Quick Start Guides

Choosing the right hardware

You'll find setting up LinuxMCE is very quick, simple and easy. Just follow this quick start guide, and then see the What can I do with LinuxMCE? and how to do it guide:

Picking the right components explains what kind of PC hardware and accessories we recommend.

Installing the Hardware

See this section for general hardware recommendations, and this advice for PC preparation.

LinuxMCE differs from other Home Theater PC systems in that some functions are performed by a Core PC and some functions are performed by a Media Director PC. A hybrid Core/Media Director PC does both.

For the central LinuxMCE Core server that will function on a home automation network, 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 will then be recognised and configured correctly during the initial installation. You won't have to fiddle with setting it up later. See this section for tips on setting up a nested LinuxMCE LAN within an existing home LAN.

(If you will have only a single PC acting as a hybrid Core/Media Director, 2 cards aren't strictly necessary, but putting them in at this stage will allow you to expand your network down the line.)

For a PC acting as a Media Director (either as a standalone or as a hybrid), an nVidia graphics card is strongly recommended so that you can display the User Interface in the highest resolution (UI2). If you don't have one installed, it is easiest to do so before starting software installation. It is probably best to stick with an nVidia card on the Core PC as well. Make sure the card is installed prior to software installation.

Installing the software

Currently 08.10 RC is the recommended install.

The latest releases are always under IPTP Release dir.

Download the iso and burn to DVD.

Upon DVD boot, select LinuxMCE install(it is the bottom option). This will install a regular Kubuntu 810 system, with an additional button on the desktop to install LinuxMCE upon restart. Let Kubuntu's install run through, and after restart, login.

Once you have done this, you can 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.

Once this has completed and the system has been rebooted the AV Wizard should start. Please be patient as the following steps may appear to hang your system but in fact installation is still being performed.

If you are left with a black screen please read this

Tell LinuxMCE about your home

Tell LinuxMCE about your home is the best part. Instead of requiring weeks of programming like all the other smart home solutions, this shows you how to use our LinuxMCE Admin wizard. In about 2 hours you can have everything setup--the whole-house media server, full control all your lights, climate, and tv/hi-fi gear, the phone system, follow-me, everything. It's quick, painless, and non-technical.

Using LinuxMCE

Using LinuxMCE. In 10 minutes you'll be up to speed and using all of LinuxMCE's features.

LinuxMCE can do all sorts of things that are not immediately apparent. So once you finish installing LinuxMCE, take a glance at What can I do with LinuxMCE? It has links to how-to pages, and Programmer's guide for developers wishing to expand on LinuxMCE.

To see a list of common problems and their solutions, check troubleshooting

IMPORTANT NOTE

We had to leave some basic features out of the free version due to licensing issues. You may see the list of available additional software modules in the section "Add Software" of your configuration interface. Note that LinuxMCE does not encourage, endorse or support users adding 3rd party modules that have legal issues. If you choose to add 3rd party modules we suggest you first confirm they are legal in your area.