[mythtv-users] OK, somebody explain this Front End business

[David Frascone]

On 5/31/07, Jim Gammon <musicman_5423 at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> Hey,
>
> I'm not the most savvy when it comes to LINUX or MythTV.  But it seems to
> me that Myth can be run on a backend server and you can distribute the
> signals to various places (frontends).  So why are there frontend
> discussions about hard drives?  I don't get it.  Could someone please expose
> my ignorance?
>
> Can't you just distribute the info over network wire (best as CAT6)?  Then
> all you would need would be the interface in a frontend that has bootable
> RAM, since you can get decent-GIG sized keyfobs, put a video card, a gigabit
> network card, the processor, small fan, IR receiver, Sound Card (preferrably
> w/optical out to go into a receiver), etc?  Basically create a Myth set-top
> box w/no HD?
>
> I guess that's where I get confused.  Forgive my ignorance in advance.  It
> just seems that if all the recording is being done on the backend server,
> the frontend wouldn't need all the moving parts.
>

I boot a diskless frontend.  No moving parts, except for some fans.  The
problem with diskless frontends is the complexity.  It takes a lot of
reading, and setup to get things right.  Also, getting the NFS Server, TFTP
server, DHCP server all configured properly takes some experience -- or a
lot of patience.

Many are booting off of CD, which also works, but then you have the issue of
where to store your settings.

Anyway -- MythTV seems to be able to be run on an infinite number of
configurations.  Enjoy it's flexibility!

-Dave




-- 
David Frascone

Oxymoron: Safe Sex.
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