Struggling to Get Started (1 Viewer)

[cafe.racer]

Hi,

I've been working on switching from VMC to MP recently - I like the idea of the streaming/card sharing.

However, I've been immensly frustrated with the installation process and breaking things, fixing them only for them to be broken again when I install the next plugin.

What I find a barrier to sucess is that until you've found a problem, you don't think to look for the plugin that solves it, so you're forever installing and tinkering. As an example, I want a multiseat installation, and it wasn't until I'd realised that the videos are configured on the client in the default installation, did I find a plugin that allows sharing.

On the fourms/wikki etc, there doesn't seem to be a specific list of all the plugins and what they do/their user rating. In a lot of the plugin specific forums, there's usually a sticky about the latest release, what is fixed etc etc, but there's often no information about what the plugin actually does.

What I'm getting It's difficult to determine your starting point and the plan/architecture before you start, so you bumble into an install/configure without being able to think it through. We're not all systems administrator types.

I think that this is one of the main reasons why MediaPortal has the reputation of being unstable/difficult to configure.

Just my €0.02

 

[infinite.loop]

fixing them only for them to be broken again when I install the next plugin.

when you start using MP, stay away from community plugins and skins.

they are developed by community members, not by the Team MediaPortal. we can not guarantee for their stability.

as soon as you got your system up and running, you can start to test community plugins/skins.
but always make sure that the communityplugin/skin you install was developed for the MediaPortal version you use.

As an example, I want a multiseat installation, and it wasn't until I'd realised that the videos are configured on the client in the default installation, did I find a plugin that allows sharing.

what do you mean?
could you be more specific please, because i have no clue what you are talking about....

if you want to access videos/music/pictures from your client pcs which are located on the server, then all you have to do is:

1. share these folders on the server pc
2. map these folders as networkdrives on the clientpc's
3. tell MediaPortal in its configuration, in which folders it has to look for videos/music/pictures.

thats it.

 

[cafe.racer]

Well, it was an example of a (perhaps dumb) user blindly setting off without understanding the route they wanted to take, BUT I mean that to import files into the video database, you have to do it on the client, which means doing it separately on each client rather than once on the TV Server (which would be best in a Multi-Seat install).

I did get it working, quite nicely TBH, but then you inevitably find a Plugin and think "Ooooo, that looks nice".

But even your comment about "Only install those developed by Team Mediaportal" ought to be the first line in the list of good advice - I didn't even know to look for TM developed and Community developed.

All this comes from experience, but it's experience that's hard earned.

 

[infinite.loop]

Well, it was an example of a (perhaps dumb) user blindly setting off without understanding the route they wanted to take, BUT I mean that to import files into the video database, you have to do it on the client, which means doing it separately on each client rather than once on the TV Server

You made a wrong assumption.

The MediaPortal TV-Server is (as the name implies) only responsible for providing TV, not to provide music, pictures and videos.

That would be a MediaServer, which is planed for MediaPortal 2. There you then just have to configure the MediaServer and all clients will get their media from it.

But even your comment about "Only install those developed by Team Mediaportal"

Re-read my post. i did not write that.

There are no additional plugins or skins created by the Team MediaPortal, they all come from the community.

If you take a look at the forums, you will find the "Community Skins and Plugins" and read its description - > "Skins and Plugins created from users for users can be found here.", then it should be quite obvious that these plugins and skins are not from the Team MediaPortal.

there are a few really cool community skins and plugins, but you should always install and configure mediaportal first before trying them.
creating a backup of your installation is a good idea as well.

 

[milhouse]

I am going to have to side with infinityloop here. For a brand new MP user, you definitely want to WALK before you RUN. I would always tell a new user to start with the basics (music,TV and video). Get it working, get a little experience, THEN start adding on.

Even a"must have" plug-in like TV Series has it's own complexity. I'd hate to explain to a brand new user that they can either re-name their TV series directories and files, or write their own regular expression.

So much about MP is a matter of taste. You really can't plan ahead for a new user. You use it, configure it, get annoyed at a few things, re-configure, find plug-ins that solve your particular problems (every setup is different). I can't imagine how long and confusing a manual would be if it included all the possible configuration and plugin options. We'd scare off new users before they started.

The SECOND install or major upgrade can then be planned much better, because you know what YOU want.


