[LINUX] HOW-TO make a minimal install of Ubuntu on Acer Revo ION in under 25 minutes

Pete_London · 2009-06-30 23:57

Hi all,

There's been quite a few questions of late on how to get the best out of a Acer Aspire Revo, so I thought I'd put this guide together for you all.

For those unfamiliar with this cheap little computer, the Acer AspireRevo was the first NVIDIA ION based Nettop available for retail purchase, and via the VDPAU API it is with XBMC for Linux capable of playing back practically all 1080p high-definition video files that you can throw at it.

Full credit for this HOW-TO step-by-step guide goes to draggy, who's tutorial work I have modified. I have taken the liberty of using nano instead of vi in this HOW-TO guide and also installing the very latest SVN release of XBMC Media Center so that you can use all the cutting-edge skins. Please bear in mind that SVN releases can be buggy, however so far I personally have never had any problems.

To keep things simple I recommend using a cheap HTPC remote control and IR receiver of the Microsoft MCE variety. They tend to work directly out-of-the-box in XBMC without the need to install and configure LIRC or any keymapping. I myself purchased a Cyberlink unit from eBay for under £10 delivered. If yours doesn't work, just install LIRC - it's easy to do. Then you should check out the LIRC sticky for tips to get it going.

Everybody says that you need 2GB memory in the Revo to use XBMC effectively with all 1080p videos. I do have 2GB memory in my Revo but so far is has always had over 1GB free no matter what I do, so I suggest to treat that suggestion as advisable but not essential. This also applies to changing the graphics memory in BIOS of the Revo from Auto (256MB) to 512MB to be able to playback all 1080p videos, it is well worth doing but on my build I persoanlly haven't really noticed a difference.

If you're wanting the easiest way possible to do the following, use this post.

Installing Ubuntu

1. Download the Ubuntu 9.04 Jaunty Jackalope minimal cd from here: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Instal.../MinimalCD
Note: Please use the 32-bit CD.

2. Burn the ISO to a disk (or USB key) and boot your HTPC from it.

3. Start the installation and follow the instructions.

4. When the installation asks for a username / password, enter xbmc / xbmc.

5. OPTIONAL If you want to do most of the steps remotely with ssh, choose openssh when asked if you want to install more packages.

6. Finish the installation and reboot.

Updating the computer

1. Log in as the xbmc user

2. Add the right repositories to the sources list:

Code:

sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list

3. Add the SVN and addons to the bottom of the list:

Code:

deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/team-xbmc-svn/ppa/ubuntu jaunty main 

deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/team-xbmc-svn/ppa/ubuntu jaunty main 

deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/xbmc-addons/ppa/ubuntu jaunty main

deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/xbmc-addons/ppa/ubuntu jaunty main

deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/ubuntu-x-swat/x-updates/ubuntu jaunty main 

deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/ubuntu-x-swat/x-updates/ubuntu jaunty main

4. Then add the right keys:

Code:

sudo apt-key adv --recv-keys --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com 318C7509 64234534 AF1CDFA9

5. Update the library:

Code:

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get -f install

Install ALSA for sound

1. Install ALSA:

Code:

sudo apt-get install linux-sound-base alsa-base alsa-utils

2. There is a bug in Mini Jaunty where the user's account doesn't get added to the audio group, to fix that:

Code:

sudo usermod -a -G audio xbmc

3. Type:

Code:

sudo alsamixer

4. Use your arrow keys and turn up the volumes for Master and PCM.

5. Un-mute Master and PCM by selecting each one and pressing the M key. (The grey MM at the bottom will change to a green OO when un-muted.)

6. Press the escape key to exit

7. Now save the audio volumes:

Code:

sudo alsactl store 0

Install the NVIDIA drivers

Rachel has offered the following advice including stuff that has been merged above:

Code:

sudo apt-get install nvidia-glx-180

Install XBMC

1. Start the installation:

Code:

sudo apt-get install xbmc

2. You can install any of the following:

Code:

sudo apt-get install xbmc-skin-*

sudo apt-get install xbmc-eventclients-*

sudo apt-get install xbmc-scripts-*

Make the system log in automatically

1. Make the xbmc user log in to tty1 automatically:

Code:

sudo nano /etc/event.d/tty1

change:

Code:

exec /sbin/getty 38400 tty1

to:

Code:

exec /bin/login -f xbmc </dev/tty1 > /dev/tty1 2>&1

2. Create the .bash_profile file:

Code:

nano ~/.bash_profile

Insert into the new file:

Code:

case "`tty`" in

/dev/tty1) clear && startx &>/dev/null;;

esac

3. Make XBMC start with X:

Code:

nano ~/.xsession

Insert into the new file and save:

Code:

exec xbmc --standalone

Add power management

1. Add power management utilities so XBMC can control the HTPC's power functions: (this may already be installed)

Code:

sudo apt-get install pm-utils

2. Add the xbmc user to the power utilies groups, thanks to Pvt_Ryan for the commands:

Code:

sudo polkit-auth --user xbmc --grant org.freedesktop.hal.power-management.suspend

sudo polkit-auth --user xbmc --grant org.freedesktop.hal.power-management.hibernate

sudo polkit-auth --user xbmc --grant org.freedesktop.hal.power-management.reboot

sudo polkit-auth --user xbmc --grant org.freedesktop.hal.power-management.shutdown

sudo polkit-auth --user xbmc --grant org.freedesktop.hal.power-management.reboot-multiple-sessions

sudo polkit-auth --user xbmc --grant org.freedesktop.hal.power-management.shutdown-multiple-sessions

OK... that's the grunt-work done... now reboot:

Code:

sudo reboot

and you should see XBMC.

