MiniMyth2
What it is
MiniMyth2 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 development perspective - comparing MiniMyth2 with other distributions - 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 is closest to LFS build in fully automated way.
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. Difference between SD card image / USB key for each supported board lays only in bootloader (SD card BOOT partition). It offers multi-board capability - so theoretically - it can build in one build session an single SD card image for all SoC. Practically - due some SoC boot procedure conflicts/bootloader SoC specific overlaps - only subset of SoC are working well with universal card SD image currently.
Project Goals
Major goals of project 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
What it is not
MiniMyth2 is not just another Linux distro which is designed to install on PC hardware and to use as computer running various software. Target scenario with MiniMyth2 is small, disk-less dedicated appliance running MythTV Frontend (and practically only MythTV Frontend).
More Info
- MiniMyth2 Changelog
- Current version Release Notes
- List of supported Graphics HW (on x86_64 platforms)
- List of supported IR receivers
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 | CEC Support | LED display | Sleep/Resume | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allwinner H6 | EachLink H6 Mini | not works (rtl8723bs@SDIO no detected) | works | works | works | well supported |
| Allwinner H6 | TanixTX6 | works (rtl8822cs@SDIO) | works | works | works | well supported |
| Allwinner H6 | TanixTX6-Mini | works (xr819@SDIO) | works | n/a | not works | well supported |
| Allwinner H6 | Beelink GS1 | not works (fn-link6222@PCI-e no PCI-e) | works | n/a | not works (firmware issue) | some things are still missing |
| Allwinner H616 | TanixTX6s | works (xr819@SDIO) | works | works | not works (firmware issue) | some things are still missing |
| Allwinner H616 | OrangePI-Zero2 | not works (aw859a@SDIO) | works | n/a | not works (firmware issue) | some things are still missing |
| Rockchip 3328 | Beelink A1 | works (rtl8821@USB) | works | works | currently power off/on | well supported |
| Rockchip 3399 | RockPI 4-b | works (ap6256@SDIO) | works | n/a | currently power off/on | well supported |
| Rockchip 3399 | RockPI 4-se | works (ap6255@SDIO) | works | n/a | currently power off/on | well supported |
| Rockchip 3566 | X96-X6 | works (am7256@SDIO) | works | works | not works | good prospects |
| Rockchip 3566 | Quartz64 Model B | works (cm256sm@SDIO) | works | n/a | not works | good prospects |
| Rockchip 3566 | Rock3-C | works (ap6256@SDIO) | works | n/a | not works | good prospects |
| Rockchip 3568 | Rock3-A | works (iwl7265@PCI-e) | works | n/a | not works | good prospects |
| Rockchip 3568 | Rock3-B | works (iwl7265@PCI-e) | works | n/a | not works | good prospects |
| Amlogic s905 | TanixTX3-Mini | not works (sv6051@SDIO no driver aval) | works | WiP | not works (firmware issue) | support stalled |
| Amlogic s912 | Beelink GT1 | works v.unreliably (qca9377@SDIO) | works | n/a | not works (firmware issue) | support stalled |
| Amlogic sm1 | x96Air | works (rtl8189@SDIO) | works | WiP | not works (firmware issue) | support stalled |
| Amlogic g12a | Radxa-Zero | works (ap6256@SDIO) | works | n/a | not works (firmware issue) | support stalled |
| Broadcom 2837 | Rpi3-b | works (brcm43430@SDIO) | works | n/a | no plans | all basics works nicelly |
| Broadcom 2711 | Rpi4-b | works (brcm4345@SDIO) | works | n/a | no plans | all basics works nicelly |
| Intel i5 | i5 NUC | n/a | n/a | n/a | works (s3ram) | perfect support |
| Intel Z8500 | Beelink MII-V | works (ac3165@PCI-e) | n/a | n/a | works (s1idle) | perfect support |
| Intel N3450 | Beelink BT4 | works (ac3165@PCI-e) | n/a | n/a | not works (bios issue) | perfect support, bootsplah nok |
| Intel N3450 | Beelink T34 | works (ac3165@PCI-e) | n/a | n/a | works (s3ram) | perfect support, bootsplah nok |
| AMD E1-2100 | AMD Kabini | n/a | n/a | n/a | works (s3ram) | perfect support |
| Intel D525 | ION1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | works (s3ram) | perfect support |
| Intel D2550 | ION2 | 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-Mini, Beelink GS1 | cedrus/v4l2_request | MPEG2, H.264, HEVC, VP8, VP9 | X11, EGLFS, Wayland | EGL_DMABUF, DRM_DMABUF | Good playback |
| Allwinner H616 | TanixTX6s, OrangePI-Zero2 | cedrus(6)/v4l2_request | MPEG2, H.264, HEVC, VP8, VP9 | 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 | RockPI 4-b | rkvdec/v4l2_request | MPEG2, H.264, HEVC, VP8, VP9 | X11, EGLFS, (1) | EGL_DMABUF, DRM_DMABUF | Good playback, wyaland gives black.screen |
| Rockchip 3399 | RockPI 4-se | 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 | 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 3566 | Quartz64 Model 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 3566 | Rock3-C | 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 | 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-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 |
| 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 | x96Air | 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 |
| 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
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