Just as the title states, I would love to have a Mythtv backend docker for my media center server (Unraid).  Can anyone take up the challenge of getting it all Dockered up?

 

Is there anyone else besides me who would like to see this?  It seems like they would go hand in hand considering what they are made to do (Unraid and Mythtv that is).

 

https://www.mythtv.org/

I second that.

 

I've been tempted to try MythTV for a while in order to replace TVHeadend (I'm not sure how resource hungry this one would be on a Unraid server compared to a software such as TVHeadend?) but they look like they are offering a stable DVR product so I would definitely install it!

What hardware resourced does myth TV use? If it requires hardware such as PCI devices you will still need unraid kernel to be modified to support the physical device.

Thanks for the reply. As for the hardware requirements I do not know what others will use bu t I intend to use an hdhomerun which is a networked tuner.  I'm sure there are PCI cards that are supported as well.  IP tuners should require no changes as far as I know.

 

http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/Hardware_Requirements

http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/category:hardware

 

Edit: maybe i am misunderstanding dockers. My assumption was that mythtv docker could use a ubuntu or similar base image and most anything needed would be fulfilled by the base image / myth docker combo.  Is this not correct?

 

 

That is correct however all devices are handled by the base os, in this case that would be unraid. Think of dockers as a "chroot" environment and not as virtual machines.

I guess it is possible that some users who would have hardware tuners in their unRAID box might have issues but network streamers would definitely benefit from this. Hopefully that didn't come across as sounding selfish. What are the chances of a mythtv docker being put together?  Brit do you have the skills to do so?

Even if you want to use the hdhomerun with mythtv you still will need a unraid kernel built with dvb support as far as I know. I run mythtv in a VM with an hdhomerun, I find this suits my needs better since I don't need to deal with unraid.

I was really trying to avoid a VM as my CPU does not support vt-d. I really thought the dockers would be the perfect solution.

Well the good news then is if you want to use something like an hdhomerun in a VM you do not need vt-d since you don't have to passthrough a card. I am running my VM on a cpu (core i3 530) which does not support vt-d either.

This thread inspired me to get an hdhomerun, which will arrive tomorrow. I am starting to experiment with "cutting the cable" and need DVR capability.

 

What are some details of your VM that you are using for MythTV?

 

Would have a TVHeadend one, but we still need VT-d to pass the cards to a docker, correct?

This thread inspired me to get an hdhomerun, which will arrive tomorrow. I am starting to experiment with "cutting the cable" and need DVR capability.

 

What are some details of your VM that you are using for MythTV?

 

Its ubuntu 14.04, you can use this guide https://help.ubuntu.com/community/MythTV/Install/Server/Backend to help set it up.

 

Would have a TVHeadend one, but we still need VT-d to pass the cards to a docker, correct?

 

Yep, that's correct.

 

I am still experimenting with the different PVR backends.  I have Mythbuntu running in a VM.  Install/setup is pretty straightforward.  I also have an HDHomerun so don't have to worry about passthrough.

 

At the end of the day, I still can't seem to move away from ServerWMC.  As much as I want to ditch my last Windows VM, ServerWMC just does EVERYTHING I want.

I think a vm is best suited for this.  It's not just mythtv.  It's a backend, mysql server, apache server and a host of other services. I have installed it on ubuntu server before but mythbuntu is really the easiest.  And it runs on ubuntu server 14.04 anyway.  I have 2 hdhomerun primes and can get a new install up and running in less than an hour, streaming hdtv to several openelec systems. The only thing you'll miss is copy once programming like HBO. But I get all other hd channels.

 

Another problem is where the recorded tv/buffer will go. You would have to export /var/lib/mythtv.  In the vm I just mount a 500gb laptop drive there.

In the vm I just mount a 500gb laptop drive there.

 

9p and write directly to the array. 

In the vm I just mount a 500gb laptop drive there.

 

9p and write directly to the array. 

Not with your 9p throughput.   But seriously I wouldn't want to waste real-time parity on live tv buffer.

Want to bring this to the spotlight again.

 

Really hoping that someone way smarter than me can take a shot at this.  Any takers?  I know it is a bear but it would get a LOT of use I am sure.

 

John

Why would you use mythtv over tvheadend? What featured are you missing? Now with the latest versions it runs like a tank.

Why would you use mythtv over tvheadend? What featured are you missing? Now with the latest versions it runs like a tank.

 

Mythweb digs all over the TVH interface for scheduling recordings.

Does tvheadend run as a docker within unRaid? 

Does tvheadend run as a docker within unRaid?

 

http://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=37671.0

for all the hassle of getting myth working in a docker, you'd be better off with a VM by far.

Actually, Myth is the last VM I have running other than my Kodi ones.  I would love to say that I am completely Dockerized for everything headless.  Just a boy's dream I guess. 

 

Mythweb digs all over the TVH interface for scheduling recordings.

Oh, i see. Wasn't aware of this issue because i don't record anything.

 

Mythweb digs all over the TVH interface for scheduling recordings.

Oh, i see. Wasn't aware of this issue because i don't record anything.

Maybe a dumb question, but why would you want your unRAID server to receive TV if not to record it?