playing .MKV .AVI .MP4 ??

[fizzgig656]

Hi all , whats a good solution for playing a mixture of MP3's, AVI's, MKV's and MP4's? these are the file types i have on my nas and i would like to play them mainly on my windows PC that outputs to a TV, but ideally id like to be able to play over the WAN/internet.

Ive tried plex - seems very good but, it doest seem to like my AVI's or MKV's, plus i suspect it is having adverse efects on my nas over time (but ill have to test further if its plex or something else)
Also the android app seems to play MP3's on but video - nah, even on the same network. it keeps telling me there is a problems playing, please restart the client and server.

cheers for any help.

[raulfg3]

see viewtopic.php?f=38&t=5023

[fizzgig656]

Thanks Raulfg3, good reading, but im struggling, what do you use (client and server) any why?. as i see it i need the server on the n4f (obliviously) and the a rendering client (as i believe it called) on the windows pc,andriod tablet, or via a fancy looking webpage. but i tried to get a couple of android apps to play to fuppes with no luck. and now tried plex. Remember I would like the ability to user over WAN/internet if possible.

I would like to know what people use and why or suggest to use, and what clients work best. And i guess for the kids something easy to use. plex looked good and sems to work together ok but not quiet right from the server end to the client.

Have you heard or used Emby Server? seems to be similar to plex?

[kenZ71]

From my Android phone I use the app ES File Explorer to browse my NAS4Free. I am able to play pretty much any music or movie on my NAS.

From my TV was using a WDTV but replaced that with Amazon Fire TV & Kodi

[fizzgig656]

From my Android phone I use the app ES File Explorer to browse my NAS4Free. I am able to play pretty much any music or movie on my NAS.

From my TV was using a WDTV but replaced that with Amazon Fire TV & Kodi

Ok thanks what have you got running on your nas as the media server?

I can use es file explorer as a file explorer over internal lan via mappings and externa internet/wan via sftp.

[fizzgig656]

can people please list their media server thats installed and what apps they use (android and windows)

[raulfg3]

I use minidlna to see films on my LG & Samsumg TV, and I see MP4 and Avi and have no problems to see.

MKV are not sure, because I have a small amount of it.

[MikeMac]

what do you use (client and server) any why?

IMHO question is out of nas4free discussion (and even NAS at all), but interesting and important.
As client people uses
1) mediaplayer (dune, popcorn, wdtv etc)
2) htpc ie standard computer HW+OS (x86 with win or Linux; ARM - say, raspberry pi with Linux) with suitable SW (say, kodi derivatives)
3) DLNA client
4) proprietary client - plex, emby, android, ios device, google chromecast, amazon fire tv, apple tv...

To make situation even less simple, one could mix. There is plex sw, for example, for virtually every HW mentioned, exclude newer apple tv. Android is quite open for 3-rd party clients. iOS is more restrikted, but there are solutions. Most of media client have DLNA capabilities.

Server you use is depending of you client mixture. For example, I use
1 nas4free with SMB, NFS for
1.1 mediaplayers - dune, popcorn;
1.2 iOS (need jailbreak) and android with Kodi
1.3 Raspberry + DAC (ordered, but not received yet)

2 nas4free with plex server in chroot for
1.1 iOS and android with $ plex clients
1.2 Dune community plex client (there are for popcorn wd, etc too)

3 nas4free with DLNA for
3.1 streaming music on my ONKYO receiver

You see - there is a lot of options, and I use only small fraction of them.

now tried plex. Remember I would like the ability to user over WAN/internet if possible.

For WAN and private media server plex IMHO is workable solution. One from the very few. By the way, I do not like en idea to expose my files to internet. Call me paranoic

The other workable WAN solution is kodi client, private file server and VPN tunnel. After all. you could expose your media library as web server, probably with password access and use any SW for looking/listening.

Emby Server? seems to be similar to plex

I had tried Emby. No problem with installation on nas4free, works on quite small media library. There are a few advantages over plex (BD images, better catalog structure, etc.). But then I try to use whole my multyterbyte library with Emby, one becomes so slooooow that effectively stops. I had uninstalled one.

For me most promising media systems are plex and Kodi. There is significant difference in ideology for both systems, despite of common roots. Please read manuals. etc.

And for HW I belive most promising are
- android and iOS devices for mobile usage
- raspberry and similar HW for static home usage
- I do NOT belive in restricted HW from google, apple, amazon, roku, etc. You just do not own it. Tomorrow vendor could change firmware, force to download one into "your" device - and kodi (plex, emby, etc) stops to work. Something similar we had already seen in the wild. (NB also true for android and ios, but problem is sofer here for numerous reasons) .

[fizzgig656]

thanks MikeMac (or should i call you Mr paranoid) lol

seriously thanks for the reply, lots of info and a good read. as a novice i do struggle with some of this and making sense (needing to google alot of things). As in am I right that "chroot" is a "jail"?

