Mythbuntu Control Panel
Version: 34
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This page applies to MythTV v34 and later. |
Introduction
Mythbuntu Control Panel (MCP), which replaces Mythbuntu Control Center, is installed after installing Ubuntu or Xubuntu, and it is used to install MythTV and perform MythTV related administration tasks. MCP aims to minimize the need to perform tasks using the command line to configure the system. Also, MCP aims to be compatible with the most recent stable version of MythTV. Ubuntu can be downloaded from https://ubuntu.com/download/desktop. When installing Ubuntu, the default apps (minimal) install option can be chosen to avoid installing applications that are not needed, such as a word processor. The most recent LTS version of Ubuntu or Xubuntu is recommended since some packages such as XMLTV can be outdated in older repositories. A new installation of Ubuntu LTS or Xubuntu LTS is recommended with no task related to MythTV being completed before completing the tasks indicated on this wiki page to get the backend and frontend running.
Installing MythTV Using Mythbuntu Control Panel on Ubuntu or Xubuntu
The instructions below describe how to install Mythbuntu Control Panel, add a Mythbuntu MythTV Updates repository, install MythTV Backend and MythTV Frontend, perform required system setup tasks, launch the web app backend setup, and set MythTV Frontend to start automatically when the computer starts. Some other miscellaneous options are available as described below.
Installing Mythbuntu Control Panel
Use the first option below to install MCP on the most recent long-term-support version of Ubuntu or Xubuntu and receive automatic MCP updates. Use the second option to install MCP on Ubuntu or Xubuntu without enabling automatic MCP updates. With either option, MCP can be used to add a Mythbuntu MythTV Updates PPA to automatically receive MythTV updates.
Option 1:
Open Terminal, and copy the commands shown below.
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:mythcp/mcp sudo apt-get update sudo apt install mythbuntu-control-panel
Option 2:
- Visit https://launchpad.net/~mythcp/+archive/ubuntu/mcp/+packages.
- Click on the latest package.
- Click on the deb file to download it.
- Open Files, double click the deb file, and click Install.
Adding a Mythbuntu MythTV Updates Repository
Using a Mythbuntu MythTV Updates PPA is recommended as it is updated more frequently as compared to the version of MythTV found in the Ubuntu Software application.
Add a Mythbuntu MythTV Updates PPA:
- Start Mythbuntu Control Panel by clicking on the icon in the Ubuntu or Xubuntu applications menu.
- Click on the Repositories tab.
- Click on the check box to activate the MythTV Updates repository.
- Select the MythTV version to be installed.
- Click on Apply, and confirm the change.
- Close MCP, start Software Updater, and install any updates found.
Installing MythTV and Related Software
If you want to watch and record content using the computer being configured, install the primary backend and desktop frontend. If the computer will be used for recording and not viewing content, install the primary backend. If the computer will be used for viewing and not recording content, install the desktop frontend. Select the XMLTV option to install XMLTV if needed for your guide data source. XMLTV is required for using Schedules Direct with MythTV starting with v31. Apply the SSH option to enable Secure Shell (SSH) access. Applying the SSH access option is typically done on the backend computer. The XMLTV, SSH and additional software options can be applied after installing MythTV. Answer yes when asked during the install if other frontends will connect to the backend.
Install MythTV:
- Click on the System Roles tab.
- Select the applicable roles.
- Click on Apply, and confirm the change.
Owners of an HDHomeRun tuner by SiliconDust can optionally install HDHomeRun Config, which is a command line configuration program. Alternatively, HDHomeRun Config GUI is a configuration program with a graphical interface. Some configuration options can also be accessed using the device's internal web page. HDHomeRun Config is required if using the HDHomeRun networking option on the MCP Setup tab.
Performing System Setup Tasks
It is recommended to use MCP to add the user to the mythtv group instead of using another method to do this if MCP is being used for the setup. If only the frontend is installed, some of the items will remain grayed out. The networking option will remain grayed out until the backend is running. Enable the networking option to have the backend wait for the network to be active before the backend starts when booting the computer and to allow other devices on the network to access the backend. The web app backend setup button will remain grayed out if the backend is not running. When finished making changes to the backend settings, re-enable the backend using the "restart backend" button in the web app.
