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It is now easy to run mvpmc on MediaMVP from Windows. Here's how

post #1 of 74
Thread Starter 
Update. There is now a much easier way. Follow this link:

It is now easy to run mvpmc on MediaMVP from Windows. Part II
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=773490




..........................................


Original message:

Don't panic. There's many steps because they're all baby steps.

(These instructions include installing SlimServer. Skip that part if you don't want it)

1> Download and install Hauppauge's original software (Direct link):
ftp://ftp.shspvr.com/download/mediam..._2.5.23242.exe

2> Download mvpmc version 2.1 (Direct link):
http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/m...0.2.1?download

3> Rename the Hauppauges original dongle.bin to something else (e.g. dongle.binOUT)

4> Rename the mvpmc bin to dongle.bin and put it in the Hauppauge directory beside the old dongle.binOUT (the one you renamed)

5> Unplug/Plug-back-in your MediaMVP (hardware)

6> Let mvpmc load up. When its done your TV screen will go completely black (that's a good thing)

7> Click on the windows 'Start' button and go to 'Run...'

8> In the run box type telnet then click 'Ok'

9> Find out what IP your router assigned to your MediaMVP by looking in the router settings. (In my linksys router the path is Status/Lan/DHCP Clients Table)

10> [continuing from step 8] At the 'Microsoft Telnet>' prompt type o * then

*do not type '<' or '>' or '*' charactors

11> At the 'login:' prompt type root then

12> At the Linux! '#' prompt type mvpmc then

mvpmc will load up on your MediaMVP and up will come the GUI/Menu (yay)

13> Download and install SlimServer
http://www.slimdevices.com/su_downloads.html

14> Run SlimServer icon. The interface runs in a browser window.

short discussion:
mvpmc (software) runs on your MediaMVP (hardware)
SlimServer (software) runs on your PC (hardware)

But to get SlimServer to talk to mvpmc you have to run 'mclient' (stands for 'music client', it is a software plugin) from mvpmc (software). After 'mclient' is running, SlimServer will talk to 'mclient'.

Setting up mclient:
15> From the mvpmc menu go to settings/music client/SlimServer IP Address

16> type in the IP that the router assigned to you PC (see step 9 for more info)

17> After you are done push the 'Back/Exit' button on the MediaMVP's remote to get back to the main menu.

18> From the main menu select 'Music Client'

19> Go back to the SlimServer running in your browser and start exploring the options.


Note: after Step 17, I fiddled around to get things working. When I figure out precisely what I did, I'll update the instructions.

Note2: I have not figured out how to use the RTV client yet, but SlimServer works. If anyone figures out the RTV client part let me know.


Edit: Yo, MethodMachine. tell me of some of the better plugins, GUI Front Ends, etc that you've found to work well.
post #2 of 74
Thread Starter 
Might
post #3 of 74
Thread Starter 
need this space.
post #4 of 74
Might sell or trade this space. Make an offer.
post #5 of 74
If you are interested in selling your space nded, I am a broker.
I can help you get top dollar for your Post space and I'll even discount my fee.



Marcus
post #6 of 74
Thread Starter 
Yo Marcus. Give me newbie slimserver tips. And now to you make mvpmc a thin client for an rtv?

gimme gimme.

Besides the standard web-based slimserver control panel, are there any other worthwhile GUI frontends??

I don't want to install the gazillion plugins/extras and try them one at a time..
post #7 of 74
So I suppose this method serves out the mvpmc boot image by using the supplied Hauppage server software. I am curious to know if you can also use a .config file to automatically start the mvpmc application using the proper configuration that you want. For example, I use the following dongle.bin.mvpmc.config file:

