HowTo: Codecs and DVD support for Debian Lenny

In this time and age we can't "survive" without multimedia support in our personal computers. To help those struggling to get codecs and DVD support under Debian Lenny I've compiled a series of steps to follow.

Let's start be becoming superuser:

• $ su

Next we add the needed repositories to sources.list:

• # echo "deb http://debian-multimedia.org/ lenny main" >> /etc/apt/sources.list
• # echo "deb-src http://debian-multimedia.org/ lenny main" >> /etc/apt/sources.list
• # apt-get update
  

Now let's get the gpg key for the repository:

• # wget http://debian-multimedia.org/gpgkey.pub -O - | apt-key add - && apt-get install debian-multimedia-keyring

If the above step fails, do the following as alternative:

• # exit

• $ cd ~
  

• $ wget -c http://www.debian-multimedia.org/pool/main/d/debian-multimedia-keyring/debian-multimedia-keyring_2007.02.14_all.deb

• $ su

• # dpkg -i debian-multimedia-keyring_2007.02.14_all.deb

After getting the key we move onto updating the database:

• # apt-get update

Install the codecs and DVD support packages:

• # apt-get install w32codecs libdvdcss2

If you plan on watching YouTube movies on Firefox I'd suggest:

• # apt-get install flashplayer-mozilla

Finally we need a movie player. Here you have several options raging from Mplayer (my favorite) to VLC. Choose one and install it or try them all ;):

• # apt-get install mplayer

• # apt-get gnome-mplayer
  

• # apt-get install smplayer

• # apt-get install vlc

• # apt-get install kaffeine

And we're done.

Resources:
http://debian-multimedia.org/faq.php
http://vivapinkfloyd.blogspot.com/2008/07/how-to-install-codecs-and-dvd-support.html