Unable to stream still images

[6threplicant]

Hi there,

I've been unable to stream still images originating from a webcam. I've already tried with no luck a number of possible solutions that I saw in a few threads on this topic.

To view a simple image locally this works:

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vlc fake:--fake-file=c:\securitycamera.jpg

This is as far as I've gotten.

I tried to chain the arguments to vlc as specified in the documentation (vlc <misc. args> <input stream> <transcoding> <output>), but it doesn't work:

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vlc -vvv -L fake:--fake-file=c:\securitycamera.jpg '#transcode{vcodec=mp1v}:standard{access=http,mux=asf,dst=:8080}'

As you can see, I need an http-based stream. When I invoke vlc like in the previous line, the program launches and shows time elapsing as though it is actually streaming the image, but at the receiving end I get nothing (locally), except for an error message that says "Unable to open 'http://localhost:8080' ".

I've also tried the following:

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vlc -vvv -L --sout '#transcode{vcodec=mp1v}:std{access=http,mux=asf,dst=:8080}' fake:--fake-file=c:\securitycamera.jpg

It still doesn't work...

Any help will be greatly appreciated!

[dionoea]

When streaming doesn't work, the first step is to try to display what you want to stream locally. Then you find errors. For example, you'd find that there's a space between "fake:" and "--fake-file something".

[6threplicant]

Hi dionoea,

Thanks for your reply. I followed your suggestion and tried to display the file locally by using the following command (with a newly added space after "fake:") :

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vlc -v fake: --fake-file="c:\securitycamera.jpg" :sout=#transcode{vcodec=mp1v}:duplicate{dst=display} :sout-all :sout-keep

In this case, the 'messages' window gives me this ouptput:

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
main info: Running vlc with the default interface. Use 'cvlc' to use vlc without interface.
dvdnav warning: cannot open dvdnav
access_directory error: fake:: No such file or directory
access_file error: cannot open file fake: (Invalid argument)
cdda warning: could not open fake:
main error: open of `fake:' failed: could not create access: no suitable access module
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


However, if I simply run:

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vlc -v "C:\securitycamera.jpg"

Then the image is displayed for a second and then disappears. In that case, I get the following message:

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
main info: Running vlc with the default interface. Use 'cvlc' to use vlc without interface.
mjpeg warning: no more data
mjpeg warning: cannot peek data
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I'd appreciate your help, thanks!

BTW, great work with the 0.9.2 version!

[dionoea]

add -vvv --file-logging to your command line and check the vlc-log.txt file to see what it tells you about the error. And to try displaying, do not use --sout, at least to start. (If I had to bet, I'd say that the quotes around the filename are the issue in you command line)

[6threplicant]

Hello,

I removed the quotes from the filename, and after running the following command in Windows XP:

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vlc -vvv --sout "#transcode{vcodec=mp2v,vb=128}:standard{mux=ts,access=udp,url=192.168.1.100:1234}" fake: --fake-file=c:\vsntest.jpg --fake-fps=25

I get this:

