SqueezePlug Media-Server 4.0 (final Release)

[gNNY]

solved my problem now. I found a thread on the debian user forum which talked about the same thing. The suggestion was to use ifplugd. So I installed it using

apt-get install ifplugd

and that was it. I didn't have to configure anything else. After disconnecting my LAN cable and a reboot, the Goflex Net is now available via Wifi only.

Has anyone tried connecting an LCD via USB to a Squeezeplug server, yet? Would that work in conjunction with SqueezeSlave? If it would, I could build my own home-made Squeezebox Radio...

[truehl]

After I had the 4.01 image up and running on my harddrive I configured Wifi. But I had to manually get the Realtek package and install it before the Wifi stick was recognized and showed up under 'ifconfig'.

The Realtek drivers are not included, I'll do this with the first patch! (you've done this: wget http://ftp.br.debian.org/debian/pool...ueeze1_all.deb dpkg -i firmware-realtek_0.28+squeeze1_all.deb, right?)

Could it be that this is only a "fake" Wifi connection and that I'm actually going through LAN instead?

For me, wth my WIFI-Sticks it works. If you boot with booth LAN and WLAN and you do a ping to address in the internet, you can unplug the cable and the ping runs without interruption. Maybe it's a problem with the Realtek driver.

Greetings,
Thomas

[truehl]

1. So, will a Squeezeplug ever be able to transcode higher resolution formats such as 24/96 flac down to 16/44 or 16/48?
2. Would the Squeezeplug even play higher resolution formats, such as 24/96?

I don't think it will work, because of the calculating power of the device! Normal FLAC are fine!

[Gadgety1]

No. Probably not. Thanks.

I did see the thread where Mnyb discussed a similar situation with 1,2ghz server, and 1GB RAM. Someone else reported the same problem when running 24/96 files on a Qnap TS-110, but that has only a Marvell 800MHz CPU, although with 256 mb RAM. It didn't happen all the time, though. So the Qnap was able to at least send 24/96 flawlessly at times.

http://forums.slimdevices.com/showth...t=82459&page=4

So I'm contemplating sending the GoFlex back...

Another alternative would be keeping the GoFlex as intended: always on with 16/44, and then when playing 24/96 files, fire up a regular computer with the squeezebox server installed, and the Squeezeplug functioning as a regular NAS. The question I have is probably rather ignorant, but here goes:

1. Could I use the Squeezeplug in this way - sometimes as the Squeezebox Server, doing all the work on its own, no other computer turned on, and then at other times, using it only as a NAS, where the Server/Player is on a PC?

2. Could you foresee any obvious problems in this kind of dual usage scenario?

For example, would there be interference between the two units?

Or, assuming I add no new music, when turning over the SBS responsibility to the PC would I have to rescan the entire library, or when the Squeezeplug took over the responsibility for the SBS from the PC, would it have to rescan the library?


By the way your videos are exemplary, as is your wiki, and having watched parts, and gone over the process, I believe I could pull the installation off. I do have some questions, but they will come in another post.

Thank you.

Regards,

Gadgety

[Gadgety1]

Hello again Thomas,

And my installation related questions:

1. I've got a a couple of 2GB usb-sticks laying about. I thought I needed a 4GB, but and in the Wiki the information is conflicting

First, under prerequisites it says:

"One of these Plug Computers: SheevaPlug, TonidoPlug, Seagate DockStar, Seagate GoFlex Net, or Oracle VM VirtualBox to run a VM.
for SheevaPlug: SD-Card (minimum 4GB as fast as possible) for the other Plugs: USB-Stick SD-Card (minimum 4GB as fast as possible)"

Then later on, when covering the "how to" of preparing the stick it says:

"Please note that SD-cards or USB-sicks may differ in size, even if they are labelled as 4 GB.

The newest version of the USB Image Tool has a very cool feature: you can copy larger images to smaller SD-Cards or USB-sticks. For that reason I've setup the SD-card / USB-stick I took the image from with a partition smaller than the maximum size the SD-card / USB-stick offers. So you can now use the image for nearly every SD-card / USB-stick."

