[mythtv-users] Re: Is gentoo the way to go?

[Mike Daugird]

Date: Thu, 03 Nov 2005 08:20:38 -0600 (CST)
From: greg at nodecam.com
Subject: Re: [mythtv-users] Is gentoo the way to go?

> I am thinking gentoo may be the answer but how stable is it and how
> difficult to set up (I have compiled a few kernels).

After having not used linux in 5 years or so, I got back into it by
embarking on a Myth/Gentoo project.  If you're not afraid of compiling a
kernel, Gentoo is a snap to set up Myth on.  Follow the install
documentation, and make sure you hit the kernel options you need, and you
shouldn't have any problems.  I don't see a lot of Gentoo users on here
asking for help, even though I know there are a lot of gentoo myth
installs out there.

Portage is a wonderful tool.

Greg


I use gentoo, I tried Knoppmyth but it just wouldn't work. 
With Gentoo the only "problem" you have is that you have the most current packages available and the HowTo documents will be behind in the versions for specific packages. This caused me two issues(not problems), one the kernel options were not in the same place that the howto indicated they were, so I had to find them. 
If when configuring your kernel, you find that an item in the howto isn't in exact location  for "make menuconfig" do you, figure it isn't needed, or maybe look for it on google or fish around the menus yourself.
If you figure it isn't needed then don't use gentoo. :-)

My second issue was that the LIRC device was different then the howto, if you can do   ls -ahl /dev/lirc*  
read the output and then enter the correct device in the config file then gentoo can work for you.

you may need to know how to chmod a device or directory so that you don't run myth, apache, or mysql as root.

That all said, do a stage 3 install, for the base system. If you use a Hauppauge remote add the 
LIRC_OPTS="--with-driver=hauppauge"
to /etc/make.conf and change the use flags per the howto. Also, Read the Gentoo Install Guide and follow it.
the advantage of gentoo is not in adding crazy CFLAGS, before compiling. 
CFLAGS="-march=athlon-xp -O2 -pipe"
is what I use.
HTH