Arch Linux

cschep

Member

Registered: 2006-12-02

Posts: 125

Website

lean and mean media server questions

hello everyone,

I'm currently using arch as a server for my music, and a small webpage. I'm enjoying using the command line for controlling mpd, as my stereo throughout the house, and apache/mongrel for rails, etc...

I'd like to incorporate a video type of server into this setup. I have a ton of movies and tv shows that I don't have a slick solution for enjoying on my actual TV. I've got an nvidia card with TV out, that's not a problem, my real question is what the best software for this is...

I assume I'll have to install X, but do I need like gnome or kde? I want to keep this solution as lean and mean as possible. Maybe it would be a good time for me to learn how to use a *box. I would also like to be able to control it remotely through ssh. Like ssh in, type in a command, and it starts playing on my tv... or maybe even setup a web interface for it, login, list of movies, click, it's playing.

Anyone have a similar setup? or something else, that's cool? Thanks for the ideas!

work is slow today, i'll be checking back pretty often.

cschep

Member

Registered: 2006-12-02

Posts: 125

Website

Re: lean and mean media server questions

So I've been poking around...

Obviously if I want to play a video I'm going to have to have X installed and configured, So I guess my question is, do I need a WM? or can I just tell vlc from the commandline to play and it will just play full screen?

these are probably such newb questions, just wondering. thanks!

Ramses de Norre

Member

From: Leuven - Belgium

Registered: 2007-03-27

Posts: 1,289

Re: lean and mean media server questions

So I guess my question is, do I need a WM? or can I just tell vlc from the commandline to play and it will just play full screen?

Put "vlc" as the only command in ~/.xinitrc and run startx. It can do full screen as you'd expect.

synorgy

Member

From: $HOME

Registered: 2005-07-11

Posts: 272

Website

Re: lean and mean media server questions

IIRC GeexBox actually loads to a framebuffer rather than a full fledged X server. Check out their forums etc. to see how exactly they do it.

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"Unix is basically a simple operating system, but you have to be a genius to understand the simplicity." (Dennis Ritchie)

cschep

Member

Registered: 2006-12-02

Posts: 125

Website

Re: lean and mean media server questions

Thanks for the posts.

I ended up adding vlc in my ~/.xinitrc and that works pretty well.

I think I'm going to check out elisa, I guess I'm not that worried about being lean, the screencasts of it are pretty impressive!