Archive talk:HOW-TO:Install XBMC on Ubuntu/HOW-TO 3

NVIDIA VDPAU
Why was the NVIDIA VDPAU repository added as a method? Are we striving for ease-of-use-for-beginners or as-many-methods-as-possible here? The NVIDIA VDPAU repository may have later versions of the NVIDIA drivers packaged for Karmic, but the later versions still screw up HDMI audio regardless of where they come from.--Pashdown 23:52, 16 December 2009 (UTC)


 * Can your clarify what you mean by "screw up HDMI audio"? I used that method to install the NVIDIA drivers and the only issue I have with HDMI audio is the (minor) delay that I mention under Outstanding Issues --Cancan101 00:12, 17 December 2009 (UTC)

In any case, I'm happy you're discussing this. My feeling is that the XBMCbuntu page should be geared for beginners and should only have one rather than many different methods for doing the same thing for simplicity sake. I am happy to help continue stripping the instructions down so it is as minimal and easy as possible. Another example is installing a window manager to test XBMC, when in fact it can be tested easier once XBMC-live is properly installed, without a window manager.--Pashdown 04:16, 17 December 2009 (UTC)
 * "You need the Nvidia drivers 185 series. IMPORTANT: the 190 series driver breaks lpcm hdmi output totally or partially"
 * I have 195 series installed and HDMI works fine other than the short delay after resuming video playback before audio is emitted. I believe this is due to the he driver relaseing the audio channel to the TV and the TV taking a moment to reaqurire the audio feed. Otherwise audio works fine. Cancan101 22:17, 19 December 2009 (UTC)
 * I went ahead and modified the test section today to not require a window manager. I suggest three other major modifications to this page which will make it easier for beginners:
 * 1) Assume the latest release of Ubuntu.  Trying to do a one-size-fits all is too much headache and just confuses people.
 * 2) Define the proper order of the steps, no more "I did blah below and this is a forward reference."
 * 3) Refine the steps down to refined, well tested, Ubuntu accepted methods - no compiling or file creation unless absolutely needed.--Pashdown 18:15, 17 December 2009 (UTC)

I agree with you on on many of your points. I actually like a script like: http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?p=374815#post374815 ; perhaps a wiki version of this script would be ideal? Cancan101 22:22, 19 December 2009 (UTC)
 * Let's get the process settled, and then the script will be a easy step beyond that.--Pashdown 22:04, 22 December 2009 (UTC)

Proposed deletions, let me know if you're OK with this--Pashdown 22:04, 22 December 2009 (UTC): Cancan101 04:41, 23 December 2009 (UTC)
 * 1) Remove NVidia's installer & 3rd party repositories.  The main & NVidia-VDPAU are sufficient.
 * 2) * Agreed
 * 3) * +1
 * 4) * 3rd party repositories is Deleted, Manual is updated to version 270 --Xenomes 09:01, 18 May 2011 (UTC)
 * 5) Optional: Setup privileges for XBMC user to allow suspend.  This wasn't needed on my last install.  XBMC can shutdown and suspend just fine without it.  Is this what others are seeing?
 * 6) * I have no comment on this. I ran the commands without first testing. I suppose I can create a new user, login as that user, run xbmc and see if xmbc can shutdown.
 * 7) Overscan - Reduce to 1x1 pixel mapping.  I don't know of any TV's that DON'T have this option.  The crap referenced on "this blog" is just way overboard as far as a fix goes.
 * 8) * I agree the blog is overboard. Are you recommending just removing "This did not seem optimal so I read this blog," because that seems fine. Not sure if anything else should be cut.

Problem with driver versions
The guide states "Currently, version 256 is the highest available version to Ubuntu 10.04.", then goes on to suggest this command: sudo apt-get install nvidia-256-kernel-source nvidia-glx-256 nvidia-settings mesa-utils libvdpau-dev

It appears that there are no packages that match this version at the ppa:
 * http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=256+site%3Ahttps%3A%2F%2Flaunchpad.net%2F~ubuntu-x-swat%2F%2Barchive%2Fx-updates

And trying the =apt-get install= command gives the following errors: E: Unable to locate package nvidia-256-kernel-source E: Unable to locate package nvidia-glx-256

There are certainly packages that match v185:
 * http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=185+site%3Ahttps%3A%2F%2Flaunchpad.net%2F~ubuntu-x-swat%2F%2Barchive%2Fx-updates

Maybe this should be changed? Does this mean there's no longer any point in adding the x-updates ppa, since v185 is available in the default repo and x-updates no longer hosts anything newer than 185??


