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Asustor updates wipes data


geoff511

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geoff511

Hi,

Can somebody please tell me why -- Every Time EMBY does an update IT WIPES EVERYTHING BACK TO A BRAND NEW INSTALLATION ??

 

The last update (a couple of months ago) also wiped Emby back to a new installation, and since then I have been painstakingly setting it back up AGAIN -- the TV shows, movies and for the last 3 weeks my CD library.

And today App Central informs me there is an update to vers. 3.0.6020.r1 .... and I (as I have now found out) foolishly allowed the update to occur ...

Emby restarts and it is BLANK !!!!    JUST AS IF I JUST INSTALLED IT FOR THE FIRST TIME !!!!!

 

I use the Plugin "Server Configuration Backup" .. So I re-installed it, restarted Emby and ran the last backup which was saved last night --- and it did ... wait for it ....  Nothing !

So I restarted Emby again, re-ran the Backup and restored from the last save and waited, around 10 minutes later, noticed some things starting to appear (looks like you can't rush it).

 

So have I got to completely re-setup EMBY EVERY TIME THERE IS AN UPDATE ?

 

And if so - WHY ?? 

 

PLEASE HELP !!!!!

 

(Added this morning)

So the restore started last night about 8pm .. it is now 6am and the restore is still running - the scan is up to 69.2%

Not sure if it is still the 1st scan from the restore last night, or the scheduled scan due 4.30am every day, but the scheduled scan usually takes about 20min ... so this is taking a lot longer.

 

But still I do want to ask the programmers - Does Emby have to wipe itself every time there is an update on the Asustor version ??

Edited by geoff511
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Hi, welcome. Emby itself does not do that. It must be something particular to the Asustor package.

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  • 2 weeks later...
Guest topbanana

It's just happened to me.

 

Hadn't had emby running for a few days, started it, it updated and i restarted it.  EVERYTHING GONE!
Library has nothing listed.

But the library titles show on the 'Home' slide-in when you press the Home burger button.

 

I'm running a windows version. Not a Asustor version.

 

----------------------------------------------------

 

EDIT: All fixed with Version 3.1.100.0 of the windows server.

All content back where it should be.

Edited by topbanana
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Tarl Cabot

Hi,

Can somebody please tell me why -- Every Time EMBY does an update IT WIPES EVERYTHING BACK TO A BRAND NEW INSTALLATION ??

 

The last update (a couple of months ago) also wiped Emby back to a new installation, and since then I have been painstakingly setting it back up AGAIN -- the TV shows, movies and for the last 3 weeks my CD library.

And today App Central informs me there is an update to vers. 3.0.6020.r1 .... and I (as I have now found out) foolishly allowed the update to occur ...

...

 

 

 

Wow, thanks for the heads up, I was just about to update mine until I saw your post. And I hear ya, bud. I'm equally disgusted with Asustor's late and sloppy builds. At first I thought the breaks in some of their their mods were just a temporary string of flukes, but quickly discovered that it's a regular occurrence... almost as if they don't do any in-house testing and instead rely solely on customer bug reports for QC.

 

That said, were you able to resolve or find a better solution than restoration?  What model NAS do you have, and did you submit a ticket to Asustor? (Not that they'll actually fix anything soon, but at least to make them aware of the problem). I'm running an AS5102T, 8GB RAM, 4TB x 2 in RAID-1, ADM v2.6.3

 

Also, have you tried to SSH into the box and back up the Emby folders manually, and/or use the same manual method to at least conduct in-version updates from official Emby github sources rather than via Asustor's AppCentral update feature? (i.e., unzip the latest Emby github build and then use WinSCP or similar utility to update, copy-paste, manually)

 

Sorry for all the questions, but maybe we can bounce some ideas around, either here or in PM's, and come up with a more stable alternative. 

 

Cheers.

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Yea I think the asustor package might unfortunately be built in a way that is going to wipe the server's data folder on updates.

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  • 4 weeks later...
geoff511

Hi Tarl,

Sorry hadn't got back sooner but am still trying to clean up the mess from the F#@kn' last update ...

