Setup a static IP address for your MythTV box
From Xfce windows shell click
- Applications -> Settings -> Network connections
From here you can modify the type of connection you have, typically "Wired" or "Wireless." Assign the static IP address you desire to the correct interface being used.
- Click the "Edit button" under the correct interface tab.
It will be necessary to restart the network interface if you do not wish to reboot. From shell issue:
sudo service network-manager restart
For more information on configuring see the General Ubuntu help pages: Category:Ubuntu
useful packages
Install vim editor
apt-get install vim
Set VNC password
sudo x11vnc --storepasswd
To connect to windows shares you need cifs
apt-get install cifs-utils
Install Firefox, because Chromium doesn't support NoScript.
apt-get install firefox
The Adobe Flash Plugin is under the Restricted Formats in Ubuntu (as a result of Adobe licensing). Install the latest version of Flash Player for Ubuntu
Easy way to secure transfer files
apt-get install lrzsz
PulseAudio Volume Control: a simple GTK+ based volume control and mixer for PulseAudio which allows you to control both the volume of hardware devices and of each playback stream separately.
apt-get install pavucontrol
disable screen blanking
After my computer with ubuntu 12.04 has been idle for a short while, the screen will go blank, and even enter standby mode. Drop out of MythTV frontend to Xfce and on the menu in the upper left:
- Applications, Settings, Screensaver
Change "Blank After" to 0 or any value you want. Change "Screensaver" to "none."
STATUS: update. TV blanks on MythTV menu. Does not blank on livetv, player, or Xfce desktop. Culprit is a communications issue on the HDMI interface. HDMI technology flaw, implementation flaw, failure for some television and monitor manufacturers to adhere to HDMI specifications. On a Vizio brand display exhibiting the problem changing the automatic luminance to disabled seems to resolve. Keep in mind that pressing a button like "input" on the remote will recover display.
sudo xset dpms 0 0 0 && xset s off && xset s noblank xset q
xset -dpms xset s off