Client / Server Configuration & Troubleshooting

[TickTock]

Well, it's been a while since I posted, but it took me a few hours to figure out the whole client/server setup... I had some issues outside the basic configuration.

So, I thought I'd throw this together in a little post for anyone else having trouble. Note these are not all my own solutions, but bits and pieces that I have put together from various posts. Also, these instructions are an overview, I don't have the time to explain how to get your IP address or create a share. I think most people on this forum already know those things.

The basic setup:

1. On the computer that will be the server, create shares for the GBPVR directory and for your data folder (where you store recordings, live tv buffer, photos, audio, etc.) When you create those shares, make sure you give "everyone" the "full control" permission on the share.

2. On the client, open the GBPVR config. application and go to the "Capture Sources" tab. Here, you will check the "Configure this machine to act as a client" box and select "Streaming." The "Server" box should contain the name or IP address of your server computer. The "Database Share" will be pointed to the share you created for the GBPVR folder on your server. IE: \\myserver\gbpvr

3. If you want to view your photo, audio, video libraries from the client machine, then go to the directories tab and set those folders to point to your server. IE: Your audio library might be \\myserver\MyDataShare\MyAudio.

That's it - all that should be required. Done.... Yeah, right, that wasn't the case for me... If you complete the setup and still have problems, check these things:

1. If you are on a wireless network or a 10MB wired network, forget it. I highly recommend 100MB wired - for both the client & server.

2. Firewalls on both the client and server machines should be DISABLED.

3. Rerun the "Re-register Filters" utility from the GB-PVR folder on the client and server.

4. If you are still having problems and you used the NAME of your server when setting up the client PC, go back and use the IP address instead of the computer name.

5. Though this post is intended to get you running in STREAMING mode, I thought I'd throw this in, as I saw it mentioned quite a bit in the forums. If you are using the FILE SHARING mode and can't watch live TV, open the config application on the server, go to the misc. tab and check your BDA Multiplexer (MUX) - if it is set to "Microsoft DVR-MS" you cannot watch live TV or recordings that are currently in progress. Also, SUB mentioned there is another one that will not work, but I don't remember which. Additionally, if you select on of these Multiplexers that it NOT installed on your system, GBPVR won't return an error, it will simply default back to the MS DVR-MS Mux.

Known limitations... You are still limited by the number of tuner cards in your server. If you have only 1 tuner card, you can't watch live TV on the server and the client at the same time.

If you know of solutions other than what I have mentioned here to get client/server to work; then please post them. If any of this is misinformation, please post a correction. Also, I'd like to see this thread turn into something that could be comiled, corrected and added to the WIKI - NOT A THREAD THAT GETS HIJACKED TO FIX YOUR CLIENT/SERVER PROBLEM!

SUB - I post rarely, but sing your praises every day when I sit down to watch a little TV. Awesome work, please keep it up!

Edit 1: Also, make sure you are using the same version of GB-PVR on the client and the server.

[pBS]

for 1. if using simple file sharing: just share out the dir and check 'allow network users to change my files' for full access..
[security tab doesn't show up in 'simple' mode]
2. give example of syntax or perhaps a screenshot of an example setup..
[giving share names and computer names to reference,so users will know what \\'s to include/not]

for troubleshooting:
1. wireless G should be fine, 10mb works if you lower livetv profile in direct.ini
2. start with firewall off to eliminate probs, then enable with appropriate holes..
[it does work, just have to find all necessary ports..gbpvr ports plus std. win file sharing ports plus maybe some others,needs testing]
5. the mux only matters for digital recordings..analog should always be .mpg

all i have so far...
but i agree it needs to have wiki page with tips and a bit of background on what is possible etc..

[prouton]

My own recent experience with client mode (and it wasn't the first time I had set it up) was a disaster until I discovered that for some reason the config.xml file had different security settings than the rest of the files in the gbpvr folder. No amount of security setting changes (including safe mode and turning off "simple" file sharing) would allow anyone but the currently logged in user on the server machine from being able to open it.

The Symptom: The client machine couldn't start PVRX2 (or GBPVR) -- it would open a window, produce an error dialog, and then go into a loop on that error, but never show the main screen. There was an error message in one of the log files, but apparently the log gave no clue as to the cause.

The Solution: There was an almost an off-hand comment in a Microsoft Bulletin about security settings. It seems when Simple File Sharing mode is in use, file security attributes are copied when a file is moved between drive letters (partitions or physically separate drives) -- but not when they are moved within the same drive! It makes no logical sense to me, but it works to kill the security lockout (i.e., if GBPVR is installed on the C: drive, copy config.xml to the desktop, and then back into the original location). And most frustrating was that this was a piece of information that Google didn't turn up for me in hours of looking.

[webserverdude]

I am sorry to bump this up to the top, but I think these are some great tips, especially the one about using the IP address, which really helped me personally. Thanks a lot! This is one of the most user involved forums in this Internet!!

[TobyO]

PROUTON thanks for the tip
"The Solution: There was an almost an off-hand comment in a Microsoft Bulletin about security settings. It seems when Simple File Sharing mode is in use, file security attributes are copied when a file is moved between drive letters (partitions or physically separate drives) -- but not when they are moved within the same drive! It makes no logical sense to me, but it works to kill the security lockout (i.e., if GBPVR is installed on the C: drive, copy config.xml to the desktop, and then back into the original location). And most frustrating was that this was a piece of information that Google didn't turn up for me in hours of looking." I have just re-installed GBPVR on a new server and coluld not figure out way the clients were not working. (that 4 hours I'll never see again)

Toby

I can not belive it was that simple
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