Problem running MythTV v34 on Ubuntu 24.04.1

[heynnema]

Where do I start?

I have a good running Ubuntu 24.04, and decided to install MythTV v34.

I ran MythTV many years ago on a different system, so I was familiar with how to do the setup.

The install went fine. I configured MythTV to use my SiliconDust HDhomerun network tuner, and use the EIT. All went fine.

However, although the Program Guide displayed my channels, it would never populate the actual schedule data. Selecting Watch TV, it would flash the screen, but never show anything, and it would return to the MythTV main menu. I tried switching from EIT to SchedulesDirect, but with the same result. I set it back to use EIT.

Somewhere I read that MythTV had a problem with long hostnames that contained special characters. So I edited /etc/hosts and /etc/hostname and put in a different hostname. I also edited HOME/al/.mythtv/config.xml and HOME/mythtv/.mythtv/config.xml with the new hostname. No luck, so I set the hostname back to original.

I decided to reinstall MythTV and start over. The setup remembered my previous entries... 'cause I assume that they're in the mysql database mythconverg. So that really didn't fix things.... but now... apparently the database won't start. MythTV Frontend just waits for the backend database to start. I've tried everything.

What I'd like to do is to remove the current mythconverg mysql database, reinstall MythTV, and start over. I don't have any mysql experience, so I don't know the best way to do this.

I know that I haven't given a whole lot of information for you to work with... but I'll be glad to supply whatever additional information you might need to help me.

[white_haired_uncle]

A hostname (not necessarily "the" hostname) is also stored in the database, and may even be used in determining whether you can connect to the database at all. That's likely why you can't connect to server now.

Assuming you're not using mysql for other things, you could just apt remove/purge it. If you do need to just get rid of mythconverg (the mythtv database), we can help you with that, but it's going to be more work.

I've never used it, but from what I've read here using https://www.mythtv.org/wiki/Mythbuntu_Control_Panel might be the way to go for your next attempt (after removing the mythtv package(s)).

Oh, and do use a valid hostname. You can look at RFC 1123 and RFC 952 if you want details, but generally just don't do anything silly. Most distributions I've encountered will allow you to set a hostname to a lot of things that aren't actually "correct", but that doesn't mean every application will work with them (and rightfully so).

[heynnema]

White_haired_uncle... thanks for your reply. Yes, after changing the hostname, I ended up setting it back to original, but maybe the damage had already been done? How can I double check if anything else is also using mysql? If you could outline the steps to remove the mythconverg database, that would be great.

[white_haired_uncle]

If you've not built any applications from scratch, you should get a list of everything that depends on mysql (mysql-server ?) when you try to remove it with apt.

Assuming you can get into mysql as privileged user, just 'drop database mythconverg' should suffice. It won't clean up the mythtv user(s), but that shouldn't be a problem.

BTW, looks like you were posting while I was editing my previous post -- use a valid hostname.

[heynnema]

Update: I used the Mythbuntu Control Panel to set the backend database back to "Secondary Backend" and it's working back to where it was before... that is... when using the EIT, it doesn't populate the Program Guide, and the Frontend won't view any channels... it just pops back to the main menu.

[white_haired_uncle]

It's curious that you mention EIT and SD (which, unfortunately, you can't use together, BTW). Unless you have SD but are hoping to switch to EIT, I'm not sure what you're up to. So, which one would you like to use? Personally, I prefer SD if you can handle the $3/mon. Note that the way you configure SD has changed, and is rather poorly documented (IMO). Maybe MCP helps? When using SD, I prefer the sqlite option.

You're going to need an account on a file sharing site so we can see logs, staring with /var/log/mythtv/mythbackend.log

[heyted]

When using Mythbuntu Control Panel, I would start with a fresh installation of Ubuntu.

[white_haired_uncle]

I used the Mythbuntu Control Panel to set the backend database back to "Secondary Backend"

Wait, you did what?

