Vortexbox Alternative

[azweig]

How difficult is it to install LMS and BLISS on the OMV platform?

[SeanMiddleton]

Success, LMS and MIP working together - had to add -- network host \ to LMS docker run -

docker run -it \
-v "/SSD_Data/LMSconfig":"/config":rw \
-v "/srv/dev-disk-by-uuid-69e79226-b7b9-40c0-bf24-70c612e633d7/Storage/Music":"/music":rw \
-v "/srv/dev-disk-by-uuid-69e79226-b7b9-40c0-bf24-70c612e633d7/Storage/Music/playlist_linux":"/playlist":rw \
-v "/etc/localtime":"/etc/localtime":ro \
-v "/etc/timezone":"/etc/timezone":ro \
-p 9000:9000/tcp \
-p 9090:9090/tcp \
-p 3483:3483/tcp \
-p 3483:3483/udp \
--network host \
lmscommunity/logitechmediaserver:8.3.0


Could only see 1 player after removing and then adding the docker, but getting MIP working is a bonus. An hour later all the other players are being seen..

For info, the computer has 2 disks, a 120GB SSD and an 8TB data disk for /Storage. I have the LMS config - logs, conf and cache and the MIP default.m3lib on the SSD.

I install Debian 11 first, taking the partition the root disk option and give the OS 60GB, then in the install optional software I untick Gnome and tick XFCE and SSH, then after Debian is going I use the web search for "install omv6 on debian 11" and install OMV6 by copying the appropriate command to a terminal session as root. Then back to the web search for "OMV6:new_user_guide" , open it and scroll down to OMV-EXTRAS, copy the wget and install.

In OMV6 I add the sharerootfs plugin and configure a share as SSD_Data. Remember, anything stored in SSD_Data will be wiped on a re-install of the OS.

Now to attempt PLEX.
PLEX is a no go, doesn't start - google plex libusb_init failed docker - and there are lots of posts. Bummer as my TV has a PLEX app on it.

docker run -d \
--name=plex \
-e PUID=1000 \
-e PGID=1000 \
-e VERSION=docker \
-e TZ=Australia/Sydney \
-v "/SSD_Data/PLEX":"/config":rw \
-v "/srv/dev-disk-by-uuid-69e79226-b7b9-40c0-bf24-70c612e633d7/Storage/TV":"/tv":rw \
-v "/srv/dev-disk-by-uuid-69e79226-b7b9-40c0-bf24-70c612e633d7/Storage/Movies":"/movies":rw \
--restart unless-stopped \
--network host \
lscr.io/linuxserver/plex

Anyone know a version of PLEX that works ?

The easiest way to install PLEX is probably to just use Portainer. PLEX is one of the install options within Portainer (along with Transmission, Airsonic etc etc. Just open the Portainer GUI. Go to the 'Settings' page and change the default json template URL to https://raw.githubusercontent.com/na.../template.json

Save that setting then go to the App Templates tab. You will see PLEX listed as one of the available templates. Lots of other useful ones too. All you need to do is click on the PLEX template and just edit the ports/volumes etc to match with how you want to configure your setup (use the 'Show Advanced Options' on the Portainer template install page). Its as simple as that. No need for any scripts

[Wirrunna]

Success, LMS and MIP working together - had to add -- network host \ to LMS docker run -

docker run -it \
-v "/SSD_Data/LMSconfig":"/config":rw \
-v "/srv/dev-disk-by-uuid-69e79226-b7b9-40c0-bf24-70c612e633d7/Storage/Music":"/music":rw \
-v "/srv/dev-disk-by-uuid-69e79226-b7b9-40c0-bf24-70c612e633d7/Storage/Music/playlist_linux":"/playlist":rw \
-v "/etc/localtime":"/etc/localtime":ro \
-v "/etc/timezone":"/etc/timezone":ro \
-p 9000:9000/tcp \
-p 9090:9090/tcp \
-p 3483:3483/tcp \
-p 3483:3483/udp \
--network host \
lmscommunity/logitechmediaserver:8.3.0


Could only see 1 player after removing and then adding the docker, but getting MIP working is a bonus. An hour later all the other players are being seen..

