What is KRP?

KRP stands for KnoppMyth Reference Platform. A KRP-certified system configuration meets certain criteria for environmental performance, speed, stability, and support of MythTV functions. Some criteria are objective and some are subjective, but all criteria are selected to ensure a smooth MythTV experience. As new release versions of KnoppMyth are created, special effort will be taken to ensure that there are no regressions to any KRP-certified hardware. In addition, any user of a KRP-certified system will have a streamlined installation and upgrade experience when using KnoppMyth.

Why was KRP invented, and what can it do for me?

KRP was invented by KnoppMyth creator Cecil Watson for several reasons. Many of you in the MythTV and KnoppMyth communities have expressed an interest in knowing what hardware Just Works with MythTV. KnoppMyth does a great job making the software more accessible by its automated installation process, but until now, no major efforts have been made to make the hardware half of the MythTV experience easier. Here are some advantages to KRP:

KRP eliminates the guesswork involved in choosing hardware for a new MythTV system. Even for Linux gurus, selecting the right hardware that works well with MythTV and has the right environmental characteristics can be daunting, sometimes taking several costly iterations and time-consuming mods and tweaks before getting everything just right. The task can be almost insurmountable for computer novices who recognize what MythTV has to offer but lack the experience required to put it all together. With KRP, a new user has a hardware menu to choose from, and the user knows that effort will be made to ensure that their hardware choices maintain compatibility as time goes by.
KRP acts as a stamp of quality on a set of hardware. If a system is KRP-certified, it means it will work consistently with a given version of KnoppMyth. Certification is redone for new versions of KnoppMyth, which enables you to make better decisions about when to upgrade.
KRP enables KnoppMyth developers to focus on making sure that new releases of KnoppMyth work with KRP hardware. As it currently stands, the team tests on the hardware they have available to them, usually their personal systems, and there is a reliance on alpha and beta testing from the community. The KnoppMyth team will have one of each KRP system at their disposal against which to test KnoppMyth compatibility.
KRP enables authorized vendors to sell pre-assembled KRP systems and unassembled kits, for MythTV enthusiasts who want a quick and easy hardware solution.

What does KRP not do for me?

KRP does not eliminate any underlying flaws in Linux or MythTV. For example:

Commercial flagging in MythTV has improved greatly over the years, and it's now near-perfect when HDTV is involved, but there are still certain transitions in and out of commercials that fool it. Merely using a KRP system will not make this issue go away.
Linux does not support every make and model of digital camera. Using a KRP system will not enable you to communicate with an unsupported digital camera to transfer your images to MythGallery.

If I don't have a KRP system, will I still be able to use KnoppMyth?

Absolutely! If you don't have a KRP system, you will not be abandoned by any means. However, just as it is today, the most common hardware gets the best coverage and community support. For example, the most common capture cards are the PVR-250, PVR-350, HD-3000, and Air2PC. If you own an uncommon capture card, you may experience regressions between KnoppMyth releases and/or have a hard time finding answers to your questions on support fora. By extension, if your system consists entirely of uncommon hardware components, your chances of running into problems increase greatly.

Turning this around, imagine if you had a system built entirely of common components. The support would be much better.

Can I design my own KRP system?

We are working on the logistics of this. As you can imagine, there are hundreds if not thousands of hardware configurations that could achieve certification. If each of them were formally certified, the KnoppMyth developers would spend more time doing regression testing and less time making improvements. Even something as simple as the addition of a new HDD to an existing KRP would require re-testing the KRP because of potential heat and noise issues.

Where can I buy a KRP system?

KRP systems can be bought from the MythTV Store at Mythic.TV. The first available KRP system is Dragon.

Dragon is a combination front- and back-end system. Will there be KRP systems that are just one or the other?

Yes, there will be KRP systems that are just front-end boxes, and some that are just back-end boxes.