Setup a PC Link server for Kiss Networked Media Players

From OpenFSG

This page explains how to set up dp500serv as the PC Link server for Kiss Networked Media Players (tested on a Kiss DP-1500s and a Kiss DP-558). It assumes you have basic UNIX shell knowledge and can access your FSG-3 using ssh.

Contents 1 Update 2 Installing kissdx using ipkg 3 Update 4 Obsolete Info

Update

Someone was kind enough to put kissdx in the official ipkg feed. This is a much nicer server, and I would recommend you use thi s instead of the software below. After installation, just edit /opt/etc/kissdx.conf to your liking and restart kissdx (or reboot your FSG-3).

Installing kissdx using ipkg

Here is how to do it on an unmodified FSG-3:

• First make sure you know how to access the FSG-3 using SSH and how to become root. Basically this involves using software such as Putty to connect to the FSG-3.

• Using the information above, logon to your FSG-3, and make yourself root.

• You will have to add IPKG. You can find a tutorial here. Don't forget to run ipkg update after installation. At the prompt just type:

ipkg update

Remember, Linux, as opposed to Windows, is case sensitive. Dont type IPKG update, or Ipkg Update.

• Now its time to get kissdx. At the prompt type:

ipkg install kissdx

This should start the downloading and installation process. When its done you need to setup the configuration file for kissdx . The current version of kissdx in the ipkg-feed is not the latest, so the Configurator 3.01 doesn't work. You will have to edit the config file manually.

• There is a text-editor shipping with FSG-3, called vi. At the command prompt type (And remember, Linux is CaSe SeNsitive!):

vi /opt/etc/kissdx.conf

Type i to get vi into insert mode. It helps checking basic vi commands, especially if you are a Windows user. And no, when you type i to get into insert mode, it won't show. You will just notice that you suddenly can enter text. Change the paths to the folders where you will store your media files. If you've added a folder using the FSG web-interface, called "movies", it will most likely reside in the /home folder. Thus the path would be something like this:

videopath = /home/movies

When you are done, hit "esc" to leave insert mode and then type:

:w (yes, you need to type the colon ":" as well) and ENTER to save the file

:q (again, yes type colon as well) and ENTER to quit vi

Now reboot and kissdx should be up and running.

Update

Got this working with the new KISS 1600. Works a treat and will let you stream DVD files too, which the KISS apparently was not meant to support.

Result!

Obsolete Info

• First, get the latest binary dp500serv software from: LPE dp500serv (I used v0.9)
• Unzip the file somewhere on your fsg. If you have unzip installed via ipkg you can do this on the fsg, else do so on your desktop and transfer the files to the fsg.
• Make the dp500serv binary executable using:

 chmod 755 dp500serv

• Edit the dp500.conf and make sure you have the paths for MP3_PATH,VIDEO_PATH and IMAGES_PATH to where your media lives. Also make sure that KML_ENABLED=1 and KML_PATH points to a writable directory on your fsg (I suggest you create a directory for this).
• Now you can start it with:

 cd /path/to/dp500serv; ./dp500serv &

• On your Kiss player, configure the fsg ip address as your PC Link server.

I've found the software to be rather unstable, so I'm running it with the following watchdog script:

#!/bin/sh
#
# Simple watchdog to make sure dp500serv is running, and if not start it.
#

while [ 1 ]; do
        #echo Checking dp500serv at: `date`
        ps ax | grep dp500ser[v]  | grep -v grep
        if [ $? -eq 0 ] ; then
                echo "dp500serv running"
        else
                echo "dp500serv not running."
                echo "starting...."
                ./dp500serv &
        fi
        sleep 15
done

• Watchdog script at bootime (my files of dp500serv are in /etc/kiss)

Modify this file :

#vi /etc/init.d/croninit

and add this line:

# Watchdog for kiss server
echo "*/10 * * * * root /etc/kiss/watchdog" >> /etc/crontab

Example:

...
                        3)  # every week (0:00 monday)
                        PERIOD="0 0 * * 1 root /etc/init.d/ntpupdate"
                        ;;
                esac
                echo "$PERIOD" >> /etc/crontab
        fi

# Watchdog for kiss server
        echo "*/10 * * * * root /etc/kiss/watchdog" >> /etc/crontab

        # only start if specified in configuration
        if [ -s /etc/crontab ]; then
          echo "Starting cron."
...

Test crontab file:

#/etc/init.d/croninit stop
#/etc/init.d/croninit start
#more /etc/crontab