Sharing files from Arch to Ubuntu (XBMC)

beyecixramd · 2011-03-24 18:35:01

=Current situation=

I'm running a HTPC in my living room. This HTPC has NO local content, and everything is being shared from my Arch box in my bedroom (music, videos, pics...) using Samba.
I'm running a paswordless, public Samba server, so that anyone could also hook in the network and share my files. I don't want a password mainly because XBMC doesn't accept passwords for Samba shares, and also, I'm sharing in read only mode.

=Problem=

I've read Samba is easy to hack (I've got a firewall between the WAN and the LAN, tho.). Also, Samba is showing mangled names in folders with "weird" characters such as "ñ" or "¿".

=What I want=

Either tell me how to fix name mangling (using "mangled names = no" only hides those folders, rendering them inaccesible from other computers) to show the entire name for the folders, and not a mangled one.

Or if maybe it's better to use NFS (as long as it can be mounted in fstab, because I'm running XBMC-Live, so no desktop is running in the background, and thus, the shares must be mounted system-wide) in read only mode and without needing to enter ANY password from the clients.

zenlord · 2011-03-25 08:34:58

NFS is a possibility, but if all you want is to stream media, then you're really looking for a uPNP/DLNA-server. Install ps3mediaserver on your Arch-server and XBMC will pick up the server on the network. I have set up a page in the wiki on this topic.

Once you have a uPNP/DLNA-server runnng, you can easily add clients from Logitech, Philips etc.

Kirurgs · 2011-03-25 21:23:28

Hmm, I have two ARCH boxes, one runs so called server (router, torrents, hostapd and a ton of other things) and second is pure XBMC. I stream content from that server via local network to HTPC... using SAMBA... with password... and don't really see a downside
*) Samba is on the LAN, not accessible from WAN (protected with FW) -> no problems with security (until someone breaks in, but then I'm in deep shit anyways )
*) I run HTPC on demand, most of the time it's in suspend mode (S3) -> after resuming samba just need to reconnect and no problems at all, no stale file handles etc.
*) Content streams very fast, I have 100Mb/s hub for LAN -> samba can get about 9-10MB/s quite easily
*) samba don't use much resources

I didn't find any quick, easy to configure working method to access the server, samba was just the right one
If someone uses smth different, please share, I might change my mind

Last edited by Kirurgs (2011-03-25 21:25:28)

thinmintaddict · 2011-03-26 16:12:33

+1 for NFS.

I have a media server built on ubuntu from which I stream 1080p to my Arch boxes (laptop and desktop). Haven't messed much with XBMC, but it seems that NFS would probably solve much of your problems.

It is typically faster than samba, as will as dead simple to configure. any security measures you put into place are on the server side (restricted to specific hosts or ip ranges, etc.). It can be mounted in fstab, and once done so appears to the OS as part of your filesystem, so XBMC will think it is local content.

for the most part I stay away from samba unless I need to have access from Windoze for some reason.

ChojinDSL · 2011-04-07 13:10:53

If you want to fix the mangled characters for folder names in samba, simply add the following to your smb.conf under the global section.

display charset = utf8
unix charset = utf8

.:B:. · 2011-04-07 13:46:39

Using NFS myself here to share my stuff from my server to my AppleTV (both running Arch), works like a treat.

ushimitsudoki · 2011-04-07 22:17:44

Here is another possibility:

I set up a FTP server to share my media directories. This works at home of course, but the nice advantage is I can easily hit my server when away from home (on my laptop) or on a new machine.

For example, I went to a friend's house and showed him xbmc on his Windows laptop, and it was easy to hit the FTP shares.

subatomic · 2011-04-08 06:51:47

UPnP streaming is your answer. Why bother with NFS shares if it's ro anyway? I have UShare running on Arch and it took about 2 mins to configure. Just add the server to the XBMC sources and it's all there. Even shows up magically in VLC so anyone can stream. What more do you want?

jelly · 2011-04-08 07:53:55

i Would prefer nfs over upnp. NFS setups aren't that hard btw.

Arch Linux

#1 2011-03-24 18:35:01

Sharing files from Arch to Ubuntu (XBMC)

#2 2011-03-25 08:34:58

Re: Sharing files from Arch to Ubuntu (XBMC)

#3 2011-03-25 21:23:28

Re: Sharing files from Arch to Ubuntu (XBMC)

#4 2011-03-26 16:12:33

Re: Sharing files from Arch to Ubuntu (XBMC)

#5 2011-04-07 13:10:53

Re: Sharing files from Arch to Ubuntu (XBMC)

#6 2011-04-07 13:46:39

Re: Sharing files from Arch to Ubuntu (XBMC)

#7 2011-04-07 22:17:44

Re: Sharing files from Arch to Ubuntu (XBMC)

#8 2011-04-08 06:51:47

Re: Sharing files from Arch to Ubuntu (XBMC)

#9 2011-04-08 07:53:55

Re: Sharing files from Arch to Ubuntu (XBMC)

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