I can stream my movies (HD *.mkv files) from unRAID (user share) to XBMC Live Babylon with no issues, but when I try to stream to XBMC Live Camelot, the file stops playing and exits to the video selection menu.

 

I read that XBMC exits playback if the source disappears from the network, but I can resume playback immediately following the stoppage. The amount of time the files will play is totally random. I've had stoppages as early as 5 minutes and as late as 120 minutes. I've been able to play one movie successfully so far. The next movie I played after that stopped and exited to the menu after 105 minutes.

 

I also have a Popcorn Hour A-110 that I have no issues with streaming to from the unRAID server. Streaming also works fine from unRAID to the windows version of XBMC Camelot. I only have this problem when trying to stream to the Live version.

 

I've tried streaming to a Zotac ION board and a Zotac GF9300 MB with the same results. I've used the integrated NIC on my MB and an Intel NIC on the unRAID server with the same results.

 

On an unrelated note, it takes the server a while appear when I type //tower in the browser. It comes up right away when using the IP address. Also, when I try to copy files to the server from my Windows PC, I get a network error saying it was unable to locate the file I was trying to copy.  Initiating the file copy again following this error works fine.

 

I've mapped the share via IP address and using //tower with the same result.  I've tried unRAID 4.42 and 4.5 with the same result. If anyone can offer some advice, I'd greatly appreciate it.

 

Current unRAID server config:

 

unRAID 4.5

Intel E6300 @ 1.86 GHz with 4GB DDR2 RAM

Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R

HIS H435H512PP Radeon HD 4350

Intel PWLA8391GT PRO/1000 GT

Samsung HD154UI (6)

I can stream my movies (HD *.mkv files) from unRAID (user share) to XBMC Live Babylon with no issues, but when I try to stream to XBMC Live Camelot, the file stops playing and exits to the video selection menu.

I read that XBMC exits playback if the source disappears from the network, but I can resume playback immediately following the stoppage. The amount of time the files will play is totally random.

 

Try to find out how/if you can change the way XBMC Live buffers the video.

 

On an unrelated note, it takes the server a while appear when I type //tower in the browser. It comes up right away when using the IP address. Also, when I try to copy files to the server from my Windows PC, I get a network error saying it was unable to locate the file I was trying to copy.

 

Try adding the following lines to the smb-extra.conf file located in the config folder of your flash key:

socket options =   TCP_NODELAY   IPTOS_LOWDELAY  SO_KEEPALIVE  SO_RCVBUF=65536   SO_SNDBUF=65536
local master = Yes
preferred master = Yes
os level = 65

(If smb-extra.conf doesn't exist there, create it)

 

See if it helps.

 

Purko

 

 

 

On an unrelated note, it takes the server a while appear when I type //tower in the browser. It comes up right away when using the IP address.

 

If you want, you can also add the name tower to the hosts file on your windows machine.

It's located in C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc\hosts

But that should not be necessary if you have a master browser on your network. (the post above)

 

Purko

 

 

Thanks for the help purko. I added an smb-extra.conf file with the options you mentioned as well as a strict locking = no option. I also disabled ipv6 on the xbmc machine. Since then, I've played two movies all the way through.

 

I have to do more testing to find out whether it was the smb-extra.conf file or disabling ipv6 that did the trick. I'll post results when I reach a conclusion.

 

Thanks again.

After further testing, the problem still exists with both ipv6 disabled and with the smb-extra.conf file in place. I don't really know what else to do.

 

I've read in some threads in the XBMC forum that disabling strict locking for smb sharing resolves this, but I don't know how to do for unRAID.

I've read in some threads in the XBMC forum that disabling strict locking for smb sharing resolves this, but I don't know how to do for unRAID.

 

You can do that by adding the following to  smb-extra.conf

      kernel oplocks = no
      oplocks  = no
      level2 oplocks = no

 

 

I forgot to mention:

You must edit smb-extra.conf using an editor that DOES NOT put carriage returns at the ends of the lines.

 

 

I added the lines above and it still stops playing. Unless notepad adds carriage returns, I'm done trying.

 

Thanks again purko for helping me try to get this fixed.

I don't have any info to help you, but I can confirm that I experience the same issues using XBMC or Plex (my HTPC is a Mac Mini 2.0Ghz with 2GB of ram).

 

When I had my old file server (Linux software RAID5), I did not have this issue, so I know for a fact it's related to unRAID. I experience pretty much the same symptoms as you:

 

1) Start watching a video

2) Partway through (no predictable method to tell where), the video will pause (almost like it's trying to rebuffer) and then either resumes (XBMC will usually resume brieflly and then quit out) or simply quit completely (happens in Plex). Both sides of the network are GigE, and transferring files over the network is rather quick, so I doubt it's network congestion.

 

If I try playing the file right after it quits, Plex (I've seen this once in XBMC, but I think the code is more mature), I will get an error that the file cannot be found, which is leading me to believe that Samba is briefly crapping out on unRAID.

 

It's quite frustrating. I've since switched from using Plex full time to XBMC for this very problem, XBMC will allow me to resume where I was, while Plex will force me to restart from the beginning and ffwd to the place where I was.

 

 

I added the lines above and it still stops playing. Unless notepad adds carriage returns, I'm done trying.

Notepad DOES add carriage returns.

 

Joe L.

I added the lines above and it still stops playing. Unless notepad adds carriage returns, I'm done trying.

