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[Robert S]

I've got three computers running MC11, and a PDA with Netremote.  Perhaps this is not the forum for talking about NetRemote and MC11 setup problems, but I'll give it a try. It isn't obvious if this is a NetRemote problem or a MC11 problem.

I use one computer (located in a closet) as a "media server" and the other two computers placed on different rooms in my house as "media players" without a media library of their own, connecting to the Media Server. I use my PDA/Netremote as a remote control to both these two "Media players".

To be able to use NetRemote with my two "Media Players", they both need the "Library Server" to be running,  so I've got three "Library Servers" running in my Network, but I only have one actual "Media Library".

The problem is this: It seems that NetRemote don't like my setup. NetRemote works fine if I connect to the "Media Server", that is: The computer that has the actual Library, but it does not work if I connect to either one of my "Media Players". Net Remote shows the current playing song, but that is all it does. I cannot see the playlist, change to next song, stop etc. etc. It seems like I have one-way communication only.

Has anyone here experienced this or should I setup my network differently. I've thought about not using my "Media Server" as a "Media Server" and intead only share the files on the LAN, and then have three different Media Libraries instead, that would solve the NetRemote problem, but then I'd problaby have other problems instead, and the tag issue is definetely a problem then. Perhaps using Zones could be a solution, I'm not quite familiar with that yet. As I've understood it's good if you have one computer with several soundcards.

/Robert

[risingdamp]

Be sure to install NR on the machines running MC (that you are trying to connect to from the PDA).  This will install the correct version of remoteserver.dll in the MC install directory and the mediabridge plugin that also facilitates comms between NR / MC.

[Robert S]

I've done that.

NetRemote works fine if I use a "local Library" on the Media Player computers.
It's only when the computer that I connect NetRemote to itself is connected to another computer.

I've got the same problem with the "Windows Client Net Remote". So it is eiter a problem in "Media Bridge" or in MC11.
Let me explain in another way:

This doesn't work:

Computer 1            Computer 2                                   PDA
"Media Server"       Media player                                 Remote Control
running MC11         running MC11                               NetRemote
Default Library        Connected to Computer 1            Connected to computer 2

This works:

Computer 2                                  PDA
Media player & Server                 Remote Control
running MC11                              NetRemote
Default Library                             Connected to computer 2

/Robert

[DV8]

The setup you describe as not working is exactly what I was considering setting up shortly. Have you tried the non-working setup in MC10 (which I am currently running)?

[Robert S]

I re-installed NetRemote on all systems and after this it started to work. However, I discovered that I can re-create the problem. It seems to have something to do with a date-field in Netremote. I'm running a swedish pocket pc, and this could be the cause of my inital problems. But, as I said, my setup described earlier works.

I've been forced to throw that setup away tohugh due to some limitations in MC11 Media Library (dunno if this was a problem in MC10). The thing is - I intended to have my Library Server deep down in the corner of my cellar (of backup, noice, firesafe-reasons). And the two clients was supopsed to be the actual interface to Media Center. But They can only work as "players" and there seems to be BIG limitations in editing and working with the database/library from the clients. For instance, I cannot change or edit playslists from my clients, I cannot burn CD on the clients CD-burners, and I have big problems in sending data to portable players that are connected to the local players.

So at the moment, my server down in the cellar works only as a file-server.

[Bill Kearney]

It would help if the docs were a little clearer on just what other MC11 programs can do to the library running on others.  I was under the impression that one MC11 program running on one machine could not only play but also edit the tracks in the library of another.  This apparently is not the case, the MC11 programs can only /play/ from another library.  This sort of makes it a bit pointless to use MC11 on the other machines as NetRemote can handle all the playback instead, albeit with less features but at a lower cost as well.

What's worse than not being able to edit tracks is not being able to edit playlists remotely.  This was a really rude surprise, if only because the docs weren't clear and assumptions made. 

I realize multi-user interaction like this isn't trivial but the docs could really help by clarifying what is or isn't possible (especially if this is a limitation of beta versions expected to work in the release).