Help For A Noobie

[Mobileman22 0]

Hi all,

 

So, after 5 odd years of excellent service my HTPC died over christmas. I have rebuilt a new one but have now added a server to store all my data. I used to use the old MediaBrowser but have since seen that MediaBrowser3 is a supported version and so I would like to make the switch but I have some issues understanding how and wondered if anyone could help. The setup I desire is:

 

HP Microline server (12tb) running unRaid (so no real operating system - always on)

HTPC under the TV running Windows 7 and hopedfully MediaBrowser 3 (turned on when needed)

Various Laptops/Tablets/Phones in the house (turned on when needed)

 

From my brief understanding you now need a server version of MediaBrowser running full time but I do not know if (or would understand how) I would get this running on the media server as it is not a windows machine. Is this possible? If not, is there another way around the issue?

 

My experience with MediaBrowser was to have the client installed then have it point to the folders on the server... simples! :-)

 

Any help/advise would be massively appreciated.  

 

Thanks

[Cheesegeezer 3104]

@@Mobileman22

 

Congrats on your new build. Your assumptions are correct in that you need a server installed. I am assuming you are running Linux on your server, is this correct?

 

If so read this thread carefully http://mediabrowser.tv/community/index.php?/topic/3634-mono-server-linux-os-x/

 

It should help you get up and running, and the guys in the know can help you get set up.

 

As for your win7 and mobile/tablet apps we have them all so there wont be any probs there.

 

Please take a few minutes to read thru our KB articles to help get you setup correctly.

 

http://mediabrowser.tv/community/index.php?/forum/24-tutorials-and-guides/

 

Thanks and if you have any other questions please just shout and we'll try to help you.

 

Cheeeeese!!

[simono5 21]

Hi all,

 

So, after 5 odd years of excellent service my HTPC died over christmas. I have rebuilt a new one but have now added a server to store all my data. I used to use the old MediaBrowser but have since seen that MediaBrowser3 is a supported version and so I would like to make the switch but I have some issues understanding how and wondered if anyone could help. The setup I desire is:

 

HP Microline server (12tb) running unRaid (so no real operating system - always on)

HTPC under the TV running Windows 7 and hopedfully MediaBrowser 3 (turned on when needed)

Various Laptops/Tablets/Phones in the house (turned on when needed)

 

From my brief understanding you now need a server version of MediaBrowser running full time but I do not know if (or would understand how) I would get this running on the media server as it is not a windows machine. Is this possible? If not, is there another way around the issue?

 

My experience with MediaBrowser was to have the client installed then have it point to the folders on the server... simples! :-)

 

Any help/advise would be massively appreciated.  

 

Thanks

I have a similar set-up.  Why not install the server on the Windows 7 machine.  It may not be 'always on' like your microserver but can be switched on as and when required.

 

Works well for me......as the server and client (MBT) are on the same machine I get quick access when watching on my main TV.  if the kids want to watch from their android device all they need to do is turn the machine on.

[aspdend 177]

I too have a similar setup with my media on an Unraid server, my HTPC under the TV running Windows 7 on whcih Mediabrowser (Classic and Theatre) are installed, but I do have a eparate always on other main PC thta I run the MBServer software. Do what simono5 says and install MBServer on your HTPC as well and that would work fine.

[Mobileman22 0]

Thanks @Cheesegeezer

 

Thanks for the replies. Maybe the best idea is to install it on my HTPC. If I did choose to leave a machine perma-on though does it need to be a decent spec? Like, could I use an old laptop to run it or does it need to be a beefy machine?

 

One thing I always hated about the MediaBrowser I had was that it would need to load all the pictures for folders etc everytime I logged in. Is this still how it is? Thanks.

Edited January 10, 2014 by Mobileman22

[Logos302 86]

@@Mobileman22 it will depend on how much transcoding you end up doing.  The loading of the pictures has been improved (all though I  hardly ever turn my htpc off so I really don't notice the loading of the pictures that offten so it doesn't bother me).   

[Mobileman22 0]

@Logos302

 

Thanks for the info.

