Linux Performance

[psenechal]

I'm a long time HTPC user and have used Windows MCE until now. While I actually like MCE (fits my needs), what I'm totally sick and tired of is Windows.

I'm a fairly proficient Linux user, but wanted to know one important thing from the Linux users here. Is SAGE on GENTOO fairly fast? Windows takes like 3 minutes to boot. MCE is slow to load and navigate through. Does GENTOO boot fairly quickly? Does SAGE navigate well on Linux? Thanks for the feedback.

[oddjob]

My own experience:

I've used both Windows and Linux OEM version.
I have a unix background, so I favor the SageTV Linux OEM.
I noticed that my MVP performed perfectly when connected to Linux SageTV server. When I connected my MVP to a windows sagetv Version, I encountered studder and blackouts..

For me, I'm not comfortable with Gentoo Distribution. I chose another linux distribution. You have to decide which flavor of linux fits your needs.

[psenechal]

Thanks...I'm most comfortable with RedHat or Fedora or whatever they are calling it this week.

I'm assuming SageTV is listed with GENTOO for a reason? Does anyone know what that reason may be?

Is there a lot of post setup on Linux to get other things to work? I've seen some posts about additional installs and configuration to get DVD playback and audio playback to work. I don't have a problem installing additional Linux files to enable features, I just don't want to have to reprogram the whole thing to play a movie. Thanks

[oddjob]

If you choose Fedora...

Here's some easy instructions for getting ivtv drivers installed ..

Downloaded fedora core 5 DVD

* most important part - after installation find the gui "updater application". You want to make sure you have the lastest and greatest stuff. It will add most recent kernel. reboot

Now your ready to install ivtv drivers

Setup your yum repository

# cd /etc/yum.repos.d/
# wget http://wilsonet.com/mythtv/atrpms.repo

yum install ivtv ivtv-kmdl-`uname -r`
(answer Y if prompted)

modprobe ivtv

if you have a pvr-350
yum install ivtv_xdriver

I would also 'yum install mplayer'
Using mplayer you can test your ivtv drivers installation

###### TEST IVTV Drivers #######
cat video > /tmp/test.mpg
CNTL C to break out

mplayer /tmp/test.mpg
###########################
Here's 2 places for documentation:
http://www.ivtvdriver.org/index.php/Howto:Fedora
http://wilsonet.com/mythtv/fcmyth.php

This should be enough info...

[Dekard]

Originally Posted by psenechal

I'm a long time HTPC user and have used Windows MCE until now. While I actually like MCE (fits my needs), what I'm totally sick and tired of is Windows.

I'm a fairly proficient Linux user, but wanted to know one important thing from the Linux users here. Is SAGE on GENTOO fairly fast? Windows takes like 3 minutes to boot. MCE is slow to load and navigate through. Does GENTOO boot fairly quickly? Does SAGE navigate well on Linux? Thanks for the feedback.

To answer your question, reboots in sage take roughly the same time as in windows.

My question is, why would you ever want to reboot a pvr box? Ideally you'd setup the box and connect all your clients to it then never touch it again. Thats what I've done with my system (recently upgraded to quad tuners) and I love it that way. My WAF is very high and getting better every day.

[psenechal]

My point exactly...I have to reboot my Windows machine either due to instability or due to OS updates every couple of days. I really want a system that I don't have to touch which is why I'm looking at Linux.

Well...I purchased my license, just have to get this sucker working now.

[blade]

Originally Posted by psenechal

My point exactly...I have to reboot my Windows machine either due to instability or due to OS updates every couple of days. I really want a system that I don't have to touch which is why I'm looking at Linux.

My Sage server runs on XP and the only time it's rebooted is due to power failures or when I upgrade something. I typically go several months between reboots. I know many others have rock solid XP installs as well.

[psenechal]

I'm pretty sure it's the VIA motherboard...it's been nothing but trouble since the day I bought it. Then the battery on the mobo died so that everytime it booted, I had to go into the BIOS and accept the changes. Windows MCE ran a chkdisk almost every single boot too. My normal Windows XP system runs great, so maybe it's the MCE add-ons.

Anyways...I'm trying Linux now.

[blade]

Originally Posted by psenechal

I'm pretty sure it's the VIA motherboard...it's been nothing but trouble since the day I bought it. Then the battery on the mobo died so that everytime it booted, I had to go into the BIOS and accept the changes. Windows MCE ran a chkdisk almost every single boot too. My normal Windows XP system runs great, so maybe it's the MCE add-ons.

Anyways...I'm trying Linux now.

There are known incompatibility issues with many of the Via motherboards and the PVR500. I would imagine other capture cards have problems as well. Via boards tend to have problems with high PCI traffic. I think Intel and Nvidia boards are the only ones most people recommend for use with capture cards.

[Dekard]

Originally Posted by psenechal

My point exactly...I have to reboot my Windows machine either due to instability or due to OS updates every couple of days. I really want a system that I don't have to touch which is why I'm looking at Linux.

Well...I purchased my license, just have to get this sucker working now.

I think you'll like your linux install then. I've got mine running on an old HP Kayak workstation and its rock solid. Its probably been 6 months since I've rebooted it due to a stability issue. I've swapped hardware in between but never had any stability problems from it. Its one of my best systems.