So do you only use a plex sw client to connect to the plex server. Not any other clients connection to it? Ie will plex client only work with plex server? And I guess Emby client only work with Emby servers?

Not sure if its just me but I do have problems playing plex on android either locally (will only play mp4 not avi or mkv) and over internet it's more hit and miss. And using the Web players just as bad on both windows and android.

After all. you could expose your media library as web server, probably with password access and use any SW for looking/listening.

as a novice I think I can setup the webserver (one thing I am doing is moving owncloud over to a jail. Mixed results/use) but start drawing a black the the rest. I understand the principle and logic but wouldn't know where to start..

i understand its not really the purpose of nas4free, but for the limited amount of use and as some of us cant have a multitude of servers, we need to flex the abilities of what we have got. the load on my nas is small, probably one person access it at any one time, i know that it still needs to provide the services even if no one uses them. First and fore most is to use it as a network file store. then to use it to download and lastly to use it to play media on a windows pc or PS3/Xbox outputting onto a TV. possibly to a andriod phone, and rarely to a my inlaws or parents over the internet. I do use SMB at the moment to play videos and music but its not "nice and easy" and I do use ftp over ssh on my phone. But playing over that and the Internet worms but not creat. I do like the look of the plex interface compared with just a file explorer.

I do like the server doing the cataloging rather than every client. I guess also access or parental type controls could be handy?

I assumed working with the nas software first would be best then get the clients to work. but maybe i need to look at it the other way round?

I think ill leave the Plex install for now - possibly stop the jail and try one of the others. trouble is its time consuming and difficult with my limited knowledge and having to google everything Seems like ill have to use different clients depending on OS and hardware. its also knowing which clients can do what i want, ie media over wan for android/windows laptop and local clients.

Its also made more complex when i know some clients and servers are limited to what formats they will play, transcode etc.

more time (ha ha) and research i think.

thanks again. - still open to other peoples input !!!

[MikeMac]

As in am I right that "chroot" is a "jail"?

No. There are similarities, but not.

See http://dreamcat4.github.io/finch/ or special thread on this forum abt Finch

Shortly, difference between plex in jail and plex in chroot (in chroot, but NOT in jail inside chroot) is DLNA. DLNA part of Plex works fine in chrooted Plex, but not in jailed one (at least without sophisticated tuning)

My how-to for plex to chroot installation is here http://2gusia.livejournal.com/225110.html But it is in Russian (yoг could use gogle translate, but be aware, one tends to corrupt code - so copy-paste code from original version)

If you do not need DLNA (and IMHO DLNA is a bulshit after all) jailed Plex installation is good aproach.

will plex client only work with plex server? And I guess Emby client only work with Emby servers?

yes 2 times.

owncloud

I had one installed, but not use really. Installation is not real problem - seach this forum.
But I really could not recommend owncloud for task we are discussing. Similary, you could use kitchen knife instead of screwdriver, but...

then to use it to download and lastly to use it to play media on a windows pc or PS3/Xbox outputting onto a TV. possibly to a andriod phone, and rarely to a my inlaws or parents over the internet.

For WAN access I could recommend study plex in case of normal users. In case of computer geeks Kodi approach could be more flexible. Of course one could mix both. NOTE you do not vitally need plex pass - ie $$ functionality. It is interesting, but only 5% of plex users pays for plex pass (me - not)

I do like the server doing the cataloging rather than every client.

Server catalog is only possibility with plex. Kodi could use both, but client sode by default.

parental type controls could be handy?

AFAIK part of $$ plex pass functionality
But who prevents you form using two virtual plex servers - one for kids and other for adults after all? It will be more expensive after all, but geeks do not calculate own labor as costs

but maybe i need to look at it the other way round?

I do not think so. But I did this recently. There was a long discussion in my Russian blog. Bottomline with feature table is here http://2gusia.livejournal.com/286006.html
Hope google cold make proper translation from Russian.

Its also made more complex when i know some clients and servers are limited to what formats they will play, transcode etc.

Plex is made for mere mortal. All platform client are similar and simple (normally not free, but really cheap). All spellware as transcoding, internet sharing, https is already done under the hood. If a person could use smartphone, one could use plex client.

Server part is slighly more sophisticated, but is not rocket science too. I recommend for testing and so on use small medialibrary - couple of movies, couple of TV , series couple of music artists with 2-3 CD of each.

[kenZ71]

From my Android phone I use the app ES File Explorer to browse my NAS4Free. I am able to play pretty much any music or movie on my NAS.

From my TV was using a WDTV but replaced that with Amazon Fire TV & Kodi

Ok thanks what have you got running on your nas as the media server?.

Nothing. The NAS shares the data via smb then clients read the data as needed.

[fizzgig656]

thanks kenZ71, i new that, but replying when tired isnt good. When im local it does play over SMB and over internet via SFTP.

Cheers MikeMac again,

I do not think so. But I did this recently. There was a long discussion in my Russian blog. Bottomline with feature table is here http://2gusia.livejournal.com/286006.html
Hope google cold make proper translation from Russian.

