Unable to direct play, with the same configurations as previous setup

[aviv27 1]

Hi,

 

I'm runnign emby server on a Windows 10 PC (IP 192.168.1.3).

I swiched from NOOBS + LibreElec 7.0.2 to BerryBoot + LibreElec 7.0.1.

Now I'm getting "Unable to direct play D:\MOVIES\FILE.MKV" message on my RPi3 running LibreElec 7.0.1 (addon installed from official repo). Addon connected to server and all artwork / progress data etc. synced. Default "addon" mode selected.

The only difference was after installing the emby addon, the First-Time-Setup-Wizard offers to continue with 192.168.56.1 YES on NO (instead of 192.168.1.3). Whatever I choose it takes me to the configuation menu and I have to setup everything manualy from there.

I remember that the last time it worked, First-Time-Setup-Wizard detected the server correctly allowed inputing the username and password for the server and Network Credentials from within the Wizard. Still, I don't think its the problem.

I think I'm doing something wrong with the Network Credentials, setting the server to 192.168.1.3, although it worked for me before.

I was trying to find an answer and saw something about using UNC or SMB://.

So, to save frustration when I get home:

How should I configure the Network Credentials if server is running on 192.168.1.3, RPi3 on 192.168.1.20, PC is called COREI7 containing a folder called MEDIA on drive D that contains two forlders Movies and Series?

 

Thanks a lot.

[ChannelZ 3]

Your RPi won't have a D: - that's where the files are held on your server.  It's trying to direct play from the drive on the server which it obviously can't do.  It should be trying to play from something like \\server\Movies or whatever your server and share are set up as.

 

You need to set the Direct Play path on the server under "Library" and then in the "Path Substitution" setting.  So you'd change yours from D:\Movies to \\COREI7\Movies - assuming you've shared the D:\Media\Movie folder as 'Movies'.

Edited August 18, 2016 by ChannelZ

[Luke 42080]

This is a great answer, and you can learn more about it on our wiki:

 

https://github.com/MediaBrowser/Wiki/wiki/Path%20Substitution

 

Enjoy.

[Deathsquirrel 745]

Just to add to ChannelZ's excellent post, the alternative is to set up your libraries to the network paths in the first place so substitution isn't necessary.  If your library target is defined to a UNC path this is not an issue.

[Luke 42080]

Just to add to ChannelZ's excellent post, the alternative is to set up your libraries to the network paths in the first place so substitution isn't necessary.  If your library target is defined to a UNC path this is not an issue.

 

Yes that does work, although it is more efficient to use physical paths because it allows the internal server operations to avoid the network stack. but it will work.

[Deathsquirrel 745]

Yes that does work, although it is more efficient to use physical paths because it allows the internal server operations to avoid the network stack. but it will work.

 

Oh, are there some speed gains to be had there?  I can certainly switch if anything will run faster.

[Luke 42080]

the file system monitors used by the library monitor will behave better with physical paths. you probably won't notice much difference, it's just a purity standpoint, using the path in it's purest form is always simpler.

[Deathsquirrel 745]

Figured as much, oh well.  I'm always up for things that make the UI render faster.

[ebr 16185]

Keep in mind that changing those references will cause everything to be re-identified.  Probably not worth changing existing installs.

[aviv27 1]

Thanks everybody.

I actually got it working in a different way.

I enabled "Play from HTTP instead of SMB" which I guess was enabled by default in my previous setup, and not now.