Can a DVD drive on another server be used by kodi like a local DVD? Checked iscsi and nbd-client.

    I checked open-scsi and followed the instructions given by chewitt in the thread open-iscsi support for raspberry Pi 3. Creating an image with Iscsi-client worked but I don't have a scsi drive. Maybe it would work, maybe not.

    Then I checked nbd-client, which is built into LibreElec:

    • export the dvd drive on my Ubuntu server unsing nbd-server
    • the nbd-client command on LibreElec to connect the drive returns with no error
    • mounting /dev/nbd0 fails with various error messages (dmesg)

    Now I made another test and installed ndb-client on my Xubuntu laptop

    • connecting the remote drive works
    • mounting /dev/nbd0 works (type seems to be udf, which looks ok)
    • the disk can be played flawlessly with VLC as if it was in a local drive

    Looks good so far, but changing the disk is not recognized and has weird effects on the mount.

    Conclusion: Even if nbd-client and mounting the remote drive would work on LibreElec, this will never work like a local drive. In my opinion, it's not worth following up beacuse there are even more problems to be expected...

    Maybe someone has more and better ideas.

    Quote from chewitt

    And the errors are

    First thing: if no disk is inserted in the target drive the nbd-client command fails (short read) and mount caanot find a valid file system on /dev/nbd

    If a disk is inserted 'nbd-cleint -p -N share-name target-host /nbd0' command returns with no error

    dmesg:

    mount returns:

    mount: mounting /dev/nbd0 on media failed: Invalid argument

    dmesg:

    The errors show clearly that nbd-client cannot even handle a share for a dvd. let alone changing disks.

    End of story ...

    Why not just use NFS? I would be surprised if nbd would detect physical disk changes, it's intended to share a "hard drive or partition" which generally is fixed in size and not hot-swappable. iSCSI would likely be in a similar situation.

    This was the reason why I came to this forum at first. Still an open issue. DVD streaming among two VLC machines worked for me, but a remote mount would be much more elegant.

    Quote from chewitt

    using Handbrake to rip the ISO to file/files normally always works out quicker :)

    That was also your suggestion when I came here. ^^

    If I own the real thing, then I don't want to make copies. MP3s for my mobile player are the only exceptions.

    arcasys You should already declare UDF when you mount the DVD:

    Code
    mount -t udf -o loop /path/to.iso mnt/dvd

    I have lots of original copies. I also have kids who are incapable of putting discs away in the correct box and/or without leaving them on the floor where they get scuffed and made unreadable. So all new acquisitions are immediately ripped to a NAS, which makes the entire library kid-proof and navigable without getting up from the sofa :)