*NEW!* Xbox as A SageTV Client

roofus · #1 03-30-2006, 05:11 PM

Well, this is the start of my new thread, because it looks like this is going places and I don't want to crowd and old discussion thread.

Right now I have not gotten a fully working setup going, BUT, this is mostly because I have to rebuild the install method from scratch. This is because the SageTV install disc is a bootable CD, this is fine for PCs but not for Xboxes.

***
Here's what you can look forward to in my future posts.
3 install methods:

1. The easiest, but currently only in theory. Patch the kernel from your SageTV install disc and re inject it into the ISO. This requires a program that can edit bootable ISOs. So far the minimum cost for one of those programs looks to be $30 US. If anyone finds on cheaper let me know.

The reason this is so easy is, patching the kernel to work on the Xbox doesn't hinder it from running on a PC; it only adds compatibility to the kernel. So you can just stick your Xbox hard drive in your pc (after unlocking it) and boot the SageTV disc with the patched kernel and install it as normal. Once it's done stick it in your Xbox, configure it, and away you go.

The reason this is only a theory is that I don't have $30 to throw at this method. A big screen HDTV and SageTV Linux (among others) have tapped my expendable cash for a while.

Downsides to this install: The install script sets up the HD as if it's a fresh install, truly OEM software. It clears the drive, and you no longer have an Xbox that plays Xbox games. As well, there is no modifying this script to make a "native F" partition because the 2.6 kernel has no stable FatX driver. So, files on your Xbox out side of your Linux partition would be inaccessible while running Linux. To me this is too undesirable to bother with.

2. The hardest, maybe, most involved at least. So the ISO they give you won't boot on an Xbox. Well, it won't stop you thanks to the hard work of people at Xbox Linux. They've ported a wonderful little Linux distro to the Xbox called Damn Small Linux, or DSL for short. The beauty of this distro is it's 40MB and runs from a CD if desired. What does that mean to you? Well it means you can fit the SageTV Linux CD and xDSL on the same CD. Booting into a fully functional Linux distro (ssh, GUI, ftp, ect...) so you can run the install scripts.

Why is this so involved? Well, you have to modify the install script to get it to play along with this setup. The install script was written for the Gentoo version of ISOLINUX, not for xDSL and the way it runs.

This is the method I'm working on most right now because it's the one I'm using.

3. I thought it might not be possible but it is, and it might be easy. Alright for those of you who only own one XBOX and too many games to make it a SageTV extender only... YOU CAN KEEP YOUR XBOX AND HAVE BOTH!

The lovely people who made SageTV for Linux separated out the SageTV files for us! This means you can install Gentoox on your Xbox, which runs on the 2.4 kernel that has a stable FatX driver and 3 install options!

It can install on an existing FatX partition without disturbing it. So you can install it on E or F (F is on upgraded Hard Drive only). OR... You can do a native install onto your F drive, and you can still access your Xbox files while in Linux!

The one downside to this method: The SageTV disc comes with everything you need to run SageTV, GentooX does not. So, you will need to find its dependencies, and install them, in the same places that SageTV would look for them in IT'S installation.

I will pursue this option after I’m sure the other two actually work. It looks to involve the most research.
***

And the reason I'm posting these now without any real payoff. You can now buy SageTV for linux, and start trying these methods, whichever one seems most pleasing to you. And you can post back here, and we can all collaberate to make things faster and easier.

roofus · #2 03-30-2006, 05:18 PM

The best place to learn how to mod your Xbox
http://www.xbox-scene.com

The home of all things Xbox-Linux
http://www.xbox-linux.org

The home of xDSL
http://www.x-dsl.org

The Source Forge Xbox-Linux CVS repository, read here to learn how to get the files to patch the 2.6 kernel for Xbox.
"Information about accessing this CVS repository may be found in our document titled..."
http://sourceforge.net/cvs/?group_id=54192

The home of the master of Gentoo for Xbox, ShallaX
http://gentoox.shallax.com

I hope this helps you all and encourages you all to take a crack at this yourselves. The best ways to learn how to mod an Xbox or navigate Linux are projects like these.

roofus · #3 03-30-2006, 05:30 PM

Ok, last post today. If this is all to expensive, too hard, or too much work. You still have an option.