If you have any video issues afterwards, type:

Code:

sudo nvidia-xconfig

To get the best out of it, go to Settings, Videos, Player and set Render Method to VDPAU. Then go to Settings, System, Audio Hardware and set the following:

Code:

Audio Output: Digital

AC3: Off

DTS: Off

Audio Capable Device: plughw:hdmi

Passthrough Output Device: hdmi

Downmix: On

This will give you stereo, mono and MP3s playing at the right speed. If you have a surround sound system capable of AC3 or DTS you can turn them on as needed.

Making startup look better

You can install usplash to get rid of all the text on boot. This is the Ubuntu default:

Code:

sudo apt-get install usplash libusplash-dev

but there are posts telling you how to get a number of XBMC themed splash screens.

OK, that's it for now. I'll edit this HOW-TO article as needed.

Enjoy!

Pete

PS! If you still do not feel comfortable with installing Ubuntu and XBMC for Linux on your own then you might instead be interested in checking out burgemaster's tutorial on HOW-TO install XBMC Live on Acer Aspire Revo - The Complete Guide for Newbies which will help you get XBMC Live installed on the Acer AspireRevo.

Hannes The Hun · 2009-07-01 10:40

awesome how-to, I'll give this a try at the weekend

Haggy · 2009-07-01 11:57

Really great work - worth a sticky.

Pete_London · 2009-07-01 13:01

Thanks guys... I'm sure it'll be a work in progress....

hexland · 2009-07-01 18:15

I had trouble installing XBMC with these instructions... I'm a total linux n00b though.

I had to change step 2. to read

Code:

sudo nano /etc/[b]apt[/b]/sources.list

hexland · 2009-07-01 18:38

The line

Code:

sudo apt-get install xbmc-scripts

needs changed to

Code:

sudo apt-get install xbmc-scripts[b]-*[/b]

poserdonut · 2009-07-01 18:49

Did this install earlier today with the changes hexland mentions, seems to work fine.

Sometimes when the machine boots I get the XBMC splash screen but then it goes out to the terminal. Don't know why.

I did however not install xbmc-scripts, what's in this package?

hexland · 2009-07-01 20:51

This definitely feels better/snappier than a full Ubuntu install... I don't know if it's the lack of window manager that makes the difference, but the whole interface in general feels a lot better (esp. in 1080p resolutions) on the ION hardware.

Thank you very much for this information... I would never have been able to work that out on my own!

Would it be possible to add to the guide...

-- how to install either the Apple Trailers plugin, or the SVN Repo Installer
-- how to enable auto mounting of USB flash drives and USB HDD's

Thanks

poserdonut · 2009-07-01 20:59

I wonder if there's more you could do to lower the boot time, it's pretty good now, but there's always room for improvement. Smile

Haggy · 2009-07-01 21:14

Don't boot, just suspend/resume

Hannes The Hun Posting Freak Posts: 1,208 Joined: May 2009 Reputation: 3	2009-07-01 10:40 Post: #2 awesome how-to, I'll give this a try at the weekend
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Haggy Team-XBMC Forum Moderator - Retired Posts: 884 Joined: Mar 2009 Reputation: 0 Location: Wild southern Germany	2009-07-01 11:57 Post: #3 Really great work - worth a sticky. Always read the XBMC online-manual, FAQ and search the forum before posting. Do not e-mail XBMC-Team members directly asking for support. Read/follow the forum rules. For troubleshooting and bug reporting please make sure you read this first.
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Pete_London Senior Member Posts: 196 Joined: May 2009 Reputation: 1	2009-07-01 13:01 Post: #4 Thanks guys... I'm sure it'll be a work in progress....
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hexland Member Posts: 62 Joined: May 2004 Reputation: 0 Location: Los Angeles	2009-07-01 18:15 Post: #5 I had trouble installing XBMC with these instructions... I'm a total linux n00b though. I had to change step 2. to read Code: `sudo nano /etc/[b]apt[/b]/sources.list`
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hexland Member Posts: 62 Joined: May 2004 Reputation: 0 Location: Los Angeles	2009-07-01 18:38 Post: #6 The line Code: `sudo apt-get install xbmc-scripts` needs changed to Code: `sudo apt-get install xbmc-scripts[b]-*[/b]`
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poserdonut Senior Member Posts: 100 Joined: Jun 2009 Reputation: 0	2009-07-01 18:49 Post: #7 Did this install earlier today with the changes hexland mentions, seems to work fine. Sometimes when the machine boots I get the XBMC splash screen but then it goes out to the terminal. Don't know why. I did however not install xbmc-scripts, what's in this package? (This post was last modified: 2009-07-01 18:53 by poserdonut.)
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poserdonut Senior Member Posts: 100 Joined: Jun 2009 Reputation: 0	2009-07-01 20:59 Post: #9 I wonder if there's more you could do to lower the boot time, it's pretty good now, but there's always room for improvement.
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Haggy Team-XBMC Forum Moderator - Retired Posts: 884 Joined: Mar 2009 Reputation: 0 Location: Wild southern Germany	2009-07-01 21:14 Post: #10 Don't boot, just suspend/resume Always read the XBMC online-manual, FAQ and search the forum before posting. Do not e-mail XBMC-Team members directly asking for support. Read/follow the forum rules. For troubleshooting and bug reporting please make sure you read this first.
	find quote