User:Linux-SA

Introduction:

Hi, and thank you for visiting my little corner of the LinuxMCE wiki!

My real name is David, and I was born in San Antonio, Texas. U.S.A. I currently live and work in Parafield Gardens South Australia, AUSTRALIA - where I immigrated in August, 1982 with my mom and dad and youngest sister Alison.

On July 4, 1999 I was married to Tanya, with whom we've had three wonderful boys, Jacob, Mark and Matthew.

My last role (working for someone else) was as a Regional Manager of a Telecommunications Company called "Telkom." Currently, I run a small business called Forum SA - located at: http://www.forumsa.com.au

If you're wondering why I've chosen the nickname Linux-SA - it's to honor my state's L.U.G. (Linux User Group) that I've been involved in since early 2000, located at: http://www.linuxsa.org.au and I also run a Christian Home Fellowship Group called, Pine Lakes CONNECT

Even though I've been a member of Linux-SA for the better part of a decade - I am most certainly a noob when it comes to Linux. In fact, LinuxMCE was the first time I attempted accessing/using the Command Line Interface of any Linux system!!! To be completely honest, LinuxMCE is only our third experiment in integrating Linux permanently into our lives! Our first attempt was Redhat 9, followed by Suse 10 - neither of which suited our needs and only lasted on our computers for less then a few months. By far LinuxMCE is the longest we've had Linux running in our home and we are in the process of integrating it into our entire home - including running the home itself!

My AUSTRALIAN Hardware: (22 Dec, 08)

It is important to note that the vast majority of LinuxMCE users and developers live in The United States and Europe - where the compatibility of electronic equipment (to Australian standards) varies.

Compatibility is important because a lot of the hardware that works in America (EG: TV-Tuner cards and a vast majority of Home Automation equipment) will NOT work in Australia. (European equipement is less of a concern because the standards - DVB-T; PAL; 230v/50Hz; etc - are pretty much the same.)

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 AUSTRALIAN person - new to LinuxMCE) 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!)

Just remember: The primary rule when it comes to LinuxMCE is do your homework before purchasing - and you'll never be dissapointed!

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)

Awaiting decommission: This box will be recommissioned exclusively as our Lounge Media Director after delivery of some hardware in early '09.

Operating System: Linux MCE 0710 - i386
User Interface: OpenGL with overlay (Medium)
Motherboard: Asus P5N32-E SLI Plus
Processor: Intel duo Quad 6600
Video: Inno 3D 7600GS - 512mb (PCI-E)
RAM: Corsair 2Gb (2x 1Gb sticks)
HDD: Western Digital - 250GB (EIDE)
Audio:  [P5N32-E SLI Plus (standard audio out)
NIC #1: For input, I'm using the onboard P5N32-E SLI Plus gigabit
NIC #2: For output, I'm using the onboard P5N32-E SLI Plus gigabit
Power Supply: Thermaltake TR2-550W
DVD-RW: Pioneer DVD-R/W (model doesn't matter - all are pnp)  
Bluetooth: Dongle Nice and cheap... $10aud
Infrared Reciever/Transmitter: USB-UIRT
Infrared Remote Control: Windows MCE
Monitor: Panasonic 50" (127cm) HD-TV (Dvi-HDMI)
Resolution: (1080p HDTV - 100Hz)
Other bits and pieces security related I prefer not to document for security reasons

Media Director #2: (Master Bedroom)

Awaiting decommission: This box will be recommissioned to the Kids Bedroom; when better hardware replaces it.

Operating System: Linux MCE 0710 - i386 (NIC boot from Core/Hybrid)
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: Dongle Nice and cheap... $10aud
Resolution: (800x600 - 80Hz) It seems that P3 hardware can't handle higher
Other bits and pieces I prefer not to document for security reasons

19" Rack - Hardware Description:

Awaiting commission: This Rack will commence life in early 2009.

