Creating media server - using SOLO2

[HDaddict]

Hello everyone.

This is my first post here, and I thought this is the proper place to ask it. I already searched for ehat I'm looking for, but I didn't find a definite answer.

I just bought a a VU SOLO2, and I'm learning its features and great capabilities.
I have a SAMSUNG SMART TV F6400.
both TV and SOLO2 are connected to a network using a TP LINK W4300 wireless router which can be connected to a external HD using a USB connection.

What I'm trying to setup is a media server on any of these devices, which will allow access media files (especially HD video files) on my SAMSUNG TV, and also any other device connected to the network. (windows laptop, android phones, iOS devices etc...).
I don't have a PC always turned on to create a media server.

I know that both the SOLO2 and the router TP LINK W4300 can be set as DLNA servers. But I read bad experiences accessing video files using these 2 devices from the SAMSUNG Smart tvs.

What do you recommend? Is there a way to let the SOLO2 act a media server, using an internal HD or an external HD through USB, and allow all devices access these files??

Thanks in advance !

 

[HDaddict]

anyone can help??

 

[angelofsky1980]

anyone can help??

You can share HDD via NFS/CIFS and browse your media files via these standard protocols.
Why do you want to use DLNA?

 

[HDaddict]

You can share HDD via NFS/CIFS and browse your media files via these standard protocols.
Why do you want to use DLNA?

Thanks for the reply.

How do I do that? Do you mean sharing the files through my SOLO2? Will I be able to connect the files through all my other devices connected to the network?
Is there a guide to do so?

 

[angelofsky1980]

Thanks for the reply.

How do I do that? Do you mean sharing the files through my SOLO2? Will I be able to connect the files through all my other devices connected to the network?
Is there a guide to do so?

What devices do you want to connect to your box to see media content?

 

[HDaddict]

What devices do you want to connect to your box to see media content?

1. SAMSUNG SMART TV F6400
2. Android smartphones.
3. IOS devices (iPhone and iPad)
4. any PC connected to the wireless network

 

[angelofsky1980]

1. SAMSUNG SMART TV F6400
2. Android smartphones.
3. IOS devices (iPhone and iPad)
4. any PC connected to the wireless network

1) I suppose this is your main TV set where the box is phisically connected: it's right?
2 and 3) You can try to use the DLNA Server component of your Solo2 box to stream media content to your device
4) Share your HDD via CIFS.

 

[HDaddict]

1) I suppose this is your main TV set where the box is phisically connected: it's right?
2 and 3) You can try to use the DLNA Server component of your Solo2 box to stream media content to your device
4) Share your HDD via CIFS.

1. Samsung Smart TV - yes, it's the main TV physically connected, so I can access the media directly. I was asking myself if i could access it through the media browser using the TV, but I guess I'll handle it well watching the files directly through the SOLO2.

2. IOS and android devices - Is the SOLO2 powerful enough for this task? Is this done through Mediatomb and Minidlna??

3. PCs connected to wireless network - Can I also share an external USB HDD or does it work only with the interal HDD?
Also, Is there an option for writing and editing files on the HDD from another PC using the CIFS protocol? I mean, I want to download a file on the PC, and then copy/move it to the SOLO2 HDD so I can access it from other devices. Is this possible??

Grazie mille !

 

[angelofsky1980]

1. Samsung Smart TV - yes, it's the main TV physically connected, so I can access the media directly. I was asking myself if i could access it through the media browser using the TV, but I guess I'll handle it well watching the files directly through the SOLO2.

2. IOS and android devices - Is the SOLO2 powerful enough for this task? Is this done through Mediatomb and Minidlna??

3. PCs connected to wireless network - Can I also share an external USB HDD or does it work only with the interal HDD?
Also, Is there an option for writing and editing files on the HDD from another PC using the CIFS protocol? I mean, I want to download a file on the PC, and then copy/move it to the SOLO2 HDD so I can access it from other devices. Is this possible??

Grazie mille !