 

Its all a bit technical for me but I am trying my best to get my head around it. I just dont like leaving the HTPC on all the time for cost purposes. I already have the media server on all the time so having this on as well seems to negate the fact I put in an 'always on' server. The idea was that if the server is on all the time the media will be available to all the clients that wish to use it (phones, tablets, laptops etc).

 

I am currently trawling the internet trying to research all the angles. At the moment I am looking at metadata gatherers. I see on these forums people sing the praises of MetaBrowser but I see that is paid for. I used to use MediaScout which was amazing but someone put me on to Media Center Manager which I now use but dont really like. I dont understand any of the options and it doesnt rename the TV show video files even though I think I have told it to do this. I always painstakingly edit the titles myself to S**E** then used to let mediascout rename them to something like 'The Simpsons - S01E01 - Christmas Fun' but I cant get Media Center Manager to do this. I am assuming MediaScout (not being updated in 2 years) is too old/simple to go back to as it will miss things i will need in a newer mediabrowser.

[ebr 16169]

MB3 has it's own metadata gathering and management that is pretty good now - and makes sure you get all the new features we provide.  We don't however, do any file moving or re-naming at this time.

 

You can put your server machine to sleep when it is not in use if you wish.  If the technical details are a bit too much I would not try to get the server going on your unraid box at this point.

[Mobileman22 0]

Thanks @ebr

 

You are probably right about getting MBR3 running on the unraid server but is that even an option. @Cheesegeezer linked me a thread for Linux but I didnt really understand what relevance that had to me (after a google I think unRaid might be a linux OS). If there was a step by step guid to getting MB3 on the unRaid server then I would have the perfect solution... but I am guessing there is not.

 

As far as the inbuilt meta gatherer, that is a great thing but does it need the folder structures to be in a specific way? At the moment I have a file path such as:

 

\\mediaserver\Movies\Snatch

 

and for collections i would have a folder such as:

 

\\mediaserver\Movies\Star Wars

 

and then have the 6 films in there. I do this becuase with over 1000 films in my library it take forever to go through them. If I put all 30 'Carry On' Films in one folder called 'Carry On' then thats 30 less films to skip over to get to 'Demolition Man' (I hope that all makes sense!!)

 

I have read the post about naming conventions and can follow the 'Star Wars [boxset]' idea but until I dont really want to strip out 1000+ films and 40+ tv series of meta data and then reformat my files to test this I am unsure on how to procees.

 

As I said, a friend got me to install Media Center Manager becuase he was trying to get me onto XBMC but we couldnt get it to play Blu-Ray disk images (even with powerDVD) which is something I had working well on my old MediaBrowser 2.x. That said, if I go over to MB3 (which I believe does not use windows media centre) then will it be able to play blu-ray disk ISO's and DVD ISO's?

 

Sorry for so many questions... I am a little slow on the uptake. I will get there eventually! Maybe I should just employ someone to sort it out for me!

[ebr 16169]

The structure of your items in the file system and your metadata are two different things for the most part.  You will need to follow one of our supported file structures for the system to work at all.  It sounds like you are basically compatible, however.

 

I guess what you're really asking is can your collections (box sets) be recognized properly without adding the [boxset] tag?  The answer is yes, if you have MCM put that collection.xml file in there.  However, MCM has a nasty habit of putting an empty and invalid collection.xml file in there sometimes and I'm not sure if that is fixed yet.

 

It might still be easiest to just add the [boxset] tag to your collection folders and then see if MB can do what you need.  If it doesn't you can always try another method then.

[ebr 16169]

And, yes, Unraid runs on it's own flavor of Linux.  Our Linux compatibility is in the very early stages though so I would not think you would want to go that route.

[Mobileman22 0]

Thanks once again @ebr

 

I think I will be spending this weekend stripping out all my metadata and re-organising! It also looks like I have no alternative other than to install the server and client on my HTPC. Does the blu-ray iso work the same as in MB2? Do you just add the extender etc in the options? (I havent got as far as installing it yet! - I feel I much first get the data organised and re-metadata'd)

[ebr 16169]

If you are using MB Classic (the WMC client app) then, yes, playback is very much the same as MB2.  You can use the internal player or configure an external one.