 * Ah, I see the drivers are no longer called nvidia-glx-xxx, they are now nvidia-current

Proposed deletions done, more suggested
I've made the proposed deletions and simply added a comment on the shutdown/suspend section. Two more changes I propose: --Pashdown 17:41, 23 December 2009 (UTC)
 * 1) Remove the envyng section.  This is redundant and confusing.
 * 2) Remove all references to versions prior than Karmic 9.10.

Merging with HOW-TO install XBMC for Linux on Ubuntu with a minimal installation, an unofficial Step-by-Step Guide
This page should be merged with HOW-TO install XBMC for Linux on Ubuntu with a minimal installation, an unofficial Step-by-Step Guide --Cancan101 01:09, 29 December 2009 (UTC)
 * I think that other page should be nuked from orbit and this one should be renamed. There is so much bad/old information and the formatting is a mess. What good information should we be bring over from that one first?--Pashdown 02:58, 29 December 2009 (UTC)
 * I would recommend the following section be brought from that page: (Cancan101 05:24, 29 December 2009 (UTC))
 * XBMC CPU temp detection (maybe?)
 * XBMC GPU (nvidia) temp detection (maybe?)
 * Wake On Lan
 * Sound configuration in XBMC (especially the addition to asound.conf)
 * This looks good. I suggest a "Sensors" section for the CPU and GPU temperature and putting WoL in the optional installs.  I'm thinking ALSA configuration deserves its own page as it applies broader than just Ubuntu and you usually have to compile anyway.--Pashdown 16:07, 29 December 2009 (UTC)

CLEANUP
The guide need to be cleanup! If someone of the original authors will have a look at the guide. If not then I will try it. Please leave a comment if you find something important to keep.

--Xenomes 14:44, 16 August 2010 (UTC)

I have started the cleanup and update it to Lucid Lynx.

--Xenomes 13:01, 18 March 2011 (UTC)

Poor playback of h264 files
I don't think installation of mplayer will do anything to fix a vdpau problem. You have to specifically tell XBMC to use mplayer, simply installing it will do nothing. It also isn't an optimal fix.--Pashdown 05:22, 18 January 2010 (UTC)
 * That is not what I observed. I had VDPAU selected but it was not being used when I tried to play MKVs. I installed mplayer and then it was used. See the link I added to the main wiki page. Cancan101 01:43, 19 January 2010 (UTC)
 * I think that is due to the VDPAU PPA drivers being installed with mplayer, and not mplayer itself.--Pashdown 06:12, 19 January 2010 (UTC)
 * True the 'poor playback of h264 files' is Deleted --Xenomes 09:49, 18 May 2011 (UTC)

Video Drivers
The article states only ATI and NVIDIA currently support the necessary 3D capabilities to run XBMC. In addition to those, XBMC can be run in a virtual machine using the Oracle VM VirtualBox Guest Additions with 3D Acceleration set to enabled - although success may be dependent upon the physical graphics card & driver installed on the host machine [successfully tested running a Ubuntu 10.04 client (both 32-bit and 64-bit) under Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit host. --Mgscox 16:57, 25 jul 2010 (UTC)
 * Your Comment is true, but XBMCbuntu is most used as a standalone machine with a Nvidia, Ati and Intel (Official wiki)--Xenomes 10:06, 18 May 2011 (UTC)

Nvidia Powermizer Feature
I encountered a lot of playback issues who are related to the powermizer feature of my Nettop.

I solved them by adding powermizer settings to the xorg.conf after reading this page:

http://tutanhamon.com.ua/technovodstvo/NVIDIA-UNIX-driver/

Maybe add them to the main site?
 * Added to the main site. --Xenomes 09:37, 18 May 2011 (UTC)