I'm running a AS5004T, 4g Ram, 4x6tb h/drives in Raid 5, ADM vers- 2.6.3    and have 12tb of movie, tv and music files on it.

 

If I could find a better app. than Emby to use, I would jump at it in a second but at the moment this slow (VERY VERY SLOW) app. is the best I can find for being a media librarian for sharing the files across my network etc. and allowing editing via the computer and not on the TV screen (like Kodi).

The front end of Emby is terrible but I only use it for editing etc. , I use Kodi with the Fusion addon and the Metropolis Skin to view on the TV.  And connect it to Emby via the plugins.

Sometimes if you do a lot of changes the plugin looses the connection, but 1 thing to come out of the last update was the plugin is more stable and dropouts are quite rare now.

 

Re; making a backup of the Emby metadata, I have used Putty and made some batch files to backup the folders I think carry all the data. When it comes to putting this data back when the next nightmare (ooops sorry) Update occurs, who knows ?? It may work or then again, Emby may spit the dummy and want the metadata created itself.

 

In the batch file I have the line  - putty -ssh 192.168.1.252 -l XXXXXX -pw YYYYYY -m e:\Backup_EMBY.txt                               (change the XXXXXX for ur User Name and YYYYYY for ur Password)

And in the Backup-EMBY.txt file it reads -

cp -r /volume1/.@plugins/AppCentral/mediabrowser/bin/ProgramData-Server/metadata /volume1/Configuration/Emby-Metadata
cp -r /volume1/.@plugins/AppCentral/mediabrowser/bin/ProgramData-Server/data/SyncData /volume1/Configuration/Emby-Metadata
cp -r /volume1/.@plugins/AppCentral/mediabrowser/bin/ProgramData-Server/data/camerauploads /volume1/Configuration/Emby-Metadata
cp -r /volume1/.@plugins/AppCentral/mediabrowser/bin/ProgramData-Server/data/collections /volume1/Configuration/Emby-Metadata
cp -r /volume1/.@plugins/AppCentral/mediabrowser/bin/ProgramData-Server/data/devices /volume1/Configuration/Emby-Metadata
cp -r /volume1/.@plugins/AppCentral/mediabrowser/bin/ProgramData-Server/data/playlists /volume1/Configuration/Emby-Metadata

 

Basically it just copies all the Meta-data folders to my Configuration/Emby-Metadata folder on my Asustor and I have a simple batch file made to reverse the process when (sorry if) it is needed for the next update.

 

But if what Luke just wrote is correct, I doubt I will ever update this very poorly written app. again,until I hear the update works and no wiping of data has occurred.

So prob. won't ever update again  ... :)

 

Regarding ur line - Also, have you tried to SSH into the box and back up the Emby folders manually, and/or use the same manual method to at least conduct in-version updates from official Emby github sources rather than via Asustor's AppCentral update feature? (i.e., unzip the latest Emby github build and then use WinSCP or similar utility to update, copy-paste, manually)

I have no idea what you just wrote. SSH , putty , github and WinSCP is very new to me, and I thought I was doing well to get in Via Putty and then using info on several web sites make a batch file (above) to copy the data folders. So manually updating etc .. no I haven't tried, and would need very simple step-by-step instructions to even think of trying it. -- sorry.

 

I bought the Asustor to put my library on, keep track to new TV shows etc. and watch TV/Movies via this box rather than the time consuming hassle of DVD's.

But when I look back over the last year or so , I am wondering which is more time consuming, DVD's or Emby ??

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Hi, why would you say that? Unfortunately that's just the way the asustor package is built. Emby does not have this issue on other platforms. I have passed the info along to asustor so hopefully there will be a resolution soon.

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Hi Luke,

Thanks in advance for contacting the Asustor mobs who have created the version I have to use.

I really do hope they listen and realise the monumental headaches they are creating by not putting more thought into this version re updates.

I will keep an eye on this post, but as said, if I can't get definite proof that an update WON'T wipe the metadata, then I won't be updating again. It's just not worth it.

