I need to move to a new server. I don't want to invest a lot or have a high learning/troubleshooting problem either. That is why I picked Channels in the first place. Anyway, I see it is suggested that a n95 on Linux may be a good pick. I use YTTV and HDHomerun for my sources. I need TVE working from YTTV. I need to record from both sources and want commercial detection (comskip) to work. Honestly, YTTV does everything I need except for comskip. Channels is more user friendly in the way the recorded shows are organized so I would like to stay with Channels. I also do a little remote streaming to vacation house. Is a Linux n95 system a good choice for this? Or is there a better less than $200 solution (all in)? (I don't have a spare old PC laying around anymore). Thanks! I would love someone with first hand experience to chime in if possible.
Should be fine, especially if you aren't needing a lot of transcoding. Storage probably is your biggest question is storage space depending on how much you store of your recordings or import. At one point I used a Linux Server (2 six core intel xeons, I know, a little overkill) and it was easy to maintain. I don't always use Linux, but when I do, I use Mint Linux which to me is the most user/novice/windows oriented distro.
Should be fine really. I switched to Lubuntu/Docker recently and everything works well
I have never used Docker before and don't understand if I would need that. Would this be needed to get TVE working from YTTV assuming I am going to use Linux? I am not sure if the TVE issue with YTTV is OS dependent. I am concerned that having to add extra layers like Docker to get this to work may be too challenging and never stable.
Dont use Channels on docker with YTTV for TVE, it wont work. Go with ubuntu server and a traditional Channels install and it will work perfectly.
The Beelink will be perfect for you. As far as OS is concerned since you are using TVE I’d suggest Ubuntu desktop with chrome installed not chromium like the instructions say.
If you were not using TVE I’d say use Ubuntu server. It’s more lightweight and reliable compared desktop. Paired with a gui helper like Webmin it can be manageable by a Linux novice. Desktop is almost like windows these days so it is more novice friendly than server.
I have a quick guide on installing Ubuntu desktop on the Beelink on here somewhere if you go that direction.
Here is a Beelink n95 recording from hdhr.
OK, that seems manageable. Is the 8gb version OK? I have an external drive for storage.
If it’s just going to be running channels it’s more than enough.
And the issue with Chromium is?
I ask because I only use Chromium with both Debian and Linux Mint. No issues
I had issues authenticating Hulu live tv TVE using chromium. When I switched to chrome no problems since. Could be coincidence though.
Perhaps. I don't subscribe to Hulu Live TV.
Hi- I got my Beelink. Seems like a cool box. I got Linux desktop installed and am stuck. I followed the setup guide sort of. I opened a command window and put in the string per the setup guide and got "command curl not found error" So I then tried sudo snap install curl per the hint that it gave me. I then put the script in again and It asked for my password. I entered and got no errors but I don't think it actually did anything. I am lost. Any help would be nice.
If you want to give ubuntu server a go i out together an install guide.
Which script? I’m assuming the dvr install script. What happens if you go to http://127.0.0.1:8089 in a web browser?
Yes, it was the channels script.
curl -f -s https://getchannels.com/dvr/setup.sh | sh
http://127.0.0.1:8089 gives me refused to connect site cannot be reached error.
UPDATE. I just put the script in again and it says its downloading channels DVR I will report back...
Once it’s done installing that run this command
sudo adduser $(id -u -n) video && sudo adduser $(id -u -n) render
This will ensure you get hardware transcoding
perfect. It seems to have installed it! I will run that command. Thanks!!!
Also (from the Install Notes)
- We recommend that you run the setup script in your home directory as your own user so Channels DVR Server is installed into
~/channels-dvr. - If you prefer instead to install into
/usr/local, run this before the setup script:
cd /usr/local && sudo mkdir -p channels-dvr && \
sudo chown $(id -u -n) channels-dvr
Linux is a bit different than windows when it comes to mounting usb drives on boot.
You need to set this up by editing fstab or the easier gui way.
- Click on the 9 dots at the bottom left of the screen and type “disks” in the search bar. Click on and open disks app.
- click on your external disk in the list to highlight it.
- Under volumes there is a gear, click that and select edit mount options.
- Click the button to un-highlight “user session defaults.
- Click the box for mount at startup and show in interface
