VLC Media Server - how does it work?

[harshy]

Hi there.

I have VLC Media plugin on the DM800, using Gemini 3.70, I thought it was VLC player, but its asking me for server profiles and stuff, if I want to play an avi movie, how do I play it to the DM800?

OK, thanks again,


harshy

[po]

First install vlc 0.9.6. on your pc.
open the vlc.player then Tools> Interfaces> Main interfaces....tick the http
close the vlc and open again

In dreambox 800
Open Plugins>VLC Video Player>add server......Server address =ip of your pc
then set server name as default.

thats it.

[harshy]

really, it sounds very simple :)

I'll give it a go now po, thanks for your answer :):respect-049:

[harshy]

First install vlc 0.9.6. on your pc.
open the vlc.player then Tools> Interfaces> Main interfaces....tick the http
close the vlc and open again

In dreambox 800
Open Plugins>VLC Video Player>add server......Server address =ip of your pc
then set server name as default.

thats it.

On my VLC player, there is no option in tools > interfaces for main interfaces, only console, web interface, telnet interface, mouse gestures and debug logging, on the dreambox I set up the PC's ip address and set server name as default, what do I do now, how does dreambox know where the movie is?

[po]

ok this is from latest version download linkhttp://www.videolan.org/
VLC Media Player 0.9.8a

open vlc
tools > preferences > show settings ALL > interface - main interfaces >tick HTTP box

when you open vlc on your dreambox make sure it is open on your pc
you can browse through your drives via vls on the dreambox to find files.

[harshy]

thanks po, I'll try now.

[harshy]

error loading into playlist server 1[errno socket error](148, No route to host):frown:

[ian]

i trust you have edited your VLC xml file located in /var/tuxbox/config (well thats where it is on the 7020,shouldnt be too different in the 800)to the ip address of your pc? and also what resolutions and Video Bitrates that you require.ian.

ps you also have to make sure you add a web interface in vlc on your pc.
ive written plenty about how to do all of this in the 7020 section.

[harshy]

hello Ian,

I haven't no, I thought it was a case of putting the comp's IP address and it recognised it, clearly its not simple as I thought it would be. resolution wise, I am not sure too be honest, I just want it to work.

[harshy]

i trust you have edited your VLC xml file located in /var/tuxbox/config (well thats where it is on the 7020,shouldnt be too different in the 800)to the ip address of your pc? and also what resolutions and Video Bitrates that you require.ian.

ps you also have to make sure you add a web interface in vlc on your pc.
ive written plenty about how to do all of this in the 7020 section.
there's no xml file in this folder :(:o10:

[ian]

here is a copy of my xml file,just edit the ip and cd drives to what yours is on your local LAN.

