<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
<TITLE>Message</TITLE>
<META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1515" name=GENERATOR></HEAD>
<BODY>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=625550415-24082005>I'm looking to put
together the system to end all systems. I believe I have spec'd out all the
hardware, but I was hoping to get some feedback on everyone's experiences with
each individual aspect of the system. First I will post the proposed specs, then
the desired software / hardware behavior, then questions that I'm concerned with
at the moment. If anyone thinks of something I may have missed, please let me
know!</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=625550415-24082005></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=625550415-24082005>Also, as I build
this I will be writing a guide. I am very much new to linux, so it should be
helpful to the "n00bs" in the community.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=625550415-24082005></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=625550415-24082005><STRONG>System:</STRONG></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=625550415-24082005></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT><SPAN class=625550415-24082005><FONT face=Arial size=2>Mobo: TYAN
S2885ANRF (</FONT><A
href="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813151120"><FONT
face=Arial
size=2>http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813151120</FONT></A><FONT
face=Arial size=2>)</FONT></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT><SPAN class=625550415-24082005><FONT size=2><FONT
face=Arial>Proc: AMD Opteron 246 SledgeHammer 400MHz FSB (</FONT><A
href="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16819103412"><FONT
face=Arial>http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16819103412</FONT></A><FONT
face=Arial>)</FONT></FONT></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2><SPAN class=625550415-24082005><FONT face=Arial>Raid:
HighPoint ROCKETRAID2220 PCI-X SATA Controller (</FONT><A
href="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16816115022"><FONT
face=Arial>http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16816115022</FONT></A><FONT
face=Arial>)</FONT></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=625550415-24082005>Ram: Thinking
around 1gb / chip</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=625550415-24082005>HD's: 4x400gb
SATA For my "archive" ; 2x250gb SATA "working"; 1x160gb PATA "music" ; 1x80gb
PATA "boot"</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=625550415-24082005>Firewire:
Basic 4 Port controller (for hookup to my HDTV recievers)</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=625550415-24082005>Nic's:
Thinking the onboards should work, will add new ones if
necessary</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=625550415-24082005>Audio: Need a
recomendation here, onboard is Coax SPDIF, was looking for an optical solution
(longer run so i'm concerned about noise)</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=625550415-24082005>Graphics: Recommendations are good here too, I
want DVI to HDMI for my projector, as well as a second monitor running (for
diagnostics, etc...)</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=625550415-24082005></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=625550415-24082005><STRONG>Incoming
Stuff:</STRONG></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=625550415-24082005></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=625550415-24082005>Cable Company:
Comcast in Midtown Atlanta, GA</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=625550415-24082005>Recievers:
2xMotorola 6200 Series (Firewire outputs already verified to work, as well as
channel changing)</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=625550415-24082005></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=625550415-24082005><STRONG>Operational
Plan:</STRONG></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=625550415-24082005></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=625550415-24082005><EM>For standard PVR
operation, I want this system to:</EM></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=625550415-24082005> 1. Record a
show to /mythtv on "working" drive set (be it HDTV, or plain
DTV) </SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=625550415-24082005> 2. Wait till I
flag the commercials then...</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=625550415-24082005> 3.
Automatically re-encode, cutting commercials</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=625550415-24082005> - Obey
profile based on recording schedule (Profile determines bitrate, audio format
(ie, certain broadcasts may have surrond, i want to keep
that))</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=625550415-24082005> 4. Once
encoded, move to /mythtvArchive on "archive" drive set, and update mythtv
database with new file location, or create symbolic link (which would be
better/possible?)</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=625550415-24082005></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=625550415-24082005><EM>I also want to
archive my DVD collection, so the I'd like to set up the ripper
to:</EM></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=625550415-24082005> 1. Rip the
dvd</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=625550415-24082005> 2. Encode
using chosen profile (again, for video bitrate / whether or not to keep
surround)</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=625550415-24082005> 3. Store in
/mythvideo directory on "archive" drive set</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=625550415-24082005></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=625550415-24082005><EM>About burning
dvds...</EM></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=625550415-24082005> 1. Is it
possible to take encoded shows and burn dvd's that play in standard dvd players
(i know re-re-encoding is necessary, i want to know if it can be
automated)</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=625550415-24082005></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=625550415-24082005><EM>Also, additional
frontends will be connected so...</EM></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=625550415-24082005> 1. Will a
gigabit connection suffice?</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=625550415-24082005> 2. If so, how
many frontends would be reasonable?</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=625550415-24082005></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=625550415-24082005><EM>Addional Remote
Functionality</EM></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=625550415-24082005> 1. I want to
write scripts to respond to button presses on my remote, ie, so "power" button
turns on projector, tv, and amp, sets input on projector / amp,
etc.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=625550415-24082005></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=625550415-24082005><STRONG>Software
Plan of Attack</STRONG></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=625550415-24082005></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=625550415-24082005><EM>Install Fedora
Core 3 x86_64</EM></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=625550415-24082005><EM> </EM>Goes
on "boot"</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=625550415-24082005></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=625550415-24082005><EM>Install
Lirc</EM></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=625550415-24082005><EM> </EM>This
will involve recording each remote from my system, and writing the power-on /
power-off scripts, etc.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=625550415-24082005><EM></EM></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=625550415-24082005><EM>Install
Pre-Requisites for mythtv build</EM></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=625550415-24082005> Planning on
using mythtv.com documentation / Jarod's guide</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=625550415-24082005></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=625550415-24082005><EM>Build
mythtv</EM></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=625550415-24082005> This is
where I am the most unsure. I need to build it with native Lirc, firewire
support, and xvmc output. Is there anything else I'm
missing? </SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=625550415-24082005> Are there
things I need to know about building for a dual processor system / 64-bit
system?</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=625550415-24082005></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=625550415-24082005><EM>Pull out
hair</EM></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=625550415-24082005> This is where
the alot of work will be done. I need to write the scripts to do the transcode,
move the file, create the links, etc.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=625550415-24082005></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=625550415-24082005></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=625550415-24082005><STRONG>Conclusion</STRONG></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=625550415-24082005></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=625550415-24082005> Sorry this
turned into such a long email, but by the end of this I hope to pull together a
clear and concise guide on how it all gets accomplished in the end. All scripts
/ etc will be available for the community.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=625550415-24082005></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=625550415-24082005>Sincerely,</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=625550415-24082005></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2>Matthew Mousseau</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2>AMSVans, Inc. Webmaster</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2>matt@amsvans.com</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV></BODY></HTML>