Did you reinstall and start over with MCP, or just install it and try to recover?

Do you have other machines running myth in the mix here?

[heynnema]

Thanks for all of your input!

I installed MCP after I had the problem with the guide not populating (with either EIT or SD), and the only thing that I noticed/changed was the definition of my backend. I thought it was curious that it showed as a secondary backend, so I changed it to be primary backend, it then installed mythtv-backend-master... and I don't recall... but that's probably where it broke MythTV and the backend wouldn't start... or couldn't be reached.

Somewhere in the mix I did purge/reinstall MythTV to no help.

Long story short, in MCP I changed it back to secondary backend, and it's back to my original problem... guide not populating via EIT, and Watch Channels only brings me back to the main menu.

I'm still busted, and continue to need all of your guidance.

[white_haired_uncle]

How many machines do you have running myth?

It sounds like you just have the one, in which case you need a primary backend and will have no secondary backend. Actually, no matter how many machines are in the mix there needs to be a primary which will do things like hold the guide info.

[Note: I'm assuming primary/secondary are new and improved terms for master/slave]

"Somewhere in the mix I did purge/reinstall MythTV to no help"

Yeah, that doesn't help us much. I suggest you purge mythtv, cleanup mysql, then start with MCP (as primary backend). It sounds like at no point have you actually had a clean start and some crud from your previous attempts is always tripping you up.

[heynnema]

Update: Just for fun, I went back to MCP and reset the backend to primary (from secondary, which is the way that I originally found it), and it didn't break MythTV... it didn't fix anything... but it didn't break anything like I expected it to. Sigh.

Thanks for your help.

[heynnema]

Update: I installed MythTV (and MySQL stuff) in a Virtualbox running Ubuntu 24.04.1, and I get the same symptoms as on my main host.

In the frontend, setup, I see that System Status/Video Decoders, shows "None". "Available hardware decoders for video playback". Shouldn't this have something other than "None"? And where do I tell it which video decoders to use?

How to post screenshots here?

[white_haired_uncle]

Update: I installed MythTV (and MySQL stuff) in a Virtualbox running Ubuntu 24.04.1, and I get the same symptoms as on my main host.

What would that be? No program data using EIT? No program data using SD?

In the frontend, setup, I see that System Status/Video Decoders, shows "None". "Available hardware decoders for video playback". Shouldn't this have something other than "None"? And where do I tell it which video decoders to use?

In Virtualbox? I don't use it, but that's not surprising, at least out of the box.

If you don't have decoders, then you don't tell it to use them. If you had them, Setup->Video->Playback.

But there's zero reason to be worried about hw decode if you can't record anything.

How to post screenshots here?

You don't. You need to put stuff like that, and your backend log, on a public hosting site like pastebin or mega.

[heynnema]

I guess that I should probably break this down into two separate problems...

1. Inability to populate the program guide with EIT.
2. Inability to watch any channels, even when the program guide is not populated.

I did go to Setup->Video->Playback, and selected various profiles, no luck... although now the frontend shows video decoders!

Bottom line... When MythTV is installed in either my host, or in Virtualbox, it doesn't work in the same way. No program guide (and maybe my source channels don't provide an EIT?). No ability to watch anything.

I'm about to give up.

[white_haired_uncle]

EIT isn't instant, it needs to be scanned. And your channels may or may not provide data. And you need to have it configured, and one of your tuners set to grab data (somewhere in the back of my mind I'm thinking the first, but I've never used EIT)

Code: Select all

Perform EIT scan

at http://mythbackend:6544/setupwizard/video-sources

Code: Select all

Use HDHomeRun for active EIT scan

at http://mythbackend:6544/setupwizard/capture-cards

Even if you have it set up right, I'm not sure it will work if you can't tune to a channel. Or maybe you can tune a channel, but you can't record (required even for watching live) due to a problem with your storage groups or something. Hard to say without seeing the backend log.