these settings of VB and resolution are for a high end pc.if you find that when streaming you are using too much cpu you will have to reduce them.ian.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="iso-8859-1" ?>
<?xml-stylesheet type="text/xsl" href="/XSLMPSettings.xsl"?>
<vlc>
<server name="set1" ip="192.168.0.2" webif-port="8080" stream-port="9090" user="admin" pass="admin" /> <!-- you can use max 4 server and config sets -->
<server name="set2" ip="192.168.0.2" webif-port="8080" stream-port="9090" user="admin" pass="admin" />
<server name="set3" ip="5.8.177.47" webif-port="8080" stream-port="9090" user="admin" pass="admin" />
<server name="set4" ip="192.168.178.25" webif-port="8080" stream-port="9090" user="admin" pass="admin" />
<config name="set1" startdir="e:/videomovie" cddrive="j:" />
<config name="set2" startdir="e:/videomovie" cddrive="i:" />
<config name="set3" startdir="d:/" cddrive="g:" />
<config name="set4" startdir="c:/" cddrive="g:" />
<codec mpeg1="mpgv" mpeg2="mp2v" audio="mpga" />
<setup name="SVCD" pic="mp4.png" ext="NONE" Videorate="6000" Videotranscode="0" Videocodec="mpeg2" Videosize="352x576" Audiorate="192" Audiotranscode="0" fps="25" soutadd="soverlay,senc" />
<setup name="VCD" pic="mp4.png" ext="NONE" Videorate="6000" Videotranscode="0" Videocodec="mpeg1" Videosize="352x576" Audiorate="192" Audiotranscode="0" fps="25" soutadd="soverlay,senc" />
<setup name="DVD" pic="default.png" ext="NONE" Videorate="6000" Videotranscode="0" Videocodec="mp2v" Videosize="704x576" Audiorate="192" Audiotranscode="1" fps="25" soutadd="soverlay,senc" />
<setup name="File" pic="mpg.png" ext="MPG" Videorate="6000" Videotranscode="1" Videocodec="mp2v" Videosize="704x576" Audiorate="192" Audiotranscode="1" fps="25" soutadd="soverlay,senc" />
<setup name="File" pic="mpg.png" ext="MPEG" Videorate="6000" Videotranscode="1" Videocodec="mp2v" Videosize="704x576" Audiorate="192" Audiotranscode="1" fps="25" soutadd="soverlay,senc" />
<setup name="File" pic="mpg.png" ext="M2P" Videorate="6000" Videotranscode="0" Videocodec="mpgv" Videosize="704x576" Audiorate="192" Audiotranscode="0" fps="25" soutadd="soverlay,senc" />
<setup name="File" pic="mpg.png" ext="MPV" Videorate="6000" Videotranscode="0" Videocodec="mpgv" Videosize="704x576" Audiorate="192" Audiotranscode="0" fps="25" soutadd="soverlay,senc" />
<setup name="File" pic="mpg.png" ext="DAT" Videorate="6000" Videotranscode="0" Videocodec="mpgv" Videosize="704x576" Audiorate="192" Audiotranscode="0" fps="25" soutadd="soverlay,senc" />
<setup name="File" pic="divx.png" ext="AVI" Videorate="6000" Videotranscode="1" Videocodec="mp2v" Videosize="704x576" Audiorate="192" Audiotranscode="1" fps="25" soutadd="soverlay,senc" />
<setup name="File" pic="divx.png" ext="MOV" Videorate="6000" Videotranscode="1" Videocodec="mp2v" Videosize="704x576" Audiorate="192" Audiotranscode="1" fps="25" soutadd="soverlay,senc" />
<setup name="File" pic="wmv.png" ext="WMV" Videorate="6000" Videotranscode="1" Videocodec="mpgv" Videosize="704x576" Audiorate="192" Audiotranscode="1" fps="25" soutadd="soverlay,senc" />
<setup name="File" pic="h264.png" ext="H264" Videorate="6000" Videotranscode="1" Videocodec="mpgv" Videosize="704x576" Audiorate="192" Audiotranscode="1" fps="25" soutadd="soverlay,senc" />
<setup name="File" pic="mp4.png" ext="MP4" Videorate="6000" Videotranscode="1" Videocodec="mpgv" Videosize="704x576" Audiorate="192" Audiotranscode="1" fps="25" soutadd="soverlay,senc" />
<setup name="File" pic="divx.png" ext="DIVX" Videorate="6000" Videotranscode="1" Videocodec="mp2v" Videosize="704x576" Audiorate="192" Audiotranscode="1" fps="25" soutadd="soverlay,senc" />
<setup name="File" pic="default.png" ext="ASF" Videorate="1024" Videotranscode="1" Scale="1" Videocodec="mp2v" Videosize="480x576" Audiorate="192" Audiotranscode="1" fps="25" soutadd="soverlay,senc" />
<setup name="File" pic="default.png" ext="TS" Videorate="6000" Videotranscode="0" Videocodec="mp2v" Videosize="704x576" Audiorate="192" Audiotranscode="0" fps="25" soutadd="soverlay,senc" />
<setup name="File" pic="default.png" ext="M3U" Videorate="6000" Videotranscode="0" Videocodec="mp2v" Videosize="704x576" Audiorate="192" Audiotranscode="0" fps="25" soutadd="soverlay,senc" />
<setup name="File" pic="dvd.png" ext="VOB" Videorate="6000" Videotranscode="0" Videocodec="mp2v" Videosize="704x576" Audiorate="192" Audiotranscode="1" fps="25" soutadd="soverlay,senc" />
<setup name="File" pic="dvd.png" ext="ISO" Videorate="6000" Videotranscode="0" Videocodec="mp2v" Videosize="704x576" Audiorate="192" Audiotranscode="1" fps="25" soutadd="soverlay,senc" />
<setup name="File" pic="dvd.png" ext="BIN" Videorate="6000" Videotranscode="0" Videocodec="mp2v" Videosize="704x576" Audiorate="192" Audiotranscode="1" fps="25" soutadd="soverlay,senc" />
<setup name="File" pic="mp3.png" ext="MP3" Videorate="6000" Videotranscode="1" Videocodec="mp2v" Videosize="704x576" Audiorate="192" Audiotranscode="1" fps="25" soutadd="" />
<setup name="File" pic="mp3.png" ext="WMA" Videorate="6000" Videotranscode="1" Videocodec="mp2v" Videosize="704x576" Audiorate="192" Audiotranscode="1" fps="25" soutadd="" />
<setup name="File" pic="mp3.png" ext="WAV" Videorate="6000" Videotranscode="1" Videocodec="mp2v" Videosize="704x576" Audiorate="192" Audiotranscode="1" fps="25" soutadd="" />
<setup name="File" pic="mp3.png" ext="OGG" Videorate="6000" Videotranscode="1" Videocodec="mp2v" Videosize="704x576" Audiorate="192" Audiotranscode="1" fps="25" soutadd="" />
<!--Feel free to add filextensions as you like. Every listet extension will be proceed now. Example below-->
<!--setup name="File" ext="RATDVD" Videorate="2048" Videotranscode="1" Videocodec="mp2v" Videosize="720x576" Audiorate="192" Audiotranscode="1" fps="25" soutadd="soverlay,senc" /-->
</vlc>

