Complete installation (front-end and back-end) Mythbuntu can be used to install a full MythTV system on a single device (acting as both a
client and a
server). The front-end is the software required for the visual elements (or the
GUI) and is utilised by the common user to find, play, and manipulate
media files. The back end is the server where the media files, tuners, and database are actually stored. A combined
front-and-back-end system may have an advantage in that it has
portability: it is a standalone device that is not dependent on a separate server, such as a
gaming console.
Front-end-only installations Alternatively, Mythbuntu can be used to install a MythTV client: a front-end-only system. This might be useful where users already have a central storage server in their home. The central storage device can act as a MythTV server, and the MythTV front-end client software can be installed on devices with
low-power hardware. Mythbuntu can also run directly from a
CD-ROM (without installation), provided that there is a
network connection to a PC with a MythTV back-end server. Using a server separate from one or more front-end units offers the ability to use multiple clients with simultaneous access to a single repository of shared media files. The server used would generally have hardware of a relatively high specification and can be kept outside of the main living room or other entertainment area of the home. Another advantage is the ability to move some of the potentially noisy hardware out of the living room, as low-noise, high-performance hardware can be expensive. ==Adding Mythbuntu to Ubuntu==