1x 19-inch Rack (Waiting to be commissioned)
1x 4U Rack Mount Case - with ability to handle 9 HDD's.  (Waiting to be commissioned)
1x Cisco Catalyst 3524-PWR XL Inline Power Switch  (Waiting to be commissioned)
1x Alloy GS-08DX NWay Desktop Switch 8 Port Gigabit (10/100/1000) (Installed and working)
3x Category 5 megabit (10/100) LAN cables operating at 100MHz. (Installed and working)
6x Category 6 gigabit (10/100/1000) LAN cables operating at 250MHz. (Installed and working)
6x Category 6a gigabit (10/100/1000) LAN cable operating at 500 MHz. (Installed and working)
Other bits and pieces I prefer not to document for security reasons

V.O.I.P. Integration:

Currently active - no changes planned

1x ADSL 2+ Modem/Router Billion Bipac 7404 VGP-M 
1x 'Naked' DSL 2+: Internode Home-Naked-100 (100gb @ a confirmed rate of: 120000/410 kbps)
1x Asterisk/Free PBX LinuxMCE - Asterisk (Part of the standard LinuxMCE installation)
1x VOIP Line: Engin, Home + ($19.95 p/m + 22c p/m mobiles)
1x VOIP Line: VOIP WA ($5 p/m line rental + landline + mobile + International calls)
1x Cisco CP-7970: IP Phone (running SCCP firmware)
2x Cisco CP-7960: IP Phone (running SCCP firmware)
5x Cisco 7910: IP Phone (running SCCP firmware)
2x Telstra F5200 standard 1.8GHz Cordless PSTN phone
Other bits and pieces I prefer not to document for security reasons

NOTE on the Cisco IP Phone hack:

Tschak writes all kind of custom hacks & he is very kind to share his hacks!!!

For example, he's written an awesome hack that allows his Cisco CP-7970 series touch screen IP Phone to work PERFECTLY in Asterisk/LinuxMCE and transfer calls/control his whole house!

That same hack (almost) works with Cisco CP-7960, 7940 or 7910 series phones.

Ahhhh you noticed the almost? In other words, if you want to make/recieve a call on your 7960, 7940 or 7910 Series Cisco IP Phones - TSCHAKs hack will work PERFECTLY!!!

HOWEVER: If you want to transfer calls use the direcories, use music on hold (Etc) and/or have anything more then one single solitary phone online (besides the 7910 series) then TSCHAKs hack is NOT for you and you're wasting your money trying to get any other phones then the 7970 series of IP phones because TSCHAKs hack won't do what you want it to. It WILL make and recieve calls on 7960,7940 and 7910 series Cisco IP Phones - his hack WON'T run advanced functionality!

I know of someone who's working on a hack that will allow the 7960, 7940 and 7910 series IP Phones to work under LMCE - but there's a LOT of work in writing this from scratch and they have no idea how long it'll take... Translation: It's coming - just don't hold your breath!!!

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

Awaiting decommission: After delivery of some hardware in early 2009, this NAS will be decommissioned - some of its components integrated into the 19" rack as a dedicated Core - others reused as required.

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)
Other bits and pieces I prefer not to document for security reasons

Assorted additional Hardware:

1x Orbiter Imate Ultimate 9502
6x Other PC's running various other Operating Systems
(About to be decommissioned) 1x Surecom EP-808SX NWay Desktop Switch 8 Port Megabit (10/100)
Other bits and pieces I prefer not to document for security reasons

Near Future Upgrades:

1x X10 UESB - Ultimate Energy Saving Kit Bayonet (Awaiting commision)
2x Cisco 7960: IP Phone's (To replace 2 existing 7910's)
3x Cisco 7940: IP Phone's (To replace 3 existing 7910's)
1x upgrade from 2.1 speakers to 7.1 speakers. (I'm saving for a decent THX system.)
2x dual HD-TV TV Tuners (Total 4 HD-TV Channels - Still researching compatible brands) 
Other bits and pieces 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