Playing DVDs in GBPVR to PCH client

[Paul_B]

I'm very new to GBPVR and PCH. As an experiment I have ripped a DVD as ISO as well as MKV (AAC & x264). I've configured the GBPVR to look at the directory where the MKV file exists but I can't play it from the DVD library in GBPVR.

A search of the forums gives me the following:

...Because DVD can't be streamed via the normal GBPVRRecording Service you need to map a network drive from your PCH to a shared folder that contains the source "DVD". It can be tricky because special characters need to to be marked with a back slash (\). I will explain by way of example.

Let's say you have a folder called "D:\My DVD Collection" that you want to play DVDs from using GB-PVR. First you make this a Windows share which I will name dvds because I'm lazy. To set it up add the following lines into script.cgi

mkdir /mnt/D:\\My\ DVD\ Collection
mount -t cifs //mydvd_IP/dvds /mnt/D:\\My\ DVD\ Collection -o username=guest,ro

That looks ugly but you only have to set it up once for each location. Notice that each \ is doubled and each space is also preceded by a \ Other characters that need special attention include [ ] { } ( ) " ' and & If you do use these characters it is probably best to test using telnet avoiding some of these characters is best.

Once you restart telnet.html, you can confirm that it worked via telnet using this command

ls mnt/D\:\\My\ DVD\ Collection/

If it worked you you should see the files root of your collection. You can specify any username and password too the files do not have to be in a guest account.

Martin

Is this inforformation still correct as the post date is some time ago? Does this mean DVDs appear outside of GBPVR or can I still view them via the GBPVR DVD library?

Many thanks

Paul

[mvallevand]

That information is correct but DVD's stored as files (mkv, iso, avi, etc) appear in the Video Library.

Martin

[Paul_B]

I'm a bit confused as to how this works.

By changing the gbpvr.cgi script to include the mkdir and mount I assume means the directory then is available to the PCH when running GBPVR?

Do I need to change the config on the GBPVR server to use the same UNC and path to the DVDs that I use for the PCH?

Where will I find the DVD files in the GBPVR Skin viewed from the PCH client?

Cheers

Paul

[mvallevand]

Best to answer your questions with real data.

- what is the IP of the share where dvd iso will be
- what is the name of the share
- what is the folder name you use in config.xml

Martin

[Paul_B]

Hi Martin,

- what is the IP of the share where dvd iso will be

IP address of server is 192.168.1.8 (btw do they have to be ISO or can they be ripped MKV files?)

- what is the name of the share

The name of the share on the server is "DVD"

- what is the folder name you use in config.xml

As I started off with the simple installer for MVPMCX2 I guessed that I should be updating the gbpvr.xml which now looks like:

Code:

#!/bin/sh

echo "Content-Length: 80";
echo "Content-type: text/html";
echo "";

cd ~
mkdir /etc/mvpmc >/dev/NULL
mkdir /mnt/D:\\Our\ DVDs
echo "";

if [ -f /etc/mvpmc/mvpmcx2 ]
  then
  echo "Already Connected!";
else  
   mount --bind  /opt/sybhttpd/localhost.drives/HARD_DISK/mvpmc /etc/mvpmc
   cp /etc/mvpmc/utelnetd /usr/bin;
   chmod 777 /etc/mvpmc/*;
   utelnetd -l /bin/sh -p 23 &
   mount -t cifs //192.168.1.8/dvd /mnt/D:\\Our\ DVDs -o username=pch,password=PopCornH0ur,rw
   ln -s /lib/librmjpeg.so /lib/libjpeg.so.62
   ln -s /lib/librmzlib.so /lib/libz.so
   ln -s /lib/librmzlib.so /lib/libz.so.1
   ln -s /lib/librmzlib.so /lib/libz.so.123
   echo "Telnetd started on port 23............";
fi

killall gaya
sh -c /etc/mvpmc/startmeup 2>/dev/null >/dev/null &

[mvallevand]

First, mkv's will play without the mount because they can be streamed by http. Only ISO and VIDEO_TS files need the share.

Every thing else looks reasonable but you should move the mkdir command after the else and change them slightly too

Code:

else
    mkdir /etc/mvpmc >/dev/null
    mkdir /mnt/D\:\\Our\ DVDs

Change the mount too (rw is your choice),

mount -t cifs //192.168.1.8/dvd /mnt/D\:\\Our\ DVDs -o username=pch,password=PopCornH0ur,rw

If that doesn't work upload you GBPVR logs when you try and play a DVD and also telnet to your PCH and see if the mount works by typing

ls /mnt/D\:\\Our\ DVDs

Martin

[Paul_B]

Right having had time to think about this then if I rip the backed-up copy of the DVD to MKV; I then put it in the directory where GBPVR is looking for the video collection they will appear in the Video Library?

If viewing the video library on the PCH I play the MKV file on the GB-PVR then the video will stream over HTTP (assume this needs the enhanced web interace running)?

Therefore, I have two choices backup the original DVD to ISO / VOB and have them in a share mounted to the PCH. Or transcode the backup of the DVD to something like MKV and it will stream from the GB-PVR to the PCH over HTTP?

[dbone1026]

...Because DVD can't be streamed via the normal GBPVRRecording Service you need to map a network drive from your PCH to a shared folder that contains the source "DVD". It can be tricky because special characters need to to be marked with a back slash (\). I will explain by way of example.

Let's say you have a folder called "D:\My DVD Collection" that you want to play DVDs from using GB-PVR. First you make this a Windows share which I will name dvds because I'm lazy. To set it up add the following lines into script.cgi

mkdir /mnt/D:\\My\ DVD\ Collection
mount -t cifs //mydvd_IP/dvds /mnt/D:\\My\ DVD\ Collection -o username=guest,ro

That looks ugly but you only have to set it up once for each location. Notice that each \ is doubled and each space is also preceded by a \ Other characters that need special attention include [ ] { } ( ) " ' and & If you do use these characters it is probably best to test using telnet avoiding some of these characters is best.

Once you restart telnet.html, you can confirm that it worked via telnet using this command

ls mnt/D\:\\My\ DVD\ Collection/

If it worked you you should see the files root of your collection. You can specify any username and password too the files do not have to be in a guest account.

Martin

Hey Martin, I just came across this thread. You mention script.cgi, so we have to create a new cgi file called "script.cgi" and save it in the mvpmc folder? All my mkvs are playing fine, so I am now working on setting up my dvds. Thanks

[mvallevand]

Sorry, I changed the name to gbpvr.cgi a few months ago and didn't change all the references. You can make the change right after the mount -t cifs line

You might want to try this via telnet first from your PC until you get the syntax right.

Also some people are saying that DVD playback isn't great with the January firmware. I have to agree with them. However whether you use GBPVR or the normal PCH software the results are the saem

Martin

[dbone1026]

Thanks. So I just updated the script and no luck.
Just to clarify, my dvds are on my Server under the following address:

D:\Shares\Videos\Movies SD or HPSERVER\\Videos\Movies SD

So would the code be:

Code:

[B]mkdir /mnt/D:\\Shares\\Videos\\Movies\ SD
    mount -t cifs //IP ADDRESS/dvds /mnt/D:\\Shares\\Videos\\Movies\ SD -o username=PCH,password=nmt,ro[/B]