[mythtv-users] The "right" way for non-dev users to test 0.22 RC1?

[Jarod Wilson]

On 10/21/2009 08:45 PM, Bob Cunningham wrote:
> I'm top-posting a summary of what I've done to "decrapify" my system
> since it combines stuff from this and other threads. I've also included
> some minor questions.
>
> 1. Remove all mythtv RPMs.
> *Q*: Any there any non-myth RPMs that should also be removed?

No.

> 2. Drop mythconverg database.
> *Q*: Should I delete the mythtv mysql user? Could it affect the database
> init script?

Shouldn't matter.

> 3. Delete all remaining MythTV files:
> a. In /usr, excluding "mythes*" and other files with similar names.
> b. In /etc.
> c. In /var, excluding /var/cache and /var/lib/yum (mainly mythweb)
> d. Delete ~/.mythtv for each user.
> *Q*: Should I delete the mythtv user?

Shouldn't matter.

> 4. Clean up nVidia binary driver installation:
> In the past, I've switched back and forth between RPMs and nVidia's
> package,
> which stepped on other libraries.

Yeah, don't do that. Pick one (the packages, if you ask me).

> a. Delete nVidia libraries not in /usr/lib/nvidia.
> b. Reinstall current F11 OpenGL RPMs.
>
> Anything else? Are there tips from other threads I've missed?

I think that should about cover it.

> My 0.22 RC1 Installation Plan:
> 1. Reboot.
> 2. Install the F11 0.22 RC1 RPMs from Atrpms.
> *Q*: Would rpmfusion-updates-testing be better for any reason?

Its better to use ATrpms if you're using ATrpms, RPM Fusion if you're 
using RPM Fusion. If you're not using either one yet, then take your 
pick. The repos have their differences, but some of the arguments for 
which is better are almost religious in nature... ATrpms is a bit more 
diverse in its offerings, packaging 0.21, 0.22 and 
0.21+vdpau+other+patches, as well as some 3rd-party MythTV-related stuff 
that RPM Fusion doesn't have. RPM Fusion sticks a bit closer to the 
Fedora packaging guidelines, repo formats, development and review 
models, etc. Both have quality MythTV packages though, in my opinion.

> 3. Configure my system per this recipe:
> http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/Installing_MythTV_on_Fedora

That page leaves something to be desired. Parts of it are nearly as 
outdated as the document they were transcribed from... :)

At a glance:

- XFS isn't really that problematic anymore. Red Hat now employs a few 
file system hackers who work on XFS, and the issues with it mentioned 
there have mostly been addressed. They're mostly only relevant on a 
32-bit kernel, if you have software RAID, LVM and XFS all together. No 
problems to speak of on a 64-bit kernel. Case in point, Red Hat now 
offers XFS as a supported file system option on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 
5.4 for x86_64.

- almost no disks will show up as /dev/hdX anymore

- Neither KDE or Gnome is strictly required, not sure why it says they are

- There are no firewall settings, display setup or sound card config 
pages in firstboot anymore

- Both ATrpms and RPM Fusion nvidia packages auto-configure the nvidia 
driver these days, no need to dick around with xorg.conf by hand (usually).

- No need to install ivtv drivers, they've been in the linux kernel 
proper for ages now

- No need to install lirc drivers, they've been patched into the Fedora 
kernels for a few years now

Other than that, mostly okay info.


> With reference to these pages:
> http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/Installing_MythTV_SVN_on_Fedora

Even better than some of that: use pre-built svn packages, or build svn 
packages locally, using the rpm spec file in mythtv's packaging svn 
sub-tree. I'm pretty sure I haven't done a direct install from source 
myself in at least five years. In my personal 
not-entirely-humble-in-this-case opinion, its generally a stupid idea to 
use a package-based distribution if you want to install things that 
aren't packaged when its really not that much harder to do it the Right 
Way. I can build new svn snapshot rpms in roughly 10 minutes on my 
backend box (with the aid of ccache and the fact its a pretty snappy box).

> http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/Fedora_10_-_Package_Dependencies

99% of that is pure insanity. Like, all the parts about installing 
package dependencies.

You get the same with this one line:

# yum-builddep mythtv

(At least, this works for RPM Fusion. For ATrpms, it may be '# 
yum-builddep mythtv-suite' instead. But still. One-liner.)

> And, of course, referring to the docs installed by the RPMs.

Always a good idea.

> I will also search the MythDora wiki for hints.

Could be useful, not sure. Never have had time to look at that myself.

> Am I ready?

You're more prepared than I was the first time I installed MythTV, so 
sure, why not.


-- 
Jarod Wilson
jarod at wilsonet.com