/minimyth2

Distro to make disk-less MythTV appliance

Primary LanguageMakefile

MiniMyth2

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Note: Last years I funded my semi-lab with 15+ various TVboxes by my private money and decided to stop investing my private money - effectively just (and seems only) - to increase sells of tv box vendors.

If you want me to work on various issues or add new hardware support - pls consider donation to help me get required hardware to work on. Please note that this will also increase my satisfaction from - currently free of charge - work on minimyth2/miniarch.

Thank You in advance !

Quick Start

What it is

MiniMyth2 is baseline for following artefacts: alt text

MiniMyth2 Appliance

MiniMyth2 artefact is dedicated firmware designed to turnaround small-factor ARMv7, ARMv8, i386 and x86_64 small-factor computers into MythTV appliance offering fully functional MythTV frontend.

For platforms supporting PXE boot - MiniMyth2 offers disk-less, zero-effort provisioned, network booted MythTV frontend appliance.

From the software perspective, MiniMyth2 is MythTV frontend with minimal required run-time (Linux kernel, GNU libraries, video/audio/IR remote drivers) allowing to run MythTV frontend with full speed & features on recent hardware from Intel/AMD/Amlogic/Rockchip/Allwinner/Raspbery.

Conceptually, MiniMyth2 potential differentiator is full state-less design. Practically it means MiniMyth2 offers fully functional MythTV fronted without ANY hardware & user specific data needed at deployment. MiniMyth2 hardware specific config is automatically generated from HW autodetection while user specific config is set with MythTV defaults. This allows real zero-config deployment. After deployment - in normal usage - MiniMyth2 stays fully state-less. No runtime/user data is stored on local storage (for best runtime speed - MiniMyth2 uses RAM disks. NFS is not used - as slow network links like FastEthernet or WiFi - are too slow for good user experience). In this context - MiniMyth2 is exactly like live USB / SD card distro with capability of automatic customizations at every boot time. Boot customization data is stored in single config file and MiniMyth2 can automatically download it at boot from central location (or read it from SD card / USB stick when central server not offers config file).

From distro perspective - when compared to other media-player-like distributions (i.e. CoreELEC, LibreELEC, etc) - MiniMyth2 is single universal rootfs image prepared for all supported boards.

MiniMyth2 GAR build system

From development perspective - comparing MiniMyth2 GAR with other rootfs build systems - MiniMyth2 is closest to buildroot - with difference MiniMyth2 uses canadian cross cross-compilation. In MiniMyth2 issuing make build command automates:

  • downloading sources
  • building build environment for building cross-toolchain
  • building cross-toolchain
  • building target binaries with cross-toolchain
  • preparing bootable image
  • uploading created bootable image to i.e. PXE server or NFS server or starts flashing SD card

In this context - MiniMyth2 GAR is closest to LFS build working in fully automated way.

MiniMyth2 GAR build system offers multi-board capability - so theoretically - it can build in one build session an single SD card image for all SoC - if u-boot allow that. Practically - due some SoC boot procedure conflicts/bootloader SoC specific overlaps - only subset of SoC are working well with such universal card SD image currently.

MiniMyth2 Appliance Project Goals

Major goals of MiniMyth2 artefact are:

  • Make MythTV frontend zero-effort setup/deployment. Setup of MythTV frontend might be as simple as burning SD card or enabling PXE boot in frontend’s BIOS/EFI.

  • Make graphics/sound/IR remote detection/configuration fully automatic. No any drivers install nor configuration is required for any from 1500+ of graphic supported. The same for audio and IR remotes.

  • Make easy adoption of recent FOSS achievements as base for creating zero-effort provisioned out-of-box ready to use dedicated MythTV appliance. Project is exploiting developments in GNU/Linux area like:

    • common single mainline Linux kernel support for Amlogic/Rockchip/Allwinner/Raspbery SoCs
    • Mesa3D support for ARM 3D IP
    • stateless/stateful V4L2 Video decode (Amlogic VDEC, Rockchip HANTRO/RKVDEC, Allwinner CEDRUS and Bradcom RPIVID)
    • in-kernel IR remote decode for covering wide variety of supported IR remotes

More Info

More details: Wiki

MiniMyth2 Wiki

Current Status

General Functionality

This is general functionality avaliable on current code (Mainline Linux kernel)