[Logos302 86]

pete has fixed/added properly formed collection.xml files to MCM.  So you are good there.  

[Mobileman22 0]

Hi @Logos302,

 

Thanks, I assume this is a good thing but I dont really get what you mean. I have not really configured MCM myself, my friend did it (for XBMC) so I have uninstalled it and am now re-installing to test on some movies I have copied to the desktop of my main computer to fiddle. Is that XML file one I need to manually edit?

 

My experience with this was for my original setup I used to have to user media scout to get the metadata then edit an xml file to add <backdrop>backdrop.jpg<backdrop> or something like that to get the backgrounds to work.

 

In my current setup I have been using MCM to get the metadata then manually editing the files in the film directories to add a set name so that it shows on XBMC as a set. Is it something like this I will need to do?

 

I am conscious that this thread is more and more novice so if anyone wants to offer help via IM that would be great to. I am not sure if this thread will help others or not and I dont want to be a clutter.

 

thanks to all.

[Mobileman22 0]

@Cheesegeezer @Logos302 @ebr

 

 

The structure of your items in the file system and your metadata are two different things for the most part.  You will need to follow one of our supported file structures for the system to work at all.  It sounds like you are basically compatible, however.

 

I guess what you're really asking is can your collections (box sets) be recognized properly without adding the [boxset] tag?  The answer is yes, if you have MCM put that collection.xml file in there.  However, MCM has a nasty habit of putting an empty and invalid collection.xml file in there sometimes and I'm not sure if that is fixed yet.

 

It might still be easiest to just add the [boxset] tag to your collection folders and then see if MB can do what you need.  If it doesn't you can always try another method then.

 

Ok, after re-reading this and installing MCM again (with a little configuration) I can get it to do all I want... the last piece of the puzzle as far as the metadata goes is... what is the collection.xml file and where can I get it? I have taken the 'Fast & Furious' films as an example. I have fetched the meta for the 5 films but do I need to put them all in one folder called 'Fast & Furious [boxset]' (strictly there are now ripped from a boxset) or can I just edit/create/download something that tells MB3 to put them all in one folder (like a 'set' in XBMC) so I will see one folder called Fast & Furious on the movies list and then when I enter I see all the movies in the series?

 

Thanks. After that question I may be ok to move forward without bothering you any more! Emense appreciation to you all for your continued help.

 

EDIT: spelling & punctuation! :-)

Edited January 10, 2014 by Mobileman22

[ebr 16169]

You can just put them all inside a folder and provide a folder.jpg for it as well.

[Mobileman22 0]

You can just put them all inside a folder and provide a folder.jpg for it as well.

 

 

hahaha... thats what I used to do! So that still works? That sounds like the simplest solution then I can manage the metadata myself. Awesome sauce. I think I am all set. On that note, if I am going to manage the metadata myself do I need to turn off the metadata fetching I have heard is in MB3 as native?

[ebr 16169]

You can manage the metadata yourself using our built-in editing interface.  I really encourage you to check that out before assuming you need a 3rd party.  But, yes, if you don't want us to download metadata, then turn off the internet providers.

[Cheesegeezer 3104]

I have to agree with ebr here. The internal metadata scrapers and manager is something you should try out. Its pretty bomb proof with only about 1%, that slip thru the net and these are pretty obscure titles.

[Mobileman22 0]

@ebr @Cheesegeezer

 

I will look into it, thanks. Whilst it may be a good system I am just worried I will move my file structure around and it might not like it. I wont be using the [boxset] markings as I wont be ripping specific boxsets, just films of the same series. I still done know what this collection.xml file is. Done a google search but not found any instructions. I was hoping it was a case of leaving all the movie folders at the root level but the collection.xml file would group them in MB3.... not found any info though. I can see some posts about what to do witht eh collection.xml but I cant find anyone explaining how to create it, what it contains or what forces MB3 to do.

[ebr 16169]

Having a collection.xml file in a folder is the same thing as having the [boxSet] tag in the name.

 

It means we will treat that item as a box set/collection and we will read all the detail from the collection.xml file for it.