Code:
#sync MediaMVPs time with time.nist.gov (192.43.244.18)
rdate -s 192.43.244.18
#mount a NFS fileshare (music file storage)
mkdir /_MyMusic/
mount -t nfs -o nolock,rsize=4096,wsize=4096,nfsvers=3 172.16.1.36:/mnt/fat32_data/MyMusic/ /_MyMusic/
#mount a NFS fileshare (miscellaneous video/image files)
mkdir /_DVA
mount -t nfs -o nolock,rsize=4096,wsize=4096,nfsvers=3 172.16.1.36:/home/dva/ /_DVA/
#Startup mvpmc application
mvpmc -S 300 -f /etc/helvB18.pcf -R "ip=discover chunksz=3" -t /usr/share/mvpmc/replaytv.xml -c 172.16.1.36 --startup mclient
In the example above,

-S 300 --> set screensaver active after 300 seconds

-f /etc/helvB18.pcf --> use helvetica 18 point font (more readable on my 26" TV)

-R "ip=discover chunksz=3" --> Activate ReplayTV client, use auto ip discovery for Replay units and DVArchive boxes, chunksz=3 to tune smoothness of video streaming playback

-t /usr/share/mvpmc/replaytv.xml --> use the "ReplayTV" theme for the mvpmc application (best looking one IMHO)

-c 172.16.1.36 --> set the IP address of the SlimServer box

--startup mclient --> startup the mclient app by default (useful if running the unit headless while connected to an amplifier/stereo).
post #8 of 74
Quote:
Originally Posted by icecow View Post

Yo, MethodMachine. tell me of some of the better plugins, GUI Front Ends, etc that you've found to work well.

Cool plugins for SlimServer:

SlimScrobbler

iTunes/Last.FM/misc. plugins for SlimServer
post #9 of 74
icecow,

Thanks for your simple instructions for get the MediaMVP works with RTV.

For step 9, an alternate way to look up the MVP ip address is to view the c:\\progra~1\\hauppa~1\\hardware\\hcwsmslog.

Step 12 can split into 2 steps:

12.1 rdate -s 192.43.244.18
12.2 mvpmc -R "ip=discover" -t /usr/share/mvpmc/replaytv.xml &

I wonder if someone understands what settings.dat from the log file and maybe .config file can be use with it.

Dan L.


PS: the file hcwsmslog looks like this:

Tue Sep 20 12:36:53 2005::0::Haup MediaMVP Streaming Media Server Started
Tue Sep 20 12:36:53 2005->smssrv_main: retrieving Registration Server Configuration...
Tue Sep 20 12:36:53 2005->DSSRV: No config file D:\\PROGRA~1\\HAUPPA~1\\Hardware\\settings.dat, default used

Tue Sep 20 12:36:53 2005->smssrv_main: starting Dongle Netloader...
Tue Sep 20 12:36:53 2005->smssrv_main: starting Dongle Steaming service...
Tue Sep 20 12:36:53 2005->smssrv_main: starting Dongle Regsvc...
Tue Sep 20 12:36:53 2005->no history db

Tue Sep 20 12:36:53 2005->Regsvc: listen on ifc: 192.168.1.100 port[16881] and port[16867]
Tue Sep 20 12:36:54 2005->sshtp started...@rootdir[/]

Tue Sep 20 12:36:54 2005->Regsvc: listen on all interfaces...
Tue Sep 20 12:36:54 2005->smssrv_main: entering Dongle Regsvc...
Tue Sep 20 12:38:00 2005-> svc_haupid-> dongle mac: 00:0D:FE:00:1B:50
Tue Sep 20 12:38:00 2005->arp_add: error code: 0

Tue Sep 20 12:38:08 2005->00:0D:FE:00:1B:50 "svc_haupid":: sent reply to 192.168.1.119:16868
Tue Sep 20 12:38:20 2005->(netloader): started handler, wait for next...
Tue Sep 20 12:38:25 2005->192.168.1.119: read request for D:\\PROGRA~1\\HAUPPA~1\\Hardware\\\\dongle.bin: success

