Multimedia sharing

[brama]

Hi!

I have a problem. Its more an annoyance than a problem:

I have 5 computers in my house and one of them is "server". Movies and music are shared trough homegroup windows seven gadget.
Every time I am looking a movie from that "server" computer but on the other computer, it blocks every few minutes (and stay that way for 10-15s).

Why is it happening?

How can I fix it?


Who can explain me how does that type of sharing and playing work?


:huh:
Thanks in advance!

 

[not so gray matter]

Sharing is done over your LAN (Local Area Network) which is comprised of ethernet cables, your computers and your router. If one or more of these isn't acting accordingly you can get disruptions in your service. I'd suggest that you make sure all of your settings are correct.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/43961-homegroup-create.html

Come back and report in if you need more help.

 

[chev65]

Hi!

I have a problem. Its more an annoyance than a problem:

I have 5 computers in my house and one of them is "server". Movies and music are shared trough homegroup windows seven gadget.
Every time I am looking a movie from that "server" computer but on the other computer, it blocks every few minutes (and stay that way for 10-15s).

Why is it happening?

How can I fix it?


Who can explain me how does that type of sharing and playing work?


:huh:
Thanks in advance!

Are all the computers in your Homegroup network Windows 7 machines?

The Homegroup networking feature in Windows 7 is only made to work with Windows 7 machines. If you have a mixed Op system network you will want to set up a Workgroup type network instead.

Also, Windows servers are not made to work with Homegroups either so setting up a Workgroup is the option you want to use for your network.

TechNet thread below stating there is no support for Homegroups with Windows server software.

http://social.technet.microsoft.com...g/thread/822aaf23-4ab2-45b6-84d1-010beb25e045

 

[CommonTater]

Hi!

I have a problem. Its more an annoyance than a problem:

I have 5 computers in my house and one of them is "server". Movies and music are shared trough homegroup windows seven gadget.
Every time I am looking a movie from that "server" computer but on the other computer, it blocks every few minutes (and stay that way for 10-15s).

Why is it happening?

How can I fix it?


Who can explain me how does that type of sharing and playing work?


:huh:
Thanks in advance!

As in your movie pauses then resumes?

With 5 computers, how much traffic is there on your network? It could be that someone is copying a file (i.e. saturating the network) or maybe you have too many people streaming off the machine you're dubbed as your server at one time.

Other causes are less enjoyable...
Windows Media Player is known to have it's own problems.
There are also some issues with sound and video drivers.

The way to find out is... the next time your playback pauses, don't touch either machine... try to access the server from a third machine... If it behaves normally you know the problem is your playback machine. Conversely if it messes up you know it's the server having problems...

Also the others are asking perfectly good questions about what operating systems you're working with and perhaps it would be a good idea to give us some indication of the age of the machines...

 

[acurasd]

Here is a better question...

So you are using Windows Media Sharing to distribute the media files... is that right?

I have a server in my house and I am runnin a gigabyte server throughout the house.

My stuff does not freeze unless i am working on the internet and working with torrents and i am streaming...

but if am streaming from my server... i'd be damn if that thing skips.
You have to also take into consideration your drivers, your RAM of the SErver computer, umm processing speed.
My server is 8 gigs with quad core and gigabyte network and i dont skip and i can send a movie to each computer without a glich.

So, can you give us a snapshot of your server.. the internal workings. what is your router (make/model) umm lets see what else... are you using dynamic IPs or Static IPs for your network.

Sometimes if your computer is using a dynamic IP address and it has to refresh its IP address then that could put a damper on things becuase the router has to address it another IP address. So that means the remote computer will have to refresh its settings.. that will put a lag on the movie as well.

 

[acurasd]

I honestly turn off the Windows Media Sharing... I think that it is a waste.

What I do is install alot of codecs in my computers becuase you never know what you download from the internet and what codec it will be in so it will be a good idea that all computers have the k-lite mega codec.

Then you will want to share your "sharing" folder throughout your network. Then MAP that driver on each of your computer so when you just click on it it will just act as opening up a folder on your computer. Also when it is mapped it gives it a drive letter, you really dont know how much more that helps out the network.

Now when I log in with my credentials... the "administrator" my server knows that i am the only one that can modify the files, anyone else can only "READ-ONLY" which is a good idea to.

 

[acurasd]

Sorry... need to add.... also I have PS3 on my network too. I "can" use the Windows Media Sharing" for it but I don't. I use PS3 Media Server which is ran by Java.

Download it here:
PS3 Media Server: PS3 Media Server

This thing runs great and never had a problem with it.

 

[CommonTater]

I honestly turn off the Windows Media Sharing... I think that it is a waste.

