[mythtv-users] Rethinking Xbox-Myth

[Dennis Cartier]

Duane Ellis wrote:
 >
> Here's the idea:
> 
> A) I am behind a firewall I trust 100%, I think most people are too.
>    If not - why not? Why can't you drop most if not all security
>    protections? Just leave simple/crude ones in place. What must you
>    protect your self from? Your wife? Your kids? What?
> 
>    I certianly don't have WMD I'm hidding in my home.
> 
>    Ok dorm rooms/frat houses are a different beast.
> 
> B) Xbox-myth-frontend could (and should) use DHCP from the backend
>    server to configure its network settings. Remember - DHCP includes
>    lots of other features - like the "option root-path", so that the
>    client knows how to find its ROOT disk.
> 
>    Busybox inside of the initrd has, by the looks of it, a DHCP client
>    built in right now, it can get all the information needed from
>    the dhcpd server on the backend.
> 
> C) The backend disk is HUGE, the xbox disk is TINY.  
> 
>    Why can't the xbox NFS mount ROOT from the backend? How much disk
>    io does an xbox myth frontend really generate? Remember - the Xbox
>    is wired, and supports 100mBit - as does nearly ALL things today.
> 
>    Of course - /tmp and SWAP space would remain local to the xbox
>    besides - you now have more disk space on your xbox hard disk.
> 
> D) To configure, test, or update a front end is very simple,
>    three easy steps:
> 
>    1) Backup xbox config before you mess with it.
> 
>       bash$ su - root
>       bash# tar cfz /path/to/backup.tar.gz /nfsexport/xbox-root
>      
>    2) Hack away
> 
>       bash# cd /nfsexport/xbox-root
>            ... hack hack ...
> 	   ... done ... 
> 
>    3) Power cycle the xbox.
> 
> E) Ever screw up really bad? Solution 3 easy steps.
> 
>    1) Cover your tracks:
> 
>       bash# rm -rf /nfsexport/xbox-root
> 
>    2) Restore from backup.
> 
>       bash# tar xfz /path/to/backup.tar.gz /nfsexport
> 
>    3) Power cycle the xbox.
> 
> F) What about 2 xbox front ends? Simple - make two
>    export directories:
>    
> 	/nfsexport/xbox0-root 
>     and /nfsexport/xbox1-root
> 
> G) Customizing the xbox front end now is simpler - all of the xbox
>    myth files are now completely in the open - not burried inside of
>    several huge files on the xbox, and you don't have to update them
>    via ftp or burn a new cd?
>    

This will work fine for experienced Linux users ... most xbox users tend 
to be of a less experienced nature.

Having said that, I would welcome more involvement from other people in 
the xbox frontend specific version.

Dennis