Contemplating Linux

[Ummon]

I've never used Linux. Recently, I acquired an AMD machine (I've heard AMD and Linux are a great match) and have been thinking of trying out Linux on this and am curious what build anyone might suggest in particular. I'm also thinking of making this an arcade machine, and considering just throwing Lincade on there. Ideas on that?

[NickG]

I think I will check out their latest build, too.  BTW, have you ever used AdvanceCD?

[tikbalang]

linux is difficult to get used to. i would suggest ubuntu and opensuse since they have a wide user base and can readily handle sdlmame. sdlmame seems the only remaining active variant of mame for linux. using a full desktop linux is an easier transition. after everything is installed and working, then you can worry about stripping it barebones for arcade cabinet.

Lincade is great if it supports your video card. there is no point and click interface but there are menus for arcade maintenance and the commandline for more intricate configurations.

AdvanceCD is more generic than lincade and can work with 800mhz cpus/256mb ram. the problem with advcd is that it is hard to configure. the docs says you can add .rc files before making the iso but this fails. the solution is to replace the .rc files in APP.IMG with your own using magiciso.

advanceCD can be installed to HD and usbdisks formatted using fat32. it boots first to freedos before switching to its linux kernel. i run advcd this way since it makes rom management easier.

advancecd 2.6.3 discussion:
http://sourceforge.net/forum/forum.php?thread_id=1672273&forum_id=313513

[Ummon]

linux is difficult to get used to. i would suggest ubuntu and opensuse since they have a wide user base and can readily handle sdlmame. sdlmame seems the only remaining active variant of mame for linux. using a full desktop linux is an easier transition. after everything is installed and working, then you can worry about stripping it barebones for arcade cabinet.

I had the idea that might be the case. I've heard ubuntu mentioned a lot, and someone else suggested opensuse, so I'll have to figure that out.

Lincade is great if it supports your video card. there is no point and click interface but there are menus for arcade maintenance and the commandline for more intricate configurations.

I'm used to messing around with win version of advancemame, so this may not be a big deal. I had wondered about the card thing, though. Since Lincade uses the Linux build of Advancemame, at least I looked, the issues maybe the same as or similar to Win.

AdvanceCD is more generic than lincade and can work with 800mhz cpus/256mb ram. the problem with advcd is that it is hard to configure. the docs says you can add .rc files before making the iso but this fails. the solution is to replace the .rc files in APP.IMG with your own using magiciso.

Yeah, I caught all that. I'd been thinking about trying it, but not sure if I want to mess with that. So, no NickG, I haven't tried AdvanceCD.

Thanks.

[tikbalang]

I had the idea that might be the case. I've heard ubuntu mentioned a lot, and someone else suggested opensuse, so I'll have to figure that out.

here is the unofficial package for Ubuntu 7.10 (Gutsy Gibbon):

Code: [Select]

=== start quote ===
 
Mega_Mike
 
I created .deb packages of AdvanceMenu 2.4.13 and AdvanceMame 0.106 for Ubuntu Gutsy.
 
http://rapidshare.com/files/96721182/advancemenu_2.4.13-1_i386.deb.html
http://rapidshare.com/files/96721185/advancemame_0.106.0-1_i386.deb.html
 
=== end quote ===
 
source:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=265109

opensuse has its own official release in its repositories, frequently updated.

I'm used to messing around with win version of advancemame, so this may not be a big deal. I had wondered about the card thing, though. Since Lincade uses the Linux build of Advancemame, at least I looked, the issues maybe the same as or similar to Win.

you might want to try other unofficial versions of mame .106 for windows:

(french)
http://forum.shmup.com/viewtopic.php?t=9049

there is a long discussion about mame display and the links start to appear on page 4.

Yeah, I caught all that. I'd been thinking about trying it, but not sure if I want to mess with that. So, no NickG, I haven't tried AdvanceCD.

Thanks.

i'm trying to reverse engineer advcd 2.6.3 so it can be easily configurable. this will be an HD install only, and will be booted from DOS. so far i was able to only add multiple terminals.

i also attempted to compile it for damnsmall linux. it was a success but there were so many errors i doubt it will be stable in other pc's. it was also slow, but it could be because if my dsl setup.

[NickG]

here is the unofficial package for Ubuntu 7.10 (Gutsy Gibbon):

Code: [Select]

=== start quote ===
 
Mega_Mike
 
I created .deb packages of AdvanceMenu 2.4.13 and AdvanceMame 0.106 for Ubuntu Gutsy.
 
http://rapidshare.com/files/96721182/advancemenu_2.4.13-1_i386.deb.html
http://rapidshare.com/files/96721185/advancemame_0.106.0-1_i386.deb.html
 
=== end quote ===
 
source:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=265109

opensuse has its own official release in its repositories, frequently updated.