SoC Tested on WiFi Chip & Support eMMC boot CEC Support LED display Sleep/Resume Remarks
Allwinner H6 EachLink H6 Mini works (rtl8723bs@SDIO) works works works well supported
Allwinner H6 TanixTX6 works (ap6330@SDIO) works works works works well supported
Allwinner H6 TanixTX6-Mini works (xr819@SDIO) not tested works n/a not works well supported
Allwinner H6 Beelink GS1 not works (fn-link6222@PCI-e no PCI-e) works works n/a not works (firmware issue) some things are still missing
Allwinner H6 OrangePi-3 LTS not works (aw859a) works works LED Diode,OK not works (firmware issue) some things are still missing
Allwinner H313 X96-Q(DDR3) works (xr819@SDIO) works works LED Diode,OK not works (firmware issue) some things are still missing
Allwinner H313 X96-Q(LPDDR3) works (xr819@SDIO) works works LED Diode,OK not works (firmware issue) some things are still missing
Allwinner H313 X96-Q(LPDDR3v1.3) works (xr819@SDIO) works works LED Diode,OK not works (firmware issue) some things are still missing
Allwinner H313 X96-Q(DDR3Lv5.1) works (xr819@SDIO) works works LED Diode,OK not works (firmware issue) some things are still missing
Allwinner H313 TanixTX1 not works (9082@SDIO) works works LED Diode,OK not works (firmware issue) some things are still missing
Allwinner H616 TanixTX6s-axp313 works (ap6330@SDIO) not tested works works not works (firmware issue) some things are still missing
Allwinner H616 TanixTX6s works (xr819@SDIO) works works works not works (firmware issue) some things are still missing
Allwinner H616 Pendoo-X12Pro works (sp6330@SDIO) works works works not works (firmware issue) some things are still missing
Allwinner H616 OrangePi-Zero2 works (aw859a@SDIO) not tested works LED Diode,OK not works (firmware issue) some things are still missing
Allwinner H618 OrangePi-Zero3 works (uwe5622a@SDIO) not tested works LED Diode,OK not works (firmware issue) some things are still missing
Allwinner H618 Vontar H618 works (ap6334@SDIO) works works works not works (firmware issue) some things are still missing
Allwinner H618 OrangePi-Zero2w works (uwe5622a@SDIO) not tested works LED Diode,OK not works (firmware issue) some things are still missing
Rockchip 3328 Beelink A1 works (rtl8821@USB) not works works works currently power off/on well supported
Rockchip 3399 RockPI 4-b works (ap6256@SDIO) works works n/a currently power off/on well supported
Rockchip 3399 RockPI 4-se works (ap6255@SDIO) works works n/a currently power off/on well supported
Rockchip 3399 OrangePi-4 LTS works (uwe5622@SDIO) works works LED Diode,OK not works good prospects
Rockchip 3528 Vontar-R3 not works not tested not works not works not works missing VOP3 so no HDMI
Rockchip 3566 X96-X6 works (am7256@SDIO) works works works not works good prospects
Rockchip 3566 Quartz64 Model B works (cm256sm@SDIO) not tested works n/a not works good prospects
Rockchip 3566 URVE Pi works (rtl8821@SDIO) works not works n/a not works good prospects
Rockchip 3566 OrangePi-3B works (uwe5622@SDIO) not tested works LED Diode,OK not works good prospects
Rockchip 3566 Zero-3w (wifi6) works (aic8800@SDIO) works works LED Diode,OK not works good prospects
Rockchip 3566 Zero-3w (wifi5) works (ap6212@SDIO) works works LED Diode,OK not works good prospects
Rockchip 3566 Zero-3e n/a n/a works LED Diode,OK not works good prospects
Rockchip 3566 Rock3-C works (ap6256@SDIO) works works n/a not works good prospects
Rockchip 3568 Rock3-A works (iwl7265@PCI-e) works works n/a not works good prospects
Rockchip 3568 Rock3-B works (iwl7265@PCI-e) works works n/a not works good prospects
Rockchip 3588s Rock5A n/a works not works n/a not works missing HDMI CEC
Rockchip 3588s Rock5C n/a works not works n/a not works missing HDMI CEC
Rockchip 3588s NanoPi-M6 n/a works not works n/a not works missing HDMI CEC
Rockchip 3588s NanoPi-R6S n/a works not works n/a not works missing HDMI CEC
Rockchip 3588s OrangePi 5 n/a works not works n/a not works missing HDMI CEC
Rockchip 3588s OrangePi 5 Pro works (ap6256@SDIO) works not works n/a not works missing HDMI CEC
Rockchip 3588 Rock5B n/a works not works n/a not works missing HDMI CEC
Rockchip 3588 Orange5 Plus n.a works not works n/a not works missing HDMI CEC
Rockchip 3588 NanoPC-T6 n.a works not works n/a not works missing HDMI CEC
Rockchip 3588 Rock5 ITX n/a works not works n/a not works missing HDMI
Amlogic s905 TanixTX3-Mini not works (sv6051@SDIO no driver aval) not tested works WiP not works (firmware issue) support stalled
Amlogic s912 Beelink GT1 works v.unreliably (qca9377@SDIO) not tested works n/a not works (firmware issue) support stalled
Amlogic sm1 X96-Air works (rtl8189@SDIO) not tested works WiP not works (firmware issue) support stalled
Amlogic g12a Radxa-Zero works (ap6256@SDIO) not tested works n/a not works (firmware issue) support stalled
Broadcom 2837 Rpi3-b works (brcm43430@SDIO) n/a works n/a no plans all basics works nicelly
Broadcom 2711 Rpi4-b works (brcm4345@SDIO) n/a works n/a no plans all basics works nicelly
Broadcom 2712 Rpi5-b works (brcm4345@SDIO) n/a works n/a no plans all basics works nicelly
Intel i5 i5 NUC n/a n/a n/a n/a works (s3ram) perfect support
Intel Z8500 Beelink MII-V works (ac3165@PCI-e) not tested n/a n/a works (s1idle) perfect support
Intel N3450 Beelink BT4 works (ac3165@PCI-e) not tested n/a n/a not works (bios issue) perfect support, bootsplah nok
Intel N3450 Beelink T34 works (ac3165@PCI-e) not tested n/a n/a works (s3ram) perfect support, bootsplah nok
AMD E1-2100 AMD Kabini n/a n/a n/a n/a works (s3ram) perfect support
Intel D525 ION1 n/a n/a n/a n/a works (s3ram) perfect support
Intel D2550 ION2 n/a n/a n/a n/a works (s3ram) perfect support