For info, the computer has 2 disks, a 120GB SSD and an 8TB data disk for /Storage. I have the LMS config - logs, conf and cache and the MIP default.m3lib on the SSD.

I install Debian 11 first, taking the partition the root disk option and give the OS 60GB, then in the install optional software I untick Gnome and tick XFCE and SSH, then after Debian is going I use the web search for "install omv6 on debian 11" and install OMV6 by copying the appropriate command to a terminal session as root. Then back to the web search for "OMV6:new_user_guide" , open it and scroll down to OMV-EXTRAS, copy the wget and install.

In OMV6 I add the sharerootfs plugin and configure a share as SSD_Data. Remember, anything stored in SSD_Data will be wiped on a re-install of the OS.

Now to attempt PLEX.
PLEX is a no go, doesn't start - google plex libusb_init failed docker - and there are lots of posts. Bummer as my TV has a PLEX app on it.

docker run -d \
--name=plex \
-e PUID=1000 \
-e PGID=1000 \
-e VERSION=docker \
-e TZ=Australia/Sydney \
-v "/SSD_Data/PLEX":"/config":rw \
-v "/srv/dev-disk-by-uuid-69e79226-b7b9-40c0-bf24-70c612e633d7/Storage/TV":"/tv":rw \
-v "/srv/dev-disk-by-uuid-69e79226-b7b9-40c0-bf24-70c612e633d7/Storage/Movies":"/movies":rw \
--restart unless-stopped \
--network host \
lscr.io/linuxserver/plex

Anyone know a version of PLEX that works ?

[Wirrunna]

It was well done for a while, now just "done".
Portainer installed, port to 9010.
LMS sort of running. This morning it was playing music, now it can't see the network or at least it can't see any players on the network and there are at least 4 powered up to see.

I got MIP running, you can see it on port 10002 and get it to scan and create a test mix but LMS can't see it - Slim::Plugin::MusicMagic::Plugin::initPlugin (155) Can't connect to port 10002 - MusicIP disabled.

Music IP docker run -
docker run -d \
--name=musicip \
-e PUID=1000 \
-e PGID=1000 \
-e TZ=Australia/Sydney \
-p 10002:10002 \
-v "/srv/dev-disk-by-uuid-69e79226-b7b9-40c0-bf24-70c612e633d7/Storage/Music":"/music":rw \
-v "/SSD_Data/MIP":"/config":rw \
--restart unless-stopped \
ptoulouse/musicip


Off to bed, had grand kids here all day.

[SeanMiddleton]

Sean,
After building OMV6 file system I was reading all about dockers and revisited your write up here https://www.vortexbox.org/forum/main...=3735#post3735

This time I read beyond page 1, you know the problem, real men don't read manuals.

So, right now the test server is doing a LMS scan !

Took a couple of goes to get the docker stuff right, I eventually made a copy of the "docker run -it" commands in notepad and edited them, getting the "absolute path" from the OMV6/Storage/Shared folders where the absolute path is displayed complete with a "copy" icon.

Now for MusicIP and further setup of the LMS server.

Well done. Install Portainer from the omv-extras menu (before you install change its port to 9010, or whatever. It's default is 9000, which clashes with LMS). From the Portainer control page GUI you can choose container templates. One of which is Transmission. There's also Airsonic and many others. Use the Advanced settings on the Portainer GUI to point Transmission to your shared drive and also to map the ports (9091 etc)

[Wirrunna]

Sean,
After building OMV6 file system I was reading all about dockers and revisited your write up here https://www.vortexbox.org/forum/main...=3735#post3735

This time I read beyond page 1, you know the problem, real men don't read manuals.

So, right now the test server is doing a LMS scan !

Took a couple of goes to get the docker stuff right, I eventually made a copy of the "docker run -it" commands in notepad and edited them, getting the "absolute path" from the OMV6/Storage/Shared folders where the absolute path is displayed complete with a "copy" icon.

Now for MusicIP and further setup of the LMS server.

[SeanMiddleton]

Hi there

I never had to use logical volumes at all. No need to install that. Just build your OMV installation onto your small drive. Then plug in your new 18TB drive from new. It will be recognised and u can then format and set up as a share. Then share also via SMB as a service share.

