Enjoying your music from another place
From SqueezeboxWiki
Contents |
Scope of this info
Initially this section will concern itself with Windows. Most of the concepts apply equally to all versions of SBS so where possible <other> will be used to show equivalent commands or procedures.
Many will argue that "tunneling" and "VPN" connections are necessary for security purposes. This section will assume that users do not have geek skills and it will concentrate on making "Enjoying your music from another place" possible for slightly technical users using the security features of SBS.
Using these procedures assumes the gentle user assumes all responsibility for following the copyright law that exists in their jurisdiction.
It is assumed that the gentle user has an internet connection that does not involve a traditional phone-line with modem. The term "modem" in this information should be read as a modem that makes a DSL/cable/satellite connection. Also, this information assumes the gentle user has connected to this modem with an ethernet connection (which resembles a "fat" phone cable.) Connections using USB to a modem are too stupid to explain.
The "reference" for this information is SBS 7.4.1. Menu options and selections may change. If you edit, please reference future versions and text/menus rather than replacing information.
"kabosh" means you are "stopped" because you don't know how to do something in the instructions.
"ahem" means clarification wouldn't hurt.
--Pski 14:46, 30 October 2009 (PDT)
Networking 101
Here is a simple network diagram:
Concepts of the "inbound connection"
Making the "inbound connection"
Network speed and the magic of LAME
This section will be of concern if your music library is higher quality (read "either lossless" or "higher bitrate.")
Current modem connections (especially DSL) have faster download speeds than upload speeds.
This makes sense: you have a short request for information (go to this web address) and then a lot of data (your requested web page) is downloaded.
When SBS is used to play music to you remotely, it is important to understand that the connection coming to your player from SBS over the internet is generally smaller than the connection used inside your home.
To ensure you can have a good experience, SBS includes a feature that lets it "step down" the speed required for you to play your music remotely.
If you have, for example, apple or flac lossless music in your library, this feature allows SBS to convert it (on-the-fly) to a slower MP3 stream that your network connection can reliably deliver to your remote player.
This is a far easier approach than to keep a separate version of all your music for remote use.
LAME is the piece of software that SBS expects to be installed for this capability.
Note that each player can and will have different "fidelity" settings. These settings can be found under Server Settings/Player/Audio. If you take one of your players to another location, you can easily modify it's settings to make continuous playback possible.
There are two settings that control this feature in SBS:
- Bitrate Limiting
This is either "No Limit" or the network speed the player will use. Various players support "network tests" that allow
you to see the speed and effectiveness of your connection.
- Lame Quality Level
This setting will depend on the load you want to put on the SBS computer while the player is used. Most
modern machines will probably be fine with (0-Highest Quality, very slow)
It belongs to you. Play with it.
Note that this settings page also indicates under "Bitrate Limiting" whether SBS thinks lame is installed. My page says "The LAME encoder appears to be correctly installed on your system."
"Install" in Windows
LAME for Windows can be found here: [1]
Be sure you note which versions are "experimental." If you get the "wrong" version, it will be easy to change.
As the site explains, your package will have lame.exe and lame.dll. You will only need the lame.exe version.
The downloaded file will be a .zip file that contains both versions. If you do not know how to find the downloaded file or "unzip" it, you are kaboshed.
Move or copy lame.exe to the proper directory, which in C:\Program Files\Squeezebox\server\Bin\MSWin32-x86-multi-thread (or whatever similar directory is at the top of Bin..) This directory will include alac.exe, flac.exe, and others.
Restart SBS after the file is "installed."
Keeping others out
Two methods are available to keep others from accessing your SBS.
These methods both work at the same time, if turned-on. They apply equally to your "local" players as well as access from the internet.
If you plan to enable either (or both) method(s,) please read both sections thoroughly.
Both methods are controlled in Server Settings/Advanced/Security
User/Password protection
User/Password protection allows you to specify a user name and password that allows access to your SBS.
This has no relation to your Windows/Linux/Mac user name and password.
If you activate this option, you will need to use the remote/controller's input to type out the user name and password on each of your players. How changing this setting will kabosh working players will be detailed later.
As always, UPPERCASE and lowercase makes a difference.
Block Incoming Connections
How to specify IP addresses
"Letting yourself in" from a remote location
Other Things mentioned here
"Home networking" as sold by your internet provider
In many locations, "home networking" is sold as a monthly service.
There really isn't an issue with this except that once the "home network" is set-up, it will work indefinitely.
For the most part, you can use ahem "Networking 101" to achieve the same thing without paying a monthly charge. When it comes to wired connections, use of "switches" works fine.
When you use wireless access, things are a little more complicated. You should understand the difference between switches and routers and most importantly, how do the computers in your home get IP addresses. (Once again, see Networking 101.)
--Pski 16:39, 30 October 2009 (PDT)