Tue Sep 20 12:38:46 2005->00:0D:FE:00:1B:50 svc_sreg-> srv@(192.168.1.100) -
Tue Sep 20 12:38:46 2005->00:0D:FE:00:1B:50 svc_sreg-> recv bcast msg from 192.168.1.119
Tue Sep 20 12:38:46 2005->00:0D:FE:00:1B:50 svc_sreg-> recv bcast regreq from (00:0D:FE:00:1B:50)@(192.168.1.119:2048) --
Tue Sep 20 12:38:47 2005->00:0D:FE:00:1B:50 svc_sreg-> claimed: 192.168.1.119
Tue Sep 20 12:38:47 2005->00:0D:FE:00:1B:50 svc_sreg-> sent reply to 192.168.1.119:16882
Tue Sep 20 12:38:47 2005->sshtp: accepted connection from: ip<192.168.1.119>/port<2048> @socket[1844]
post #10 of 74
icecow, thank you for the great instructions -- let the MediaMVP software handle the bootd request for dongle.bin.

I have a few followup questions:
- Can I run an tftp-server on the same box as the MediaMVP software, to serve up the corrisponding dongle.bin.config?
- Does the tftp-server have to run on the DHCP server?
- Do you know what this "settings.dat" file can be used for?

As of now, I've got a tftpd running, and from a telnet session connected to the MVPMC, I can tftp the file from my winxp box by using:
Code:
tftp -g -l /etc/dongle.config -r dongle.bin.config 192.168.2.4
My udhcpc.config looks like so:
Code:
# cat udhcpc.config
DONGLE=
SERVER=192.168.2.1
IP=192.168.2.22
HNAME=
Which makes we wonder if the line in /etc/rcS will fail since DONGLE is blank:
Code:
tftp -g -l /etc/dongle.config -r ${DONGLE}.config ${SERVER}
What do you think?

As of now all-is-good except for having to manually run the following lines every time I cold-boot the mediamvp:
Code:
TZ=PST+8PDT,M4.1.0/2,M10.5.0/2; export TZ;
echo "TZ=PST+8PDT,M4.1.0/2,M10.5.0/2; export TZ" > /etc/shell.config;
rdate -s 192.43.244.18;
mvpmc -R "ip=192.168.2.13 chunksz=3" -t /usr/share/mvpmc/replaytv.xml &
Many thanks,
-dnastrain
post #11 of 74
Quote:
Originally Posted by dnastrain View Post

- Can I run an TFTP-server on the same box as the MediaMVP software, to serve up the corrisponding dongle.bin.config or does the TFTP-server have to run on the DHCP server?
- Do you know what this "settings.dat" file can be used for?

I think the original questions are what interest me most, since my Router acts as DHCP server, and the MediaMVP software runs on a separate computer.

The TFTP server that I installed works, but the MVP doesn't seem to call to it since it isn't at the same IP-Address as the DHCP server.

Any way to work around this short-of recompiling a custom dongle.bin?

Thanks,
-dnastrain
post #12 of 74
Sorry Icecow. I've not been around for a couple of weeks.
What info do you need to get the system up and running?

Slim server? Just ran the web interface that comes with slim server and it worked out fine. Sometimes it's a bit freaky but only when trying to do wierd stuff and syncing mulptiple MVPs to the same audio stream.

I did not do any of the fancy plugin's either. However the pod cast option was sweet.

Are you still having issues getting the MVP to be your replay thin client?

Quote:
Originally Posted by icecow View Post

Yo Marcus. Give me newbie slimserver tips. And now to you make mvpmc a thin client for an rtv?

gimme gimme.

Besides the standard web-based slimserver control panel, are there any other worthwhile GUI frontends??

I don't want to install the gazillion plugins/extras and try them one at a time..
post #13 of 74
It should be even easier now using changes I put into mvpmc a couple of weeks ago, no dhcp router changes, no tftp and no telnet should be needed. It should even discover replaytv although I was unable to confirm this because I and my other beta testers don't use it. If anyone does try it I'd like to know one way or the other.

