Problem with Alexa Certificate

[ginjaninja 605]

Having the correct password and path to a valid PFX and external domain name, in Emby Network Config (+reboot) results in the second line in the emby Debug Log 

2024-04-08 11:32:46.186 Info App: Adding HttpListener prefix http://+:8096/
2024-04-08 11:32:46.186 Info App: Adding HttpListener prefix https://+:8920/

if the password were wrong in the Emby config you wont get the https listener...

Once you have the https listener, we can move on...

edit or more simply on the dashboard

 

Edited April 8, 2024 by ginjaninja

[Q-Droid 989]

2 hours ago, djerniehoule said:

I really don't know how to do that? I have the pfx file located at c:\ssl\emby.pfx - and the CCM test say's everything is ok.... I still don't know what I am doing wrong? The password is correct, so?

embyserver (4).txt 131.36 kB · 1 download

It's time for me to be frank. If you can't open a PowerShell and run a command exactly as given then maybe you shouldn't be doing this. If you need Alexa with Emby because of a disability or incapacity then by all means let's try to get this working for you. But if this is for cool convenience then the risk in this case is higher than the reward.

[djerniehoule 23]

I have opened that console 1, but not sure what I am supposed to do with it? Everyone keeps saying passwords need to be the same, but they are. I have checked many times...

[djerniehoule 23]

It appears I am not on 8920 but 8919 for https, I changed 443 to 8919 and I can connect through my ddnsfree domain without internet, but Alexa is still not able to connect...

[djerniehoule 23]

Alexa is still saying "link" my account, but in the pull down there are no options...

[djerniehoule 23]

embyserver (5).txt

[djerniehoule 23]

Ok, for some reason it's now connecting to my account, The emby app showed my computer and i got an email saying connected, but now when I ask alexa to play music through emby it says error connecting to emby user...

[djerniehoule 23]

Well I finaly got it working!!!!! but Emby won't play playlists through Alexa?

[ginjaninja 605]

1 hour ago, djerniehoule said:

Well I finaly got it working!!!!! but Emby won't play playlists through Alexa?

I dont think so, would be a useful feature..

[djerniehoule 23]

I want to thank everyone for the help, maybe someone can create a clear list of instructions from this mess...

[podonnell 47]

Tried to follow through this thread, but reading this one and others -- Is pointing to a local certificate actually required? It didn't seem like it was in other threads.

I'm also using a reverse proxy, with caddy. I can access Emby externally with no issues, but I keep getting generic errors from Alexa.

Also, how does Alexa know which Emby client to control? Do I have this right that Alexa would be able to control the device that I'm playing something on, like stopping or pausing that? Or can she only play audio from my library?

[ginjaninja 605]

I believe the general consensus is that Alexa functionality requires HTTPS which requires a  certificate. HTTPS communication does not have to be over TCP 443, im using the default 8920 port without issue.

By default the player is the Alexa device itself.

once you have HTTPS/skill generally working...you can use "Ask m b home, change player"

Emby Alexa skill will start responding with suggestions for the player....(from the list of currently active Emby clients)

Keep saying "No", until Emby calls out the player you want and say "yes". The Alexa will remember your preferred player for that Alexa.

I dont know if its a bug or an Alexa limitation, but commands to pause and resume dont work if you have set a foreign player...these commands only work when the Alexa you are commanding is the player.

Emby Alexa skill can only play content from Emby library ofc.

 

 

 

[podonnell 47]

3 hours ago, ginjaninja said:

I believe the general consensus is that Alexa functionality requires HTTPS which requires a  certificate. HTTPS communication does not have to be over TCP 443, im using the default 8920 port without issue.

By default the player is the Alexa device itself.

once you have HTTPS/skill generally working...you can use "Ask m b home, change player"

Emby Alexa skill will start responding with suggestions for the player....(from the list of currently active Emby clients)

Keep saying "No", until Emby calls out the player you want and say "yes". The Alexa will remember your preferred player for that Alexa.

I dont know if its a bug or an Alexa limitation, but commands to pause and resume dont work if you have set a foreign player...these commands only work when the Alexa you are commanding is the player.

Emby Alexa skill can only play content from Emby library ofc.

 

This is awesome info, thank you. I started seeing some comments that made me think it would only play audio on alexa itself and not control your devices.
The idea of saying play or pause is a dream to me for those moments I have food in my hands or my phone starts ringing, etc..

On the SSL bit, I think I saw some other threads that didn't say they had to host the certificate in Emby for it to work. I'd be willing to try, but Caddy handles SSL certificates on its own so I'm not sure how I get the certificate out as it is. I'm worried I might have to procure my own separately, and then ask Caddy to host that. Wish we weren't having to figure this all out on our own though.

[ginjaninja 605]

On 20/08/2024 at 21:41, ginjaninja said:

I dont know if its a bug or an Alexa limitation, but commands to pause and resume dont work if you have set a foreign player...these commands only work when the Alexa you are commanding is the player.

I see from the other thread it was my user error...so to correct the record

You can issue pause resume commands on foreign players with the fuller "Alexa, ask mb home to pause"...I incorrectly concluded it wasnt working because the simpler "Alexa, pause" works with local player but not a foreign player. Perhaps "Alex, pause" is operating on a different mechanism and was a 'false positive'. bottom line you can pause / resume foreign players with the fuller command.

[djerniehoule 23]

I want to revisit this issue, I set up a certificate recently and it worked, but only for a short while - When I first started using emby there was no issue, I enabled the skill and was able to play my music... What changed? How do we get it back to where it just worked without having to do all the certificate stuff? I tried plex and that just works, the way emby once did... We should not have to go through all these settings just to make it work..

[djerniehoule 23]

Nobody???

[djerniehoule 23]

These instructions suck! https://emby.media/support/articles/Alexa.html

[Q-Droid 989]

On 9/17/2024 at 10:23 AM, djerniehoule said:

I want to revisit this issue, I set up a certificate recently and it worked, but only for a short while - When I first started using emby there was no issue, I enabled the skill and was able to play my music... What changed? How do we get it back to where it just worked without having to do all the certificate stuff? I tried plex and that just works, the way emby once did... We should not have to go through all these settings just to make it work..

Certificates expire and free certs are usually good for 90 days. Going by the dates in this thread that might be why it stopped working. If so then renew your cert and replace the PFX file in Emby then restart the server.

[djerniehoule 23]

Why does it just work in Plex? What’s the difference?

[djerniehoule 23]

Also where are the paid certificates? I just don’t want to keep dealing with this

[Q-Droid 989]

If you go back to Dynu a Comodo cert valid for one year is $19. Either way you have to renew certs, your choice if you want to do it every 3 months or 12.

There are also ways to automate the free cert renewal so you don't have to deal with it after they're setup. This approach takes some effort and learning to put in place. 

 

 

Edited September 19, 2024 by Q-Droid

[Luke 42077]

6 hours ago, djerniehoule said:

Why does it just work in Plex? What’s the difference?

Because everything runs through their servers using their SSL certificates.

But ask yourself, wouldn't you rather have a private personal media server and not one that puts all of your information into the cloud?

[djerniehoule 23]

I get it and understand, but as a premier user, not knowledgeable enough to make this a simple process, I think emby developers should do something to make this simpler.

[Luke 42077]

8 hours ago, djerniehoule said:

I get it and understand, but as a premier user, not knowledgeable enough to make this a simple process, I think emby developers should do something to make this simpler.

Did you try what Q-Droid suggested?

[djerniehoule 23]

Yes and it worked, but this is a real PIA. Should be simpler...