[linux-dvb] Re: ideal kernel version

[Jamie Honan <jhonan@optusnet.com.au>]

On Mon, Oct 20, 2003 at 11:09:14AM -0700, Jordan Moulds wrote:
> Hi guys, I'm just about to attempt to get my Vision
> Plus (twinhan) VP-1030 (CI) card going. I was just
> wondering what the best kernel version to use would be

The important thing to remember is that you will be using a very
experimental version that works for us (2 people) but has so far failed 
to work at a very basic level for two other users.

So the chances are very good you will be delving into timing issues
and corresponding a bit. Having said that, your testing help would be
very gratefully appreciated.

> - given that particular card. From previous emails,
> 2.6.0-test7 seems pretty popular for most
> cards/situations, but I noticed that Brad (who has my
> card) mentioned he was using a redhat 2.4.7-10 kernel
> (at least a couple of weeks ago).

I don't know about 2.4.7-10, I think this is simply to get a
Twinhan supplied binary only driver going for comparison purposes.

> Is there any particular (kernel version related)
> consequences for this card? ... and which would be the
> ideal version to use? (I currently have redhat
> 2.4.20-9 installed)

The README.bt8xx from the dvb-kernel cvs covers this a bit.

The differences can probably be summarised like this:

   - 2.4 requires bttv patches and bttv snapshots, but probably fits
     in what you are using now. Must patch cleanly i.e. bttv patches must
        match your kernel or kernel must match bttv patches

   - 2.6 build is easier, but if you don't have 2.6 going, this
     can be fiddly. 2.6 is the future, so you are likely to have to face
     these issues anyway.

     (Oh yes, the 2.6 build is much nicer in general.)

My readme is a little terse especially for anyone who has never built a kernel
before, so here is a little more expanded info on 2.6

For 2.6 :

 - unpack kernel. Note, you do not need bttv patches.

 - answer config questions e.g. make menuconfig
   (you can copy a .config file from a previous version and then
    do make menuconfig)

 - make as per kernel readme, install, verify working. 
   For 2.6 this takes a little work, as you will need to fix modutils, (there
   is a readme about this) you may not be using the alsa sound system
   and the new modutils uses the file /etc/modprobe.conf

 - at this point you can verify bttv is working for you by
   insmoding bttv with the params. Doesn't hang your system with a DST card?
   Good! Proceed.

 - build the dvb-kernel stuff out of cvs by

      - cvs checkout as per web page on linuxtv

      - makelinks script

      - make menuconfig with enabling desired dvb modules

      - make, and install

      - modprobe -ae (install probably does this)

      - insmod as per insmod-bt8xx.sh

      - scan, szap, vdr etc. apps. These can be quite a bit of work too.

Good luck
Jamie


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