One other point I'd make for cafe.racer. Feel free to contribute here - MP is a community effort. Throw a post up there for some lessons learned, or some pointers for brand new users. It's easy to see that a lot of the more experienced MP users have forgotten just how challenging the initial "get it to work" step was. (I think it's some sort of mental block - our brains just want to forget some things. )

Milhouse

 

[cafe.racer]

I don't think either of you've taken it this way, but I want to be clear that this wasn't mean to be an "attack". To some extent it was me posting some of my "lessons learned" to try and help the community; in my view it's difficult for a new user to set out their direction, there's no suggested routes. There is an awful lot of reading and learning to do, I wanted a MediaPortal, not a lifestyle (Although I suspect it'll turn into a hobby, VMC did)

So far we have got:

1. WALK before you try and RUN. One probelm with this is that you end up redoing a lot of work.

2.. In the beginning (I did get that bit) install only Team Mediaportal Plugins that are know to work with the version of MP you are running (but it is difficult to see which ones are...). TBH, as a new user, I didn't know that there was a distinction to be made, but now I do.

3. Plan future Upgrades. My issue here is that the information isn't that accessible - the learning curve is huge.

I would add in - get a copy of ACRONIS (or similar) and image your PC after each step.


One of the major benefits of MP seems to be its configurability, but this also seems to be a bit of a downside, also. There is just so much to fiddle with.

I just think that there is so much information to wade through, you spend ages reading up on how to get xyz bit of functionality working, THEN you find that there's another bit that replaces that functionality completely and you were wasting your time...

Again, this is not an attack on MediaPortal or the community - I'm trying to contribute and feedback, like milhouse said

" It's easy to see that a lot of the more experienced MP users have forgotten just how challenging the initial "get it to work" step was."

 

[milhouse]

I wanted a MediaPortal, not a lifestyle

Ah, see, this is where you mis-judged. MediaPortal IS a lifestyle.


FYI - TeamMediaPortal/MP1QuickSetupGuide - MediaPortal Manual Documentation is the bare minimum for a truly new user user. I believe this is the same guide that pops up when MP1.0 install is complete. This, to me, is the WALK step.

Your points are all well-taken. It's just that

One of the major benefits of MP seems to be its configurability, but this also seems to be a bit of a downside, also. There is just so much to fiddle with.

is an almost insurmountable problem - that's what I deal with in my day job. The plugin architecture is supposed to make that better, by removing some of the obscure stuff from MP itself. But then you are left with the complexity of finding, installing, configuring, and maintaining a big list of plugins.

 

[infinite.loop]

The more "flexible" a software is, the more complex the setup gets.
Microsofts MediaCenter(s) are very easy to configure and use, but then you will soon run into the limitations of it, because of this "simplicity".

MediaPortal offers more features and felxibility, but this simply requires that the user dives into it.
Yes a unexperienced user will curse MP at the beginning (i was there as well ), but after you got the turn you will enjoy it.

For MediaPortal 2, a easy setup/configuration is one big item on the roadmap. But this will take quite much time to finish.

 

[cafe.racer]

Roadmaps - and interesting thought.

Rather than a single Install Guide (like the one stickied at the top of this forum) maybe it would be better to consider several Roadmaps - as you've both said, not everyone wants MediaPortal to achieve the same thing - so there is no "best" solution, but there are surely different routes to achieve different goals?

Have one install guide does suggest to dumbass noobs (like me) that there is one way to install and configure MP. Especailly when you're used to the simplicity of MCE/VMC.

Just a thought.

 

[Zappo]

Centralized Configuration

Hi all.

I installed MP thinking I'd do it in a day or two.
After a week I'm still playing around with it, and decided to keep fiddling until I'm satisfied and re-install after that.
(I wasn't x-pecting this many options, but REALLY like it!)

One thing I'd like to see in a future version, is a centralized configuration screen (add ability for community plugins to add their configuration options to MP's main config application)
Right now, to configure MP, I have:
- MP Web Manager
- TV-Server config
- Streamed MP config
- MP's "normal" config
furthermore, to "configure" the library, some stuff is in applications listed above, and other stuff is located inside MP itself.
I think having one configuration application would simplify setup and configuration quite a bit...

And that's my €0,02