What I do is install alot of codecs in my computers becuase you never know what you download from the internet and what codec it will be in so it will be a good idea that all computers have the k-lite mega codec.

Alternatively you could install Media Player Classic Home Cinema version at about 5mb and ditch the entire 40mb codec collection because MPC-HC has everything built right in. So far it's played every file I've thrown at it with no problems at all.

Media Player Classic - Home Cinema - Video Player

Really... try it, you'll like it... and you can uninstall the entire KLite pack.

 

[brama]

@notsograymatter: it's all here

@CommonTater:
- Yes, it resumes after a 5-15s pause.
- Traffic shouldn't be a problem. it happens any time of a day even when one client computer is downloading a movie.
- I am using using BS or VLC player for videos and winamp for music
- The pause is too short that I can test it trough other computers

@acurasd:
-Windows Media Sharing? Is that the Media Devices thingy? If it is, than it isn't what I'm using.
- In my case, sometimes it freezes even when the network is absolutely free. Once, it was weird, I was downloading a couple of seasons of south park (on the homegroup hoster) and a client computer had no problem with watching a movie. There was no pauses. It was the only time it had no pauses.
- Only problem might cause networks drivers but they are all updated recently.
The homegruop host (server computer) is having amd dual (the maximum number of cores that windows can recognize) 2.6ghz proc and 3 gigs of ram with win7 32bit installed.
- I am using dynamic IPs. Why would it refresh IP for no reason? Plz explain.
But I doubt it's a reason because there is no way that computer is looking for new IP every 5-10 minutes.

@acurasd (again ):
- all files are in read only mode when sharing from server pc.
- why ps3 media server?

@CommonTater:
- is it possible that it's players fault?


All computers are running windows 7.

How does that type of sharing works?
My guess it would be that it loads into the buffer and after some percentage is downloaded, it is allowed for player to play.

 

[acurasd]

Brama,
I would definitly suggest turing all of your computers into Static IP Address except mobile laptops since they move. That would fix it up alot.

Read this:
Advantages of Dynamic IP and Static IP

I would just completely turn off IPv6. Turn off Homegroup. Just Map your Sharing Drive.

Is the server computer capable of having windows 7 64 bit placed on it? You say that it is only running 3 gigs based on the 32 bit. Is there more installed?

The PS3 Media server is only if you have a PS3 you are using as a remote device. It works very well.

This is the Windows Media Player Sharing that you might be using to push all of your media through. If you are not, I would turn it off through your "services.msc" , also turn it off through homegroup. I only use home group on very simple things "pictures" "documents"

I still use the IPv4 for my media sharing. Becuase when you use homegroup you are using IPv6.

This is very important to read too becuase this might show up in your network:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/...media-on-a-network-using-Windows-Media-Player

I am kind of contradicting myself in this. You can keep the IPv6 turned on just don't use it for the main streaming of your movies.

 

[acurasd]

I honestly turn off the Windows Media Sharing... I think that it is a waste.

What I do is install alot of codecs in my computers becuase you never know what you download from the internet and what codec it will be in so it will be a good idea that all computers have the k-lite mega codec.

Alternatively you could install Media Player Classic Home Cinema version at about 5mb and ditch the entire 40mb codec collection because MPC-HC has everything built right in. So far it's played every file I've thrown at it with no problems at all.

Media Player Classic - Home Cinema - Video Player

Really... try it, you'll like it... and you can uninstall the entire KLite pack.

I actually have the Media Player Classic installed. I am very impressed on how much you can modify it. I dont know what it is. I am having some errors everytime I try to intitally use the classic player which I am still working out the bugs.

 

[CommonTater]

I honestly turn off the Windows Media Sharing... I think that it is a waste.

What I do is install alot of codecs in my computers becuase you never know what you download from the internet and what codec it will be in so it will be a good idea that all computers have the k-lite mega codec.

Alternatively you could install Media Player Classic Home Cinema version at about 5mb and ditch the entire 40mb codec collection because MPC-HC has everything built right in. So far it's played every file I've thrown at it with no problems at all.

Media Player Classic - Home Cinema - Video Player

Really... try it, you'll like it... and you can uninstall the entire KLite pack.

I actually have the Media Player Classic installed. I am very impressed on how much you can modify it. I dont know what it is. I am having some errors everytime I try to intitally use the classic player which I am still working out the bugs.

Ok... I know this is confusing... But these are two totally different softwares...

Media Player Classic --the one that comes with the K-Lite codecs-- is a very old version and it's been hacked up to use all these alternative codecs. (Read: "It's as unstable as all git!")

Media Player Classic Home Cinema Version-- the one I linked to-- is a total rewrite. All codecs are internal, K-Lite is not needed and should be uninstalled. I have *never* had a problem with this version.