If you already use XBMC I would highly recommend Coolwave's python script. Top notch work in progress. I use it regularly, I want more, but it's really an awesome script.

http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/show...t=16518&page=5

mikesm · #4 03-30-2006, 05:48 PM

Linux on the xbox doesn't work very well. Far better is to use a script with xbmc which has been tuned for multimedia performance on the xbox.

Thanks,
mike

HairBear · #5 03-30-2006, 08:19 PM

I have have been trying this also with Gentoox. I'm having problems with the nvidia drivers being compatible with SageTV. I get the splash screen which freezes at that point. The log files gives me an error about no hardware renderer found, switching to software renderer. Have you been able to load the user interface or the main screen?

mayamaniac · #6 03-30-2006, 08:26 PM

So you want to install linux on xbox and use the SageTV for linux to be the client? Quite a feat considering SageTV linux on a PC isn't that stable, nevermind on an Xbox. Good luck.

Just a thought, since the placeshifiting client is a java app, is it easier to get that runnning on an Xbox provided you can get java to be supported on it?

bcjenkins · #7 03-30-2006, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mayamaniac

So you want to install linux on xbox and use the SageTV for linux to be the client? Quite a feat considering SageTV linux on a PC isn't that stable, nevermind on an Xbox. Good luck.

Just a thought, since the placeshifiting client is a java app, is it easier to get that runnning on an Xbox provided you can get java to be supported on it?

I asked this question when place shifting came out. Something about the mplayer dependency. How well does Wine run in XBMC? Maybe use windows mplayer through it?

B

roofus · #8 03-31-2006, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bcjenkins

I asked this question when place shifting came out. Something about the mplayer dependency. How well does Wine run in XBMC? Maybe use windows mplayer through it?

B

They meant Mplayer, for Linux, not Windows Media Player. Also XBMC isn't Linux, so no Wine.

bcjenkins · #9 03-31-2006, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roofus

They meant Mplayer, for Linux, not Windows Media Player. Also XBMC isn't Linux, so no Wine.

mplayer is not linux only, there are ports for win32 and os x. I thought place shifter was using it for playback. didn't know xbmc wasn't linux.. still putting gentoox on an xbox can you get it to use the pshifter client? Is gentoox linux?

HairBear · #10 03-31-2006, 07:17 PM

Yes, Gentoox is linux. As far as getting pshifter to work under linux may be possible but I wouldn't know how to go about it. Is pshifter included in the Linux OEM Edition?

lovingHDTV · #11 04-10-2006, 06:39 AM

bump, any update?

kricker · #12 04-25-2006, 01:43 PM

-roofus
any more news on this?

meesterblack · #13 05-18-2006, 10:37 AM

Yes, yes, we're all curious !!

I have three modded XBOX's and it would be AWESOME if I could set them up as SageTV clients. Most importantly, though, I have a big issue with wiping out the existing partitions as I have plenty of games I would hate to lose.

I am going to take a crack at this myself sometime here in the future. Seems that installing GentooX is the best solution and adding the SageTV files to the install.

If anyone begins to compile a list of the Sage dependencies, PLEASE post them for all of us to use.

I will try to report my progess as I start my experiments.

Thanks !!

kricker · #14 06-03-2006, 10:23 PM

anyone making progress on this?

krutaw · #15 06-04-2006, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roofus

1. The easiest, but currently only in theory. Patch the kernel from your SageTV install disc and re inject it into the ISO. This requires a program that can edit bootable ISOs. So far the minimum cost for one of those programs looks to be $30 US. If anyone finds on cheaper let me know.

The reason this is so easy is, patching the kernel to work on the Xbox doesn't hinder it from running on a PC; it only adds compatibility to the kernel. So you can just stick your Xbox hard drive in your pc (after unlocking it) and boot the SageTV disc with the patched kernel and install it as normal. Once it's done stick it in your Xbox, configure it, and away you go.

The reason this is only a theory is that I don't have $30 to throw at this method. A big screen HDTV and SageTV Linux (among others) have tapped my expendable cash for a while.

So umm.. not to sound uninformed, but I am, so here goes... What does the filesystem of the iso look like? Meaning, is it using syslinux or something similiar to boot? if so, making a new iso from your existing iso should be a piece of cake in linux.

Hit me in pm and I'll help where I can.

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