EarthWalker
2010-03-26, 05:48
OK this problem is, I think, one for the IT boffins and squeezebox gurus. It is a very long term problem that even baffled the squeezebox help centre. My initial report was bug 8581. Sadly the problem was not solved.
Firstly the problem is one of connection timed out at song change on my SB3. Basically the unit stops playing at the end of a song. The problem is intermittent as sometimes the player will play several songs in a row and other times just one or sometimes even none.
The problem appeared when I purchased a new notebook PC in early 2008 and is only related when I use that notebook.
Testing eliminated –
• the SB3 - as the unit plays all day without faults at home with another PC and router using wireless. Firmware on SB3 is now version 130.
• The router – as the fault occurs using 3 different routers and also on direct xover cable connection
• Device Drivers – the notebook has had all the drivers updated and is running the latest Vista ultimate software updates, always has.
• Squeezecentre – the problem has occurred on all versions of the software from 2007 on as I have even ran previous versions to fault find. I’m now running version 7.4.2 r30215
• Connections – the fault occurs regardless of connection method (4 different cables have been used and two different wireless networks)
• Virus and firewall problems – there is a different security suite running than in 2008 (although same company) and the problem occurs also when the firewall is shut down.
• Drives – the fault occurs no matter what drive is used. Have tested 4 separate drives including the internal drive of the notebook. All the external drives are USB connected.
• The music files themselves – There is no system as to which files will fail. Even help centre tested the files and determined they were OK.
Basically I’m left with the notebook as the source of the problem. In 2008 the final diagnosis was the interference running through the soundcard was surmised to extend to other locations including the network card thus creating a drop of the network at song change. The motherboard was replaced under warranty and the notebook fault fixed.
Short testing of the setup with the dud notebook after the repair indicated the SB3 was at the time working OK but this setup was then packed away and wasn’t used for a year or so.
Now having to use the same setup with this dud notebook the same problem is reoccurring. The previous testing indicating all was OK was too short and longer sessions exposed the time out problem again. This time around the SB3 doesn’t require a reboot to clear the fault as it did in 2008 (Big thank you Squeezeboxen engineers) and pressing next song sometimes kicks the unit into playing again for a song or two.
Having spent a considerable amount of time testing and trying to work around the problem I’m stumped.
One lead I have is I noticed that some users were having "Connection timed out" issues when they were using a raid NAS when a storage control automatically activated during the latter stages of the music file being streamed. This got me thinking as I did see a storage matrix program installed on this PC (by Dell). Opening up the Intel Storage Matrix Controller I found the drivers for this program are not able to be loaded and the program hangs. Diving further into the problem looks like this notebook SATA controller doesn’t use RAID or AHCI control which the Intel program is for it as uses IDE.
What does the brains collective here think? Am I on the right track and this Matrix controller needs to go? I cannot normally uninstall as it states the program is being used by a drive – yet the device manager doesn’t show it.
Are there any other suggestions. I’m loathed to use the support centre again as they were so good and spent a lot of time trying to solve this in 2008. Especially since the problem lies with my notebook somewhere and is not any fault of the squeezebox system.
Can anyone give me some pointers on where to go from here?
EarthWalker.
FYI The Server logs shows this error
10-03-24 14:01:11.2576] Slim::Player::Squeezebox2::failedDirectStream (777) Oh, well failed to do a direct stream for: file:///F:/Iomega%20500/files%20not%20in%20backup/MUSIC/Compilations/Austin%20City%20Limits%20Music%20Festival%2004/01%20Debaser-%20Pixies.flac [Connection timed out]
[10-03-24 14:01:21.3449] Slim::Player::Squeezebox2::failedDirectStream (777) Oh, well failed to do a direct stream for: file:///F:/Iomega%20500/files%20not%20in%20backup/MUSIC/Compilations/Austin%20City%20Limits%20Music%20Festival%2004/02%20Hands%20Down-%20Dashboard%20Confessional.flac [Connection timed out]
Firstly the problem is one of connection timed out at song change on my SB3. Basically the unit stops playing at the end of a song. The problem is intermittent as sometimes the player will play several songs in a row and other times just one or sometimes even none.
The problem appeared when I purchased a new notebook PC in early 2008 and is only related when I use that notebook.
Testing eliminated –
• the SB3 - as the unit plays all day without faults at home with another PC and router using wireless. Firmware on SB3 is now version 130.
• The router – as the fault occurs using 3 different routers and also on direct xover cable connection
• Device Drivers – the notebook has had all the drivers updated and is running the latest Vista ultimate software updates, always has.
• Squeezecentre – the problem has occurred on all versions of the software from 2007 on as I have even ran previous versions to fault find. I’m now running version 7.4.2 r30215
• Connections – the fault occurs regardless of connection method (4 different cables have been used and two different wireless networks)
• Virus and firewall problems – there is a different security suite running than in 2008 (although same company) and the problem occurs also when the firewall is shut down.
• Drives – the fault occurs no matter what drive is used. Have tested 4 separate drives including the internal drive of the notebook. All the external drives are USB connected.
• The music files themselves – There is no system as to which files will fail. Even help centre tested the files and determined they were OK.
Basically I’m left with the notebook as the source of the problem. In 2008 the final diagnosis was the interference running through the soundcard was surmised to extend to other locations including the network card thus creating a drop of the network at song change. The motherboard was replaced under warranty and the notebook fault fixed.
Short testing of the setup with the dud notebook after the repair indicated the SB3 was at the time working OK but this setup was then packed away and wasn’t used for a year or so.
Now having to use the same setup with this dud notebook the same problem is reoccurring. The previous testing indicating all was OK was too short and longer sessions exposed the time out problem again. This time around the SB3 doesn’t require a reboot to clear the fault as it did in 2008 (Big thank you Squeezeboxen engineers) and pressing next song sometimes kicks the unit into playing again for a song or two.
Having spent a considerable amount of time testing and trying to work around the problem I’m stumped.
One lead I have is I noticed that some users were having "Connection timed out" issues when they were using a raid NAS when a storage control automatically activated during the latter stages of the music file being streamed. This got me thinking as I did see a storage matrix program installed on this PC (by Dell). Opening up the Intel Storage Matrix Controller I found the drivers for this program are not able to be loaded and the program hangs. Diving further into the problem looks like this notebook SATA controller doesn’t use RAID or AHCI control which the Intel program is for it as uses IDE.
What does the brains collective here think? Am I on the right track and this Matrix controller needs to go? I cannot normally uninstall as it states the program is being used by a drive – yet the device manager doesn’t show it.
Are there any other suggestions. I’m loathed to use the support centre again as they were so good and spent a lot of time trying to solve this in 2008. Especially since the problem lies with my notebook somewhere and is not any fault of the squeezebox system.
Can anyone give me some pointers on where to go from here?
EarthWalker.
FYI The Server logs shows this error
10-03-24 14:01:11.2576] Slim::Player::Squeezebox2::failedDirectStream (777) Oh, well failed to do a direct stream for: file:///F:/Iomega%20500/files%20not%20in%20backup/MUSIC/Compilations/Austin%20City%20Limits%20Music%20Festival%2004/01%20Debaser-%20Pixies.flac [Connection timed out]
[10-03-24 14:01:21.3449] Slim::Player::Squeezebox2::failedDirectStream (777) Oh, well failed to do a direct stream for: file:///F:/Iomega%20500/files%20not%20in%20backup/MUSIC/Compilations/Austin%20City%20Limits%20Music%20Festival%2004/02%20Hands%20Down-%20Dashboard%20Confessional.flac [Connection timed out]