[harshy]

thanks ian,

still can't find the xml file, maybe it has to be configured using the interface on the dm800

[ian]

there's no xml file in this folder :(:o10:

as i said i dont have an 800 but i think this is where it should be.
it could be called movieplayer.xml or vlcf.xml
you may even find that you have to create one yourself.just use the copy of mine.

then again as i dont have an 800 it could be a totally different setup,but i doubt this.ian.

[po]

i had no need to editxml file on mine, i just did what is down in my post.

[ian]

how did you install the plugin?
as this file should be installed automatically if you downloaded and installed it from the dreambox.

[po]

1st install vlc on pc
2nd installed vlc through green button > plug ins

[ian]

i may be making things harder for you here on the dreambox side of things as an 800 could be totally different to a 7020.

just make sure on VLC itself on your pc that you go into tools/add interface and select web interface.then do as po said in post number 5.ian.

[harshy]

hi ian and po

I've got Virtual PC and on this is XP, the plugin on the dreambox can see the file structure of my Virtual PC, and back to my main PC is Vista Ultimate and it dosen't work, so its not working on Vista :(

I am going to try and play a demo file to see if it works,

OK, thanks again,


harshy :)

[harshy]

it works using Virtual PC XP:woohoo-022:

so that means I'll have to do it on Windows XP equipment, if anyone has it on Vista, it would great if there was a solution :)

Thanks again for your help guys,


harshy

[ian]

i had major problems running VLC on vista.the stream would just drop out for no reason.this is because the TCP/IP stack of vista has been completely re written and they have made a total balls up of it.