I would rather use an outdated version than waste (like I am since the last update) 2 hours every day trying to get the metadata re-built, and all I've finished is the Movies.

(But why taking so long ? Well it's the speed of Emby to open a page .. it is just soooo slow, and a few other things but for that I might make a hole new post of odd things Emby Does).

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Tarl Cabot

Hi Tarl,

Sorry hadn't got back sooner but am still trying to clean up the mess from the F#@kn' last update ...

I'm running a AS5004T, 4g Ram, 4x6tb h/drives in Raid 5, ADM vers- 2.6.3    and have 12tb of movie, tv and music files on it.

 

If I could find a better app. than Emby to use, I would jump at it in a second but at the moment this slow (VERY VERY SLOW) app. is the best I can find for being a media librarian for sharing the files across my network etc. and allowing editing via the computer and not on the TV screen (like Kodi).

The front end of Emby is terrible but I only use it for editing etc. , I use Kodi with the Fusion addon and the Metropolis Skin to view on the TV.  And connect it to Emby via the plugins.

Sometimes if you do a lot of changes the plugin looses the connection, but 1 thing to come out of the last update was the plugin is more stable and dropouts are quite rare now.

 

Re; making a backup of the Emby metadata, I have used Putty and made some batch files to backup the folders I think carry all the data. When it comes to putting this data back when the next nightmare (ooops sorry) Update occurs, who knows ?? It may work or then again, Emby may spit the dummy and want the metadata created itself.

 

In the batch file I have the line  - putty -ssh 192.168.1.252 -l XXXXXX -pw YYYYYY -m e:\Backup_EMBY.txt                               (change the XXXXXX for ur User Name and YYYYYY for ur Password)

 

And in the Backup-EMBY.txt file it reads -

cp -r /volume1/.@plugins/AppCentral/mediabrowser/bin/ProgramData-Server/metadata /volume1/Configuration/Emby-Metadata

cp -r /volume1/.@plugins/AppCentral/mediabrowser/bin/ProgramData-Server/data/SyncData /volume1/Configuration/Emby-Metadata

cp -r /volume1/.@plugins/AppCentral/mediabrowser/bin/ProgramData-Server/data/camerauploads /volume1/Configuration/Emby-Metadata

cp -r /volume1/.@plugins/AppCentral/mediabrowser/bin/ProgramData-Server/data/collections /volume1/Configuration/Emby-Metadata

cp -r /volume1/.@plugins/AppCentral/mediabrowser/bin/ProgramData-Server/data/devices /volume1/Configuration/Emby-Metadata

cp -r /volume1/.@plugins/AppCentral/mediabrowser/bin/ProgramData-Server/data/playlists /volume1/Configuration/Emby-Metadata

 

Basically it just copies all the Meta-data folders to my Configuration/Emby-Metadata folder on my Asustor and I have a simple batch file made to reverse the process when (sorry if) it is needed for the next update.

 

But if what Luke just wrote is correct, I doubt I will ever update this very poorly written app. again,until I hear the update works and no wiping of data has occurred.

So prob. won't ever update again  ... :)

 

Regarding ur line - Also, have you tried to SSH into the box and back up the Emby folders manually, and/or use the same manual method to at least conduct in-version updates from official Emby github sources rather than via Asustor's AppCentral update feature? (i.e., unzip the latest Emby github build and then use WinSCP or similar utility to update, copy-paste, manually)

I have no idea what you just wrote. SSH , putty , github and WinSCP is very new to me, and I thought I was doing well to get in Via Putty and then using info on several web sites make a batch file (above) to copy the data folders. So manually updating etc .. no I haven't tried, and would need very simple step-by-step instructions to even think of trying it. -- sorry.

 

I bought the Asustor to put my library on, keep track to new TV shows etc. and watch TV/Movies via this box rather than the time consuming hassle of DVD's.

But when I look back over the last year or so , I am wondering which is more time consuming, DVD's or Emby ??

 

Thanks for the tips on the backup files.