There are no nightly builds right now but I've put a reasonably up-to-date dongle.bin which can directly replace Hauppauge's if you want to try it. Amazingly, the forum rules won't let me type the base address but it is close to

mvallevand googlepages com

Martin
post #14 of 74
post #15 of 74
Quote:
Originally Posted by xnlt View Post

It should be even easier now using changes I put into mvpmc a couple of weeks ago, no dhcp router changes, no tftp and no telnet should be needed. It should even discover replaytv although I was unable to confirm this because I and my other beta testers don't use it. If anyone does try it I'd like to know one way or the other.

I tried this and met with mixed success.

-The software did install sucessfully on my MVP
-The ReplayTV units were not detected automatically
-The file system that was shown was a linux, not windows, so I could not navigate to my DVArchive file to play them.

Any ideas on how to correct these issues?
post #16 of 74
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wasatch Rider View Post

I tried this and met with mixed success.

-The software did install sucessfully on my MVP
-The ReplayTV units were not detected automatically
-The file system that was shown was a linux, not windows, so I could not navigate to my DVArchive file to play them.

Any ideas on how to correct these issues?

I experienced the same results. I could not verify the session time is in sync with the ReplayTV which possible caused no device to be listed after the discovery process.

Is it possible to add the real time of the session on the "About" screen since it only display the IP address and the built time of the dongle.

Thanks.
post #17 of 74
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wasatch Rider View Post

I tried this and met with mixed success.
-The software did install sucessfully on my MVP

Good, that means the logic is sound and you should be able to things like stream internet radio, and run slimserver with very little configuration

Quote:


-The ReplayTV units were not detected automatically

I don't know enough about replaytv. Based on the howto I'm don't make any provision for 4k mode. Could that the problem?

Quote:


-The file system that was shown was a linux, not windows, so I could not navigate to my DVArchive file to play them.

Well the mvpmc is a linux box, but you should be able to access a windows share. You can set this up in the web interface to the mvpmc.

Martin
post #18 of 74
Quote:
Originally Posted by skywaystudio View Post

I experienced the same results. I could not verify the session time is in sync with the ReplayTV which possible caused no device to be listed after the discovery process.

Is it possible to add the real time of the session on the "About" screen since it only display the IP address and the built time of the dongle.

Thanks.

The default in mvpmc may not match your timezone, it doesn't match mine. However the web interface to mvpmc does display the time on the box as well as giving you an option to set the time zone, the time server and change the time. Just point your browser to the ip address in the about box. The stupid forum rules won't even let me type
h, t, t, p so I can't make this clearer.

Martin
post #19 of 74
Quote:
Originally Posted by mvallevand View Post

The default in mvpmc may not match your timezone, it doesn't match mine. However the web interface to mvpmc does display the time on the box as well as giving you an option to set the time zone, the time server and change the time. Just point your browser to the ip address in the about box. The stupid forum rules won't even let me type
h, t, t, p so I can't make this clearer.

Martin

Mvallevand,

I still can't change the time via the web interface. Can you give me more detail information to put in the web config for the west coast Pacific Time? Thanks.

Dan L.

PS. System status keeps showing this time-

System Time Wed Dec 31 18:01:16 1969
//(null)
post #20 of 74
Quote:
Originally Posted by skywaystudio View Post

I still can't change the time via the web interface. Can you give me more detail information to put in the web config for the west coast Pacific Time? Thanks.

Dan L.

PS. System status keeps showing this time-

System Time Wed Dec 31 18:01:16 1969
//(null)

Off the top of my head try a timezone of PST5PDT and then your favourite time server ie. time.nist.gov

I suggest clicking update first to save it and then the set time button.

the //null is just the default folder in the filebrowser that you can set up in the browser too. I'll clean this up in a later release.

