Difference between revisions of "User:Alaith"
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| − | Welcome, This is my User Page. I will be using it to document my thoughts, and my setup of Linux MCE so that others can learn from my methods (read: mistakes). | + | Welcome, This is my User Page. I will be using it to document my thoughts, and my setup of Linux MCE so that others can learn from my methods (read: mistakes). If you can help out '''at all''' with the [[User:Alaith#Troubleshooting|problems]], have any suggestions, or just want to chat, please leave me a message on my [[User_talk:Alaith|discussion]] page! |
=Linux MCE Build= | =Linux MCE Build= | ||
==Introduction== | ==Introduction== | ||
| − | My parents wanted a media solution for their living room. LinuxMCE seemed to be the easiest (and cheapest!) choice. So I dived in head first | + | My parents wanted a media solution for their living room. LinuxMCE seemed to be the easiest (and cheapest!) choice. So I dived in head first. I turned their old Desktop PC into the Core, and then purchased a media director for the living room. |
| + | When my parents got their home built I suggested that they get Ethernet cable installed throughout. It is run to the bedrooms, living room, and office; then terminated at a console in the basement. So I won't be trying anything silly like wireless MD boot. It should be a straightforward "simple" LinuxMCE install. | ||
| + | Unfortunately I have 0 to no Linux experience. It's not like I didn't do my research; it just turns out that I wasn't to doing the ''right'' research. | ||
==Hardware== | ==Hardware== | ||
| − | They were trying to get away from a large amount of hardware in the living room, and had some space considerations too; so I decided to build my first Mini ITX system. In Hindsight that was probably not the best, but it hasn't turned out | + | They were trying to get away from a large amount of hardware in the living room, and had some space considerations too; so I decided to build my first Mini ITX system. In Hindsight that was probably not the best, but it hasn't turned out too bad yet. |
===Core=== | ===Core=== | ||
As I said earlier, I turned their old Intel-based Desktop into the Core. It is running on: | As I said earlier, I turned their old Intel-based Desktop into the Core. It is running on: | ||
| − | * | + | * A Pentium D |
* Asus Board with integrated NIC and audio | * Asus Board with integrated NIC and audio | ||
* 2GB RAM | * 2GB RAM | ||
| − | |||
* 320GB HD with the OS | * 320GB HD with the OS | ||
| − | |||
* Nvidia 7900 GTX (used to be a 'gaming' PC) | * Nvidia 7900 GTX (used to be a 'gaming' PC) | ||
| + | This wasn't quite adequate for a LinuxMCE Core, so I added the following components: | ||
| + | * 1TB HD for media storage | ||
| + | * PCI 10/100 NIC | ||
| + | I installed the PCI card in XP beforehand to ensure it was working. It worked great, and I could access the internet through it (I wanted to ensure that worked since I meant to use it as the external NIC). Booted a Kubuntu live CD to install the brand new 1TB HD and ensure the drive didn't have any problems before continuing. | ||
| + | |||
| + | I might add some more RAM in the future depending on how I think it is performing. | ||
===Media Director=== | ===Media Director=== | ||
* ZOTAC GF8200-C-E AM2+/AM2 NVIDIA GeForce 8200 Mini ITX AMD Motherboard | * ZOTAC GF8200-C-E AM2+/AM2 NVIDIA GeForce 8200 Mini ITX AMD Motherboard | ||
* AMD Athlon II X2 250 Regor 3.0GHz Socket AM3 65W Dual-Core Processor Model ADX250OCGQBOX | * AMD Athlon II X2 250 Regor 3.0GHz Socket AM3 65W Dual-Core Processor Model ADX250OCGQBOX | ||
* Kingston HyperX 2GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 Desktop Memory | * Kingston HyperX 2GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 Desktop Memory | ||
| + | I assembled it all in a tiny Rosewill case so that it can sit nice and (unfortunately not so) quiet under the TV. | ||
===Network=== | ===Network=== | ||
| − | My parents took my advice | + | My parents took my advice when they got their laptop, and grabbed themselves a (Gigabit Ethernet) wireless router. I've disabled DHCP on it, and am using it as an Access Point and switch. So my network topology looks like: |
| + | Cable Modem --> Core --> AP / Switch --> MD | ||
==Setup== | ==Setup== | ||
| − | + | Everything on the Desktop had been backed up or transferred to my parent's laptop, and the (soon to be) Core was sitting in the linen closet under a pile of towels. Data retention was not an issue; so the DVD installation seemed like the best (and easiest) choice. | |
| + | |||
| + | I put in the DVD and selected the 320GB HD for the install, Entered my password, and watched it do its thing. I was very excited when the AV Wizard came up without a hitch. After completing the setup, I went first to the Web Admin to check the network settings and enable net booting. I switched the NIC assignment, and thought I would be good to go. Then I realized that I didn't have Web access. ... On to Troubleshooting | ||
=Thoughts and Links= | =Thoughts and Links= | ||
==Troubleshooting== | ==Troubleshooting== | ||
| − | ===No External IP (almost)=== | + | ===No External IP on Core(almost)=== |
| − | My the External IP is not showing up in the Web Admin, but does show up under ETH0 in the kubuntu network config. | + | My the External IP is not showing up in the Web Admin (it is showing correct MAC), but does show up (with an external IP) under ETH0 in the kubuntu network config. I can't access the internet. |