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main debug: CPU has capabilities 486 586 MMX MMXEXT SSE SSE2 FPU main debug: looking for memcpy module: 3 candidates main debug: using memcpy module "memcpymmxext" main debug: thread 4532 (Interaction control) created at priority 0 (interface/interaction.c:382) main debug: thread started main debug: Creating an input for 'Media Library' main debug: Input is a meta file: disabling unneeded options main debug: `file/xspf-open://C:\Documents and Settings\Sergio\Application Data\vlc\ml.xspf' gives access `file' demux `xspf-open' path `C:\Documents and Settings\Sergio\Application Data\vlc\ml.xspf' main debug: creating access 'file' path='C:\Documents and Settings\Sergio\Application Data\vlc\ml.xspf' main debug: looking for access module: 2 candidates access_file debug: opening file `C:\Documents and Settings\Sergio\Application Data\vlc\ml.xspf' main debug: using access module "access_file" main debug: TIMER module_Need() : 2.000 ms - Total 2.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 2.000 ms) main debug: Using AStream*Stream main debug: pre-buffering... main debug: received first data for our buffer main debug: creating demux: access='file' demux='xspf-open' path='C:\Documents and Settings\Sergio\Application Data\vlc\ml.xspf' main debug: looking for demux module: 1 candidate playlist debug: using XSPF playlist reader main debug: using demux module "playlist" main debug: TIMER module_Need() : 2.000 ms - Total 2.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 2.000 ms) main debug: `file/xspf-open://C:\Documents and Settings\Sergio\Application Data\vlc\ml.xspf' successfully opened main debug: looking for xml module: 1 candidate main debug: using xml module "xtag" main debug: TIMER module_Need() : 1.000 ms - Total 1.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 1.000 ms) playlist debug: parsed 0 tracks successfully main debug: removing module "xtag" main debug: EOF reached main debug: control type=1 main debug: removing module "playlist" main debug: removing module "access_file" main debug: TIMER input launching for 'Media Library' : 9.000 ms - Total 9.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 9.000 ms) main debug: waiting for thread initialization main debug: thread started main debug: thread 4608 (preparser) created at priority 0 (playlist/thread.c:79) main debug: waiting for thread initialization main debug: thread started main debug: thread 4620 (fetcher) created at priority 0 (playlist/thread.c:108) main debug: waiting for thread initialization main debug: thread started main debug: rebuilding array of current - root Playlist main debug: rebuild done - 0 items, index -1 main debug: thread 4616 (playlist) created at priority 0 (playlist/thread.c:117) main debug: looking for interface module: 1 candidate main debug: using interface module "hotkeys" main debug: TIMER module_Need() : 0.000 ms - Total 0.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.000 ms) main debug: thread 4632 (interface) created at priority 0 (interface/interface.c:168) main debug: thread started main debug: adding item `fake:' ( fake: ) main info: Running vlc with the default interface. Use 'cvlc' to use vlc without interface. main debug: looking for interface module: 3 candidates main debug: using interface module "qt4" main debug: TIMER module_Need() : 4.000 ms - Total 4.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 4.000 ms) main debug: thread 4788 (interface) created at priority 0 (interface/interface.c:168) main debug: starting new item main debug: thread started main debug: processing request item null node Playlist skip 0 main debug: rebuilding array of current - root Playlist main debug: rebuild done - 1 items, index -1 main debug: creating new input thread main debug: Creating an input for 'fake:' main debug: waiting for thread initialization main debug: thread started main debug: stream=`transcode' main debug: looking for sout stream module: 1 candidate main debug: thread 4840 (input) created at priority 1 (input/input.c:368) main debug: stream=`standard' main debug: looking for sout stream module: 1 candidate main debug: set config option: sout-standard-mux to ts main debug: set config option: sout-standard-access to udp main debug: set config option: sout-standard-url to 192.168.1.100:1234 stream_out_standard debug: creating `udp/ts://(null)' stream_out_standard debug: using `udp/ts://(null)' main debug: looking for sout access module: 1 candidate main debug: net: connecting to []:1234 access_output_udp debug: source: 127.0.0.1 port 1255 access_output_udp debug: destination: 127.0.0.1 port 1234 main debug: thread 5068 (sout write thread) created at priority 15 (udp.c:255) main debug: using sout access module "access_output_udp" main debug: TIMER module_Need() : 12.000 ms - Total 12.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 12.000 ms) stream_out_standard debug: access opened main debug: looking for sout mux module: 1 candidate main debug: thread started mux_ts debug: shaping=200000 pcr=70000 dts_delay=400000 main debug: using sout mux module "mux_ts" main debug: TIMER module_Need() : 12.000 ms - Total 12.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 12.000 ms) main debug: muxer support adding stream at any time stream_out_standard debug: mux opened main debug: using sout stream module "stream_out_standard" main debug: TIMER module_Need() : 34.000 ms - Total 34.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 34.000 ms) main debug: set config option: sout-transcode-vcodec to mp2v main debug: set config option: sout-transcode-vb to 128 stream_out_transcode debug: codec video=mp2v 0x0 scaling: 1.000000 128kb/s main debug: using sout stream module "stream_out_transcode" main debug: TIMER module_Need() : 50.000 ms - Total 50.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 50.000 ms) main debug: `fake:' gives access `' demux `' path `fake:' main debug: creating demux: access='' demux='' path='fake:' main debug: looking for access_demux module: 1 candidate dvdnav warning: cannot open dvdnav main debug: TIMER module_Need() : 2.000 ms - Total 2.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 2.000 ms) main debug: creating access '' path='fake:' main debug: looking for access module: 5 candidates vcd debug: trying .cue file: fake:.cue vcd debug: could not find .cue file access_directory debug: opening directory `fake:' access_directory error: fake:: No such file or directory access_file debug: opening file `fake:' access_file error: cannot open file fake: (Invalid argument) cdda debug: trying .cue file: fake:.cue cdda debug: could not find .cue file cdda warning: could not open fake: main debug: TIMER module_Need() : 4.000 ms - Total 4.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 4.000 ms) main error: open of `fake:' failed: could not create access: no suitable access module main debug: destroying chain... (name=transcode) main debug: destroying chain... (name=standard) main debug: removing module "mux_ts" access_output_udp debug: packet has been sent too late (25181116000) main debug: thread ended main debug: finished input main debug: dying input main debug: thread times: real 0m0.031250s, kernel 0m0.000000s, user 0m0.000000s main debug: thread 5068 joined (udp.c:294) access_output_udp debug: UDP access output closed main debug: removing module "access_output_udp" main debug: removing module "stream_out_standard" main debug: destroying chain done main debug: removing module "stream_out_transcode" main debug: destroying chain done main debug: thread ended main debug: dead input main debug: thread times: real 0m0.062500s, kernel 0m0.000000s, user 0m0.046875s main debug: thread 4840 joined (playlist/engine.c:244) main debug: TIMER input launching for 'fake:' : 119.000 ms - Total 119.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 119.000 ms) main debug: starting new item main debug: changing item without a request (current 0/1) main debug: nothing to play qt4 debug: Error while initializing qt-specific localization