 

Yep, I feel your pain. I run a similar model so I'm dealing with the same problems as you, but Emby is not the enemy. The update and performance issues you are experiencing rest wholly on Asustor! I could do a ten-page rant on what a disappointing appliance Asustor is for almost anything other than vanilla NAS usage, but to keep on point, here is the real problem in a nutshell: Asustor has done such a hatchet job with file permissions and their proprietary implementation of a limited BusyBox-over-whatever (their operating system-ADM), that in order to get standard apps/updates like Kodi or Emby to function at all, Asustor "engineers" must modify them first, and as you've already discovered, they pretty much suck at it. Seriously, publishing a simple update for a database app that wipes out userdata in the process!? Unconscionable, but not unexpected when it comes to Asustor. Like I said before, it's as if they totally lack any substantive in-house testing or QC. LOL, not long ago they even hosed their own screensaver so badly in one ADM update, that users were having to do hard boots to regain operation? If Asustor can't get their own code straight, how can they be expected to roll out stable updates for 3rd party apps like Kodi or Emby? They are usually months behind everyone's official updates too, and even when finally published, their versions are still more buggy and slower than the standard versions for other platforms. I could go on and on, but bottom line, the Asustor NAS makes a better doorstop than the omnipotent nexgen media server they claim it to be. Even maxed out at 8GB, RAM utilization is always quite low, yet running any apps like Kodi or Emby natively, generates a ton of hard drive activity, and two 5400rpm, 4TB NAS drives in RAID 1, does not a speed demon make, especially when the OS seems to be relying so heavily on the array for swap space. Nope, despite its specs and oddly glowing reviews, the Asustor NAS, at least the AS5102T, just does not have the horsepower or the design to live up to all its media center sales fluff.

 

My Kodi/Emby implementation is almost identical to yours. I'm sticking with that combo going forward, but I won't be running them natively on my Asustor anymore. I'm tired of its poor performance and unnecessary high-maintenance requirements due to their sloppy code and BusyBox limitations. So, I'm writing my Asustor off as a bad buy, and doing what I should have done in the first place; build a standalone HTPC for Kodi/Emby. I had originally planned to put together a Mini ATX case with an SSD for OS and apps, and 2 internal 4TB's in RAID1 for media storage and general home NAS use. But since I already have the AS5102T now, I'll likely just uninstall all apps down to the bare bones and run it as a simple dumb NAS. Or, I might just junk it altogether, or sell it on eBay, and re-purpose the drives into the new box. Live and learn, eh?

 

Anyway, you are wise to hold off on any new updates these days, especially when it comes to Asustor. I understand your frustration, but never updating apps might not be the best approach. I'd suggest just holding off temporarily instead. Wait a week or two after an update is released, and then check user forums for any bugs/issues before applying the update yourself. Actually, that's how and why I ran into your OP in the first place. I'd already learned my lesson with Asustor builds, so was looking around before applying the latest. That may seem kinda cold, but being an early adopter in today's iffy tech market is a lot like hunting lions the old school way. The lead guy gets the glory of being first, but is also just as likely to get eaten too!

 

As for WinSCP, if you like Putty, you'll really like WinSCP.  It actually integrates Putty, and has a slick side-by-side GUI that makes root maintenance and file transfers to/from those hidden Asustor directories a lot more palatable. As for the GitHub reference, that's just the go-to web service/version control system that developers like Emby's and others use to serve and track their software builds, betas, dev notes, etc. I ran across another post (here or on the Asustor Forum, can't 'member which) that discussed manual updating the NAS with Emby files from GitHub instead of waiting on Asustor to come out with an update package that may or may not work. It had instructions that looked pretty thorough, but that was about the same time I became fed up with running apps natively on Asustor, so I never tried it.

 

Good luck, and give WinSCP a look. It's def worth the effort and the learning curve is nil.

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Hi Tarl,

Thanks for the feedback and info.

Yep I realise that Emby itself isn't to blame, but by making a noise at them, they will often pass on concerns to those causing the error and that is what Luke (Admin) hopefully has done. All I can do now is wait and see what happens.