If only the frontend is installed, there is no need to select the option to add a link to config.xml. If the frontend and primary backend are installed, adding this link is recommended but also optional. With this link on a combined frontend and backend system, the frontend will be able to start the first time it is run without prompting the user for the backend information. It is normal for MCP to indicate that this link exists, whether or not the option is applied, after the frontend runs since the frontend creates a file in the link's location.
The option to have the backend wait to start until the network is up when booting the computer has three methods. The Basic method does not actively verify the network is up, but this method can be used if the other two methods are not feasible. The Ping method ensures that a device on the network is accessible before the backend starts. After selecting the Ping method, a text entry box will appear. Enter the IP address or DNS name of a device that is pingable when the computer will be booting up. The HDHomeRun method ensures that an HDHomeRun device is accessible on the network before the backend starts. The HDHomeRun method requires HDHomeRun Config (hdhomerun_config) to be installed. An option to install HDHomeRun Config is included on the MCP System Roles tab.
Perform applicable setup tasks:
- Click on the Setup tab.
- Select the option to add the user to the MythTV group.
- Click on Apply, and confirm the change.
- Close MCP, and reboot the computer.
- Select the option to add a link to config.xml (optional).
- Click on Apply, and confirm the change.
- If the backend was installed, click Web App Backend Setup.
- Configure the backend depending on what you want MythTV to do and the hardware you have as described in https://wiki.mythtv.org/wiki/Setup_General and other wiki pages.
- Close MCP, and reboot the computer.
- If other devices on the network need to access the backend, enable the networking option.
- Click on Apply, and confirm the change.
MythTV Frontend Startup Behavior
It is common to access Settings in the Ubuntu or Xubuntu menu, and set the computer to log in automatically if the frontend will be used frequently. If it is desired to have the frontend start automatically when the computer boots, enable this option.
Select the option to start the frontend directly if desired to not use the default startup script. This option will be available in MCP if the current user is included in the mythtv group. This option will preserve proper logging. This option will not allow the frontend to automatically restart if it exits unexpectedly, which is the default behavior.
Set the frontend startup options:
- Click on the Startup Behavior tab.
- Select the desired options.
- Click on Apply, and confirm the change.
Installing MythTV Plugins and Web App Launcher
The Plugins tab can be used to install and uninstall MythTV plugins. Plugins add additional functionality within MythTV. Hover the cursor over each plugin name in MCP to see a description of the plugin, or see https://wiki.mythtv.org/wiki/Category:Plugins for more information. The plugins available using MCP are limited to the plugins that are included in the Mythbuntu MythTV Updates PPA for the latest stable MythTV version. Also, an option is available to add an applications menu entry which launches the default web browser and opens the web app. If selecting the web app launcher, the IP address or hostname will automatically be shown if MythTV Frontend is already configured or if the backend is running. If not, enter this information in the field that appears when selecting the web app launcher option. MCP expects the default web app port number (6544) set by MythTV is being used, so it is best to not change this port number.
Install plugins:
- Click on the Plugins tab.
- Select the launcher and desired plugins to install.
- Click on Apply, and confirm the change.
Configuring a Remote
The Remotes tab can be used to help configure an IR remote and install a remote application. MCP can help configure the system for an IR remote and IR receiver that are compatible with a kernel driver. MCP does not modify any of the default keycode files in their default location. The option to automatically modify the keycode file makes some changes using the MythTV default key assignments, and additional changes to the file in the home folder are necessary to make all buttons on the remote functional in MythTV Frontend. The option to set the keycode file active for continued use adds a single line to to the system rc_maps.cfg file. Additional rc_maps.cfg edits may be necessary for some remotes. The check mark disappearing after applying the change for the file operations is normal. Please see mythtv.org/wiki/MCP_Remote for more information about MCP Remote. MCP contains a link to play.google.com for an Android MythTV remote app.
Configure an IR remote:
- Click on the Remotes tab.
- Select the option to install ir-keytable, and apply the change.
