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What is Knoppmyth?
Practical Explanation
KnoppMyth is the linux equivalent of the Microsoft Media Centre Operating System. Knoppmyth comes as a CD-ROM software distribution which automates the setup of the popular MythTV package.
Ultimately KnoppMyth is used to create an HTPC (home theatre PC). These HTPCs are commonly plugged into televisions rather than monitors for a complete Home Theatre experience. HTPCs bring the power of PC's to the lounge in one single 'all in one' device.
Technical Explanation
Strictly speaking KnoppMyth is an adaptation of the Knoppix linux distribution. The distinction between Knoppix and Knoppmyth is that the components or modules selected for the Knoppmyth operating system are dedicated to, and built specifically around, MythTV. Knoppix itself is an adaptation of the Debian linux distribution, KnoppMyth therefore is another project that has spiralled off into its own domain. None of this would be possible without the whole philosophy of Linux which states that all programming code must be 'open-source'. This enables a worldwide programming community to add to, amend, adapt and forever improve Linux based software. Knowledge is pooled.
Ease of installation
A common complaint about MythTV is that it is difficult and time consuming to install and configure. KnoppMyth is a general purpose solution which contains a pre-configured MythTV installation system built on a full Linux platform. Using a computer with common and well documented hardware the manual configuration required will be considerably simpler than the alternative option of manually 'building' (installing) Mythtv, in addition to 'building' numerous other programs that MythTv depends on.
Different Applications of KnoppMyth
Complete Installation (Front-end and Back-end)
KnoppMyth can be used to install a full MythTV client and server system; in simple terms this means that the front-end is stored on the same device as the backend. The front-end is the software required for the visual elements (or the GUI) and is utilised by the common user to find, play and manipulate media files etc. The backend is the server where the media files are actually stored. A full frontend and backend system may have an advantage in that it has 'portability', i.e. it is a standalone device that is not dependent on a separate server (like a games console for example).
Front-end only installations
Alternatively KnoppMyth can be used to install a MythTV client, front-end only system. For example, users may have a central storage device (server) in their house, the server can then be accessed from numerous other devices throughout the house, these other devices needing only a front-end installation on devices containing minimal hardware. KnoppMyth can also run directly from a CD-ROM (i.e. without installation) providing that there is a network connection to a PC with a 'complete installation' (a MythTV back-end server).
Using a 'server' separate from one or more front-end units has the obvious advantages of multiple simultaneous access to shared media files. The server used would generally have hardware of a relatively high specification and would be kept outside of the main living room. An advantage of keeping the server PC outside the living room is that the cooling fan required to accommodate a 'fast' processor can be quite noisy (as can certain hard drives), it can be expensive to invest in fanless/heat sinking equipment to avoid such noise problems.
KnoppMyth can also be used to upgrade an existing KnoppMyth installation.
KnoppMyth Community
KnoppMyth users generally 'hang around' at the official [http://www.mysettopbox.tv/phpBB2/ forum website] to discuss ideas, get help with and to help others with technical and/or practical problems.
This entry uses material from from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. Disclaimer.