 

[CommonTater]

@CommonTater:
- Yes, it resumes after a 5-15s pause.
- Traffic shouldn't be a problem. it happens any time of a day even when one client computer is downloading a movie.
- I am using using BS or VLC player for videos and winamp for music
- The pause is too short that I can test it trough other computers

This usually indicates either a network saturation or communications errors.

Despite it's toutilage VLC is probably not the best player for streaming video.
Winamp just plain sucks at everything.

Frankly you'd be better off tolerating Windows Media Player.

@CommonTater:
- is it possible that it's players fault?

Entirely possible. But there still could be several other causes...

All computers are running windows 7.

How does that type of sharing works?
My guess it would be that it loads into the buffer and after some percentage is downloaded, it is allowed for player to play.

I gather you are using "Home Networking" but not using the Media Center or WMP to view your files... In that case, you can disable the multimedia features of "Home Networking"... It's stupid really... WMP goes out on the network and builds a catalog of all media files on your network and makes that available to Media Center... if you aren't using MC, it's a total waste of energy.

Judging from the glimpse of your operating scenario as you've described it, I think you might be a lot happier using "Work Network" with the XP style folder sharing and user/pass authentications. There's a lot less background traffic on the net and it lets you disable IPV6, which many older routers simply don't like.

In my experience "Home Network" is for people who really don't know how to set up a network...

 

[chev65]

Accurasd, are you aware that it is possible to edit your posts and add to them rather than triple posting?

The Op just needs to use a Workgroup because of the Msoft server in his network. Streaming will work fine after that. Although if it were me I'd dump the server and go with Homegroups, it works so well for me there is no reason to "fix" it.

 

[CommonTater]

Accurasd, are you aware that it is possible to edit your posts and add to them rather than triple posting?

The Op just needs to use a Workgroup because of the Msoft server in his network. Streaming will work fine after that. Although if it were me I'd dump the server and go with Homegroups, it works so well for me there is no reason to "fix" it.

Hi Chevy...

The OP never said he is running any Windows Server version ... merely that he's designated one of his computers as a "server". He has said that all computers are on Windows 7 and I took him at his word.

It's pretty common in HTPC circles to load up a box with a couple of extra drives and treat it as a server even though it's working from a workstation OS. Quite often the "server" and HTPC are the same machine.

 

[chev65]

Accurasd, are you aware that it is possible to edit your posts and add to them rather than triple posting?

The Op just needs to use a Workgroup because of the Msoft server in his network. Streaming will work fine after that. Although if it were me I'd dump the server and go with Homegroups, it works so well for me there is no reason to "fix" it.

Hi Chevy...

The OP never said he is running any Windows Server version ... merely that he's designated one of his computers as a "server". He has said that all computers are on Windows 7 and I took him at his word.

It's pretty common in HTPC circles to load up a box with a couple of extra drives and treat it as a server even though it's working from a workstation OS. Quite often the "server" and HTPC are the same machine.

If that's the case then streaming with Homegroups and WMP should be working perfectly. No changes to the network would be required if that were the case.

I also use my HTPC as a server but it's using Windows 7 so it's not a real server and I don't think I would call it a server if I was asking network questions. That would only confuse people I think.

I have been testing Homegroups for over 10 months now and can't seem to find a flaw with it. I can stream five movies at once every which way I can think of with zero problems. Some of my machines are ten years old also but no problems with them either. So I'm a bit confused on how the Op could be having problems with streaming and Homegroups unless there was a third party A/V or firewall in the mix.

I can even turn IPv6 off and the streaming with Homegroups still works fine. I can't figure that one out but it works none the less. It seems that IPv6 is mostly used for the initial Homegroup network connection but after that doesn't seem to be used for much.

The indexing does take some time to complete but it finishes eventually and all is well after that. Maybe that was the Ops problem hard to say.

 

[acurasd]

Yeah,
I knew you could edit. I did on one. It was 2-4am in the morning and I was just hanging on. Just forgot.

There is alot of information here. Did the thread starter ever get his network up?

 

[CommonTater]

If that's the case then streaming with Homegroups and WMP should be working perfectly. No changes to the network would be required if that were the case.

Did you see the part where he's not using that software?

He's using VLC and WinAmp ... all that cataloguing and searching is for naught.

Better question... Did you even read his initial post?

 

[brama]

so you are suggesting to get rid of homegroup gadget and use ordinary networking where I can disable IPv6?
Will test it tomorrow morning!

If it fails again, I'll try with static IP.

Thank you all for your time! I appreciate it!

Please don't argue. Ain't worth. It's just silly networking annoyance.