[vdr] Beginners Questions

["Reinhard Walter Buchner" <rw.buchner@freenet.de>]

Hi All,

I have three questions:

1.
Would it be possible to make an install version of VDR?

VDR has gone thru numeros revisons, updates and patches.
What I mean is a full version of ALL files and an installation
routine, which asks what should be installed (so that even
dummies, like me, can install VDR ;o)). Of course, VDR
keeps changing, but that way people have a ground basis to
start on. After all, two years of Klaus' work have resulted in
lots of files ;o) This install file would only need an occassional 
update (say once or twice a year, or so). That way people don`t
need to hunt the internet to find ALL files and check which
files work with which revision. Also conflicts with older software
or revisions are kept to a minimum. It might even be a good
idea to make two install versions (stable and developer edition).

2.
Would it be possible to have a basic VDR setup like the above 
and be able to install (new) updates via VDR? In other words,
you have your basic VDR system and a menu called "plugins".

All (new) plugins which are developed must be copied into a 
certain directory (like plugins ;o). At each start VDR scans this
directory and if it finds a new plugin, it shows an OSD message
and asks if the user would like to install it. If the user says no, it
is marked accordingly and VDR doesn't ask again (but it still 
appears in the plugin OSD) The plugin would need a unique 
script at the beginning like:

Basic Plugin Type (LNB, Game, Channel, Sound, etc)

Plugin Name (as it will appear in the menu)

Version Nr: (for compatiblity and upgrade checking)

Install Routine (to enable VDR to install it)

Installed (yes or no)

Hardware check (in case special hardware is needed)

Userinstall (yes or no, incase the user doen`t want the module)

Needs modul XY (in case the plugin needs another module)

Website (jsut a short text, so that people can find the site)

Manual: (a short text file that can be viewed on screen how to
             use the plugin (keys, functions,etc))
 

Doing both of the above would provide the advantage, that 
everyone has the same basic system and all updates are done
via VDR. That way we can eliminate installation problems
(and internet hunting ;o}).

3. Backup function

Harddisks can and do die. Would it be possible to include a backup
routine (not sure if linux has such a routine included)? The user 
can select whether or not to include his videos, etc. Otherwise just
a bare backup of all installed vdr "system" data including plugins,
etc. The user could stream this to a 2nd computer via NIC (or have
VDR do this automatically every "x" days) and record it to CD or
DVD (maybe even as an install cd or dvd). That way a recovery 
would only take minutes instead of hours (esp of manual installation).
When a harddisk dies, Murphies Law says it will do so 30 minutes or
less before wanting to record an important film, discussion or
whatever (and of course, this film is only sent once ;o)).

Just some wild thoughts.......

Greetz,
Reinhard