Martin
post #21 of 74
Ha ha...I didn't even know here was a web interface. I got the time set but still no ReplayTV devices. After I found the web interface (with mvallevand's help) I started reading the how to files. Wow, this is anything but simple. I'm usually pretty good at following instruction (even if I don't understand the concept) but, these expected a certain base of knowledge I just don't have. I didn't understand much of what was said in the howto files and the time it would take to learn is not worth the benefit I would reap. I did like the SlimServer, but that was the only thing I had working. Thanks for the help.
post #22 of 74
Quote:


Wow, this is anything but simple. I'm usually pretty good at following instruction (even if I don't understand the concept) but, these expected a certain base of knowledge I just don't have. I didn't understand much of what was said in the howto files and the time it would take to learn is not worth the benefit I would reap. I did like the SlimServer, but that was the only thing I had working. Thanks for the help.

1. I'm surprised internet radio playing didn't work from the file browser. The main reason I got involved in this project was because several users (including me) wanted to have direct internet radio without the server needed by Hauppauge. During some alpha testing no one mentionned a problem with this.

2. I'm guessing here but if the discovery process is time-of-day sensitive the MediaMVP might need to be powered off/on by the remote (not unplugged!) to have the replaytv rediscover devices. If anyone here has success with a 5k box I can make an option for 4k users.

3. I agree about the documentation but then the MediaMVP performs a lot of unique but different functions, few users will use them all. The number of volunteers for improving the documentation has been limited, (the documentation I wrote on my page was really only meant for my alpha testers), but in a timely message someone on the mvpmc-user list is suggesting a wiki and documentation project. Time will tell.

Martin
post #23 of 74
Between this project and the GBPVR it seems that there are a lot of great features for the MediaMVP. My only real complaint about the Hauppauge software is that I can't put together a MP3 play list using the on screen display. You know, select a bunch of songs that I feel like hearing right now and hit play. Instead I have to build a playlist on MMJB and then save it then go and navigate to it and hit play.

One day someone will put together a package with all the ease of windows exe file and it will have all the features that I crave. But, since I have no programming experience I will just have to patiently wait for that day.

Keep up the good work.
post #24 of 74
Using win2k, I put 2.1 dongle.bin in the "hardware" dir and turn on the mvp. All I see is the message looking for servers and that's it. Looking at hcwsmslog I see the mvp is actually looking for dongle.bin.ver file first and it downloads this file twice from my laptop and then it says "sshtp: starting handling thread...0" and that's all in the log.

Just leaving all files as installed, the mvp works without problems (or without anything other then the expected problems/lack of functionality issues)

My question is, am I missing something else and how can I most easily troubleshoot my problem??

thanks for any help.

Harry
post #25 of 74
Quote:
Originally Posted by gasconade View Post

Using win2k, I put 2.1 dongle.bin in the "hardware" dir and turn on the mvp. All I see is the message looking for servers and that's it. Looking at hcwsmslog I see the mvp is actually looking for dongle.bin.ver file first and it downloads this file twice from my laptop and then it says "sshtp: starting handling thread...0" and that's all in the log.

Just leaving all files as installed, the mvp works without problems (or without anything other then the expected problems/lack of functionality issues)

My question is, am I missing something else and how can I most easily troubleshoot my problem??

thanks for any help.

Harry

I will address a few things here. First several people have identified problems running the new H1/H2 machines with the mvpmc. You should check out the mvpmc mailings lists for the most up-to-date information.

On a positive I did fix my problem with replaytv start up. Apparently when mvpmc is running in replaytv mode it wants to run as a web server which conflicted with my web server function, so for older mvp's, my previous instructions should actually be valid.

Thanks to those who suggested I look at DVArchive. It help me debug this.

Martin
post #26 of 74
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wasatch Rider View Post

My only real complaint about the Hauppauge software is that I can't put together a MP3 play list using the on screen display. You know, select a bunch of songs that I feel like hearing right now and hit play. Instead I have to build a playlist on MMJB and then save it then go and navigate to it and hit play.