 

(as said) I have the AS5004T and am quite happy with the unit, even if some of the programming is VERY ametureistic. I have found Kodi runs quite well, just a little slow in the online searching but the connection to Emby from the last update is now much more stable. Plus the many extras I now have available to me is really good. The downside has been the incredible amount of time wasted re-doing lost metadata etc. is very annoying. (Suppose you worked that out by now)

 

Back in May Asustor updated the "Asustor Portal" and completely stuffed it up. I thought I was making a mention in a Forum but somehow it ended up at the Asustor R&D. They contacted me and linked into my unit via Teamviewer and spent 3 hours trying to work out what was happening (ie how they had stuffed up and why it didn't seem to happen on their test unit). In the end they realised there was a couple of lines of code wrong since I had changed/moved the default icons. They thought it would take about a month to repair.

3 Months later they released the new version with 12 icons rather than 5 like it used to be.

The new version still has multiple errors but it works and you can edit it to suit your needs (not that I go to it very often, now that Kodi/Emby link is much more stable I just leave Kodi on all the time).

The unit does all my searching, downloading and is my entertainment of a night, and that is all I really wanted it for. Just a shame the Librarian (Emby) is causing problems.

 

Have had a look at WinSCP like you suggested. It's very similar to standard FTP layouts or the old Norton from back in the DOS days. Very easy to use.

But there is 1 major problem with it, it can't get to the sections where Kodi or Emby is installed or where the metadata is stored, you have to use Putty for that, so still in the same boat there. But thank you anyway, am always very appreciative for the help.

 

Have been looking on forums and will prob. ask this on it's own post 1 day, but do you know how to install or get the visualizations for kodi (when playing music or the radio etc.) to work?

Most of the forums I look at are talking about either Windows installs or Linux. Now I know Linux is very similar to this version, but the directory structure is just to different for me to understand or find what they are referring to.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

Thanks

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Tarl Cabot

Hi Tarl,

Thanks for the feedback and info.

...

 

Have had a look at WinSCP like you suggested. It's very similar to standard FTP layouts or the old Norton from back in the DOS days. Very easy to use.

But there is 1 major problem with it, it can't get to the sections where Kodi or Emby is installed or where the metadata is stored, you have to use Putty for that, so still in the same boat there. But thank you anyway, am always very appreciative for the help.

 

...

 

 

I use WinSCP precisely for its ability to access and modify the .@plugins and other hidden Asustor folders. LOL, I wouldn't have recommended it otherwise. It's up to you of course, but you might want to recheck your settings/log-in and give it another go. I guarantee it's worth the effort. (see attached screenshots)

 

Here's a quick walk-through: 

 

SCP Session: (or SFTP, both work for accessing Asustor's hidden directories. I use SCP)

  1. First, log in to your ADM, click on Services, then Terminal, and confirm that SSH and SFTP boxes are checked. (Standard default port: 22)
  2. Open WinSCP and a small log-in window will appear.
  3. Click on "New Site", then choose File Protocol: "SCP"
  4. Enter the IP address of your NAS in the Host name box, Port number: 22
  5. Username: root  Password: <your_root_password>  (Note: Asustor's default root pw: "admin" for those that haven't changed it)
  6. Click "Save" and a new small window will pop up to name your new connection, save pw box, etc. Select your options to taste, save and close.
  7. That's it! Click Login and upon authentication, the main WinSCP window becomes available for work.
  8. <insert, hat-tip Geoff511> Before first use, go to Options - Preferences, configure as needed, and ensure that the "Show hidden files" box is checked under Panels. See: https://winscp.net/eng/docs/start for full user documentation.

