[How to do instruction] Access to local files through Windows

[TheOldPresbyope]

Tim Curtis
You could use the one pi with your USB drive attached and SMB File sharing turned on as a NAS.

Create a Music source on the other Pi's that references the NAS Pi.

After copying new music files to the NAS Pi
Menu, Update library
Then
Menu, Players, Action = Update library, Submit

All the Pi's will be up to date with respect to the Music collection

Hi @Tim Curtis,

Curiosity got the better of me and I thought I'd give your suggestion a try. Unfortunately I cannot mount the music source. The source is something I can access through Windows File Explorer.

If I've missed out some stage then I'd like to know what it is. If it's something more involved then please don't worry as I'm very happy to continue to use things as they are with local storage.

Thanks,
Nick

Hi, NIck.

This is exactly the error I would expect for a Linux-based system if there is no local DNS resolver running on your LAN. Easy check: on the Music source screen, manually edit the path "LOUNGE/Music" to read "LOUNGE.local/Music" and see if the problem goes away. (Note, putting the hostname in all caps isn't necessary). You can also use the IP address instead of the hostname.

An alternative check, from the command line of your moOde player or any other Linux host, try to ping the source hostname "lounge". Then try to ping "lounge.local". The first will fail if there's no local DNS resolver running. Use "ping -c 1 hostname" to avoid endless pinging or just hit CTRL-C if it keeps pinging..

I have the same problem on my LAN because the otherwise very nice router/access point provided by my ISP doesn't run a local DNS resolver and doesn't cache local hostname/addresses. Adding ".local" to force mDNS resolution instead is second nature to me. Note: Windows works its magic differently.

I haven't pressed Tim to revise the code to try mDNS on failure (or to use it always) because I figure I'm one of a small minority. Most home LANs don't have my problem.

Regards,
Kent

PS - of course I could stop being lazy and set up a local DNS resolver of my own but that brings its own headaches.