Actually, I have some mod I grabbed years ago which does what you want. I did a little tweaking to it, but the result is that I can create a temporary playlist by adding songs or whole folders, and I can navigate back and forth through the playlist while a song is playing (i.e. I can skip to the next song or back to the previous song) and it loops at the end. The mod did a bunch of other things to, like shrink the menus so more stuff fits on the screen, and it had access to Snapstream or something like that (which I didn't use so I cut that part out.) If you search for a mod that makes the menu look like Snapstream, you'll probably find it. I've long since forgotten where I got it from.

Hmmm...in retrospect, it may have been SageTV not Snapstream...sigh...getting old...

Or just go here http://www.shspvr.com/smf/ and browse the MediaMVP forum where people are talking about (probably) the mod I used.
post #27 of 74
Quote:
Originally Posted by mvallevand View Post

I will address a few things here. First several people have identified problems running the new H1/H2 machines with the mvpmc. You should check out the mvpmc mailings lists for the most up-to-date information.
Martin

I finally got the mvp to boot the new dongle.bin by using the dongle.bin.mvpmc-20060429 file. Have no idea why that one worked and not the 2.1 version, but I'm moving forward now anyway.

But more questions:
1. I didn't need to actually execute the mvpmc program after telneting to the mvp. It seemed to just "be there" running already and the gui menu popped up with the following selections:

MythTV/ReplayTV/Filesystem/Settings/About/Music Client and reboot selections. After I installed slimserver on my win2K box, the mvp played mp3s fine.

Can slimserver and NFS coexist? I'd like to be able to play video files and audio files and slide show jpegs from my win2k machine by using the mvp remote.

I recognize this is all on the "bleeding edge" and if I should just calm down and wait for things to happen, just let me know.

thanks for any help you can offer and I'm very impressed with this thing so far and I'll keep watching the lists.

Harry
post #28 of 74
Quote:
Originally Posted by gasconade View Post

1. I didn't need to actually execute the mvpmc program after telneting to the mvp. It seemed to just "be there" running already and the gui menu popped up with the following selections:

Correct that is why I said it was even easier then indicated in the original post. You don't need to telnet and you can use a web browser to configure it to your liking.

Quote:
Originally Posted by gasconade View Post

MythTV/ReplayTV/Filesystem/Settings/About/Music Client and reboot selections. After I installed slimserver on my win2K box, the mvp played mp3s fine.

Can slimserver and NFS coexist? I'd like to be able to play video files and audio files and slide show jpegs from my win2k machine by using the mvp remote.

Absolutely NFS and Windows shares can all coexist. I addition in the next dongle due out very soon (a recent build is on my site) you will have support for all of this plus access to the original Hauppauge server software (or compatilbe such as GBPVR and MVPServer).

To summarize mvpmc users will have the choice of playing audio/video/pictures natively from a share or via a Hauppauge-type server, accessing slimserver in an enhanced full screen mode, streaming internet audio or video natively in mp3/mpeg/ogg formats , or in more formats then many applications thanks to vlc and mplayer integration (wma, mms, aac+, real player, flv, divx, avi) all while still being able to access ReplayTV and/or MythTV. Cutting edge definitely!

Martin
post #29 of 74
This version of mvmpc is definite getting better. I just give it another try, and I was successfully set the time in sync with the RTV via the web interface. It also see two RTV devices which was not able to discover last time.

I also surprise that it able to control the GBPVR interface with the Emulation Mode but with limited functionality.

This is a great development and hopefully more control of gbpvr in the future.

Thanks.

Dan L.
post #30 of 74
Quote:
Originally Posted by skywaystudio View Post

I also surprise that it able to control the GBPVR interface with the Emulation Mode but with limited functionality.

This is a great development and hopefully more control of gbpvr in the future.

This version is a little bit older then I thought, so if anyone is interested I can upload a newer version. Thanks to the help of the author of GBPVR I was able to clean up a few things after this was uploaded.

The only thing (I think) that is "to do" is during a/v playback only stop and pause remote keys are complete. Was there something else you found missing?

Martin
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