Transferring media and networking guide

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How to transfer media files onto your Slice hard drive

There are two main methods available:

1. Using the USB cable (supplied):

After properly powering down your slice, the user can connect the Slice to a computer using the supplied USB cable, thus allowing the computer to 'see' the Slice's disk as a normal external USB drive.
IMPORTANT - do NOT use with the power supply unit (psu) connected to Slice. This will only confuse your computer! It will ask for drivers that are NOT REQUIRED for this function (Windows). Slice gets its power through the USB cables.

  • Power down your Slice and unplug the psu
  • Connect the USB cable between Slice and your computer: the smaller (micro-USB) plug goes into the socket on the back of Slice; BOTH standard-size USB plugs go directly into the back of your computer. The second, skinnier standard plug provides extra power if required.
  • IMPORTANT - If you installed your own hard drive, now create folders on the disk - it is recommended that these are named Movies, TV Shows, Music and Pictures.
  • Drag and drop your media files into these folders in the normal way.
  • When finished, before unplugging the USB cables between your Slice and your computer, ensure you use proper safe removal steps on your computer (i.e. safely remove hardware, un-mount, etc)

2. Over a network

Slice supports both Ethernet (network cable) and WiFi. NOTE - transferring media files this way is NOT recommended - the average movie file of 1GB or more will take a long time! WiFi is by its nature somewhat unreliable, and the Raspberry Pi network hardware limits ethernet transfer speeds to approx 2-5MB/s.

Your Windows computer should recognise Slice automatically. IMPORTANT - Select the drive's volume name here! The other folders listed are on Slice's 4GB flash and NOT the hard drive. Drag and drop files as normal.


How to setup Slice (SMB network) access to folders on a Windows computer

Step One

Uninstall Windows Live Sign-In Assistant (if it is present):

Goto Control Panel\Uninstall a Program

Select the entry and uninstall.

Step Two

Amend or Create a Passworded User Account:

Goto Control Panel\Add or remove user accounts

Create a password

Reboot the pc.

Step Three

IMPORTANT - if the computer has been set up with a Homegroup, this must be switched off first by selecting <leave the homegroup...> after line 2 below. The Homegroup function is protected with a Windows-generated password, and SMB sharing will NOT work!

In Windows:

Click Start button/Control Panel/Network and Internet/Network and Sharing Center

Toward the bottom, click <Choose homegroup and sharing options>

Click <Change advanced sharing settings>

Turn on <network discovery>

Turn on <file and printer sharing>

Turn OFF <password protected sharing>

Save changes and navigate out

Go to the folder to be shared

Right-click and select <Share with> and then <specific people...>

In the top dropdown box, select <Everyone>

Click <Share>

Right-click again on folder to be shared

Select <Properties>

Select <Sharing> tab

Select <Advanced sharing>

Tick <share this folder>

Select <Permissions>

Select <Everyone>

Reboot pc.

Step Four

In Slice, goto: Files -> Add Videos -> Browse -> Windows network (SMB)

Select <Workgroup>

Select the name of the pc

Navigate to the shared folder

If the <Lock permissions> screen appears, enter the Windows user name and password created in Step Two above.

Tick the <path> entry

Navigate out and reboot Slice from the <Power> icon on the home page

Updating to Windows 10

At least one user found that many of the settings shown above had been reset, so repeat or recheck them. In addition, the following registry change was needed (this helps prevent dropped or disappearing connections): [1]

Open the registry editor

Go to [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Browser\Parameters]

Add the string value "IsMasterDomain" with "Yes" as the value

Restart Windows

The reg file (windows10_smb.reg) is also available for download here: [2]

Troubleshooting

If the <Lock permissions> or <Lock preferences> screen persists and will not accept the password, create a completely new User Account and password as described in Step Two above.

If the user sees <Connection Lost> or timeout messages, there is a Windows registry fix available here [3] (filename timeout fix.reg) that may work.

Some users report Windows problems re SMB1 and SMB2. The registry fix here [4] (filename SMB2 fix.reg) may help.

NOTE - to apply the registry patches, download the file and then double-click. Then press the F5 key. This will enter the changes into the registry.

WARNING - these registry fixes have been found in Kodi usergroups and are thus considered reliable and tested. However - USE THEM AT YOUR OWN RISK.


How to access Slice from another device

Using a web browser

Select: Setup -> XBMC Settings -> Services

Select <Webserver>

Check that <Allow control of Kodi via HTTP> is ticked.

Using your PC and browser, type http://slice into the address box. A basic web interface with remote control function will open, allowing the user to browse the library and play files. NOTE : If your browser combines address text with a web search in the box, you WILL need to type the ‘http://’ ! Typing ‘Slice’ only will bring up search results!

NOTE : If http://slice is not working, get the IP address (example 192.168.1.54) of your Slice from Setup >>> System Info, then enter (eg.) ‘http://192.168.1.54' in the browser. Your router's DNS settings may be preventing the http://slice from working, but the instructions to change your router settings are beyond the scope of this wiki.

Using the Kodi remote control apps

iOS

Download the App from the iTunes store

Open the app – on first boot it will show ‘no connection’

Enter a name for the device

Enter its IP address – this can be found by accessing: Setup -> OpenElec Settings -> Connections in your Slice

No other connection settings need to be adjusted.

Android (Thanks to forum members Ian and downinm33)

Kore is the official app that lets the user control Kodi from an Android device. It is available for download here: [5]

Using SSH (Secure Shell)

SSH enables the user to read and (sometimes) edit folders and files that are not available by browsing the network.

IMPORTANT - use SSH with caution! If in doubt, do NOT tamper with any files!

The user will have had the option to enable SSH during the first boot-up. To change it at a later date:

Goto: Setup -> OpenELEC settings -> Services -> SSH (tick)

You will need to know the IP address (example 192.168.1.54) of your Slice from Setup >>> System Info

Windows

The most popular SSH software for Windows is a command-line client called PuTTY, available free-of-charge here [6]. The author also recommends a user-friendly Explorer-type program called WinSCP which is freely available here [7]

In both cases the user simply needs to enter the IP address of their Slice, followed by:

Username: root

Password: openelec

Linux

For Graphical User Interface (GUI) ssh access, use an FTP/SSH client such as Filezilla (there is also a Windows version) using the following login information:

   Host: sftp://xxx.xxx.x.xx   (use your IP address)
   Username: root
   Password: openelec

From a command-line terminal/konsole, enter the command with your IP address:

ssh root@xxx.xxx.x.xx 

The password is openelec


How to access Slice using AirPlay from an iPhone or iPad

Select: Setup -> XBMC Settings -> Services

Select <AirPlay>

Tick <Allow Kodi to receive AirPlay content>

Tick <iOS 8 compatibility mode> if you are using iOS 8

On your iOS device, select <Music>

Swipe up from the bottom to access the Control Panel

Select <AirPlay>

Select <Kodi (Slice)>

This function has a number of limitations: AirPlay allows output to one device only at a time; it only works one way, ie. from iOS to Slice; and (as far as the original author is aware) there is no Refresh function – this means that after the first access of the Slice music library, any subsequent additions will not be picked up by the iOS device.


How to play Slice and/or server media on iPhone or iPad

By far the easiest and most effective way of watching media on an iOS device is to install Infuse.[8] It plays almost any format, supports AC3 and DTS sound, and is also compatible with AirPlay. Although it is notionally free, the ability to play AC3 and DTS movies is a premium upgrade with a cost.

Details and how to download can be found here: [9]

(Thanks to forum member AndyS)