Barebones Kodi for AndroidTV Setup

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MikeAqua

7785 posts

Uber Geek

#226055 18-Dec-2017 15:00

I have an Android TV 4.0 box (Mibox 4K).

I would like to have simple way of accessing media files - video and music and playing them via the TV.

Currently I plug a USB stick into the MiBox. However, there are two issues: -

(1) I have to use ES File Explorer to find and open files, which is clumsy and preludes things like pay-lists

(2) While the USB stick is attached Android keeps randomly jumping to the USB settings.

So I thought I would attach the USB stick (or a USB HDD) to my wireless router and use Kodi to read it as a network drive.

Any issues?

Mike

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4962 posts

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Inactive user

#1921354 18-Dec-2017 15:05

Only real issue will be speed. Generally routers only do SMB shares and just don't have the processing power to deal with it.

Better option would be to share a drive/folder off a local PC if you have a desktop machine that could be left running?

If it were me, I would try the a share off the router first, if it sucks, look at another option.

Personally, run a NAS with a couple of Kodi clients. DB (MySQL based) is stored on the NAS too so get played/stopped/unwatched data spread across the couple of TVs - great for stopping something in the lounge and then heading to bed to watch the end of it.

MikeAqua

7785 posts

Uber Geek

#1921374 18-Dec-2017 15:27

I'm trying to avoid the cost and drama of a proper NAS.

The next option would be a USB NAS adapter allowing the USB drive to be visible on the network?

Like this http://www.addonics.com/products/wdausm.php

I'm having trouble finding one in NZ.

Mike

Resnick

238 posts

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Lifetime subscriber

#1921389 18-Dec-2017 15:53

An inexpensive solution would be an odroid-c2 or xu4 with a USB drive attached. You could try a raspberry pi although the USB and ethernet ports share the same bus so speed may be an issue.

Have a look into OpenMediaVault for odroid and raspberry pi.

MikeAqua

7785 posts

Uber Geek

#1921397 18-Dec-2017 16:15

The o-droid looks cool but I would have to buy a power supply an enclosure, configure it etc etc ..... I would like as close to plug and play as possible.

Looking around the simplest solution after-all might be a basic home user type NAS. I can 2TB (with storage included) for about $200 that reviews well for media streaming across LAN.

Mike

robjg63

4100 posts

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Subscriber

#1921408 18-Dec-2017 16:50

Install kodi on your mibox and just connect your USB stick/HDD to the mibox as well.

Or as you have suggested try the USB/HDD connected to the router.
Or as I have done, just have a media folder shared on a pc. I have this with a raspberry pi and a Amazon fire TV box both running kodi. They can both access the share.

The only improvement I could make would be to do something clever with the user data folder. At the moment each kodi box keeps its own list of media contents for what is on my pc. If I watch one episode of a series on the pi and another on the fire TV, each box doesn't know what the other has accessed. Would be cool to set them up to share that library - and it's possible - I am just lazy,,,,

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

chevrolux

4962 posts

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Inactive user

#1921421 18-Dec-2017 17:14

@michaelmurfy had a Cloudshell kit for sale at one stage. That would be ideal. Maybe still available?

Couple of cheap drives. Install Debian OS. Install Samba (to make it easy managing the content on windows), Install NFS (for native linux support for Kodi). Connect Kodi client. Profit!.. and then install MySQL, sickbeard/sickrage, couchpotato, torrent client etc etc.

..but as above, try your router first and see what happens. Add complexity only when required, or if desired.

chevrolux

4962 posts

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Inactive user

#1921422 18-Dec-2017 17:16

robjg63:

Would be cool to set them up to share that library - and it's possible - I am just lazy,,,,

VERRRY simple, and so worth it! One very basic XML file in userdata and a SQL server.

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

JimmyH

2886 posts

Uber Geek

#1921443 18-Dec-2017 19:00

MikeAqua:

I'm trying to avoid the cost and drama of a proper NAS.

The next option would be a USB NAS adapter allowing the USB drive to be visible on the network?

