Mythbuntu Control Centre (MCC)

Submitted by mrand on Sat, 01/16/2010 - 20:42

The Mythbuntu Control Centre (MCC) is the main area for configuring different items within Mythbuntu. It strives to prevent having to use the command line to reconfigure items. Instead, an easy to use interface is provided.

Starting MCC

Mythbuntu Control Centre can be launched from within a terminal (shell) window, or from the window manager menus.

Via terminal window

Simply issue the command "mythbuntu-control-centre" at the prompt.  If you are having trouble with MCC, starting it in this way may provide some debugging clues

Via Window manager

To get to a window desktop, you will need to quit MythTV Frontend. The menus which store system utilities differ between window managers.  For Xfce (the default window manager for Mythbuntu), choose the Applications Menu, and then System. MCC will be an item listed in this menu.  For gnome (the default window manager for standard Ubuntu), simply click the System menu, and choose Administration. MCC will be one of the menu items listed in this menu.

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Using MCC

As previously discussed, MCC attempts to provide an easy to use interface for reconfiguring all important items on a Mythbuntu system. The interface is broken up into logical groups of items. Each item is discussed in detail below.

System Roles

The System Roles tab is used to determine what type of box you have configured. 

  • Primary Backend: All MythTV setups must have a single Primary Backend. All backends and frontends will connect to this machine.
  • Secondary Backend: Secondary backends are useful to expand the power of a MythTV network by harnassing additional power from more machines.
  • Frontend: Frontends are used to view any content recorded on a MythTV network.
  • Desktop: If you decide that you would like to use this machine as a normal desktop at any time, you can add as many desktop roles as desired.

A Standard Mythbuntu installation will have a Primary Backend, and Frontend role installed. If at any time you decide that you would like to change the behavior of the box to add or remove functional roles, you can do so here. After installing a Secondary Backend or Frontend role, you will want to update the information listed on the MythTV Configuration tab [*].

* NOTE: You must apply changes to the System Roles tab before proceeding to modify other tabs. If you try to switch to another tab without applying, you will be forced to revert changes or apply them at that time.

Applications and Plugins

The Applications and Plugins tab can be used to install all available MythTV plugins as well as applications that are well paired with them. You can also enable or disable a password for Mythweb on this page.

NOTE: Plugins may or may not be greyed out. If a plugin is greyed out, this is because it isn't applicable to the chosen role.

Graphics Drivers

Proprietary drivers provide enhanced performance for video playback and allow for OpenGL effects within the MythTV menus. To install a proprietary driver, you can open up Restricted Manager.

Depending on which proprietary driver is installed, one of the buttons for configuration of your particular graphics card will be available. You can modify the tv out settings using the configuration utility here.

Also in this area you can modify which resolutions are available by modifying your monitor type.

Infrared Remotes and Transmitters

Infrared remotes can be used to navigate MythTV. This tab allows you to enable support for your remote control and generate button mappings. Here you can also enable support for IR transmitters.

Services

The Services tab allows you to enabled different network services that the machine can provide. Use this tab to enable SSH or VNC support for configuration and Samba or NFS support for network shares. 

Startup Behavior

Startup Behavior allows you to configure whether the machine will automatically login and if the MythTV frontend will automatically start.

Proprietary Codec Support

In order to play some DVD's you may need to enable DVD support. This can be done on the proprietary codecs tab.

Advanced Management

 

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Themes and Artwork

The Themes and Artwork tab allows you to enable supported MythTV themes (including the Mythbuntu theme) for use in the MythTV frontend. 

This tab also allows you to enable the Mythbuntu artwork used when the computer boots up and when not in the MythTV frontend.

MythExport

 

System Updates

System Updates allows you to configure how updates are displayed to the user. Here you can also launch Update Manager and Synaptic to manage packages on the system.

MySQL Configuration

The MySQL Configuration tab has different purposes depending on which role(s) you have installed. If you have either a Primary or Secondary backend role installed, you will be able to launch MythTV Setup from here to reconfigure backend specific items.

If you have any Mythbuntu roles other than a Primary Backend, you will be able to reconfigure any MySQL information used for contacting the Primary Backend. You will need to use the PIN number set up in the general section of mythtv-setup. Before applying the changes, be sure to test your MySQL connection.