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This guide will show you how to setup a minimal HTPC using Ubuntu 9.04 Jaunty Jackalope and XBMC.
This system is intended to be connected to a HDTV for your viewing pleasure.

Requirements:
- Medium to advanced knowledge of Ubuntu and ability to work in terminal.
- Enough knowledge to manually edit xorg.conf files to get the proper graphical environment if the automatic config fails to do so.



Installing Ubuntu and setting up XBMC

Installing Ubuntu

1. Download the Ubuntu 9.04 Jaunty Jackalope minimal cd from here: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Instal.../MinimalCD
Note: You can use either the 32-bit or 64-bit CD.

2. Burn the ISO to a disk 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 to your new OS with the xbmc user.

2. Add the XBMC repositories to the sources list:

Code:

sudo vi /etc/apt/sources.list

3. Add the following to the bottom of the list:

Code:

[color=green]deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/team-xbmc/ppa/ubuntu/ jaunty main
deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/team-xbmc/ppa/ubuntu/ jaunty main
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/xbmc-addons/ppa/ubuntu/ jaunty main[/color]

4. Add the OpenPGP keys:

Code:

sudo apt-key adv --recv-keys --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com 91E7EE5E 318C7509

5. Update the lists:

Code:

sudo apt-get update

Install 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 graphical environment

NVIDIA Instructions
1. Install the dependencies:

Code:

sudo apt-get install xorg xserver-xorg-dev build-essential gcc linux-headers-$(uname -r)

2. Go to NVIDIA's site and find the link to the correct driver (older cards use older driver packages):
http://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx
Right click on the .run link and copy the link location.

3. On your HTPC, download the driver using the link that you just found, example:

Code:

wget http://us.download.nvidia.com/XFree86/Linux-x86_64/185.18.36/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-185.18.36-pkg2.run

4. Start the installation, and follow the instructions:

Code:

sudo sh NVIDIA-*.run --x-module-path=/usr/lib/xorg/modules --x-library-path=/usr/lib

Note: The extra parameters get rid of the Module warnings with the latest NVIDIA driver.

AMD64 Note: If using a 64-bit version of the driver and you also choose to use the NVIDIA Compatibility OpenGL libraries, you may want to add this to the end of the install parameters:

Code:

--compat32-prefix=/usr --compat32-libdir=lib32 --compat32-chroot=

5. When asked if you want to generate a new xorg.conf, say yes.

6. If you want, you can prevent the NVidia logo from displaying on startup.

Code:

sudo vi /etc/X11/xorg.conf

Find the device section, and add the following:

Code:

Option "NoLogo" "True"

ATI Instructions - Note: I have not tested these, they were pulled from here
1. Install the dependencies:

Code:

sudo apt-get install xorg build-essential dpkg-dev debhelper libstdc++5 dkms cdbs fakeroot

2. Go to ATI's site and find the link to the correct driver:
http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownload/Pages/index.aspx
Right click on the Download link and copy the link location.

3. On your HTPC, download the driver using the link that you just found, example:

Code:

wget https://a248.e.akamai.net/f/674/9206/0/www2.ati.com/drivers/linux/ati-driver-installer-9-6-x86.x86_64.run

4. Build the package:

Code:

chmod +x ati-driver-installer-9-6-x86.x86_64.run
./ati-driver-installer-9-6-x86.x86_64.run --buildpkg Ubuntu/jaunty

5. Install the binary drivers:

Code:

sudo dpkg -i fglrx-kernel-source_jaunty.deb

6. Install the xorg package:

Code:

sudo dpkg -i xorg-driver-fglrx_jaunty.deb

7. Run the autoconfig to generate a new xorg.conf:

Code:

sudo aticonfig --initial

8. Reboot and you can see if it worked by running:

Code:

fglrxinfo

Install XBMC

1. Start the installation:

Code:

sudo apt-get install xbmc

2. If you want, you can install any of the following addons:

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 vi /etc/event.d/tty1

change:

Code:

[color=red]exec /sbin/getty 38400 tty1[/color]

to:

Code:

[color=green]exec /bin/login -f xbmc </dev/tty1 > /dev/tty1 2>&1[/color]

2. Create the .bash_profile file:

Code:

vi ~/.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:

vi ~/.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:

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

Restart and your computer should automatically log in, startx, and launch XBMC.
Now you just need to configure XBMC to use the proper resolution and calibrate the screen.
Enjoy!




Optional

Install a splash screen
The XBMC splash screens are done by du-duke and can be found at his blog: http://du-duke.blogspot.com
I will be installing Pulsating-Logo as an example, but these instructions should work for any of his splash screens.

1. Install the available splash screens:

Code:

sudo apt-get install usplash-theme-xbmc-*

2. Set the splash screen you want to use:

Code:

sudo update-alternatives --config usplash-artwork.so

3. Configure usplash with your TV's resolution:

Code:

sudo vi /etc/usplash.conf

4. Add at the bottom, use whatever resolution your TV can handle:

Code:

xres=1920
yres=1080

5. Update the initrd image:

Code:

sudo update-initramfs -u

6. Reboot.


If you need sound over HDMI, take a look at nmiller's post:
http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid...&page=6#58


Sources
http://forum.xbmc.org
http://wiki.xbmc.org/?title=XBMCbuntu
http://wiki.xbmc.org/?title=HOW-TO:_Inst...ep-by-step
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Instal...orySystems
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/USplas...ationHowto
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SoundTroubleshooting
http://du-duke.blogspot.com
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BinaryDriverHowto/ATI