A few usage tips:

  • Your PC file structure is displayed on the left side, Asustor's file structure on the right. You may navigate both freely and perform pretty much any permissible tasks on Asustor's files and folders, including all the normally hidden, .whatever folders.
  • The right-hand screen is split vertically. The top is just the navigation tree, so use the lower for actually working on files and folders.
  • WinSCP defaults to "remembering" the folder locations from your last session. You can disable it in the Advanced tab. 
  • Speaking of the Advanced tab, it is loaded with options, but I've never had need to modify them.
  • WinSCP's right-click features are powerful and great for working with those hidden files directly within the program, especially "Edit." However, to stay a step ahead of 'ol Murphy, I usually copy any file I need to edit over to my PC and edit it there instead, renaming the original with "_old" before pasting the new modified copy back to the NAS.
  • NOTE: FTP session configuration is basically the same as the steps for SCP. Simply choose FTP instead, Port 21, and use an "admin" account rather than "root" for log-in credentials.

Cheers.

 

57d734c142f15_WinSCP_snap.jpg

57d734db8eba9_WinSCP_snap2.jpg

Edited by Tarl Cabot
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Hi Tarl,

Thanks for all the effort you put into the instructions, but all it was, was a setting in preferences - Panels - (Tick Requ.) on show hidden files.

Thought I had gone thru everything & checked to see if a tick on something like that was missing, but apparently I must have missed it.  (DOH !!)

 

Any ideas on the missing visualization for Kodi ?  or how to install or get it to work ..

 

Thanks

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Tarl Cabot

Hi Tarl,

Thanks for all the effort you put into the instructions, but all it was, was a setting in preferences - Panels - (Tick Requ.) on show hidden files.

Thought I had gone thru everything & checked to see if a tick on something like that was missing, but apparently I must have missed it.  (DOH !!)

 

Any ideas on the missing visualization for Kodi ?  or how to install or get it to work ..

 

Thanks

 

Hey Geoff,

 

Interesting, the show-hidden Panels tick used to be the default, or was back when I first started using WinSCP and penned the original how-to for a buddy at work who was having a similar access probs, only his were simple RTFM errors (trying to use an FTP/admin account config instead of SCP/root). But good to know. I'll go back and edit the how-to to reflect the change.

 

Anyway, glad you got it straight. If you need a terminal window, you can initiate a PuTTy session directly from within WinSCP, but you'll find the latter's gui way more convenient for navigating and working with Asustor's hidden directories, updating its hosts file, editing .db files, etc. LOL, that's why I recommended it in the first place, so you can imagine the "colorful" thought bubbles that were appearing over my head when I read your "...but there is 1 major problem with it, it can't get to the sections where Kodi or Emby is installed..." line. :)

 

Missing visualization for Kodi?  I'd need a bit more info, which one are you missing, etc?

 

As an aside, do you have a working batch script for overwriting Asustor's hosts file on boot?  I've been updating it manually during weekly reboot and maintenance tasks, but just never got around to playing with a script to automate the process.

 

Cheers

Edited by Tarl Cabot
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Hi Tarl,

Re batch script file, no sorry, I don't change anything like that. Why do you want to change the host file ? And what exactly are you changing each week, and trying to achieve what with the change ?

 

Re visualization in Kodi. The latest update (a couple months ago to vers 16.03.R12 - Jarvis I think) doesn't have any visualizations when playing music or the radio. Have looked on several forums and web-sites, and some say it was put in the wrong folder/s & others say you just need to copy an old version of the files into the current version of Kodi. But 1. I don't have a copy of the old files & 2. They are talking about either a Windows version or Linux, and Asustor's file structure is different. But there is no prob. really, it's just nice to have some movement on the TV screen rather than it being blank.

 

Not sure if you've updated the ADM to vers. 2.6.4.R9C2 or not, but if you are using an Asustor IR Remote Control to control Kodi, I would strongly advise against it.

Might be best to review my post    http://forum.asustor.com/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=8237#p25835   first, it has been written in my usual 'diplomatic' style.

(I have also sent a more gentle version to the R&D team direct to see if they can fix the mess).  

I'm now using an old mobile phone and controlling Kodi with either Kore or the AiRemote App. since the IR Asustor remote is now useless.

