N2(+), Kodi, hardware decoding, without CoreElec?

[CaptainRule]

Hi Everybody,

I have just started with my new N2+. A main goal is to use it with Kodi 19, but since it is so powerful it would be a waste to use it for that only... I would like to run other things also like home assistant, pihole, wireguard server etc, so CoreElec is not really an option.

But I have come to know that vpu hardware decoding is currently only possible with CoreElec.. And without hardware decoding Kodi is not really watchable, even though GPU acceleration is working.

So it would come down to some compiling, but after days of searching, flashing images and trying, I am lost in the woods.

Questions:

- what os/image would work best to start with?
- how to successfully compile/install Kodi, with vpu decoding, on that?

Thanks..

[odroid]

There is no single OS image can do what you want.
Consider using a multi-OS booting option with Petitboot.

[rooted]

Actually CoreELEC should be fine, just use docker as it's included.

My N2+ runs CoreELEC with these containers...pihole, WireGuard, bubble upnp, duckdns, and portainer with plenty of RAM and CPU cycles left to do other things.

[CaptainRule]

Wow I did not know that was even possible, great idea, thanks!

[mad_ady]

Sadly, you'll need to run the Docker HA version, which doesn't have the "app store" bundled in HASSIO. And you may need to update it yourself. Otherwise, it will work just fine.

[rooted]

Wow I did not know that was even possible, great idea, thanks!

It also has opkg manager with a bunch of packages.

Full list:

http://ix.io/3CqB

[CaptainRule]

Thank you all, docker works perfectly! I also installed entware/opkg and netdata, very happy with my N2+ now

https://discource.coreelec.org/t/coreel ... or/1817/31

[rooted]

Thank you all, docker works perfectly! I also installed entware/opkg and netdata, very happy with my N2+ now

https://discource.coreelec.org/t/coreel ... or/1817/31

You're welcome, docker and entware bring a lot to the table.

[Truly]

@rooted, @CaptainRule,

I'm running odroid n2 with Ubuntu and bunch of apps/services.

If I understand correctly, it's possible to run CoreELEC using docker making n2 a home media center in addition to all the apps/services I'm running on it atm.

I would be grateful if you can provide more details on how to set this up or point me to a tutorial.

[rooted]

It's possible to run docker on CoreELEC as it's included.

I don't know what apps and services you are running.

[Truly]

Ah, I see now.
You are talking about running CoreELEC as the main OS and using docker to run other apps/services.
I was hoping the other way around is possible - running Ubuntu as the main OS and getting CoreELEC through docker. Is this possible?

[rooted]

No it's not possible as CoreELEC is a full OS, it may be possible to run Kodi in a docker container but I've never tried.

[mad_ady]

There is a thread around whose name escapes me at the moment where the OP had ported Coreelec's kernel + kodi and made it run in a chroot on top of Ubuntu 22. He had a script too... Perhaps others remember which thread that was...

[tobetter]

There is a thread around whose name escapes me at the moment where the OP had ported Coreelec's kernel + kodi and made it run in a chroot on top of Ubuntu 22. He had a script too... Perhaps others remember which thread that was...

This one?
viewtopic.php?f=177&t=43593

[rooted]

Perhaps others remember which thread that was...

I did remember but tobetter found and linked it, I never got around to trying it but it's quite interesting.

This one?
viewtopic.php?f=177&t=43593

That is indeed the one

[Truly]

No it's not possible as CoreELEC is a full OS, it may be possible to run Kodi in a docker container but I've never tried.

I'm not able to try this atm, but it looks like what I need https://hub.docker.com/r/coreelec/coreelec-builder
It probably comes from this https://github.com/CoreELEC/coreelec-builder

[rooted]

No it's not possible as CoreELEC is a full OS, it may be possible to run Kodi in a docker container but I've never tried.

I'm not able to try this atm, but it looks like what I need https://hub.docker.com/r/coreelec/coreelec-builder
It probably comes from this https://github.com/CoreELEC/coreelec-builder

This is a container which contains all the build tools to build a CoreELEC image, it's not CoreELEC running in a docker container.

[Truly]

How about x11docker?
It is supposed to allow you to run graphical desktop applications (and entire desktops) in Linux containers.
Supposedly, one of the single application uses is Kodi with hardware acceleration:

[rooted]

Give it a shot and let us know how it goes

[Truly]

I will, although my knowledge of Linux and specifically Docker is limited to say the least.

I'll count on your support!

[rooted]

I would try it on the N2+ running CoreELEC but after these storms my Internet is down and has been since Sunday

[Truly]

That's unfortunate, hope it gets fixed soon.
I'm in the process of moving, so my comp is not set up yet to try this.

[Ofboir]

Hi

I am replying to this topic because I basically have the exact same question
CaptainRule, could you give some feedback? I am interested. Are you happy with your CoreElec install ?

I have a couple more questions:
- Docker on CoreElec seems to be (or perhaps was) outdated and 32 bits only.
Lots of forums / tutorials / etc. online point to this to install 64 bits Docker on CoreElec:
https://github.com/tamusiunas/docker-coreelec
But the inactivity on github doesn't make me very confident. Is it still a good way ? Or is Docker available through Kodi a perfectly viable option ?
- Does it make sense to install a Linux image with Docker ? (Like Alpine Linux, Arch or Debian) ?
The idea would be to have a real linux environment for software not available on Docker, for python development, etc.

Thank you for your insight