[mythtv-users] Back-end Virtualization

[A McDermott]

> Is ‘Anyone’ virtualizing their backend?!

Yes, I just started an experiment with 0.25.

I have both a HDPVR and a HDhomerun.  The HDPVR behaves no better or
worse than outside of a virtualized environment - translation: it
crashes just as often (make sure to use the recommended firmware, I
had enormous problems with the latest firmware and downgraded.)  I did
pass the USB port through to the guest OS.

The only strange part that I have really come across are quirks with
ESXi 5 and some unexplained behaviour using a MCE USB blaster with
LIRC.   I changed to using the internal HRPVR blaster, so I never dug
into the LIRC strangeness.

I hooked up a PCIE raid controller via pass-trough to the OS so I'd
have raw disk accessible to the backend.

ESXi has been a bit of a disappointment, although it has been more
stable that other experiments I've done with virtual box.  ESXi does
do a lot of stuff well.  But there is a lot of stuff it does that has
me shaking my head too.  For example, only a windows client is
available for the control software, the console access method is being
deprecated, the auto power on for VM's does not work with ESXi 5 patch
1 (you have to hack it internally via unsupported console methods),
sometimes, when placing devices on pass-trough to the client OS, you
cannot revert the change without again hacking in the unsupported
console.  Lastly, ESXi does not appear to have a disk health
monitoring feature.  You're disk could be crying for help via SMART,
but ESXi won't listen.  Puzzling... you get what you pay for I guess.
Oh, and I almost forgot, when you want to clone a VM, you have to
manually copy the files in the datastore - should be a button.  (to be
fair, I believe that other management elements alongside of vsphere
can clone easily.)

I also had a problem with custom power policy control within ESXi.  My
profile caused ESXi to purple screen when cores were shutdown
unexpectedly - or at least that is my interpretation.