Yes chome does (well enough to understand it) still reading the rest.

AFAIK part of $$ plex pass functionality
But who prevents you form using two virtual plex servers - one for kids and other for adults after all? It will be more expensive after all, but geeks do not calculate own labor as costs

Do you mean 2 jailed or chroot servers (as virtual servers)?

I forgot to mention, I got plex installed but can only seem to play mp4 files locally (web player on windows), sometimes remotely via web player (windows) i can play mp4's only but very hit and miss often get errors of "There was a problem playing this item" and vary rearly via wifi on android via webplayer or app.

app error "an error occured while attemtping to play this video, Please try restarting both plex server and app".
android web player "There was a problem playing this item"

sometimes videos over internet, web or app and all OS, it just sits there with the loading wheel, mp4, avi or MKV.

but i have not been able to play AVI or MKV (ive seen mentions and fixes to MKV's but not delved into it yet) locally or over internet via web player or via android app mostly "There was a problem playing this item" errors. Is this because ive still installed it with in a jails rather than the chroot no jailed? as per MickMac sugestion above? does it reply on DLNA.

audio mp3's are fine in all tests at the moment.

[MikeMac]

can only seem to play mp4 files locally (web player on windows), sometimes remotely via web player (windows) i can play mp4's only but very hit and miss often get errors of "There was a problem playing this item" and vary rearly via wifi on android via webplayer or app.

Nothing is for free. Plex magic with transcoding use CPU power. And a lot of power - real time video transcoding is one of most demanding everyday tasks.

For example my CPU have 3099 passmark score http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu_list.php
But your atom - only 851 - ie 3.6 times more. So for my NAS 1080p video transcoding in general possible (but there are difficulties for most demanding video - codec and bitrate depending)

You could upgrade you hardware with faster CPU or change concept, from server-side transcoding to client-side. Probably - with Kodi.
Good news, for client side Kodi could use not only CPU, but GPU, specially designed for such tasks. As result, my old iPad one perfectly show me 720p (but not 1080p) content in LAN. iPad 3 - the same for 1080p content. Of course, both with jailbreak.
My quite old Samsung tablet also good with Kodi and 1080p content (no root nesesary)
Also current Raspberry pi 2 is suiteble for this task in case of TV set.

But with Kodi you need more sophisticated network setup (VPN probably) for see video via Internet from home storage.

DLNA

.

DLNA is not suitable for using via Internet (at reast without very special tricks). Locally DLNA (depending a few dozens of parameters) could use both server side and client side video processing.

[fizzgig656]

I do understand there will be a lot of demand on my cpu and i am expect it to be too much for some videos if not all, but i thought i would see it start to play and notice the cpu shoot up. but when i play (for instance now) a mkv or avi on my laptop locally and get the error "There was a problem playing this item" - i seem no spike or increase in CPU. it seems as it something is not letting it play.

I shall play some more. @MikeMac. thanks a lot for you advice and discussion. I am still looking at your blog and instructions.

[fizzgig656]

I've now installed Emby in a jail too. Easy install. But I'm sure I'm doing something wrong. I get the feeling it's the way I've setup my jail or permissions, the jail is in a dataset but that shouldn't effect it should it? Emby will not play a thing over local ip or Android app. I'll have a Google about it tomorrow but for now I'm thinking my jail or data mounts or access/permissions are causing the issues. When I rebooted the server from the dashboard it seemed to loose the library but remembered the folders.

DLNA works fine play video locally and mp3's.


Ive had no cpu peaking over 60% even on lbary scan. Which took about 30 minutes. And normal cpu while browsing or a temping to play mp3's or videos was less than 30%.
All I get as an error message is "There was an error processing your request. Please try again later " or "There was an error playing the video" straight away.

This is my jail screen shot.

Screenshot_2015-11-09-23-53-02.png

[fizzgig656]

How weird, ive left Plex alone for a day or two now and been trying to get Emby to work. when i went back to test Plex, it has now played some films, MKV and MP4. yes MikeMac CPU is high, but fine, im happy to know that "it" works and i just need to decide to upgrade HW or use it to play music and only download using plex rather than play Videos. and at home i can use another option, ie DLNA, and direct play/client catalogue. probably using Xbox ps4 or something to play. not the best way round it thought. always ends up more complicated that a simple NAS to all clients using one method.

I have noticed that if i try t download a film using windows edge as my browser it seems to not download it but actually play it directly, sort of file streaming. where firefox asks me to either play or save the file when I try to download it. might be another way to use it?

can i add my library to Xbox/ps4 using CIFS/SMB or better to discover via DLNA?

Why is fuppes not seen as good? Why do people prefer installing things like minidlna instead?

Is there a fix for the DLNA issue with plex in a jail (I'm guessing not due to the way jails work) or it it to install it by chroot (with finch i think) im also getting lots of router logs of miniupnpd[1046]: sendto(udp): Operation not permitted
Im guessing this is plex trying to announce itself with the nas4free ip rather than its own one?