Media Director #1: (Lounge)

Operating System: Linux MCE 0710 - i386
User Interface: OpenGL with alpha blending (high-end)
Motherboard: Asus P4P800-E 
Processor: Intel P4 (2.4Ghz)
Video: Inno 3D 7600GS - 512mb (AGP)
RAM: Corsair 2Gb (2x 1Gb sticks)
HDD: Western Digital - 250GB (EIDE)
Audio:  Asus P4P800-E  (standard audio out)
NIC #1: For input, I'm using the onboard P4P800-E's
NIC #2: For output, I'm using an Intel Pro MT gigabit
Power Supply: Thermaltake TR2-550W
DVD-RW: Pioneer DVD-R/W (model doesn't matter - all are pnp)  
Bluetooth: Don't remember brand - around $10AUD. (It worked pnp.)
Infrared Reciever/Transmitter: USB-UIRT
Infrared Remote Control: Windows MCE
Monitor: Panasonic 50" (127cm) HD-TV (Dvi-HDMI)
Resolution: (720p HDTV - 100Hz) I've tried 1080p, but my current hardware doesn't have the grunt

Media Director #2: (Master Bedroom)

Operating System: Linux MCE 0710 - i386 (NIC boot)
User Interface: Static images, no overlay (lightweight)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-6OX
Processor: Intel P3 (1.2Ghz)
Video: Inno 3D 5200GS - 128Mb (AGP slot)  
RAM: Hynix 1Gb (2x 512Mb sticks)  
HDD: Western Digital - 80GB (EIDE) 
Monitor: Panasonic 32" Flat Screen CRT  
NIC: Intel Pro MT gigabit (10/100/1000)
Audio: Gigabyte GA-6OX onboard audio out  
DVD-RW: Pioneer DVD-R (model doesn't matter - all are pnp)  
Bluetooth: Don't remember brand - around $10AUD. (It worked pnp.)
Resolution: (800x600 - 80Hz) It seems that P3 hardware can't handle higher

N.A.S. (Network Addressed Server:)

Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP-Pro  
Motherboard: Asus P4P800-E
Processor: Intel Celeron (2.4Ghz)
Video: ATI RADEON 9600 Pro - 256Mb (AGP slot)  
NIC: Intel Pro MT gigabit (10/100/1000)
RAM: Corsair 2Gb (2x 1Gb sticks)   
HDD #1: Western Digital - 80GB (EIDE)  
HDD #2: Western Digital - 400GB (EIDE) 
HDD #3: Western Digital - 250GB (EIDE)
HDD #4: Western Digital - 250GB (EIDE)
HDD #5: Western Digital - 250GB (EIDE)
Audio:  Asus P4P800-E  (standard audio out) 
DVD-RW: Pioneer DVD-R/W (model doesn't matter - all are pnp)

VOIP/PSTN Integration:

1x ADSL: Internode Home-1500-Power100 (100gb @ 1,500mbs down + 256kbs up)
1x LinuxMCE - Asterisk (Asterisk is in the standard LinuxMCE installation)
1x VOIP Line: VOIP WA ($5 per month + 12c STD/Local + 22c p/m mobile)
1x S101I - IAXy™: Regular phone line (PSTN or POTS) adaptor
1x Cisco 7960: IP Phone (running SCCP firmware)
5x Cisco 7910: IP Phone (running SCCP firmware)

Assorted additional Hardware:

Oddles of 10/100/1000 & 10/100 LAN cable
Standard Rack (Enclosed 'home' for Server cases)
Various other PC's running various other Operating Systems
8 Port Gigabit Switch (Brand is irrelevant as long as it's not managed)
4 Port 10/100 Switch (Brand is irrelevant as long as it's not managed)   
Other bits and pieces security related I prefer not to document for security reasons

Near Future Upgrades:

1x Upgrade from [Linux MCE 0710 - i386 LinuxMCE I386] to LinuxMCE 0710 64-bit
1x Dedicated Core Motherboard: P5N32-E SLI Plus (Purchased 03/06/08 - Waiting for delivery) 
1x Dedicated Core Processor: Intel duo Quad 6600 (Price Shopping)
2x dual HD-TV TV Tuners (Total 4 HD-TV Channels - Still researching compatible brands) 
1x (minimum) 2U Rack Mount Case(s) (Still researching rack mount cases)
2x Cisco 7960: IP Phone's (To replace 2 existing 7910's)
Other bits and pieces security related I prefer not to document for security reasons

My personal experiences with Linux MCE:

Because the focus of this 'wiki' is LinuxMCE compatible hardware that 'just works' (plug and play) here in AUSTRALIA, it's sadly lacking in details, such as my personal experience in installing LinuxMCE and using it on a day to day basis. (Not to mention tweaking it to do things it wasn't originally intended to do.)

If reading about such day-to-day experiences interests you, I've got an off-site forum where I talk about all that at: Forum SA