[Wirrunna]

Sean, I did a bit of reading about OMV and also about dockers. Spent a couple of hours running up an OMV server with the idea of replicating the VB /Storage structure. I referred to
https://www.vortexbox.org/forum/supp...sd-data-on-hdd and got as far as setting up /Storage/Music so that a windows box can browse but at this stage can't write, there is a setting not quite right somewhere.

Deleted my attempted how to - Sean has done it perfectly here - https://www.vortexbox.org/forum/main...=3735#post3735

[SeanMiddleton]

I have built 12 OMV6 Logitech Media servers now ranging from Raspberry Pi 4, Khards VIM3, Asrock motherboards, Odroid N2+.....and my favourite the Beelink U59. All work great. The U59 is brilliant and u can pick up one very cheap. I add 18TB drives and stream everything from these things. All running LMS 8.3

[SeanMiddleton]

Sean, OMV with dockers looks like a good replacement for Vortexbox.
I have had 3 old Pentium powered VBs die in this year. Mobos and disk drives just don't seem to last much over 6 years.

Was looking at https://havetheknowhow.com/ , Ubuntu 22.04 server, got up to configuring SAMBA and it looked complicated so I cheated by copying smb.conf from a working VB, instant access to the lv_Storage on the two hdd from one of the defunct VBs.

Visited here to see if anyone else is trying to replace a VB and there are two threads detailing replacement VBs by people I have respected over the years both here and on the Squeezebox forum.

So, just downloaded OMV, I will install it over the top of Ubuntu and start giving it a go tonight.

Will be back with questions.......

I don't think OMV6 runs under Ubuntu, I thought its was specifically Debian 11. Better check. These days I just install a minimal Debian 11 from a thumb drive then run the one line OMV6 installation script. Works great

[Wirrunna]

Sean, OMV with dockers looks like a good replacement for Vortexbox.
I have had 3 old Pentium powered VBs die in this year. Mobos and disk drives just don't seem to last much over 6 years.

Was looking at https://havetheknowhow.com/ , Ubuntu 22.04 server, got up to configuring SAMBA and it looked complicated so I cheated by copying smb.conf from a working VB, instant access to the lv_Storage on the two hdd from one of the defunct VBs.

Visited here to see if anyone else is trying to replace a VB and there are two threads detailing replacement VBs by people I have respected over the years both here and on the Squeezebox forum.

So, just downloaded OMV, I will install it over the top of Ubuntu and start giving it a go tonight.

Will be back with questions.......

[chabelo]

Here’s another angle to consider if choosing between OMV vs Fedora Server as a base. I was thrilled when I discovered the VB distro as everything was bundled in a (relatively) turn-key fashion. I knew some Unix/Linux but I was far from being able to administer my own system. But with that convenience came vulnerability.

One key argument for Open Source is that dependency on non-OS software makes one vulnerable and over time that vulnerability will manifest. Truer words were never spoken. Every key non-OS component of VB has eventually lost support and/or needed replacement:

Logitech: Initially all of my clients were Logitech-manufactured, and they abruptly exited the LMS client business. The server package itself remained open source, but the user-base were forced to improvise when it came to clients. This was done through a combination of open-source projects (Squeezelite and piCorePlayer), and open-architecture inexpensive hardware (Raspberry Pi).

Subsonic: Forked to closed-source, then became abandonware. Replaced by OS forks Airsonic and then Arisonic-Advanced off of the pre-closed-source Subsonic codebase. The latest stable version of Arsonic-adavanced is more robust, much quicker to re-index, and more feature-rich than Subsonic ever was.

VB Menus and Customization (Ripper install, Mp3 auto-mirror, etc) – Not completely open-source. Existing packages could not always be migrated to newer versions of Fedora as support ended for existing versions. This functionality was replaced by:
- Cockpit Admin menus in Fedora
- Containerized version of Ripper
I grew out of MP3 mirror as it became much more practical to have Subsonic/Airsonic transcode to MP3 on the fly as needed.

There were a few other non-OS packages bundled with VB which I didn’t use.

To leave the VB womb I had to become more comfortable managing Fedora myself. This happened naturally over time. The release of Cockpit made it that much easier.