Thanks for this info! I tried to compile ADVMAME for my Ubuntu yesterday, but I continued to receive errors because I did not set up my directories properly or I was missing a package.  I'll just try these repositories.

[retrometro]

@Ummon

Other than getting this box and wanting to play around, is there some you want to accomplish in particular by running linux instead of dos/win for your cab?

[HaRuMaN]

@Ummon

Other than getting this box and wanting to play around, is there some you want to accomplish in particular by running linux instead of dos/win for your cab?

Linux is faster / more stable / FREE...  etc.  Why not?

Ummon, check out Ubuntu...

[NickG]

Man, oh man... I have been on quite a little adventure here - I am relatively new to linux.  I really want to get this little Dynamo cocktail going with a little mini-itx board I have.  With Fraggal's Spystyles dos boot CD's etc, I get perfectly shaped/synced video but the sound cannot be setup without writing my own driver (I don't know how to do that)  In Linux I can get the Sound working all the way, but I am still not quite there with the video; the top part of the screen is "curly".  So far my most successful install is using a guide from here:
http://theatre.msu.edu/wiki/index.php/UbuntuMAME
This guide worked for me using the latest Xubuntu on my first attempt(one step should be different because of XFCE instead of gnome, but it worked anyway).  On the second attempt (using the minimal textmode install) I kept getting compile errors on AdvanceMame as though I was missing a library or the newer gcc "broke" something.
I tried those .debs on my main Ubuntu machine but I got an error about the FB driver and I was scared to mess with that machine, because it had taken feat to get Compiz going on my Radeon there.

I found some other guides as well and I am probably going to try this one tonight:
http://rogalian.blogspot.com/
^^ seems to be geared more toward arcade monitor usage than the Ubuntu guide.

About Advancemame: I was having the same problem as you, Ummon.  ( http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=80213.msg840898#msg840898 )
I couldn't get negative sync with a modeline or a device_video_format. (I'm using cyblafb driver on my onboard video)  Andrea says that supposedly all the modes created by those programs advcfg and advv are using negative sync, but I used an oscilloscope and found that I was indeed getting positive sync pulses.  So I built the circuit mentioned here:
http://www.tkk.fi/Misc/Electronics/circuits/vga2rgbs.html
because I could not figure out yet how to get the negative sync(s) going from software.  Now I fully understand the question about the negative sync polarity parameter.  Still don't know the answer, though.
I am hoping now that I just need to fix the DC offset with the circuit or just hook the computer up to the positive separate sync connections to remove the curling at the top...

[retrometro]

@Ummon

Other than getting this box and wanting to play around, is there some you want to accomplish in particular by running linux instead of dos/win for your cab?

Linux is faster / more stable / FREE...  etc.  Why not?

Ummon, check out Ubuntu...

For a general computer sure.  But for a cab that's going to do one or few things, why would one OS matter more than another one?   You can get a system stable pretty easily on just about any OS if you only have one app on it.  I don't get any more benefit that the ATM around the corner runs on one OS vs another.

Instead of asking why not, why not ask why? 

Again, other than playing with something new...

[NickG]

There are limit's to what you can do to slim down Windows and OSX.  With basic installs of unix/linux you can install only what you need.  This is "why" it is better for running  "only one app"

[Ummon]

@Ummon

Other than getting this box and wanting to play around, is there some you want to accomplish in particular by running linux instead of dos/win for your cab?

Except for perhaps Spystyle's Dos set-up, I haven't wanted to worry about sound drivers, etc dos-wise. I am interested in a quick-booting machine, if I use this one for a cab. But partly I just haven't experienced Linux as an OS and am a little curious. Not curious enough to mess with it at the moment. I go in spurts, and right now I'm on the down stroke of playing with things. (Plus I'm on the verge of getting back into playing music, so my overall arcade efforts may diminish.)

About Advancemame: I was having the same problem as you, Ummon.  ( http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=80213.msg840898#msg840898 )
I couldn't get negative sync with a modeline or a device_video_format. (I'm using cyblafb driver on my onboard video)  Andrea says that supposedly all the modes created by those programs advcfg and advv are using negative sync, but I used an oscilloscope and found that I was indeed getting positive sync pulses.  So I built the circuit mentioned here:
http://www.tkk.fi/Misc/Electronics/circuits/vga2rgbs.html
because I could not figure out yet how to get the negative sync(s) going from software.  Now I fully understand the question about the negative sync polarity parameter.  Still don't know the answer, though.

Ah. Funny you remember that. I may look into that circuit. Or buy one from you.

[massive88]

Instead of asking why not, why not ask why? 

Somewhat tongue in cheek response considering the use of the machine in general but, to avoid wasting an OS license on a machine that does one task?

[retrometro]

Instead of asking why not, why not ask why? 

Somewhat tongue in cheek response considering the use of the machine in general but, to avoid wasting an OS license on a machine that does one task?

Great point.