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

[Paul Bender]

Jim Gammon 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.
>  
> Or is this already being done?

Yes, you can do exactly what you describe, and people do it. In fact, I 
help maintain a distribution (MiniMyth <http://linpvr.org/minimyth/) 
that does what you are talking about for select hardware.