Like this http://www.addonics.com/products/wdausm.php

I'm having trouble finding one in NZ.

That product would probably work.

But a NAS doesn't need to either involve a lot of "drama" or be terribly expensive.

If you aren't too fussed about massive storage, transcoding strange formats or drive redundancy then something like a WD MyCloud would be a simple and effective solution. The 3TB model runs to about $320 at NZ retailers, and includes a DLNA server which most media streamers and smart TVs etc should be able to see.

I used one of these for years, feeding a pair of networked WD Live media streamers, and it worked well. I only upgraded because I wanted more storage, fault tolerance, and to run Plex server.

driller2000

935 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

#1921469 18-Dec-2017 19:44

I have all my content on an unRAID NAS - has been going strong for 5 years now - which I point all of my Kodi installs to.

Is great if you have spare HW left over - then you are only talking about the SW cost which is $59 USD for a lifetime licence.

You can also do a trial/test set-up for free:

https://lime-technology.com/pricing/

MikeAqua

7785 posts

Uber Geek

#1921617 19-Dec-2017 08:53

robjg63: Install kodi on your mibox and just connect your USB stick/HDD to the mibox as well.

That's what I'm doing now but ....

the Android OS frequently brings up an options page for the USB drive - for example during playback of videos.

(includes an option to designate the USB drive as internal storage)

ES file explorer also opens on startup if the USB is connected plugged in.

So overall a PITA.

If I could stop those things happening, and still have the USB drive usable on a PC, so I can add/remove files that would be problem solved.

Mike

MikeAqua

7785 posts

Uber Geek

#1921628 19-Dec-2017 09:14

JimmyH:

If you aren't too fussed about massive storage, transcoding strange formats or drive redundancy then something like a WD MyCloud would be a simple and effective solution.

Yes, I'm almost resigned to having to go to a proper NAS as the easiest (but not the cheapest) solution and was looking at the My Cloud

I was also looking at getting an entry level Synology two-bay NAS with USB 3.0 input. I could buy the NAS without disks and plug the USB stick into it. If I want to I can add disks later.

Whatever I get is going tolive in the 'AV cabinet' (actually 3 storage cubes glued together) in our very small apartment, so it needs to be quiet and compact and not ugly.

One thing that concerns me about NAS is ongoing support for the NAS OS - especially as I will be at the cheaper end of the market.

Mike

Resnick

238 posts

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Lifetime subscriber

#1921727 19-Dec-2017 09:52

Good call. A synology ds216 or similar will be easy to set-up, look tidy in your AV cabinet, will perform well and will receive os upgrades for many years to come.

I bought a 412 many moons ago (after messing around with inferior solutions) which is still receiving os updates. Even if support were to stop I'm sure it will be a rock-solid performer for several more years.

MikeAqua

7785 posts

Uber Geek

#1921732 19-Dec-2017 09:58

I'd actually be happy if I could simply stop a the storage and reset settings page popping up repeatedly while I have a USB stick into the MiBox 4K.

Kodi is certainly happy finding media files on the USB stick, it's just the opening of the options page that is annoying.

I'll research that first.

Mike

Rikkitic

Awrrr
18668 posts

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#1921749 19-Dec-2017 10:24

Maybe as a stopgap measure, try replacing ES File Explorer? I found it to be a pain and dumped it. I now use X-plore, which works well for my purposes.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

MikeAqua

7785 posts

Uber Geek

#1921769 19-Dec-2017 10:55

Rikkitic:

Maybe as a stopgap measure, try replacing ES File Explorer? I found it to be a pain and dumped it. I now use X-plore, which works well for my purposes.

I removed ES File explorer. So it's no longer opening itself.

That's half the problem solved ... but I still get the AndroidTV Storage and Reset page self-opening.

Searching so far suggests that if I designate the USB stick 'internal storage', that will stop happening. But from what I've read it will no longer be compatible with a window-PC.

So every time I want to add media files, I need to swap in a second USB-stick (windows compatible format) with updated files and format it to internal storage.

Mike

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