I feel relying on a mainstream, generic Fedora Server base and popular packages / containers leaves me less vulnerable to a sudden support gap triggered by either a vendor change in strategic direction or project drift in which there aren’t deep teams of developers / supporters. Even if there were some seismic change to Fedora Server that rendered it less appealing, it would not be too difficult to migrate to another Linux distro. The recent CentOS dust-up was both a reminder that such events can/do happen. The subsequent rapid emergence of AlmaLinux and RockyLinux as turn-key CentOS replacements proved the ultimate robustness of the open-source mainstream Linux model.

OMV sounds intriguing but for me it would represent a retreat back to a nichey, less-supported, and consequently a more potentially vulnerable architecture.

[SeanMiddleton]

I havent tried that, Im affraid. If you enable audio in your motherboard BIOS OMV may pick that up and install appropriate drivers, give it a try. OMV is Debian based, so all of the features of the latest Debian (Bullseye, I beleive) are avalable to you. I've installaed a few thnigs at the OMV command line and it works just as a normal Debian installation

If you install the Apt Tool plugin in OMV u can then use that plugin to find and install a Player / ALSA. The Apt Tool Plugin has a search option in its GUI so if you know a particular Player app the Plugin will search for it and install it. Alternatively you could search for a Docker based Player / ALSA. There seems to be many Docker based players around. See this https://libs.garden/docker/search?q=music+player Docker based players would probably be prefferable

I just searched for "player" using the Apt Tool plugin and a stack of ALSA and ALSA players pop up instantly. You can just click on one and Apt Tool will install it. I see lots of ALSA related stuff listed e.g:
alsaplayer-common - audio player (common files)
alsaplayer-daemon - alsaplayer daemon
libalsaplayer0 - alsaplayer plugin library

and many more................................

After posting the above I decided to check out what comes instalaled as standard with OMV. (I checked on my RasPi machine, I assume same on other platforms). I found that ALSA is instalaled by default anyway and there are various Plugins whcih can be instalaled as Players. So, doing what u want to do should be straightforward.

A search using the OMV Apt Tool also list these players as being installable:
squeezelite - lightweight headless Squeezebox emulator - ALSA version
squeezelite-pa - lightweight headless Squeezebox emulator - PortAudio version
squeezelite-pulseaudio - lightweight headless Squeezebox emulator - PulseAudio version

[Sully]

I'm going to give OMV a try...before I get into it, will this solution work as both a server (LMS) and a player?
Assuming you can install ALSA?

[SeanMiddleton]

If one is seeking a music server that can run LMS (and is not interested in the ripping function or other programs such as BLISS or movie streaming etc.) then running an rPi3B+ or rPi4, with the piCorePlayer OS (a stripped down linux) with an attached USB HDD (or link to a NAS) is dead simple. Lots of instructions and support at the slimdevices.com forum. One does have to setup the rPi SD card (and put in a case if one desires), but I was able to do it with no knowledge and just following the simple step by step instructions. I run an rPi4 with attached 4TB USB drive, feeding 4 squeezebox zones in my house. The rPi can also serve as a squeezebox player too (running squeezelite). See https://docs.picoreplayer.org/

p.s. I loved my many vortexboxes over the years and they served me very well. The software was way ahead of its time. But the piCorePlayer on rPi setup has proven to be very stable, easy to maintain, and only requires a few mouseclicks to keep the LMS version (or OS version of piCorePlayer) updated.

Agreed. I do the same in fact for one of my player/servers not on the household LAN. I used a HiFiberry AMP2+ attached to the Rpi so its effectively a player + LMS server + 2 x 60w amplifier all in 1. I run it frm a laptop 19v PSU. I'm not sure this setup could cope with 2TB of flac files though. I just have a 1TB SSD connected but I haven't loaded all my music onto it. I set mine up as a wireless Access Point in the Picore software so I just WiFi to the AP with my smartphone and use OrangeSqueeze to play my music....... I also use Picore plus the official Raspi Touchscreen with a aHiFiberry DAC as my players on my main LAN steaming from VB, Daphile or OMV. Works superbly.

Another option for a small scale LMS server is just to install the Rpi version of OMV on to an Rpi and install LMS onto OMV. A bit more complex to do than the Picoreplayer route but its more versatile in terms of being able to install additional software.