Notepad DOES add carriage returns.

 

Joe L.

 

Joe L., can you recommend a text editor that doesn't add carriage returns?

I added the lines above and it still stops playing. Unless notepad adds carriage returns, I'm done trying.

Notepad DOES add carriage returns.

 

Joe L.

 

Joe L., can you recommend a text editor that doesn't add carriage returns?

 

There is a section for this in the unRAID wiki somewhere.  Probably need to look in the FAQ, Best of the Forums, or the Topical Index section.

Joe L., can you recommend a text editor that doesn't add carriage returns?

 

VI, Emacs, Jove, CE, ED, EX

 

Or, after you modify the file, convert from dos to unix, then reload the samba config. For instance if the file is in /boot/config/smb-extra.cfg then this cmd may work:

 

/usr/bin/fromdos < /boot/config/smb-extra.cfg > /var/tmp/smb-extra.cfg
/usr/bin/mv /var/tmp/smb-extra.cfg /boot/config/smb-extra.cfg

 

 

 

Joe L., can you recommend a text editor that doesn't add carriage returns?

 

If you want to edit on windows I suggest notepad++.  Choose Format -> Convert to UNIX Format.

 

http://notepad-plus.sourceforge.net/uk/site.htm

 

 

I added the lines above and it still stops playing. Unless notepad adds carriage returns, I'm done trying.

Notepad DOES add carriage returns.

 

Joe L.

 

Joe L., can you recommend a text editor that doesn't add carriage returns?

If you are doing the editing from a linux command prompt, you can use

mcedit filename

it is the editor built into midnight commander that is shipped with unRAID.

 

Notepad2 has been mentioned many times in the forums... It can handle unix style files.

Find it here: http://www.flos-freeware.ch/notepad2.html

 

I personally use "vim"  when editing from windows.   It is "Vi IMproved)   It is available for download on the web.  I would not suggest it unless you already know "vi," as it has far too many features that will only confuse you if all you want is something as simple as a notepad style editor.  I love it, as my fingers automatically do the right things when I use it.  (if you used "vi" you'd understand)

 

Joe L.

Okay, I managed to use nano via putty on my XBMC machine to create the smb-extra.conf file. I'll begin testing again and post the results soon.

Update:

 

Playback stopped 53:51 into the first movie I tested. The only thing left to try is FTP.

Has anyone tried using NFS shares between unRAID and XBMC?  I am planning too but want to update to Camelot first.

Not sure if in any way this is related but...

 

I just recently rebuilt my htpc updated to ubuntu 9.10 and installed the linux version of xbmc 9.11.  This is a similar setup to xbmc live except I am using the full ubuntu vs the stripped down one live uses...

 

I noticed that after playing media via smb for about an hour or so, playback would stop and I would receive the can't find file message just like in this thread.  The only major difference is that my unraid setup froze as well.  Could not access web admin etc.  I would have to hard reboot, once I had to rebuild parity, the other time it was just fine.

 

This was on 4.4.2, I have since upgraded to 4.5 and setting up NFS (posted in the 4.5 thread about nfs questions).

 

I have not been able to test yet to try and reproduce, been sort of scared to.  Now though that I see another is having a similar issue at least I know I'm not alone.

I noticed that after playing media via smb for about an hour or so, playback would stop and I would receive the can't find file message just like in this thread.  The only major difference is that my unraid setup froze as well.  Could not access web admin etc.  I would have to hard reboot, once I had to rebuild parity, the other time it was just fine.

 

You sure its not a network issue?  I know I have thought my server was down when my powerline adapters have overheated before and taken down the link.

well I have run this unraid box for many many months without change to my general infrastructure with out issues.

 

Was not having issues with the older xbmc/ubuntu, and the only time the server has locked up like this was while playing movies just recently...

 

so while its a good idea until I see issues with unraid outside of playing media with my xbmc, I will assume the network is fine.  I am much harder on unraid with my windows workstation, uploading multiple blu-rays at a time, if this was a general smb/network issue I probably would have seen something earlier. 

 

I suspect this has something to do with smb on the ubuntu side not liking unraids samba setup.

 

My issue seems so similar to this post and another on the xbmc forums.  They are using live and I am not so that could explain the unraid lock up issue.

 

 

I had success with previous versions of XBMC and unRAID as well. It seems like something happened when they switched from Jaunty to Karmic.

 

I recently installed proftpd on my unRAID server and I'm in the process of testing it. I'll post results when I'm done.

So far I've been able to play 3 movies from start to finish using proftpd. Each movie was around 2 hours. It seems to be working. I'll post results as I watch more movies.

I had success with previous versions of XBMC and unRAID as well.

 

jwoolen, you are running unRAID-4.5.0-final, right?

Could you possibly downgrade to 4.5-beta11, and see if your XBMC/Samba problems go away?

(move bzimage/bzroot to a safe place, put in their place the bzimage/bzroot from the 4.5-beta11 package, and reboot)

 

 

I'd be willing to try it, but I don't think the problem is on the unRAID side. If I use XBMC Babylon (9.04) smb sharing works fine from my unRAID server. It seems to have something to do with XBMC Camelot (9.11), which ironically streams fine from windows based PCs and not my unRAID server.

 

I'll revert to 4.5 beta11 and post the results.

 

Edit: I can't find 4.5beta11 to download it.