WD My Book Live Duo (4TB): DLNA issues

[picopaco]

For those interested, I have been able to overcome the DLNA server issues just with an internet connection and some minor alterations of the My Book Live Duo. All for free

Thankfully, the system is a debian based linux (that was a very, very good new to my eyes), except for the DLNA server, which is some really bad software created by a company named ipinfusion ¿? SO we can disable that server and install an open source based one. It is incredible fast and easy. All you need is to not be afraid to use a command line to enter a few commands...

So, to use this workaround, just  disable the multimedia option at the web interface (to stop the server) and open an ssh connection to the device (you have to activate it before at  the web interface at  http://IPofYourMB/UI/ssh and checking 'enable'))

Once connected to the device, edit

/etc/apt/sources.list

Uncomment the second line, the one related to "sid" packages. Sid is the unstable debian distribution (unstable in debian means "very usable"), so when you uncomment that line, you can download packages from that distribution. To get them, just write

apt-get update

The list of updated and new packages will get downloaded to your MBLD, and now you can install "minidlna", a DLNA server that works far better than the preinstalled one

apte-get install minidlna

This will install this pacakge and some more packages required by the minidlna server. Most of them are new packages, so no problem there. The only possible conflict could be due to the fact that 2 installed packages are updated to their newer versions. As of today, I haven't detected any problem, but I am just warning.

Then you just have to configure the minidlna server with your drives and settings. It is a text file at

/etc/minidlna.conf

so not as easy as configuring through  the web interface, but actually quite easy, specially if you, as  myself, just browse your media folders. You can google how to do it. Actually, I just uncommented and modified the media_dir parameter, just at the beginning of the file, to point it to /DataVolumes/shares/***theNameofmyyShare***  . This is the actual path where your shares are stored. And that was all I changed. (BTW, I have the disks configured in raid). Start the server with

/etc/init.d/minidlna start   

And your dlna server will be running (and will autostart when you reboot it)

Hope this helps someone with that annoying dlna server problem that prevents the My Book Live Duo to be the great device it should.

PS: actually, I wonder wy WD engineers do not follow that simple and very straight path...

[IAHskr]

 I also had issues with the DLNA server but it is now working fine.  My fix was that I had the DLNA active on multiple shares on the drive.  As soon as I disabled all but one active share, the DLNA worked great.  I tested it again (endabled media serving on more than 1 share) and the DLNA stopped working.  One thing I noticed was that no matter how many shares I had enabled, the DLNA always worked on my android tablet using WD2GO.  I only had issues on my PS3, XBOX and Sony BD player.  Now that only 1 share is enabled, all the devices are working.

[chernobyl]

IAHskr-That is interesting, I only have the default public share and am still having the DLNA not staying detectable by my PS3. Never any problems streaming to my MS machines though. Is the problem still somehow related to how I am sharing my folders do you think?

[-Pit-]

Hi Picopaco

I got the minidlna working but Mediaplayer cannot find any media files. "MyBookLiveDuo: root" seems not to be right user...

In the minidlna.conf I pointed to to /DataVolume/shares/Public. A rescan has been started with minidlna -R.

Thank your for any suggestions.

Peter

[-Pit-]

I solved the DLNA for ever problem using this guide:

http://mybookworld.wikidot.com/forum/t-459592/complete-guide-to-upgrade-to-twonky-7-version-my-book-...

Works like a charm. No probs no issues - thanks WD for waiting half a year without any succes in solving this very small problem.

[spearhavoc]

I actually bought a PS3 and the WD My Book Live Duo to replace the WDTVLIVE that suddenly failed to function properly.

I cannot get the MBDL to correctly stream AVI or MKV to the PS3 in a consistent way.

This is very irksome since all the docs from both WD and Sony indicate that these two units SHOULD work flawlessly together.

I guess I should have learn my lesson about WD after my awful WDTVLIVE experience.

Fool me once; shame on you: Fool me twice...

[christiansenn]

Any update on a new firmware?

[GrunjMufn]

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picopaco wrote:

For those interested, I have been able to overcome the DLNA server issues just with an internet connection and some minor alterations of the My Book Live Duo. All for free

*snip*

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Thanks very much picopaco, your guide was extremely helpful. Now I can use dlna with XBMC and VLC, neither of which worked with the built-in server.

I did have to create a /run directory, as minidlna would not start without it. For reference, I am using the 6 TB model with RAID1 and running firmware version 02.31.08-067.

[WDTony]

All,

We are marching (I know .. pretty slow) towards a firmware update in October. This firmware update will fix many of the reported DLNA issues in this thread. I am hoping that you all will be much happy after the update (Keeping my fingers crossed). We are also making updates to support Windows 8 certifications (new DMS logo certification for Windows 8).

Estimate time for the release is late October (near the Windows 8 launch).

I'll let you know if that changes.

Tony

[kenmok]

Thanks Tony. Your words noted.

Look much forward to c...Hope it can really solve the headaches...