- Select a default keycode file to copy the file to the home folder, and click Apply.
- Select the copied file in the second list, select the option to automatically modify the file, and click Apply.
- Open the copied file in the home folder in a text editor, and make additional edits if desired.
- Select the option to temporarily set the file active for testing, and click Apply.
- Start Terminal, and enter sudo ir-keytable -t.
- Press the number 7 key on the remote, and verify "KEY_7" is in the output in the terminal.
- Press Ctrl-C to end the test.
- Select the option to set the keycode file in the second list active for continued use, and click Apply.
- Reboot, and verify the remote is working as expected in MythTV Frontend.
Frequently Asked Questions
| Q1. | Should the mythtv user be created using the command line? |
| The mythtv user will automatically be created when installing MythTV via the MythTV Updates repository. There is no need to manually create the mythtv user. | |
| Q2. | Should MySQL Server or anything related to MySQL be installed? |
| There is no need to manually install anything related to MySQL. MySQL software will automatically be installed when installing the primary backend via the MythTV Updates repository. | |
| Q3. | How does activating a MythTV Updates repository in MCP differ from installing MythTV from the default Ubuntu repository? |
| A build is automatically made when the MythTV developers commit upstream fixes. The MythTV version from the default Ubuntu repository is not updated often. | |
| Q4. | Should the desktop or server version of Ubuntu or Xubuntu be chosen for the backend? |
| Choose the desktop version for the backend and frontend. | |
| Q5. | Which Linux distros are compatible with MCP? |
| MCP is tested with and support is provided (time permitting on a volunteer basis) for Ubuntu and Xubuntu. MCP is not frequently tested on other official ubuntu flavors. MCP is not currently compatible with distros that are not official Ubuntu flavors. |
Known Issues and Notes
Using the latest LTS version of Ubuntu is recommended. If Ubuntu 25.10 must be used, some manual configuration is needed as of October 2025 for a workaround due to changes to MySQL. The potential workaround is below. After applying the option to add the user to the mythtv group on the backend computer and rebooting, enter the following in the Terminal app:
sudo mysql CREATE USER 'mythtv'@'localhost'; ALTER USER 'mythtv'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED WITH caching_sha2_password BY '[password]'; GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON mythconverg.* To 'mythtv'@'localhost'; exit mysql_tzinfo_to_sql /usr/share/zoneinfo | sudo mysql -u root mysql
In the above commands, replace [password] with the password from /etc/mythtv/config.xml. Also, ignore messages that say "Unable to load 'xxxxx' as time zone. Skipping it."
Using "sudo apt install mythtv" to install the backend and frontend is not recommended when using Mythbuntu Control Panel. Doing this will prevent MCP from correctly detecting that the backend is installed. Install MCP instead, and use it to install the backend and/or frontend.
After updating MCP, please reboot the system.
The packages for MCP in the PPA are compatible only with devices having an x86 processor and not an ARM processor.
If something appears to not be working as expected, please open Terminal and start MCP using the command below. This will create a log file in your home folder. Please report the issue at https://github.com/mythcp/mythbuntu-control-panel/issues, contact MythTV forums member heyted or post the issue on https://forum.mythtv.org, and include the log file and any messages shown in the terminal. If possible, support will be provided for the default installations of Ubuntu and Xubuntu using the latest LTS version and the current stable MythTV version.
mythbuntu-control-panel --debug -l ~/mcplog.txt
Also refer to mythtv.org/wiki/Mythbuntu.
Mythbuntu Control Panel Development
If you are familiar with Python, you can help add functionality to MCP by submitting code edits for consideration. The MCP code is available at https://github.com/mythcp/mythbuntu-control-panel. Also, you can request to join the MCP Team on Launchpad. An individual MCP plugin (also known as module or tab) can easily be added to MCP without editing any other portion of the MCP code by including the new Python file in usr/share/mythbuntu/plugins/python and the new GUI file in usr/share/mythbuntu/plugins/ui. The GUI file can easily be created by modifying one of the existing GUI files using Cambalache without manually editing the GUI file. MCP automatically loads the modules that have the indicated file in these two directories.