Emby server on rPi3: Playback failure

[rexian 0]

In the other forum it was mentioned that the Emby server would work on rPi3 with the media on a NAS so wanted to give it a try. Wonder if there is a problem with my setup as the Emby app on my LG WebOS 3.0 TV just shows a spinner when I try to play a file. All the files work well when I try to play from Xplay app from the Plex server running on the NAS itself.

 

 

The rPi3 is on WiFi. I first thought that could be the issue but noticed in the logs it was invoking ffmpeg even for a relatively low bitrate file to transcode and I wasn't able to disable that.

 

Is this something an rPi3 can do? Or beyond its capability given the limited network / CPU power it has? Attached is the log.

 

Thanks!

server-63650687818.txt

[Luke 42078]

I notice you've setup your library with smb://

 

Is your ffmpeg build compiled with libsmb support?

[rexian 0]

I actually didn't mention any protocol when I added the folder to the library - \\10.0.0.109\Public\Media\4K Demo. I did try setting with nfs (replacing "smb" with "nfs") but that didn't work, possibly because my Drobo doesn't have NFS support.

 

Also, I didn't manually install ffmpeg - whatever dietpi-software did automatically when I asked it to install emby server. How do I disable ffmpeg / transcoding entirely and have the app direct play? The processor is too weak to transcode any video I think, especially when the TV is capable of playing much higher bitrate content without a problem.

[Luke 42078]

In your screenshot above, uncheck the fourth checkbox

[rexian 0]

Ah, I knew I was missing something simple  Thanks Luke.

 

Now it starts playing but the playback is choppy even for the lowest bitrate sample (40Mbps) I have. I'll try with the ethernet but most of the HDR samples are 70+ Mbps (some even over 120) and with 100Mbps ethernet, it wouldn't work for anything above 80-85Mbps, right?

[Luke 42078]

You'll just have to try it. It all depends on what your devices and network can handle. Thanks.

[mastrmind11 722]

I'd remove wifi from the equation and go from there.

[rexian 0]

Was able to play the sample with 40Mbps - it started playing after a few seconds and played fine. All the other samples with 50Mbps or higher, stuttered. My theory was that the 100Mbps ethernet was duplex and assuming 80% efficiency, Emby server could read from Drobo at 80Mbps and serve at the same time. I need to check the cpu usage during the playback but I'd think for direct streaming, cpu would not be the bottleneck.

 

What is the experience of others? Anyone able to play mid-high bitrate videos from their rPi3?

[rexian 0]

Just wondering - does the Emby server actually serve the video? Or it just provides the location of the file to app to play? If latter, the TV would be talking to the NAS directly for playback and the bottleneck is not really caused by rPi3/Emby server.

[Luke 42078]

Just wondering - does the Emby server actually serve the video? Or it just provides the location of the file to app to play? If latter, the TV would be talking to the NAS directly for playback and the bottleneck is not really caused by rPi3/Emby server.

 

Depends on which app. Emby Theater, Emby for WMC and Emby for Kodi can all use the NAS path directly.

[rexian 0]

Depends on which app. Emby Theater, Emby for WMC and Emby for Kodi can all use the NAS path directly.

It's the LG WebOS 3.0 app - I believe the latest version released couple of weeks ago.

Edited January 6, 2018 by rexian

[Luke 42078]

Ok then no, LG apps don't have a network file api so they will stream through emby server.

[rexian 0]

Ok then no, LG apps don't have a network file api so they will stream through emby server.

Got it, thanks. I'll wait for an update to LG app (if possible) or when the server is available on Drobo 5N.