[http://forum.linuxmce.org/index.php?topic=2509.0 This] didn't work for me, but maybe [http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Internal_and_External_networks_swapped/not_working this] will. | [http://forum.linuxmce.org/index.php?topic=2509.0 This] didn't work for me, but maybe [http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Internal_and_External_networks_swapped/not_working this] will. | ||
* http://forum.linuxmce.org/index.php?topic=7743.0 might help too. | * http://forum.linuxmce.org/index.php?topic=7743.0 might help too. | ||
| Line 34: | Line 44: | ||
* http://forum.linuxmce.org/index.php?topic=6379.msg38733#msg38733 | * http://forum.linuxmce.org/index.php?topic=6379.msg38733#msg38733 | ||
* I don't know what the chipset is on my NICs, but maybe: http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/R8168 will help. | * I don't know what the chipset is on my NICs, but maybe: http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/R8168 will help. | ||
| − | ===Kernel Panic=== | + | ===Kernel Panic on MD netboot=== |
| − | My Media Director is showing Kernel Panic on boot | + | My Media Director is showing Kernel Panic on boot with the same error as in [http://forum.linuxmce.org/index.php?topic=7673.0 this fix], but that looks like it only works for builds in which the architecture in both systems are the same :( ... |
| − | [http://forum.linuxmce.org/index.php?topic=7673.0 this fix] only works for builds in which the architecture in both systems are the same :( ... | + | |
Revision as of 03:14, 10 July 2009
Welcome, This is my User Page. I will be using it to document my thoughts, and my setup of Linux MCE so that others can learn from my methods (read: mistakes). If you can help out at all with the problems, have any suggestions, or just want to chat, please leave me a message on my discussion page!
Contents
Linux MCE Build
Introduction
My parents wanted a media solution for their living room. LinuxMCE seemed to be the easiest (and cheapest!) choice. So I dived in head first. I turned their old Desktop PC into the Core, and then purchased a media director for the living room. When my parents got their home built I suggested that they get Ethernet cable installed throughout. It is run to the bedrooms, living room, and office; then terminated at a console in the basement. So I won't be trying anything silly like wireless MD boot. It should be a straightforward "simple" LinuxMCE install. Unfortunately I have 0 to no Linux experience. It's not like I didn't do my research; it just turns out that I wasn't to doing the right research.
Hardware
They were trying to get away from a large amount of hardware in the living room, and had some space considerations too; so I decided to build my first Mini ITX system. In Hindsight that was probably not the best, but it hasn't turned out too bad yet.
Core
As I said earlier, I turned their old Intel-based Desktop into the Core. It is running on:
- A Pentium D
- Asus Board with integrated NIC and audio
- 2GB RAM
- 320GB HD with the OS
- Nvidia 7900 GTX (used to be a 'gaming' PC)
This wasn't quite adequate for a LinuxMCE Core, so I added the following components:
- 1TB HD for media storage
- PCI 10/100 NIC
I installed the PCI card in XP beforehand to ensure it was working. It worked great, and I could access the internet through it (I wanted to ensure that worked since I meant to use it as the external NIC). Booted a Kubuntu live CD to install the brand new 1TB HD and ensure the drive didn't have any problems before continuing.
I might add some more RAM in the future depending on how I think it is performing.
Media Director
- ZOTAC GF8200-C-E AM2+/AM2 NVIDIA GeForce 8200 Mini ITX AMD Motherboard
- AMD Athlon II X2 250 Regor 3.0GHz Socket AM3 65W Dual-Core Processor Model ADX250OCGQBOX
- Kingston HyperX 2GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 Desktop Memory
I assembled it all in a tiny Rosewill case so that it can sit nice and (unfortunately not so) quiet under the TV.
Network
My parents took my advice when they got their laptop, and grabbed themselves a (Gigabit Ethernet) wireless router. I've disabled DHCP on it, and am using it as an Access Point and switch. So my network topology looks like:
Cable Modem --> Core --> AP / Switch --> MD
Setup
Everything on the Desktop had been backed up or transferred to my parent's laptop, and the (soon to be) Core was sitting in the linen closet under a pile of towels. Data retention was not an issue; so the DVD installation seemed like the best (and easiest) choice.
I put in the DVD and selected the 320GB HD for the install, Entered my password, and watched it do its thing. I was very excited when the AV Wizard came up without a hitch. After completing the setup, I went first to the Web Admin to check the network settings and enable net booting. I switched the NIC assignment, and thought I would be good to go. Then I realized that I didn't have Web access. ... On to Troubleshooting
Thoughts and Links
Troubleshooting
No External IP on Core(almost)
My the External IP is not showing up in the Web Admin (it is showing correct MAC), but does show up (with an external IP) under ETH0 in the kubuntu network config. I can't access the internet. This didn't work for me, but maybe this will.
- http://forum.linuxmce.org/index.php?topic=7743.0 might help too.
- http://forum.linuxmce.org/index.php?topic=5956.0 or this ??
- http://forum.linuxmce.org/index.php?topic=5514.0 I'll look at this too I suppose ...
- http://forum.linuxmce.org/index.php?topic=6379.msg38733#msg38733
- I don't know what the chipset is on my NICs, but maybe: http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/R8168 will help.
Kernel Panic on MD netboot
My Media Director is showing Kernel Panic on boot with the same error as in this fix, but that looks like it only works for builds in which the architecture in both systems are the same :( ...
