HOWTO - Minimal Intrepid Ibex - Boxee [NVIDIA]

draggy · #1 February 7th, 2009, 01:43 PM

This guide will show you how to setup a HTPC using Ubuntu Hardy Heron or Intrepid Ibex and Boxee.
This system is intended to be connected to a HDTV for your viewing pleasure.

WARNING: USING BOXEE WITH THE CURRENT BUILD OF INTREPID MAY CAUSE SLOW PLAYBACK
This is a known bug with XBMC, FFMPEG, and Intrepid, see: http://xbmc.org/forum/showthread.php?t=43075

Requirements:
- Medium to advanced knowledge of Ubuntu and ability to work in terminal.
- Enough knowledge to manually edit xorg.conf files to get the proper graphical environment if the automatic config fails to do so.

Installing Ubuntu and setting up Boxee

Installing Ubuntu

1. Download the Ubuntu 8.04 Hardy Heron or Ubuntu 8.10 Intrepid Ibex minimal cd from here: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/In...tion/MinimalCD

2. Burn the ISO to a disk and boot your HTPC from it.

3. Start the installation and follow the instructions.

4. When the installation asks for a username / password, enter boxee / boxee.

5. OPTIONAL If you want to do most of the steps remotely with ssh, choose openssh when asked if you want to install additional packages.

6. Finish the installation and reboot.

Updating the computer
1. Log in to your new OS with the boxee user.

2. Open sources.list:

Code:

sudo vi /etc/apt/sources.list

3. If using Hardy, add the following to the bottom of the list:

Code:

deb http://apt.boxee.tv hardy main

3. If using Intrepid, add the following to the bottom of the list:

Code:

deb http://apt.boxee.tv intrepid main

4. Update the lists:

Code:

sudo apt-get update

Install Sound

1. Install ALSA:

Code:

sudo apt-get install linux-sound-base alsa-base alsa-utils

2. There is a bug in Mini Intrepid where the user's account doesn't get added to the audio group, to fix that:

Code:

sudo usermod -a -G audio xbmc

3. Type:

Code:

sudo alsamixer

4. Use your arrow keys and turn up the volumes for Master and PCM.

5. Un-mute Master, and PCM, and IEC958 by selecting each one and pressing the M key. (The grey MM at the bottom will change to a green OO when un-muted.)

6. Press the escape key to exit

8. Now save the audio volumes:

Code:

sudo alsactl store 0

Install the graphical environment

1. Install the dependencies:

Code:

sudo apt-get install xorg build-essential gcc linux-headers-`uname -r`

2. Get the driver from NVIDIA's website:

Code:

wget http://us.download.nvidia.com/XFree86/Linux-x86/180.22/NVIDIA-Linux-x86-180.22-pkg1.run

3. Start the installation, and follow the instructions:

Code:

sudo sh NVIDIA-*.run

4. When asked if you want to generate a new xorg.conf, say yes.

5. Now prevent the NVidia logo from displaying on startup.

Code:

sudo vi /etc/X11/xorg.conf

6. Find the device section, and add the following:

Code:

Option "NoLogo" "True"

Install Boxee

1. Start the installation:

Code:

sudo apt-get install boxee

Make the system log in automatically

1. Make the boxee user log in to tty1 automatically:

Code:

sudo vi /etc/event.d/tty1

change:

Code:

exec /sbin/getty 38400 tty1

to:

Code:

exec /bin/login -f boxee </dev/tty1 > /dev/tty1 2>&1

2. Create the .bash_profile file:

Code:

vi ~/.bash_profile

Insert into the new file:

Code:

case "`tty`" in
/dev/tty1) clear && startx &>/dev/null;;
esac

3. Make Boxee start with X:

Code:

vi ~/.xsession

Insert into the new file and save:

Code:

exec /opt/boxee/run-boxee-desktop

Add a splash screen
Thanks to of candrist for the instructions.

1. Install usplash and usplash theme:

Code:

sudo apt-get install usplash usplash-theme

2. Download boxee usplash:

Code:

cd /usr/lib/usplash
sudo wget http://apt.boxee.tv/dropbox/usplash-theme-boxee.so

3. Install boxee usplash theme:

Code:

sudo update-alternatives --install /usr/lib/usplash/usplash-artwork.so usplash-artwork.so /usr/lib/usplash/usplash-theme-boxee.so 55

4. Set boxee usplash as default:

Code:

sudo update-alternatives --config usplash-artwork.so

and select the /usr/lib/usplash/usplash-theme-boxee.so file

5. Configure usplash with your TV's resolution:

Code:

sudo vi /etc/usplash.conf

6. Add at the bottom:

Code:

xres=1920
yres=1080

7. The last step is to update the "initial RAM disk", that is used when your system boots up:

Code:

sudo update-initramfs -u

Add power management

1. Add power management utilities so Boxee can control the HTPC's power functions:

Code:

sudo apt-get install pm-utils

Make the HTPC shut down when exiting Boxee

1. Make the shutdown script usable by all users:

Code:

sudo chmod u+s /sbin/shutdown

2. Open the the boxee skin xml for editing:

Code:

sudo vi /opt/boxee/skin/Boxee\ Skin\ NG/720p/DialogButtonMenu.xml

3. In the Exit section, find the line that says:

Code:

