Linux HOW-TO install XBMC for Linux on Asrock ION 330 with full Ubuntu Desktop

Hi,

I followed the installation guide for XBMC. However I can't get any sound working in XBMC. I'm using the SPDIF, but as I was unable to get it to work, I tried to connect my headphones to the analog audio out on the ASRock. But no sound there

I also used aplay, but still with no luck.

However, when the computer boots, I hear the "ping" sound, so I guess the soundcard is still working...please help

Niels

Has anyone tested this on a fresh XBMCLive Dharma Beta 3 install?

bcsmith79 Wrote:I had the exact same issue, until I read the Readme.txt included in the zip file from ASRock. This is how I got this working on a fresh 10.04.1 LTS server install, should work for desktop.

By default the 10.04.1 LTS installed kernel 2.6.32-24-generic-pae, so you need to install the kernel 2.6.32-23-generic, which the lirc fix from ASRock has been based on.

Assuming you have everything working just the way you like it but the remote is not working follow this procedure:

1. Remote lirc if it aleady exists
# sudo apt-get remove lirc liblircclient0 ; sudo dpkg --purge lirc liblircclient0

2. Install kernel 2.6.32-23-generic
# sudo apt-get install linux-headers-2.6.32-23-generic linux-image-2.6.32-23-generic

3. Edit /etc/default/grub and change GRUB_DEFAULT so it boot to the older kernel
# sudo vi /etc/default/grub
In my case changed GRUB_DEFAULT=0 to GRUB_DEFAULT=2

4. Reboot into 2.6.32-23-generic kernel
# sudo reboot

5. After reboot check you are running the correct kernel
# uname -a
Linux xbmc1 2.6.32-23-generic #37-Ubuntu SMP Fri Jun 11 07:54:58 UTC 2010 i686 GNU/Linux

6. Install lirc
# sudo apt-get install lirc

Select "None" & "None" during setup

7. Download the lirc fix from ASRock
cd /tmp
wget http://download.asrock.com/drivers/Nettop/Ubuntu/"IR(10.04)kernel2.6.32-23.zip"
unzip IR\(10.04\)kernel2.6.32-23.zip
cd lirc-nct677x-1.0.4-buntu10.04_kernel2.6.32-23/
sudo dpkg -i lirc-nct677x-1.0.4-ubuntu10.04_kernel2.6.32-23.deb

Select "Nuvoton Transceivers/Remotes" and "None" during setup.

8. Check that it installed correctly
# sudo dmesg | grep lirc

You should see something similar to this
[ 7.001180] lirc_dev: IR Remote Control driver registered, major 61
[ 7.046587] lirc_wb677 w677hga: chip id high: 0xb4
[ 7.046603] lirc_wb677 w677hga: chip id low: 0x73 expect:0x73
[ 7.048158] lirc_dev: lirc_register_driver: sample_rate: 0

9. Reboot and enjoy!

I had to do "sudo update-grub" between step 3 and 4 to get it to boot into the older kernel
Other then that it was spot on, thanks a million!

The sound problem can be solved very easy.
I have tried many nights and after some testinstallations with XBMC-Live and full ubuntu I found a workaround for the pulseaudio problem.

The basic problems is a conflict between the pulseaudio settings from the ubuntu desktop and the management from XBMC. That makes it impossible to use HDMI output in ubuntu and parallel HDMI output for audio and video in XBMC.
The solution is to disable pulseaudio while XBMC is running - so it works then in the same operation mode as a XBMC-Live system.

1. Install and configure Ubuntu 10.04
2. Install XBMC
3. Configure Sound in Ubuntu => Hardware is "Digital Stereo (HDMI)..."
4. Create a file /home/.pulse/client.conf with the content "autospawn = no"
5. Reboot
6. Create a script for launching XBMC like "start.sh" and set the executable flag. Content of the file is:
pulseaudio --start
xbmc
pulseaudio --start

7. Use that script for launching XBMC. Pulseaudio is deactivated before starting XBMC and activated after finishing XBMC.
8. Configure audio outputs in XBMC to HDMI in all sections.

this is a great guide, I will be following it when I get my asrock ion330ht.

Would anyone have any objections to me copying it into a Wiki HOWTO?

well I started the wiki article: http://wiki.xbmc.org/index.php?title=HOW...ed_machine

it needs a lot more work, and some parts may be totally wrong since I haven't got my new ion 330 yet. So feel free to edit it based on your experiences!

Correct Code is:
...
6. Create a script for launching XBMC like "start.sh" and set the executable flag. Content of the file is:
pulseaudio -k <<<<=======
xbmc
pulseaudio --start

-k => stops pulseaudio

It could be neccesary to take "pulseaudio --start" into autostart to get OS based sound-support when booting up.

@ bcsmith79

I have struggled to get the remote working for 4 months, i tried everything, but your step-by-step perfect guide did it for me.

Thanks a million, you saved me! This should get a sticky!!!

well back to problems...

the update manager has update to 2.6.32-25 kernel!

I checked the asrock website and found out that it had a new driver for that kernel. (CIR receiver driver for Ubuntu 10.04 32/64 bit ver:1.0.4 (kernel 2.6.32-25)
http://www.asrock.com/nettop/download.as...BD&o=Linux

Well i downloaded, installed and changed the KERNEL to 2.6.32-25. Well it doesn't work though

This is what i get

Quote:rossoneri711@asrock:~$ sudo dmesg | grep lirc
[ 6.829414] lirc_dev: IR Remote Control driver registered, major 61
[ 6.969560] lirc_wb677: disagrees about version of symbol module_layout
[ 17.967900] lirc_wb677: disagrees about version of symbol module_layout
[ 727.613728] lirc_dev: IR Remote Control driver registered, major 61
[ 727.619075] lirc_wb677: disagrees about version of symbol module_layout
rossoneri711@asrock:~$

Quote:rossoneri711@asrock:~$ sudo uname -r
2.6.32-25-generic-pae
rossoneri711@asrock:~$

I tried "bcsmith79" process a couple of times but cant get it to work. I am really frustrated again. Can someone help me get this working again?

anyone guys?