[mythtv-users] Operating System of choice ?

[Michael T. Dean]

mythtv at sci.fi wrote:

> I'm new to MythTV, haven't used it ever, but it seems to be exactly 
> what I'm looking for, and I've done some research on it for the past 
> week or so. The idea is to buy a server to serve as a backend and a 
> "desktop" to be the frontend, of course these will be quite similar 
> actually. So this is the background from where I'm coming.
>
> The question is, why are so many using Fedora Core as the platform for 
> MythTV,

Jarod Wilson.  http://wilsonet.com/mythtv/

> at least what I've read the archives of this mailing list, quite many 
> are using Fedora Core, so is there a reason for that ? Also has 
> anybody used MythTV on OpenBSD ?

You can't do the backend on BSD.  You need Video4Linux support (which, 
as the name implies, is lacking from BSD).  There has been some work on 
getting the frontend ported to BSD, but I don't know how far it has 
gone.  Search the archives for more details ( 
http://www.gossamer-threads.com/lists/mythtv/ ).

> I'm a big fan of OpenBSD, for it's stability as well as it's security. 
> So if there's no big/real drawbacks I would prefer OpenBSD for both 
> the back- and frontend,

Definitely a drawback for the backend.

> although I have an itch that Fedora Core would be "better" suited for 
> the job.

Definitely.  There's a lot to learn with Myth.  The best way to learn it 
is from a "seasoned professional" like Jarod.  Once you've gotten Myth 
up and running and played with it for a while--during which time you've 
had a chance to learn about it--you might decide you want to blaze some 
new trails and take Myth where no Myth has gone before (BSD or 
whatever).  But, trying to do it all now--before you learned Myth--is 
not the preferred solution.

> Also does anybody know if there's any gain from using 64-bit CPU ?

Yeah.  You gain the ability to learn about a whole new set of problems 
from the ones you're used to seeing on 32-bit (i.e. some plugins won't 
yet compile, lack of MMX support in some areas of code, etc.).  
Basically, you get to live on the edge.  (Once again, I recommend 
getting it up and running first before trying to blaze new trails.)

However, AMD64 chips running in 32-bit mode are very nice chips that 
provide a lot of CPU cycles for transcoding, commercial flagging, etc.

> Thanks all, you'll probably see a lot more questions from me, since I 
> decided to do this "right", and ask questions first and shoot then ;-)

Good luck,
Mike