[fearo]

(Noob question incoming, sorry)

I have just ordered a Rpi 2 to function as a dedicated PVR server (backend), to work in conjunction with a Kodi PVR frontend running on my Nvidia Shield.
My PVR will be strictly IPTV, so no TV tuner will be attached. My question now is: How do I connect this all

Does the Pi run as a UPnP device through USB to the shield? HDMI?

Thanks.

[RockerC]

Since you are in the PVR subforum we only talk about PVR client addons, please read http://kodi.wiki/view/PVR and http://kodi.wiki/view/PVR_backend to try to fully understand the concept.

Since you want to use IPTV you need to use a PVR backend software that supports IPTV, which means either use to use the "IPTV Simple Client" or setup any other backend that runs on Linux.

http://kodi.wiki/view/Add-on:IPTV_Simple_Client

http://kodi.wiki/view/PVR_backend#Linux_...erry_Pi.29

Either just use the "IPTV Simple Client" addon or chooe a PVR backend software that suites your needs, install it and configure that for your IPTV setup, then add the respective addon.

If you run into any issues then post in the respective subforum for the specific PVR option you choose.

[fearo]

Thank you for your reply, but I think you misunderstood my question or I didn't make myself clear .

I understand the concept of PVRs and have read the Wiki's. I have not yet decided which (Linux-based) PVR I will use, which is the reason I didn't post this in a subforum.

My question really is, how do I PHYSICALLY connect the Rpi server to my Nvidia shield, which will serve as the frontend? Through USB?

Right now I am simply running Nvidia Shield -> TV and I have a little trouble understanding where this PVR server fits in the loop and how the actual, physical connecting works.

[rpcameron]

If you are using a separate machine as your PVR backend, you don't physically connect them at all. The frontend (Kodi) talks with your PVR server (backend) over the network. Your best/easiest option is to give your PVR server a static IP address to make configuration easier.

Some PVR backends are lighter weight than others, and those would be the ones you would want to use on a RPi. (Something with a minimal interface that merely records streams rather than doing transcoing.) VDR and TVHeadend are both quite lightweight; when running, MythTV can be lightweight, but its configuration is only done through its own QT4 interface.

[RockerC]

My question really is, how do I PHYSICALLY connect the Rpi server to my Nvidia shield, which will serve as the frontend? Through USB?

No, not USB. USB is for peripheral like computer to a USB TV-tuner adapter. USB is not for computer to computer connections, which is essentially what both Raspberry Pi or Nvidia Shield TV is; computers. And no, not HDMI. HDMI is to connect a computer (like a Raspberry Pi or Nvidia Shield TV) to a display or television.

To connect a a computer to a computer at home (or at an office) you setup a computer network, or more specifically a LAN (local area network) and in mordern times a a LAN means via Wired Ethernet or WiFi connected via a network switch (or a network router or access point with a built-in network switch), and that the communication protocol used over LAN today for most purposes is TCP/IP. Not going to do into more details than that what a computer network is and how you setup one at home, for that I direct you to wikipedia and google

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Local_area_network

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X221CtO5NQA

Again, you should really re-read the wiki because if had done done so and also fully understod the concept then you would have already known that if they are not running on the same device thn the connection between the backend (server) and frontend (client) is over a network = LAN = TCP/IP over Wired Ethernet or WiFi.



While the Raspberry Pi 2 can run MythTV as a backend fine and the original Raspberry Pi does not quite have sufficient CPU power to run MythTV as a backend, but most people including me will tell you that Tvheadend or VDR is the recommended and prefered backend to run on any Raspberry Pi.



Sorry if this maybe sounds a little condesending but that is what you get when you did not do enough research on your own first and ask if should connect a Raspberry Pi to a Nvidia Shield TV via USB or HDMI. Leason to learn is to always spend some time to read then re-read the wiki and if you still don't understand use google to at least try to search a little before asking questions on forums tht make it clear that you did put enough effort into researching the topic before asking. Spoonfeeding adults is not fun.

[fearo]

Thank you for the input guys. I actually figured out my own brain fart a couple of hours after posting this, but I'm glad you made this clear nonetheless.

RockerC, you may find this 'spoonfeeding' but I can assure you no Kodi/pvr/linux wiki is 100% transparant and easy to apprehend (especially for a non native-English speaker).
There is just SO much information to gather that someone like me occasionally gets lost in the woods. Anway, thanks for the replies nonetheless.