Turning your Linux box into a multimedia machine is easier then you think. A $15 USB remote, one program installation, and a few modifications and you’re listening to last.fm through your stereo with complete control from another room. Here are the basic steps to turn your Linux machine into a multimedia player.

Remote Control

If you want a remote control for your multimedia server, I recommend this USB PC remote.  It’s cheap, it’s made for Windows, and it comes with no directions, but it works well. The only down side is the media key shortcuts are not customizable, so you’ll need to do some modifications to your Linux setup to get them to work, but it’s not a big deal.

Install Boxee

Using whatever package manager you have, install Boxee.

Setting up Linux (If using Remote Control)

If you’re using the remote control I linked to, you’ll need to make a few changes to linux for the media keys to work.

The top media keys on the remote are hard coded to Ctrl + Alt + F1 through Ctrl + Alt + F4, and if you’re a Linux user those shortcuts are already designated for your Virtual Terminal switches. Luckily there’s an xorg option to disable VT Switches.

To disable VT Switches open xorg.conf in an editor, I’m using vi. Type the following:

cd etc/X11
sudo vi xorg.conf

vi can take a little getting use to. Luckily there are some great resources that explain the basic key commands.

Go to the last line in the document and hit o, this will put you on a new line and activate edit mode. Type the following:

Section “ServerFlags”
Option “DontVTSwitch”    “True”
EndSection

Hit ESC to exit edit mode.

Note: While in edit mode you’ll use the delete key instead of the backspace key to remove characters.

While outside of edit mode you’ll use the x key to remove characters

To exit and save type:

:wq

The keyboard shortcuts for our remote are now free to bind to Boxee.

In terminal type:

gconf-editor

Navigate to apps/metacity/global_keybindings. Double click on run_command_1 and set the value to <Control><Alt>A

Now navigate to apps/metacity/keybining_commands. Double click on command_1 and set the value to /opt/boxee/run-boxee-desktop (or where ever your boxee executable is)

The first media key on your remote should now run Boxee.

Photo Credit: deborah.soltesz