Hardware Video Decode support

This is video related functionality avaliable on current code (Linux kernel + Mesa + MythTV) At the moment quality of playback is good for technology preview. On platforms with statefull v4l2_m2m video codecs: RPI3/RPI4 H.264 playback seek works well but fails on Amlogic.

SoC Tested on Supported Decoder/ Hw.decode API Currently supported video decode HW.accel Supported drawing Supported video render Remarks
Allwinner H6 EachLink H6 Mini, TanixTX6, Beelink GS1, OPi3 cedrus/v4l2_request MPEG2, H.264, HEVC, VP8, VP9 X11, EGLFS, Wayland EGL_DMABUF, DRM_DMABUF Good playback
Allwinner H313 X96-Q (DDR3), X96-Q (LPDDR3) cedrus(6)/v4l2_request MPEG2, H.264, HEVC, VP8 X11, EGLFS, Wayland EGL_DMABUF, DRM_DMABU1(6) Good playback
Allwinner H616 TanixTX6s, OrangePI-Zero2 cedrus(6)/v4l2_request MPEG2, H.264, HEVC, VP8 X11, EGLFS, Wayland EGL_DMABUF, DRM_DMABU1(6) Good playback
Allwinner H618 Vontar H618, OrangePI-Zero3, OrangePI-Zero2W cedrus(6)/v4l2_request MPEG2, H.264, HEVC, VP8 X11, EGLFS, Wayland EGL_DMABUF, DRM_DMABU1(6) Good playback
Rockchip 3328 Beelink A1 rkvdec/v4l2_request MPEG2, H.264, HEVC, VP8, VP9 X11, EGLFS, Wayland EGL_DMABUF, DRM_DMABUF Good playback
Rockchip 3399 RockPi4, RockPi4SE, OrangePi4-LTS rkvdec/v4l2_request MPEG2, H.264, HEVC, VP8, VP9 X11, EGLFS, (1) EGL_DMABUF, DRM_DMABUF Good playback, wyaland gives black.screen
Rockchip 3566 X96-x6, Quartz64B, UrvePi, OrangePi3B, Rock3C hantro(7,10)/v4l2_request MPEG2, H.264, VP8 (8) X11, EGLFS(9), Wayland EGL_DMABUF, DRM_DMABUF(10) Good playback, rendering to DRM plane has no OSD
Rockchip 3568 Rock3-A, Rock3-B hantro(7,10)/v4l2_request MPEG2, H.264, VP8 (8) X11, EGLFS(9), Wayland EGL_DMABUF, DRM_DMABUF(10) Good playback, rendering to DRM plane has no OSD
Rockchip 3588 Rock5A, Rock5B, OrangePi5, OrangePi5Plus hantro(7,10)/v4l2_request MPEG2, H.264, VP8 (8) X11, EGLFS(9), Wayland EGL_DMABUF, DRM_DMABUF(10) Good playback, rendering to DRM plane has no OSD
Amlogic s905 TanixTX3-Mini vdec/v4l2_m2m MPEG2, H.264, HEVC, VP9 X11, Wayland (2) EGL_DMABUF, DRM_DMABUF Good playback, seek on breaks playback, limited HEVC on s905w
Amlogic s912 Beelink GT1 vdec/v4l2_m2m MPEG2, H.264, HEVC, VP9 X11, EGLFS, Wayland EGL_DMABUF, DRM_DMABUF Good playback, seek on breaks playback
