[shinjukumaster]

I considered using a Linux-based machine for home automation, but every time I tried building Gentoo, or whatever flavour Linux it got too tedious. I don't have the time. Is there any good application/systems software out there for Linux that is relatively quick and easy to use?

Alternatively, what's available for the Windows platform?

Looking for home CCTV, heating control, possibly AV, etc. with flexibility

[hornydragon]

http://www.idomus.co.uk/products_hhas.asp i think its wondows only but a well configured wondows machine can be very stable, more stable than a dodgy linux machine.

[Subliminal Aura]

Oh dear without jumping in the linux vs windoze thread.

I buildt my linux based X10 router/HA system around 5 years ago and its still up and running. Its a custom OS and running my own closed source software on a 64meg piece of flash...

Otherwise popular linux X10 software to get you started :

http://misterhouse.sourceforge.net/

Just do a search on sourceforge for 'linux X10'

[mikeva50]

Why re-invent the wheel when you can just go on E-Bay an pickup a Crestron cnmsx-pro processor for $100.00 which was 100% designed for automating things. Just make sure it has a LAN jack expansion card installed in the DPS slot... put it on your wifi router.. and use something like a Viewsonic V1100 tablet to run an X-Panel .exe file to control everything hooked up to the control processor. It will let you control anything IR, RS-232, Contact Closure, Ethernet, other crestron devices on a Cresnet... Just a suggestion.