[mythtv-users] mythbackend in a docker container

[Paul Gardiner]

On 06/11/2023 15:53, Mike Perkins wrote:
> On 06/11/2023 11:37, Paul Gardiner wrote:
>>
>> Do you know if, with KVM, I can assign a disc to a VM, perform an 
>> install and then update grub so that the machine boots directly into 
>> that disc without KVM involved? I guess it has to be possible - it's 
>> just whether it's easy or hellish.
>>
> The problem with that approach is that, when a recognised OS is 
> installed in a guest VM, you usually get some 'helper' libraries 
> automatically installed with it to make external communication (disks, 
> HID, USB, video, etc) easier.
> 
> Obviously, those won't function if you then take that disk out and 
> reconfigure it with grub to be stand-alone. The answer, then, would be no.

Ah yes. I never considered that. So that option is out then.

> Or, more accurately, if you plan to do that why bother with a VM at all?

My (failed) plan was to perform the install of a new version in a VM 
hosted on the production server to avoid my current need for two 
servers, but avoid the production version running in a VM for the many 
months where I have no need for multiple OS instances. Disappointing, 
but very useful to know that wont work. I was on the point of wasting 
time giving it a try.

> But if you are running your 'old' backend and your 'new' backend as two 
> VMs in the same host, you could easily move your tuner hardware from one 
> VM to another. Having both running at the same time could be 
> interesting, though.
> 
> Network tuners (eg HDHR) make that task simpler. You just allocate one 
> or more to the new server for testing then, at cutover, allocate more.
> 
> There's nothing to say that you /have/ to run both at once. Just untick 
> the "startup at boot" flag on the old one when you are done with it and 
> forget it until the next upgrade. It is only taking up disk space for 
> the OS, after all.

I could go for this option, but I'm not sure that network tuners are an 
option for me. I'm recording from satellite with a PCI card and from 
terrestrial with a USB device. Both have been working really well so, 
even if an alternative is possible, I'm loathed to change.

Cheers,
	Paul.