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[dhiggins]

Just a quick question. Is that supposed to work?

I've got MC25 setup as a service, running as a specific user with the proper rights.

I can get to the server fine from client machines, so I know that's working.

And, with the server stopped, I've configured MC to autoimport from a few specific folders.

If I import via the GUI manually, it works fine.

but if I stop the GUI, start MC in server mode via the service, and then put new files into the import folders, they never end up in the library.

Is auto import just not intended to work when in Server mode?

Any ideas?

Thanks

Darin

[JimH]

If you're using MC's Library Server to share, the server should be set to auto import what you want.  The client will then connect to it and use the server's library.

The wiki has a topic on Library Server.

[dhiggins]

Right. I think I have it set up this way.

I'm running

C:\Program Files\J River\Media Center 25\Media Center 25.exe

with /MediaServer command line switch.

When I just run MC on the server for the GUI, I can see that the auto import is configured and should be set to pull from the dirs I specified. It just doesn't seem to actually do it.

But I can definitely connect to the server from a client, so at least I know I've got the server configured right from that perspective anyway.

Is there a log file written somewhere on the server that would show what it does when autoimport kicks on?


Darin

[DJLegba]

It's probably best to just keep the GUI minimized on your server. If you have a DAC connected to the server it will only play if the GUI is running, no matter how you control MC. With the GUI minimized, auto-import runs as expected.

[JimH]

Minimizing the GUI doesn't affect auto-import.  Running Media Server on Windows startup is enough to make sure auto-import is working all the time.

Changes in the server's library aren't available on the clients until they are restarted.

[dhiggins]

Ok. I'll keep playing with it.

I set up MC to run as a service so that it'll start on windows startup without explicitly having to log in. I've run it that way forever and it seems to work fine.

I didn't realize that clients don't dynamically update. I'll keep that in mind as Im looking at it.

Thanks!

[tzr916]

This is an ongoing known issue with MC. Add files to a folder that MC auto import is supposed to be watching and they can show up right away, or maybe 24 hrs later, or not at all... until you force an auto import. It's been brought up before around here, there's never been any good reason or solution. Doesn't matter if you have disabled antivirus, or use NAS, or use local drives, blah blah blah...

https://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php/topic,121074.msg838590.html#msg838590

[JimH]

This is an ongoing known issue with MC. Add files to a folder that MC auto import is supposed to be watching and they can show up right away, or maybe 24 hrs later, or not at all... until you force an auto import. It's been brought up before around here, there's never been any good reason or solution. Doesn't matter if you have disabled antivirus, or use NAS, or use local drives, blah blah blah...

https://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php/topic,121074.msg838590.html#msg838590

Why don't you reply to RoderickGI's questions in that thread?

Your statement is inaccurate.  Only NAS drives are normally a challenge to auto-import.  They don't notify the OS of file changes.  MC scans NAS drives on a timer.

[tzr916]

Why not design MC to auto import ALL drives on a timer? Why just NAS?

[JimH]

Why not design MC to auto import ALL drives on a timer? Why just NAS?

Because the OS provides notifications of file changes, so a timer isn't normally needed.  Scanning all drives frequently is expensive.

[tzr916]

The key word being "normally". It's obviously not reliable enough, thus the various topics and confusion from new users, and the need for workarounds by seasoned users. How hard would it be to add the feature of user configurable schedules for Auto Import? (similar to Tv Guide data import schedule)  ....and the same applies to MC Library backups, which is another MC mystery that requires external workarounds to make reliable.

[JimH]

I realize that you have a problem, but I think you're exaggerating the extent of the problem.

If you're using MC as a client, the server may be successfully auto-importing, but you're not seeing the changes until you reconnect.

It would be helpful it you could focus on your problem, rather that speculate about others' problems.  You could start by answering the questions that RoderickGI asked in your original thread.