1) It's better, as you wrote, to see your media directly from Solo2 without other protocols
2) Yes it's powerful enought. It's done with Mediatomb OR MiniDLNA: both are DLNA Servers
3) Yes. The box is auto-configured to share via CIFS the /hdd folder (or /media/hdd - I don't remember, but is the same thing). You can copy/paste files from/to your box using any device into your LAN/WLAN

 

[HDaddict]

1) It's better, as you wrote, to see your media directly from Solo2 without other protocols
2) Yes it's powerful enought. It's done with Mediatomb OR MiniDLNA: both are DLNA Servers
3) Yes. The box is auto-configured to share via CIFS the /hdd folder (or /media/hdd - I don't remember, but is the same thing). You can copy/paste files from/to your box using any device into your LAN/WLAN

Great!
2) which one is the two do you recommend for sharing files with android and ios devices?
3) I already have an external HD I can connect to the SOLO2 through a USB port. Can I share it through the CIFS protocol like the internal HD?

 

[angelofsky1980]

Great!
2) which one is the two do you recommend for sharing files with android and ios devices?
3) I already have an external HD I can connect to the SOLO2 through a USB port. Can I share it through the CIFS protocol like the internal HD?

2) I haven't used DLNA Servers. You can try one by one and verify what is the best with your media files
3) Yes. Internal and USB HDDs must be mounted and mapped into /media/hdd both

 

[mysat-bs]

Angelofsky1980 is an expert on this. He has explained the techanics in details. I have a DUO2 ( possible very closed to solo2). My experience are

1. I am very rare to watch the media materials which are in my receiver from my PC because the TV's screen is much comfortable. If I need, I can access to my receiver by internet connectin (physically wired).

2. I have andriod devices (smart phone and tablet) which use an app VU+ player (can be download from google store). The app allow you to access you receiver by you local network or remote (Wlan). This app can control your receiver and you can watch satellite channels and media materials throngh the APP. It is very easy to set and convenient. If you have two tuners, your family can watch their film in your living room and you may watch football in your study in the same time.

3. One thing is you have to leave your router on always.

 

[HDaddict]

2) I haven't used DLNA Servers. You can try one by one and verify what is the best with your media files
3) Yes. Internal and USB HDDs must be mounted and mapped into /media/hdd both

Thanks again for the detailed answers!!!

Ok, i'll try both DLNA servers and see which one is best
I read NFS is with faster speeds than CIFS. Can I do the same wit NFS protocol? Why did you recommend CIFS?

Angelofsky1980 is an expert on this. He has explained the techanics in details. I have a DUO2 ( possible very closed to solo2). My experience are

1. I am very rare to watch the media materials which are in my receiver from my PC because the TV's screen is much comfortable. If I need, I can access to my receiver by internet connectin (physically wired).

2. I have andriod devices (smart phone and tablet) which use an app VU+ player (can be download from google store). The app allow you to access you receiver by you local network or remote (Wlan). This app can control your receiver and you can watch satellite channels and media materials throngh the APP. It is very easy to set and convenient. If you have two tuners, your family can watch their film in your living room and you may watch football in your study in the same time.

3. One thing is you have to leave your router on always.

Thanks for the reply!

1. It's because I want to copy media files I download sometimes from my laptop (which isn't always on) to the SOLO2, and then playback them from the SOLO2. Tat's why I want to be able to access the HDD on the SOLO2. I think it will be the easiest way to move such media files, instead of dealing with USB stick etc...
If I had a desktop PC always on, I would have used it as a media server.

2. This is an excellent tip, I didn't know I can access media files on the SOLO2 directy through the VU+ Player! The GUI is quite pretty, so it will be definitely cool to access media files on android devices this way.
I wonder if I can do the same with the iOS version of VU+ player. This way I wn't need a DLNA server at all.

3. My router is always on. Bot SOLO2 and the SAMSUNG SMART TV are connected to it.

 

[angelofsky1980]

Thanks again for the detailed answers!!!

Ok, i'll try both DLNA servers and see which one is best
I read NFS is with faster speeds than CIFS. Can I do the same wit NFS protocol? Why did you recommend CIFS?



Thanks for the reply!

1. It's because I want to copy media files I download sometimes from my laptop (which isn't always on) to the SOLO2, and then playback them from the SOLO2. Tat's why I want to be able to access the HDD on the SOLO2. I think it will be the easiest way to move such media files, instead of dealing with USB stick etc...
If I had a desktop PC always on, I would have used it as a media server.

2. This is an excellent tip, I didn't know I can access media files on the SOLO2 directy through the VU+ Player! The GUI is quite pretty, so it will be definitely cool to access media files on android devices this way.
I wonder if I can do the same with the iOS version of VU+ player. This way I wn't need a DLNA server at all.

