sending media to Boxee from Ubuntu?

[Kymus]

Hey folks, sorry if this topic has already been addressed.

I would like to set up the external drive hooked into my Boxee Box so that it can be read/written from my Ubuntu desktop (and I no longer have to unplug the USB and power and hook it into my PC to add new media). As I understand it, this can be achieved through setting up an SMB client, but (1) I know almost squat about it, and (2) most all of the information I am finding involves hosting the shared files in Ubuntu, and I of course want to do the opposite.

I understand most of what's needed, and I think all that's left is figuring out how to set up the WINS server. From there, I assume I can set up the connection between the two with xSMBrowser (though, since I have never used a service like this, I am uncertain as to how to actually send the files..)

[darcilicious]

http://boxee.zendesk.com/entries/325...rnal-usb-drive

[Kymus]

I've already enabled Windows File sharing (previously when I was trying to figure this out in Windows). But I am unsure on how to:

1. Properly set up the SMBserver settings in Boxee (specifically, the WINS server)
2. access the drive connected to the Boxee Box from Ubuntu

[gregwa]

I go to Places | Connect to Server then select Windows Share and enter the IP address of the BB. Then I copy the files there.

[darcilicious]

#1 on the Settings>>Network screen, select Servers
Tick "Enable Windows filesharing"
Leave password blank
Leave workgroup blank
Leave hostname as the default

#2 Not sure but it would be the same way you'd access any shared network drive via SMB -- perhaps just \\hostname (where hostname is the default name in the screen above) in whatever "network browser" app you have in Ubuntu. (It's been ages since I've run Ubuntu, if that's not enough info, google: ubuntu browse via smb -- first hit should do it)

[Kymus]

I'm not seeing Boxee or the drive when I go to smb://workgroup (just my PC which is connected to a shared printer). Do I need to go back into windows and make sure the drive is being shared under workgroup?

It is possible as well that I'm just not doing something right.

I am going to Places>>Connect to Server:

Server Type: Windows Share
Server: workgroup

Other information left blank

[darcilicious]

Don't use workgroup, use whatever is filled out for hostname on the Boxee Settings>>Network>>Servers screen, probably boxee

[Kymus]

I get the error:

Cannot display location "smb://boxee/"
Failed to retrieve share list from server

I made sure to set the Share Workgroup under the Servers screen as "boxee".

[darcilicious]

Well, not sure what the problem is -- have you googled for: ubuntu browse via smb ?

Or perhaps someone with more experience with Ubuntu/samba will be able to assist.

[stevex0r]

I am not near a boxee box right now so these steps are not 100% click here dummy but should be close enough for you to figure it out.

1. on the boxee box go to settings >> servers or services >> enable smb or windows file sharing.

2. in the settings menu of the boxee box make note of your boxee boxes ip address. This should be something like 192.168.1.xxx. Anywhere in this that I type 192.168.1.xxx use your actual boxee ip.

3. from ubuntu open a terminal and type "ping 192.168.1.xxx". If you do not get a response back or see something about 100% packet loss then your computer can't reach the boxee box and you have some kind of network problem. If you get a response then move on.

4. at the top of the screen click "places > home folder". Then at the top of the home folder click "go > location"

5. in the location bar type smb://192.168.1.xxx. If you configured a user name and password you will be prompted to enter it otherwise it should work.

If you want this mounted at boot time then add something like the following to /etc/fstab. You might need some other options to make it work but walk before you can run.

//192.68.1.xxx /media/boxee cifs 0 0