TIP: GBPVR networked client

[lif]

Hello All!

It has been a while when I last did something for the community, but now I'd like to contribute with couple of thoughts and one howto. Following is solely my own opinion and represent my personal experience.

Cross-platform networked viewing of GB-PVR recordings:

NB! This is for viewing only, recording must be done via GBPVR web interface! There are couple of ways viewing prerecorded shows.

A) share GBPVR's recordings directory as network share and connect from other computer. When recordings are done with "medium" quality, also 802.11b is enough to view smoothly. Must use external player and also third party mpeg2 decoder on remote computer. Works, but is uncomfortable to use, also no metadata available.

B) use VLC client! (www.videolan.org). Install HTTP server to GBPVR machine. Doesn't matter is it Apache (http://httpd.apache.org/download.cgi[/url]) or MS IIS or sth else (but first one is my preference), then also php ([url=http://www.php.net/]www.php.net). Then define ODBC source on GBPVR computer to point to GBPVR database. The next step is to create a php script to lure recordings metadata from GBPVR MDB file. The example will be found from http://aspn.activestate.com/ASPN/Cookboo...ipe/163447. Include into this script also auto exec of vlc to start broadcasting clicked show using multicast on server machine. Link this script to web servers index and create appropriate design of the table, so every time you turn to web server, it automatically generates info for latest recordings and after a click starts broadcasting. Now register file type on client machine and include into php script to call vlc on client machine to listen to multicast network. I won't publish exact code/script as this is too much currently hardcoded into and also is still too raw to show to public. But I could assure that I have done it and this works and also dot 11 wifi is enough to play shows smoothly.

"Native" (windows only) GBPVR network client:

Presumption is that you have GBPVR machine up and running correctly. Now the following steps must be done to use GBPVR as networked:
*) Change recordings directory to UNC path. You can't do it from Config app, but directly from config.xml (search for: RecordingsDirectory). For example to: \\192.168.0.102\d$\PVR\TV. NB! All previous recordings will be "hidden" from Recordings menu, but they will not be deleted. Backup gbpvr.mdb before it and replace in recordings table for example D:\PVR\TV to UNC then recordings won't dissapear.
*) Install GBPVR to "client" machine, but don't run it! In config.xml replace recordings directory to UNC path as mentioned above. Search for RecordingServiceLocation from config.xml and replace localhost to ip of the GBPVR "server" machine.

And voilà! You could use GBPVR from as many networked computers simultanously as you want! TV schedule works, Recordings viewing works and also new recordings scheduling using remote clients works! Also, if using only time-shift mode (not live preview) also Live-TV works! And also, for only one client 802.11b is enough to feed one client smoothly (more simultaneous clients will need 802.11g or pre802.11n).

PS. Who is the administrator of the Wiki?! Would be nice to put it also in wiki.

Liivo.

[stefan]

Will it also let me watch shows while I'm recording them?

[lif]

Using VLC I had some issues watching currently recording file, but it worked.

Using GBPVR as a client it works perfectly.

[rtiangha]

Nice post. lif! As soon as I get a chance, I'll try. I hope you'll post your scripts/code for your VLC solution as I've personally never done anything like that before so I wouldn't even know where to begin.

[gielium]

Nice post!

[jjakober]

Has any one else tried this and if so how did it work? I hope to try it this weekend. I will post my results.

jjakober

[smeghead]

Hi lif

Having some problems if you don't mind helping out please. I'm trying the "native" suggestion you've made.

1. I've changed the PC with the main install as per your instructions and everything seems OK

2. I tried setting up the client and wondered what you mean by "dont run it". When it installs it automatically runs the config program. Do I cancel or OK?

3. Well, I OK'ed the config program without any other changes. I altered the config.xml as you suggest. Do I also set the database setting in config.xml on the client to the UNC directory on the server machine?

4. I am currently getting the following error in gbpvr.exe.log
19/05/2005 21:02:02.890 ERROR [2] Cannot create channel sink to connect to URL tcp:\\192.168.0.3:7968/RecordingRemote. An appropriate channel has probably not been registered.
19/05/2005 21:02:02.890 ERROR [2] at System.Runtime.Remoting.RemotingServices.Unmarshal(Type classToProxy, String url, Object data)
at System.Activator.GetObject(Type type, String url, Object state)
at g..ctor(Boolean instanceIsRecordingService)
at g.b()
at q..ctor(String directPlayFileName, Boolean mvpMode)
at q.Main(String[] args)
19/05/2005 21:02:02.906 VERBOSE [23] SourceConfigurationContainer.LoadAll()
19/05/2005 21:02:02.906 ERROR [23] Error int SourceConfigurationContainer::LoadAll(): Handle is not initialized.
19/05/2005 21:02:02.906 ERROR [23] Stack:
at System.WeakReference.get_IsAlive()
at System.Data.Common.WeakReferenceCollection.Add(Object value)
at System.Data.OleDb.OleDbConnection.AddWeakReference(Object value)
at System.Data.OleDb.OleDbCommand.set_Connection(OleDbConnection value)
at System.Data.OleDb.OleDbCommand..ctor(String cmdText, OleDbConnection connection)
at cr.a(Boolean A_0)
19/05/2005 21:02:02.906 VERBOSE [23] About to connect to remote recording service

Think i'll stop now and wait for help before I mess it up completely.

[jsteele]

lif:

Great set of information. I reconfigured by GBPVR this way "as a server" and restarted without a problem. I then installed a new copy "as a client" on my Thinkpad. After correcting some initial errors in modifying the client config.xml I was able to run GBPVR on the client and access the TV Guide on the "server." I was also able to access the recorded materials on the "server" and play recorded videos over the WLAN.

However, when I tried to access Live TV I got an error "Object reference not set to an instance of an object." Any idea?

[doron_amedey]

Hello friends,

I hope its not stupid question, I’m new here.
I read your excellent article, and followed it through, what I could not do, is with the gbpvr.mdb, where should I change there the directory structure from d:\... to unc?
Can you please elaborate?
Thank you in advance.

[jsteele]

In the config.xml on the CLIENT change the references to MDB to the UNC path:

<DatabaseConnectionString>Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0; Data Source="\\192.168.0.10\drive_c\program files\devnz\gbpvr\videos.mdb"</DatabaseConnectionString>

<DatabaseConnectionString>Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0;Data Source="\\192.168.0.10\drive_c\program files\devnz\gbpvr\gbpvr.mdb";User

(I'm not sure you have to change the reference to videos.db but since I found two references to Access databases I changed both)