The symptoms exist due to the new re-written TCP stack in Windows Vista that aims to take full advantage of hardware advances such as gigabit networking. Among the new feature in Windows Vista TCP/IP is Receive Window Auto-Tuning Level for TCP connections. TCP AutoTuning enables TCP window scaling by default and automatically tunes the TCP receive window size for each individual connection based on the bandwidth delay product (BDP) and the rate at which the application reads data from the connection, and no longer need to manually change TcpWindowSize registry key value which applies to all connection. Theoretically, with TCP auto-tuning, network connection throughput in Windows Vista should be improved for best performance and efficiency, without registry tweaks or hacks. However, this is not always the case, and may cause some Internet related issues and problems including stopping you from streaming to your dreambox.

The workaround or solution to the above problem is to disable the TCP/IP AutoTuning in Windows Vista. Disabling auto tuning of TCP Windows Size should not cause any negative effects, only that TCP Window Size will always be at the default value without the ability to optimization to each connection. Anyway, if there are any side effects after turn off auto tuning, simply re-enable it.

To check the state or current setting of TCP Auto-Tuning

Open elevated command prompt with administrator’s privileges. (MAKE SURE YOU OPEN WITH ADMINISTRATORS PRIVILEGES OR IT WONT WORK)
Type the following command and press Enter:

netsh interface tcp show global

The system will display the following text on screen, where you can check on the Auto-Tuning setting:

Querying active state…

TCP Global Parameters
———————————————-
Receive-Side Scaling State : enabled
Chimney Offload State : enabled
Receive Window Auto-Tuning Level : normal
Add-On Congestion Control Provider : none
ECN Capability : disabled
RFC 1323 Timestamps : disabled

To disable TCP Auto-Tuning

Open elevated command prompt with administrator’s privileges.
Type the following command and press Enter:

netsh interface tcp set global autotuning=disabled

To enable TCP Auto-Tuning

Open elevated command prompt with administrator’s privileges.
Type the following command and press Enter:

netsh interface tcp set global autotuning=normal

after you have disabled the auto tunning software such as *** will then work perfectly and not stall at the checking password stage.

this should also allow you to stream.but you will then be in a position similar to what i was in the fact that the stream will just drop off for no reason.
the solution to this was to install vista SP1.this fixed all the vista streaming drop off issues.ian.

edit:
just in case your not sure on how to run cmd with administrator privilages.
you must click start,then all programs then accessories then right click on the command prompt and select run as administrator.
the cmd then opens with admin privileges.i hope this makes it a little easier for you.ian.

[Jono]

I've been meaning to ask this my self i will try it now

cheers jono

[harshy]

thanks Ian,

I had a feeling it was Vista causing the problem, why oh why did I install this operating system, I'll give it a go and see what happens :)

Thanks again,


harshy

[harshy]

strange its now working with Vista, I say strange because I didn't do anything:confused:

edit I just read your post Ian, I have got SP1 installed. and auto tuning is set to highlyrestricted.

[ian]

turn it off mate,you will encounter far fewer problems if you do.ian.

[harshy]

thanks ian for your advice, yes I had a few problems watching the avi, it dropped out half way, so I'll set it to off and see what happens. :)

[Jono]

Thanks for the info good post to start harshy hope your having some luck with it.
I would just like to ask i can no see my drives on the dm800 but when i go to my movie folder and try to open a film all i get is the sound very fast and bracking up no video picture what so ever.
could you explain to me what the settings should be

cheers Jono

[harshy]

Thanks for the info good post to start harshy hope your having some luck with it.
I would just like to ask i can no see my drives on the dm800 but when i go to my movie folder and try to open a film all i get is the sound very fast and bracking up no video picture what so ever.
could you explain to me what the settings should be

cheers Jono

Thanks Jono for your kind comments, I kept all the values the same on mine and it seemed to work fine with XP, with Vista there was some drop out but tomorrow I am going to try with Ian's advice and see what happens, you should be able to see your PC drive but VLC has to be running on PC, with HTTP ticked on Web Interfaces.

when you say movie folder, do you mean on your dreambox?:confused:

ok thanks again,


harshy

[po]

the drives you see are on the server you have set ie your pc.
you can load movies straight onto the 800 but it hardly seems worth it when you can just play them from the source.