3. My router is always on. Bot SOLO2 and the SAMSUNG SMART TV are connected to it.

NFS is natively avaiable in Linux and Unix machines but it's not fully avaiable on Windows machines that uses natively CIFS.

 

[mysat-bs]

Thanks again for the detailed answers!!!

Ok, i'll try both DLNA servers and see which one is best
I read NFS is with faster speeds than CIFS. Can I do the same wit NFS protocol? Why did you recommend CIFS?



Thanks for the reply!

1. It's because I want to copy media files I download sometimes from my laptop (which isn't always on) to the SOLO2, and then playback them from the SOLO2. Tat's why I want to be able to access the HDD on the SOLO2. I think it will be the easiest way to move such media files, instead of dealing with USB stick etc...
If I had a desktop PC always on, I would have used it as a media server.

2. This is an excellent tip, I didn't know I can access media files on the SOLO2 directy through the VU+ Player! The GUI is quite pretty, so it will be definitely cool to access media files on android devices this way.
I wonder if I can do the same with the iOS version of VU+ player. This way I wn't need a DLNA server at all.

3. My router is always on. Bot SOLO2 and the SAMSUNG SMART TV are connected to it.

The VU+ player can be used on iOS, which is said. I did not try it on iOS. I am just a user of the VU player and do not know much on the background. The most of attraction to me is the easy setting and convienent.
The family network is very flaxiable as you expected. But I feel it is more comfortable to me.
1. If I have a media file which is download by PC, I often send it to the receiver (receivers' disk). Reason is the TV screen is much larger than my monitor. The file transfer is very faster, you may use you computer and transfer the media file in same time.
2. I have a large HD for my receiver, I am not mind how much the space will be occupied but I do care how much the media file used my computer's disk.
3. If my TV (receiver) is free, I always watch media file on the big screen. If the TV screen is used by a family member, I will use the Tablet to watch the programm. The tablet screen size is acceptable .

 

[HDaddict]

OK, some progress..

I finally received my SOLO2, I must say it's an amazing receiver!

After installing the latest Blackhole image, I'm trying to mount a 32gb USB stick so that I can use it as a storage for media files for the SOLO2 and any PC that connects to the network, with ability to copy and paste files from windows PCS.
I'm having difficulties doing so:
1) What format should I use for the USB drive? the wizard on the blackhole image suggests ext2 for USB drives and ext3 for HDDs, which one should I use for this purpose?
2) How should I mount it? should it be mapped into /media/hdd too, even if it's a USB drive?
3) What further steps should I do after mounting the drive in the "device manager"? should I use the networking mapping wizard? and what options should I use?

I couldn't find a specific guide for this by searching the forum, so any help will be welcome.

 

[angelofsky1980]

OK, some progress..

I finally received my SOLO2, I must say it's an amazing receiver!

After installing the latest Blackhole image, I'm trying to mount a 32gb USB stick so that I can use it as a storage for media files for the SOLO2 and any PC that connects to the network, with ability to copy and paste files from windows PCS.
I'm having difficulties doing so:
1) What format should I use for the USB drive? the wizard on the blackhole image suggests ext2 for USB drives and ext3 for HDDs, which one should I use for this purpose?
2) How should I mount it? should it be mapped into /media/hdd too, even if it's a USB drive?
3) What further steps should I do after mounting the drive in the "device manager"? should I use the networking mapping wizard? and what options should I use?

I couldn't find a specific guide for this by searching the forum, so any help will be welcome.

1) depends what kind of files you want to store but EXT2 should be the best for your use
2) you can mount in every position. /media/usb is one of the default path for picons and /media/hdd is the default path for recording. I suggest to install a SATA 2.5" HDD for recording purposes and use the USB stick for EPG, picons and other kind of uses.

 

[HDaddict]

1) depends what kind of files you want to store but EXT2 should be the best for your use
2) you can mount in every position. /media/usb is one of the default path for picons and /media/hdd is the default path for recording. I suggest to install a SATA 2.5" HDD for recording purposes and use the USB stick for EPG, picons and other kind of uses.

1) for now I used ext2, and it and to be working fine.
I intend to use mainly media files, movies like mkv and mp4 files, with size over 4gb
2)

 

[HDaddict]

2) I could see the files in the USB through the network only when I mounted it as media/hdd. How do I make it work also when I mount it as media/USB?
I don't plan to record, so I don't think I'll need a USB drive for now.

Thanks for the support!