<onclick>XBMC.ShutDown()</onclick>

replace it with:

Code:

<onclick>System.Exec(shutdown -h now)</onclick>

Restart and your computer should automatically log in, startx, and launch Boxee.
Now you just need to configure Boxee to use the proper resolution and calibrate the screen.
Enjoy!

Optional

Add lirc support
In my case, I used information from this website: http://dlangenberg.googlepages.com/diycomputerremote to modify my old xbox remote for use with the HTPC:
Note: These following instructions only apply to those who use the old xbox remote like I did, if you want to use your own remote, choose the proper remote when lirc asks, and do not edit the lircd.conf the same way I did.

1. Install lirc:

Code:

sudo apt-get install lirc

2. Choose ATI/NVidia X10 RF (kernel) and no IR receiver

3. Now edit the keys to work with Boxee:

Code:

sudo mv /usr/share/lirc/remotes/atiusb/lircd.conf.atiusb /usr/share/lirc/remotes/atiusb/lircd.conf.atiusb.bak
sudo vi /usr/share/lirc/remotes/atiusb/lircd.conf.atiusb

4. Insert the following into the new file and save:

Code:

# brand: Microsoft Xbox DVD Receiever (also works with generic)
# remote control: Xbox remote or any remote using RCA DVD player codes

begin remote

  name  XboxDVDDongle
  bits            8
  eps            30
  aeps          100

  one             0     0
  zero            0     0
  gap          164000
  toggle_bit_mask 0x0

      begin codes
          LEFT                     0xA9
          UP                       0xA6
          RIGHT                    0xA8
          DOWN                     0xA7
          SELECT                   0x0B
          1                        0xCE
          2                        0xCD
          3                        0xCC
          4                        0xCB
          5                        0xCA
          6                        0xC9
          7                        0xC8
          8                        0xC7
          9                        0xC6
          0                        0xCF
          MENU                     0xF7
          DISPLAY                  0xD5
          REVERSE                  0xE2
          FORWARD                  0xE3
          PLAY                     0xEA
          PAUSE                    0xE6
          STOP                     0xE0
          SKIP-                    0xDD
          SKIP+                    0xDF
          TITLE                    0xE5
          INFO                     0xC3
          BACK                     0xD8
      end codes

end remote

Sources
http://forum.boxee.tv
http://xbmc.org/forum
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/In...wMemorySystems
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/US...omizationHowto
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SoundTroubleshooting

Updated on 2/15/09 - Added Hardy instructions, Splash Screen, Internet Media Dependencies, and automatic shutdown changes.

**riegersn** · #2 February 7th, 2009, 01:50 PM

Well done!

ruckerz · #3 February 7th, 2009, 01:56 PM

Even better, make a minimal ubuntu setup this way, then custom configure it (this configuration doesn't help with wireless networks that may need additional configuration).

Then after custom configuring it follow How to make a live CD/DVD from your harddisk installation

Unplug your hard drives, throw the install on a usb drive (if your BIOS supports USB drive booting) and then run with a whisper quiet and 'green' (at least in the case of no HD needed) system

prime · #4 February 7th, 2009, 03:37 PM

I have also found that theres a boxee channel on Undernet as well. Seems to be alot smaller but a tad more helpfull.

/server us.undernet.org

/join #boxee

Some of you might want to check that one out as well.

kayoti · #5 February 8th, 2009, 08:49 PM

This is great, draggy. I'll reinstall tomorrow using this method.

**marcel** · #6 February 9th, 2009, 04:16 AM

cool thread...

draggy · #7 February 15th, 2009, 06:43 PM

Updated on 2/15/09 - Added Hardy instructions, Splash Screen, and automatic shutdown changes.

If a moderator would please update the main topic to reflect the changes I made to the topic of the first post, I'd appreciate it. Thanks.

monotovarisj · #8 July 30th, 2009, 12:08 PM

I've tried your solution on making boxee shutdown the machine when you exit boxee however even do the shutdown script works and it works without sudo, it doesn't work when i press exit in boxee ..

boxee just freeces when I press exit, and nothing else happens, is the System.Exec() function still working?

Hope you can help, last thing I can't live without :-)

Nnyan · #9 September 25th, 2009, 04:46 PM

Has this changed much if you're going to use 9.04?

monotovarisj · #10 September 25th, 2009, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nnyan

Has this changed much if you're going to use 9.04?

I'm running 9.04 and can't get the shutdown to work...