Tip: You can run the Intel Mac Mini headless, but don't expect overlay on VNC/Timbukt

807 Views 7 Replies 4 Participants Last post by Joseph S, May 8, 2006

Joseph S

Discussion Starter · May 6, 2006

Well, it seems although you can run it headless you still can't see the overlay from EyeTV and other apps on VNC/Timbuktu (tried both) if you run it headless. With a monitor attached you can see the overlay remotely.

This is something I want to spot checks and rare edits on my new "remote but soon-to-be somewhat nearby market" HDTV PVR with all national affiliates available on QAM/OTA. Unfortunately, I couldn't find one of the old cheapo VGA->Mac adaters you get from ATI to hook onto a dip switchable Mac/VGA adpater I have here I used for an earlier headless router/switch via Power Mac 6100. It seems like the gHead II from Dr. Bott is the best and cheapest solution. A DVIator should work fine too, but it's more expensive and more space consuming.

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MacHound

· #2 · May 6, 2006

Sorry, Joseph, I didn't quite understand what you wrote. I appreciate the headless concept, which is what I'm planning to do when my CoreDuo MIni arrives this week. But I didn't understand your statement, "You still can't see the overlay from EyeTV and other apps on VNC/Timbuktu." What's the overlay?

In my case, I want to control my future headless CoreDuo Mini from my G4 Mini with VNC, using the CoreDuo Mini as a H.264 transcoding workhorse without having to turn on my TV to follow its progress. I also want my Intel Mini to be my audio hub without having to use the TV to change tracks. VNC should work fine for those tasks.

If I understood your last paragraph which I read several times, you've got a Mini set up in a nearby town and you're trying to control it from home... or is that completely wrong?

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dbfreq

· #3 · May 6, 2006

I have a question along these lines, but not exactly on-topic.... i'd like to be able to see an EPG on a MBP, select a program and have the Intel Mini change the station on my cable box (Motorola 64xx - dual tuner HD-DVR). It would be nice to be able to set up recordings through this interface as well, but, I'd settle for being able to change channels. I don't need to TV to run through the Mini, I just want to control it from an MBP.

I know that there are firewire interfaces for the PC that can change channels and record on the Motorola boxes. Does something similar exist on the Mac side without resorting to El Gato? Or, even buying El Gato HW but doing the decoding and recording on the Motorola box (I'd like to be able to record HBO-HD, SHO-HD, etc.).

Also, @MacHound, for controlling audio on a headless Mini from a Mac laptop, you might prefer NetTunes:

http://www.shirt-pocket.com/netTunes...scription.html

I'm still waiting for the UB, but, this looks like a cleaner, faster solution than Chicken of the VNC for controlling iTunes.

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chefklc

· #4 · May 6, 2006

well, I've never run anything headless and don't know anything about it, but I do have a G4 mini connected to an HDTV, which records via an EyeTV500, does some dvd and transcoding duty and serves music, and I often control it with Chicken of the VNC from my Powerbook without turning the display on. Just out of curiosity after reading this thread, I un-plugged that mini's DVI cable--then tried to log on from the Powerbook--and no go, nothing came up except a black screen. Reconnected the DVI and bingo, its desktop appeared on my Powerbook.

Next, I shut the mini down, disconnected the DVI, restarted, and was able to re-connect over VNC no problem, with full EyeTV access--and I presume I could continue in headless mode if I wished. (Again, I'd never done this before but seems like it just works after a restart--probably common knowledge out there.) Joe--is your concern that for some reason--with the switch to Intel--that you've lost some headless/VNC functionality that we had previously with the G4/G5--that when you try to go headless the Mac desktop shows up but the EyeTV on-screen control, program guide and access to recorded content doesn't show up?

dbfreq--I'm curious as far as netTunes:

Quote:

I'm still waiting for the UB, but, this looks like a cleaner, faster solution than Chicken of the VNC for controlling iTunes

did you use it, and if so, what did you like about it that would justify its $20 cost over and above, say, using Apple's built-in remote desktop functionality and Chicken of the VNC? It takes what, 6 seconds to log-on and get into iTunes on another Mac remotely via VNC?

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MacHound

· #5 · May 6, 2006

Excellent question about NetTunes. I, too, would like to know what's better about it than using VNC. User comments at VersionTracker aren't too clear about this. Presumably it's optimized for iTunes to give maximum interactivity / minimize lag.

Your G4 Mini-from-Powerbook setup is exactly what I'll be trying to do when my CoreDuo Mini arrives. You're right that it's not exactly headless if the Mini is connected to a TV but, like you, I'll be running it with the TV off at least some of the time. If there's a problem controlling EyeTV over VNC from G4 --> CoreDuo, that's something I'll soon be facing soon too. I'd be surprised nobody here mentioned a problem controlling a CoreDuo's EyeTV from VNC if it's that serious.

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Joseph S

Discussion Starter · #6 · May 7, 2006

Quote:

But I didn't understand your statement, "You still can't see the overlay from EyeTV and other apps on VNC/Timbuktu." What's the overlay?

The EyeTV live window or DVDPlayer window, etc. is "black" inside of the normal window. You can't see what's playing. Makes it impossible to verify recording.

Quote:

Joe--is your concern that for some reason--with the switch to Intel--that you've lost some headless/VNC functionality that we had previously with the G4/G5--that when you try to go headless the Mac desktop shows up but the EyeTV on-screen control, program guide and access to recorded content doesn't show up?

Nope. You used to always need the fake Mac->VGA adapter to see anything on TB2. Now, it boots and I can see/do all but overlay stuff including control without mouse/kb attached. Better, but not fully what I need it for.

Quote:

If I understood your last paragraph which I read several times, you've got a Mini set up in a nearby town and you're trying to control it from home... or is that completely wrong?

Not nearby, yet, but within a month it will be. Nice solution for while I'm moving as well as a backup site for stuff I want to be sure I get.

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MacHound

· #7 · May 7, 2006

It's not too surprising you can't stream full framerate uncompressed video over the internet through VNC, or even over a LAN. Not everybody has Gigabit ethernet so VNC couldn't reasonably expect that large a pipe. Even Gigabit might not be enough for uncompressed 1080i in an EyeTV window.

This is not an issue for me. Both of my Minis will be located in the same room.

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Joseph S

Discussion Starter · #8 · May 8, 2006

I don't expect full framerate. I just want a few frames to see start/end OK without the overlay it's impossible. Not so much now that I don't have to be so picky because I'm just recording/splitting huge chunks on some nights, but it was a big issue with ABC last year.

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