CoverArt strange problem ....

[TomTiddler 39]

Not sure if this belongs here or in Windows Server forum. I'll start here ....

 

I run 2 servers, both running Windows 10, both on Intel hardware, Core i7. Both servers run Emby Release level server, and CoverArt (which I really like by the way). Yesterday I was running some experimental configurations, part of which involved both servers offering access to the same movie Library. I noticed that the covers on each were different, and so set about changing the CoverArt configuration to be the same on both servers. To my surprise on one of them, and one only, setting the flags in the profile definition didn't "stick". In other words, on the one that didn't stick, I could go to profiles, and using "default" as the example, I disable the "Cover by definition instead of type" setting, the check box changes to unchecked, then I go to Back to Main Configuration, go back into "default", and the check box is set again. I even went so far as to find the CoverArt.xml file, make a copy, and then watch the file while I repeat the exercize. When I disable the setting, there is an immediate change in the timestamp of the file, but there is no change to the contents. I've checked permissions on the file, and I have full permissions on both systems.

 

In fact, the only difference I can see between the two machines is that on one, Emby server was installed on top of an existing MediaBrower installation (yes, I've been using Emby for a long time), while on the other machine, it was a "from scratch" installation. The server that exhibits the strange behavior, surprisingly, is the fresh install. Go figure. Incidentally, both servers run CoverArt 4.0.13.0

 

 

Any ideas?

Edited September 11, 2016 by TomTiddler

[ebr 16172]

Are you sure this wasn't simply an issue of the browser page not refreshing properly?

 

The two servers don't share a plug-in location do they?

[TomTiddler 39]

Yea, I'm sure. By "watching", I'm actually going thru the following steps

 

1.  taking a copy of the CoverArt.xml file before any activity at all

2. using a utility called BeyondCompare in text comparison mode, which allows me to have the original file and the copy displayed in side by side window

3. at the same time I have a File explorer window showing (among other things) the "Date modified" field on the files

4. making the change

 

On both servers step 4 shows an immediate change in the Date modified of the CoverArt.xml file, as expected.

However, the text comparison windows only show a change on the server that "works". In fact, the browser windows on each server correctly display the change I thought I'd made. It's not until I leave the profile area and come back that the browser shows that no change has in fact been made.

 

And no, the servers don't share a plug-in location. Seems like all of the server and plug-in configuration files live in a user-specific area on each server (Thank Goodness!)

 

I haven't ruled out some obscure permissions bug in Windows yet, but I can't see any evidence of that so far. All the comparisons I'm able to do on the pair of servers show absolutely identical permission entries for the entire server sub-trees in AppData/Roaming/

[TomTiddler 39]

OK. As alway, simply posting to this forum seems to be al I need to come up with yet another test. Sigh.

I tried accessing the server web page from a 3rd machine, and this works perfectly. There are days when I hate Windows. It's a somewhat obscure permissions issue that I can't quite put my finger on, but it doesn't matter anymore, as I have a workaround, that's actually easier to operate than doing everything while physically on the actual server.

 

Thanx for even offering advice, apparently it was enough to make me think even harder :-)