 

Have fun,

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Hi,

Well it looks like the Asustor R&D team realize they stuffed up with the latest update, they replied to me -

Thanks for contacting us.
For the issue mentioned, we do find there is issue with the remote control in our latest ADM upgrade.
The issue was reported to our engineer team and they are doing their best to fix it.
I'll keep this ticket open and update the latest news about this in my reply.
My apology for the inconvenience.

 

But seeing is believing when then next update comes out ... :D 

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Remote control? Maybe this thread is veering off of the original topic but as for emby data getting wiped I did email them about it.

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Tarl Cabot

Hi Tarl,

Re batch script file, no sorry, I don't change anything like that. Why do you want to change the host file ? And what exactly are you changing each week, and trying to achieve what with the change ?

 

Re visualization in Kodi. The latest update (a couple months ago to vers 16.03.R12 - Jarvis I think) doesn't have any visualizations when playing music or the radio. Have looked on several forums and web-sites, and some say it was put in the wrong folder/s & others say you just need to copy an old version of the files into the current version of Kodi. But 1. I don't have a copy of the old files & 2. They are talking about either a Windows version or Linux, and Asustor's file structure is different. But there is no prob. really, it's just nice to have some movement on the TV screen rather than it being blank.

 

Not sure if you've updated the ADM to vers. 2.6.4.R9C2 or not, but if you are using an Asustor IR Remote Control to control Kodi, I would strongly advise against it.

Might be best to review my post    http://forum.asustor.com/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=8237#p25835   first, it has been written in my usual 'diplomatic' style.

(I have also sent a more gentle version to the R&D team direct to see if they can fix the mess).  

I'm now using an old mobile phone and controlling Kodi with either Kore or the AiRemote App. since the IR Asustor remote is now useless.

 

Have fun,

 

Hey Geoff,

 

LOL, yep, I threw my Asustor hardware remote in the junk drawer a long time ago, and for that very same reason.  But it is interesting that yours only just now ran into the issue. We have similar AS5 models and setups, yet my Asustor remote quit working with Kodi well over a year ago, also after an ADM or Kodi update... I can't remember which, but it was well before the xbmc/kodi makeover. I had already transitioned to the AiRemote/Kodi Remote apps via iPad instead, so it was no great loss, nor worth the effort to pull out the big crayons and spend a week or two drawing pictures for their support "engineers." But whatever they did hosed the remote so bad, it still won't work with Kodi to this day.

 

Thanks for the heads-up on the ADM release bug, but I was serious in my earlier post about delaying the application of any updates from Asustor for at least couple weeks, long enough to see what new bugs show up in the forums first!  Hate to say, "I told you so," but I kinda did. :)

 

Sorry, can't help with the visualizations either. I disabled them early on and go "Dim" as often as possible instead. (easier on CPU RAM, but mostly just trying to squeeze a couple more years of life out of my old 55" plasma screen)

 

As for the "hosts" file question, that's easy - I do it for domain name blocking, which no matter how you accomplish it, is a must-have security tool. Incorporating domain blacklists into your systems hosts files really is a great, inexpensive way to prevent unwanted outbound connections right at the device level before they even hit the LAN. I use hosts files to help block everything from nagging ads and known adware/malware sites, to overzealous analytics and trackers like DoubleClick. If this is new territory for ya, hosts file mods are well worth the effort to learn. Not only will your devices be more secure, you might actually see better web performance in some. There is plenty of good how-to info and blacklist sources out there too.

 

Personally, I use a freebie called HostsMan on a Windows box to create a single weekly master hosts file from several different kinds of blacklist sources, then copy the new file to every device that I can. Updating standard Linux or Windows hosts is trivial, but more problematic on other devices. For example, I've not yet found a way to overwrite or even edit hosts on my Xbox One or Amazon Fire boxes, so for them I use a combination of blocking entries at the router and OpenDNS's free blocking service. The Asustor hosts file can be edited or overwritten with an app like WinSCP however, you have to manually replace it after every reboot because the ADM restores the original hosts file during boot... I'd like to automate the process of overwriting Asustor's overwrite, which is why I asked whether you had any good boot-up scripts.

 

Anyway, to turn your question around, why would you NOT use modified hosts file to augment your security posture?  

