MythTV on Debian
 

I'm just about to throw my head and my server through a wall. At the moment I've been running a Debian, and I just picked up a Hauppauge PVR 150 PCI card. I'm looking to make a small scale HTPC, with a fileserve and local intranet. I'm been having the big problem getting MythTV to install. Just doesn't work, and most source sites aren't working either. Has anyone tried and been successful? I was thinking of changing to Fedora, but really like Debian because of its reliability as a server? Would Fedora make a decent server? Any help or input would be awesome...


Thanks.
-Tim

I am working my way through this exact same thing. Installing MythTV on Debian. Not 100% there yet, but getting somewhat close. Currently stuck, but hoping to get unstuck later this evening.

What branch of Debian are you using? I'm using SID. Compiling from scratch since the repository that used to have MythTV packages is defunct, I think.

If you just want easy, go for KnoppMyth. If you want to go for Debian, ask something specific and maybe I have gotten past that step and can help. I'll try. But I'm no expert.

I'm currently using Debian 3.0 Sarge.

I've also myself been trying compile it manually, but have gotten no where. I've been struggling so much, I don't know where I'm stuck.

If you get it working, can you write up a quick tutorial or something. I have a feeling, there must be 1 or 2 more people out there that would be interested.

My last resort is to upgrade my kernel to 2.6... See how that goes. My main confusion is with ivtv.

-Tim

That one took a bit of thought for me, but I have it working now. I installed version 0.4.1 which has some issues with hotplugging the firmware. Versions 0.4.0 and older loaded firmware from /lib/modules without using hotplug. Starting with 0.4.1 the hotplug mechanism is used and you have to rename the firmware files something different than before and put them in different directories, but it wouldn't work for me. Several others have reported firmware loading problems. It took me a few tries to figure out exactly what the IVTV website docs were telling me to name the files and where to put them.

I ended up having to hack three source code files to disable hotplug (a simple one line hack per file), recompile, and then move the firmware files to a different location. Alternately, you can just go back to older version 0.4.0 that doesn't use hotplug.

If this sounds like a problem you're having, get back to me here and I can give more details. Without firmware being loaded, you won't even see a /dev/video0 device to test with. If you've gotten the firmware loaded but only get static off of tuner capture, check /var/log/messages to see if tveeprom set the tuner type correctly. I had that problem if I simply modprobe'ed ivtv without rebooting.

Alright, when I try and run the makefile, all I get is:

make -C driver all
make[1]: Entering directory `/root/ivtv-0.4.1/driver'
make -C /lib/modules/2.6.8-2-386/build M=/root/ivtv-0.4.1/driver modules
make: *** /lib/modules/2.6.8-2-386/build: No such file or directory. Stop.
make: Entering an unknown directorymake: Leaving an unknown directorymake[1]: *** [all] Error 2
make[1]: Leaving directory `/root/ivtv-0.4.1/driver'
make: *** [all] Error 2

I have no idea, whats going on... I think once I get this, I've got it... Let me know what you did, or what I can do to fix this.

-Tim

This line would indicate your error. Did you install your kernel SOURCES on this computer? I'm guessing that's what we're probably missing here. I downloaded sources on my system using "synaptic" (graphical front end for apt-get) I installed "linux-headers-2.6.14-1" and "linux-headers-2.6.14-1-686" and linux-source-2.6.14". You have a different kernel, so adjust accordingly.

I've successfully installing something, but its not able to find /dev/video0. I used the ivtv website, and they had a tutorial there.

I'm completely stuck, but I don't want to give up.

-Tim

http://ivtvdriver.org/index.php/Howto:ctvdr

is where the tutorial is. Sorry I had to post twice, stupid 5 post rule.

-Tim

My guess is that you've now made it past the "compiling IVTV" speedbump, and your now stuck at the "the firmware didn't load" speedbump. See my post on this issue a few messages back. Check /var/log/messages and/or /var/log/syslog (I think what you're looking for will be in both files) Go to the end of the file ... then search backwards for "IVTV" ... repeat backwards search and you'll be near the top of the latest IVTV load scenerio. Look for things like "firmware not found" or "couldn't open firmware" or anything like that. No firmware load = no /dev/video0.

Hang in there. There's only 274 more speedbumps to go! (But just think about how much we're learning in this process!)

Alright... I finally cracked the Ivtv bolt, thank God.

Now, I've gone and installed Myth. Its another rusted nut. Guess what... Another error. When I try to launch mythtv-setup it gives me this error.

mythtv-setup: error while loading shared libraries: libmythtv-0.18.1.so.0: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory

I have yet to install lirc, or really configure my sound card. I think I should be alright.

I don't want to learn anymore. I just want to watch TV.

-Tim

Wow, you jumped from working with IVTV all the way past compiling MythTV and are now at myth-setup. That fast?! I'm impressed!

I'm out of the picture for a moment, having somewhat hosed my entire Debian system (I think it's fixable, but it's down at the moment). So I'm just guessing and can't check my system to see what might be different than yours.

You did run make, and then make install, right? (Stupid question, but I have to ask.) Also, did you remember to add /usr/local/lib to /etc/ld.so.conf and then run ldconfig?

Other than those initial guesses, I'm not sure what your problem might be. I'm in the myth-setup phase now myself. Well, I was, up until the time where I hosed up my system. But I'll fix that and get back on track soon (I hope!)