Amlogic sm1 X96-Air vdec/v4l2_m2m MPEG2, H.264, HEVC, VP9 X11, EGLFS, Wayland EGL_DMABUF, DRM_DMABUF Good playback, seek on breaks playback, artefacts on H.264
Amlogic g12a Radxa-Zero vdec/v4l2_m2m MPEG2, H.264, HEVC, VP9 X11, EGLFS, Wayland EGL_DMABUF, DRM_DMABUF Good playback, seek on breaks playback
Broadcom 2837 Rpi3-b rpi_dec/v4l2_m2m H.264 X11, EGLFS, Wayland EGL_DMABUF, DRM_DMABUF Good playback
Broadcom 2711 Rpi4-b rpi_dec/v4l2_m2m, rpivid/v4l2_request H.264, HEVC X11, EGLFS, Wayland EGL_DMABUF, DRM_DMABUF Good playback
Broadcom 2712 Rpi5-b rpivid/v4l2_request HEVC X11, EGLFS(12),Wayland EGL_DMABUF, DRM_DMABUF Good playback
Intel i5 i5 NUC VAAPI MPEG2, H.264, VC1 X11, EGLFS, Wayland EGL_DMABUF (3) Perfect playback
Intel Z8500 Beelink BT4 VAAPI MPEG2, H.264, VC1, HVEC, VP8 X11, EGLFS (4) EGL_DMABUF (3) Perfect playback
Intel N3450 Beelink MII-V VAAPI MPEG2, H.264, VC1, HVEC, VP8, VP9 X11, EGLFS, Wayland EGL_DMABUF (3) Perfect playback
AMD E1-2100 AMD Kabini VAAPI MPEG2, H.264, VC1 X11, EGLFS, Wayland EGL_DMABUF (3) Perfect playback
Intel D525 ION1 VDPAU,VAAPI(11) MPEG2, MPEG4, H.264 X11, (5) By GFx internally Perfect playback
Intel D2550 ION2 VDPAU,VAPPI(11) MPEG2, MPEG4, H.264, VC1 X11, (5) By GFx internally Perfect playback
  • (1) - Wayland gives black screen on this HW
  • (2) - EGLFS not works due z-position issue in messon-drm driver on this HW
  • (3) - DRM Planes fails with KMS Atomic Commit on this HW
  • (4) - mythfrontend segfaults in Wayland on this HW
  • (5) - EGLFS and Wayland not working on this HW as legacy Nvidia drivers are not providing EGL nor DRM
  • (6) - hw.video decode with rendering to DRM planes has very dark picture on this HW
  • (7) - rkvdec2 is not yet supported on this SoC
  • (8) - hevc/vp9 is not yet supported on this SoC (due no rkvdec support)
  • (9) - hw.video decode with rendering to DRM planes has no OSD (probably Z-order issue)
  • (10) - rendering to DRM Planes gives not visible OSD on this HW
  • (11) - mesa nouveau as of 22.2.0 has issue with VAAPI decode on Nvidia ION1/ION2
  • (12) - as of 6.8-rc6 kernel EGLFS in DMABuf mode not works correctly

Video Decoding Test results

Tests

Playback HW video decode tests on various HW.

This is summary of video samples tests conducted on current MiniMyth2 code: Video test summary