Then later on it says:

"Images are made with the USB Image Tool for Windows systems. You can download it here: USB Image Tool. Make sure you use the newest version because it solves the problem with SD-cards / USB-sticks differing in size as mentioned above. You can also use Linux and the "dd" command to create SD-cards or USB-sticks. "

So would a 2gb stick still be sufficient?

2. I've seen some Micro sticks and Nano sticks. They are really small, but the write speeds are about 3MB/sec. Is that too slow? What are the consequences of this in terms of the server operation?

3. Having seen a discussion thread on booting from a USB on the previous incarnation of the GoFlex, and that certain sticks didn't work, does just any 4gb USB stick work, or are there certain ones that are better than others for use with the GoFlex Net?

4. If I were to add a USB hub to the GoFlex, would it have to have its own power supply? I'm thinking of a 2-3 slot hub to enable running another external drive in the future.

5. I read somewhere on the squeezeplug.de site that all the files need to have the artwork in subfiles before installation. I haven't got the artwork for most of my files. It cannot be added afterwards?

A lot of questions, I know. As brilliant as your videos and instructions are, I still managed to come up with a few.

Regards,

Gadgety

[gNNY]

1. Could I use the Squeezeplug in this way - sometimes as the Squeezebox Server, doing all the work on its own, no other computer turned on, and then at other times, using it only as a NAS, where the Server/Player is on a PC?

Probably yes. Squeezeplug runs independent of any computer, that's the whole point of it. Since a simple Samba-Server can also be installed, it's possible to connect to the Squeezeplug with a simple Windows share. That means you can access the drive of the server via the Windows Explorer. To do that you only have to connect the drive once as a network drive. After doing so you can have your locally installed Squeezebox server use that drive as you music library.

2. Could you foresee any obvious problems in this kind of dual usage scenario?

you probably will get frustrated to always having to boot up the computer just to access the files with higher quality Also, when adding new music, you have to rescan the library on both devices, the computer and the Squeezeplug server, as both have their own server software running. Same goes for Squeezebox Server updates, they will have to be done on both maschines separately. Finally, I'm not sure if the PC version of the software accepts network drives as a library which might also be a problem.

For example, would there be interference between the two units?

you should even be able to let both servers run at the same time, come to think of it, and it should work. Can someone else confirm?

So would a 2gb stick still be sufficient?

To my experience: no. Not even all 4GB sticks work. With the 4.0 image I had problems with a so-called 4GB stick. The new 4.01 image worked fine because it is a bit smaller. But then I had problems booting from the stick. I think it was because it was only recognized too late and the rescue system booted up instead. So make sure you have a 4GB stick at least and even then it might not work with any and all sticks. Keep trying different sticks before giving up on the installation

4. If I were to add a USB hub to the GoFlex, would it have to have its own power supply?

No. I use Trust's 4-port USB hub which was cheap, has 4 ports, no extra power supply and a short cord which helped me position the hub as I wanted. I can boot from a stick plugged in to the hub, and the soundcard and Wifi stick work as well.

5. I read somewhere on the squeezeplug.de site that all the files need to have the artwork in subfiles before installation. I haven't got the artwork for most of my files. It cannot be added afterwards?

I guess it can, but you'll need to re-scan your library. But this needs to be confirmed by someone else.

[gNNY]

(you've done this: wget http://ftp.br.debian.org/debian/pool...ueeze1_all.deb dpkg -i firmware-realtek_0.28+squeeze1_all.deb, right?)

yes.

For me, wth my WIFI-Sticks it works. If you boot with booth LAN and WLAN and you do a ping to address in the internet, you can unplug the cable and the ping runs without interruption. Maybe it's a problem with the Realtek driver.

Can you boot without LAN being connected? That was my problem, really. I just wanted to boot with WLAN enabled only. And that didn't happen unless I had ifplugd installed.

