Minimal Boxee HTPC on Ubuntu – The Easy Way

To start this is not the most minimal you can get but for someone pressed for time it’s a great start.

First download Ubuntu 10.10 desktop (32bit) and install normally and boot into Gnome. From here I would add the apt repository for Boxee and install (Open terminal and type “sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list” and add line “deb http://apt.boxee.tv/ maverick main” to the end of the sources list then exit with ctrl-X and save and type “sudo apt-get update” to get info from the repository and “sudo apt-get install Boxee” to install Boxee).

Next I would configure the computer as desired (set monitor & graphics preferences, Install LIRC for remote support, install ssh for later access, update Ubuntu, install restricted drivers, etc.).

Now here’s where the minimal resource usage comes in:

• Disable Gnome from starting: Open terminal and type “sudo nano /etc/X11/default-display-manager” and delete the only line in there that starts Gnome.
• Then set your user to auto login:
  Open terminal and type “sudo nano /etc/init/tty1.conf”
  change line
  “exec /sbin/getty 38400 tty1”
  to
  “exec /bin/login -f YOURLINUXUSERNAME </dev/tty1 > /dev/tty1 2>&1″*Make sure to replace YOURLINUXUSERNAME with your actual linux username you want to login.*Then create a bash profile:
  Open terminal and type “nano ~/.bash_profile”
  addcase “`tty`” in
  /dev/tty1) clear && startx &>/dev/null;;
  esac

  *I did not place ” quotes around this as the quotes around “`tty`” are needed*

• Finally Set the X server to launch Boxee on start:
  Open terminal and type “sudo nano ~/.xsession”
  add line
  “exec /opt/boxee/run-boxee-desktop”

Thanks for reading and hope it works well for you too :).

This article would not have been possible if it were not for this thread. Many thanks to the users there!