 

Cheers.

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Tarl Cabot

Remote control? Maybe this thread is veering off of the original topic but as for emby data getting wiped I did email them about it.

LOL, veered off? More like derailed... but thanks for the nudge on the emby data wipe. Alas, all part the joys of owning an Asustor product!

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Hey Luke,

Yes, sorry but this thread has done a bit of a left turn at Albuquerque, but hey those reading it will learn stuff, so can't be all bad.

And thanks for the email to Asustor, really hope they listen, understand and have a willingness to fix the mess they are causing.

 

Hi Tarl,

Odd to hear your remote stopped working ages ago. Mine has been great in the ADM area and in Kodi (although I usually use the mini keyboard in ADM). It was only when Asustor R&D changed the settings did it work "to good" and so was impossible to control.

But here is the odd thing, I have a little USB/Wireless mini keyboard, basically twice the size of your hand & it has a built in mouse (like on a laptop). The update made it work really odd as well, but since I removed the batteries from the Asustor IR Remote, the keyboard works really well, in fact better than it used to, it is now VERY accurate, the way I thought it should have been when I 1st got it. So am using it rather than the old mobile phone.

 

Re the hosts file. I've had a bit of a read on it and can't really see the point. I don't run a domain, and using Firefox with Adblocker installed, I very rarely if ever get pop-up adds, or anything popping up on the screen like I see on friends computers who use Windows Internet Explorer.

Regarding automating the process, not sure exactly what you need to do when you restart the NAS, but if it's just replacing a file with another, than a simple batch file will do it. Very similar layout that I use to copy the Metadata data files to a backup location. All that is needed is to rename the hosts file to a *.bak file and copy your hosts file into the same location. But if it means changing settings in other files, than I don't think Asustor has Macro command capabilities (like in say a spreadsheet). But getting it to run such a batch file Automatically when the NAS starts, than I'm at a bit of a loss as well, can't see a simple 'startup' folder like on Windows to put a shortcut in or anything that easy.

But the NAS does run the ASUSTOR Portal once everything else is up and running, and this program uses the start-stop.sh file (/volume1/.@plugins/AppCentral/asportal/CONTROL/) as it's series of commands.

Maybe (and this is only a theory) if a "run" style command line was added to run your batch file to copy your hosts file in and replace the existing one, than yes it would be automated.

You would just need to edit the .sh file each time the R&D team decide to try and destroy things .. umm .. sorry I mean release an update.

 

Have fun ..

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Tarl Cabot

Hi Tarl,

...

Re the hosts file. I've had a bit of a read on it and can't really see the point. I don't run a domain, and using Firefox with Adblocker installed, I very rarely if ever get pop-up adds, or anything popping up on the screen like I see on friends computers who use Windows Internet Explorer.

...

 

No worries, their utility and usage is actually pretty clear, you just ran into some really poor info by the look of it.

 

But Luke is right, we've veered off topic quite a bit. Suggest we move any further chat to PM's instead...

 

I'm out.

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Hi,

Well the Asustor version of Emby has just released another update - vers. 3.0.7200.r1

But the real question is - DOES THIS VERSION DELETE ALL DATA, SETTINGS AND METADATA like previous updates?

 

Admin Luke - have you received word back from the Asustor R&D mob regarding the headaches the updates are causing ? And in particular, what problems this update will cause ?

 

Anyone else - have you added this update from App Central ? and if so, did it wipe your Emby back to a brand new installation, or did everything (I mean everything - settings & metadata) stay the same ?

 

Thanks.

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TSandman

Hi,

Well the Asustor version of Emby has just released another update - vers. 3.0.7200.r1

But the real question is - DOES THIS VERSION DELETE ALL DATA, SETTINGS AND METADATA like previous updates?

 

[..]

Anyone else - have you added this update from App Central ? and if so, did it wipe your Emby back to a brand new installation, or did everything (I mean everything - settings & metadata) stay the same ?

 

Thanks.

 

 

Unfortunately.... Yes :/

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