Also, another question: I have installed Squeezeplug to the HD but now my NAS on which I have kept my music so far doesn't recognize the drive correctly. I have a 1TB Goflex Agent drive which I used in the bay of the Goflex Net to install Squeezeplug. After the installation I want to hook up the drive via USB to the NAS and copy all the music to the drive.

This worked (somewhat) fine with the 4.0 image but now with 4.01 the drive can't be mounted by my NAS server. It says "Filesystem: unknown" and marks it as unmounted. When I did the same thing with the 4.0 image, the filesystem was recognized right away and the drive was mounted correctly. I was able to copy my music to the drive, stick it into the Goflex Net bay again and use it as my Squeezeplug server drive.

During the Squeezeplug-HD-installation I read something like "three partitions will be created: 1. root (10 GB), 2. swap, 3. rest of drive". But when I "df -ah" I only see the 10GB partition but "the rest" I don't see. Can I check what's going on here somehow?

[Gadgety1]

Thank you gNNY for your detailed and highly useful reply!

Since a simple Samba-Server can also be installed, it's possible to connect to the Squeezeplug with a simple Windows share. That means you can access the drive of the server via the Windows Explorer. To do that you only have to connect the drive once as a network drive.

I'll flaunt my ignorance:

A) I install the Samba-Server on the GoFlex.

B)I then need to set up my Windows Vista PC to access the Samba-Server. For that I use a Windows share. I found this (old) description of how to do it http://www.builderau.com.au/blogs/co...tm?p=339270746, but potentially Samba has evolved since, and access will be simpler.

After doing so you can have your locally installed Squeezebox server use that drive as you music library.

Brilliant.

Finally, I'm not sure if the PC version of the software accepts network drives as a library which might also be a problem....you should even be able to let both servers run at the same time, come to think of it, and it should work. Can someone else confirm?

Yes, please could someone else confirm? And could someone else, Thomas possibly, confirm the need for the artwork structure prior to installation of the SBS?

you probably will get frustrated to always having to boot up the computer just to access the files with higher quality

One big benefit of the Squeezeplug is the low energy usage (3-5W), and today I always have to boot up the laptop (30W in sleep mode, 50-60W in use) for listening to music. Most of the time the PC is on anyway, but (in my dreams) I'd like to diminish it's usage, specially for casual listening.

Having a "one stop" solution that could serve files of all types to all receivers would be way better, but also more expensive and the big advantage of the low energy consumption is likely gone.

To me the big disadvantage is, as is likely, that the Squeezeplug cannot transcode 24/96 down to lower bit rates, meaning 24/96 (and higher) files will be unplayable on the two Duet receivers I have.

In addition the GoFlex storage is quite expensive - one pays extra for the eSata connection, and for its flexibility, and hopefully, it being a little bit more future proof than potential other solutions. For the 1.5 TB disk, the price per GB is 2.6 times the price of what I paid for my USB-storage.

Originally my interest was to use this as a music only server. However an advantage of the Squeezplug on the GoFlex is it can serve up movie files as well, if I understood it correctly. That's impressive, as I would imagine picture and sounds to be more demanding than just sound. It would be great to find out more about this feature of the 4.0.1 version.

Since I'm now trying to convince myself this is a wise purchase despite it's one drawback, would it possible for the Squeezeplug to capture images from a web cam?

[truehl]

1. Could I use the Squeezeplug in this way - sometimes as the Squeezebox Server, doing all the work on its own, no other computer turned on, and then at other times, using it only as a NAS, where the Server/Player is on a PC?

That's as designed: You can choose the Samba option and then you can use booth SBS and Samba the same time.

2. Could you foresee any obvious problems in this kind of dual usage scenario?

No

[Gadgety1]

Thank you, Thomas!

If you could expand on the movie streaming I would appreciate it, and the structure of the artwork/having all artwork in place before installation!

What about bittorrent, or is that asking too much from the hardware?