[mythtv-users] Remote access to the back end
Nick Morrott
knowledgejunkie at gmail.com
Wed Sep 17 02:31:09 UTC 2008
On 16/09/2008, David Segall <david at segall.net> wrote:
>
>
> Nick Morrott wrote:
> > On 14/09/2008, David Segall <david at segall.net> wrote:
> >> Some time ago I added some information to the MythTV wiki that included
> >> a paragraph on providing remote access to a MythTV back end
> >> <http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/index.php/Microsoft_Access#Enable_access_to_the_database_from_remote_computers>.
> >> The URL I provided
> >> <http://www.mythtv.org/docs/mythtv-HOWTO-6.html#ss6.2> does not mention
> >> the need to provide an external web address in MythTV's database setup
> >> menu. That was probably a serious omission but I have recently installed
> >> Mythbuntu and that required the additional step of enabling the MySQL
> >> service in the Mythbuntu Control Centre.
> >
> > I think the user guide details on non-master backends adequately
> > covers setting up database access for remote backend machines, but
> > perhaps a very basic section covering 'ideal' network setup/settings
> > for all machines could be beneficial to new/inexperienced users. The
> > requirement for database server address is not as strict as that for
> > master/local machine /IP/ address - the backend/frontend needs to able
> > to connect to it, whether it's local or remote.
> >
> > Information on configuring the DB server to accept remote connection
> > is also covered in detail in the user guide. Once the DB accepts
> > remote connections - all a user has to do is enter the IP address of
> > the DB server as requested.
> >
> >> I now fear my wiki entry will lead the reader into hours of frustration
> >> but I am reluctant to add the details I know to my entry because the
> >> information about connecting to a remote database should be on a single
> >> web page. Does the web page already exist and I have failed to find it
> >> or should I add the information to the wiki despite my extremely limited
> >> experience with installing MythTV?
> >
> > I wouldn't worry too much - it's hidden away on the Microsoft Access
> > wiki page, so I'm guessing it has a very small readership anyway :).
>
> That's why I'm "worrying". I believe the information on ensuring that
> the database is remotely accessible should be on a page where people
> will find it. I agree that most of the required information is included
> somewhere in the User Guide but I was hoping to find a summary.
I agree that a separate section located towards the front of the User
Guide which discusses the requirements for networked MythTV to work
properly - with links to the relevant sections in the User Guide which
discuss each of these requirements in more details - would be
beneficial. Robert Kulagowski (who maintains the non-wiki user guide
distributed with the MythTV source) is the guy who looks after the
documentation tickets on the MythTV 'bugzilla', so please submit any
drafts you may write.
> > Incidentally. I would recommend using neither Access nor Base to
> > manually edit the MythTV database - I would instead use a tool like
> > phpMyAdmin which is simple to use and available in a web browser.
>
> That is probably because you are a database administrator rather than a
> database user. Access and Base provide a simple, updateable spreadsheet
> view of a table. The "spreadsheet" can be the result of a filter, join
> and/or sort without knowing any SQL. Access and Base provide database
> access in the same way that MythTV offers "Custom Record" rather than
> insisting on the SQL input. In addition, either Access or Base can be
> used with almost any database so you only need to learn one tool.
I'm certainly no DBA, but I am aware of how easy it can be to
'accidentally' change something. Having users consider that directly
editing the MythTV database is 'probably not a good thing' is another
bonus - there really isn't much if any need to directly interact with
the MythTV database - granting access to users on the local network
would seem to be the primary reason (and I think MythBuntu handles
this via its control centre GUI).
To anyone considering editing the MythTV database directly
(unsupported), take a backup first!
Nick
--
Nick Morrott
MythTV Official wiki:
http://mythtv.org/wiki/
MythTV users list archive:
http://www.gossamer-threads.com/lists/mythtv/users
"An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest." - Benjamin Franklin
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