I also get the same error if I use the quotes.

However, I just tried the equivalent command in FC9 Linux:

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vlc -vvv --sout "#transcode{vcodec=mp2v,vb=128}:standard{mux=ts,access=udp,url=192.168.1.101:1234}" fake: --fake-file=/path/vsntest.jpg --fake-fps=25

And it worked just fine. I was able to stream the image from one PC to another within the same LAN.

Any clues?

Thanks!!

[dionoea]

Not really. 1st of all please try without sout. 2nd, try with a relative file path (without C:\).
Something like:

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vlc -vvv --file-logging fake: --fake-file=fileincurrentdirectory.png

Cheers,

[6threplicant]

I did what you suggested and tried this:

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vlc -vvv --file-logging fake: --fake-file=camera.jpg

I made sure that the file camera.jpg existed. This is the output:

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[00000395] logger interface: VLC media player - version 0.9.2 Grishenko - (c) 1996-2008 the VideoLAN team [00000395] logger interface: Warning: if you can't access the GUI anymore, open a command-line window, go to the directory where you installed VLC and run "vlc -I qt" [00000395] logger interface: using logger... [00000395] logger interface warning: no log filename provided, using `vlc-log.txt' [00000395] logger interface debug: opening logfile `vlc-log.txt' [00000395] main interface debug: using interface module "logger" [00000395] main interface debug: TIMER module_Need() : 52.697 ms - Total 52.697 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 52.697 ms) [00000395] main interface debug: thread 4812 (interface) created at priority 0 (interface/interface.c:168) [00000395] main interface debug: thread started [00000367] main playlist debug: adding item `fake:' ( fake: ) [00000367] main playlist debug: rebuilding array of current - root Playlist [00000367] main playlist debug: rebuild done - 1 items, index -1 [00000001] main libvlc: Running vlc with the default interface. Use 'cvlc' to use vlc without interface. [00000397] main interface debug: looking for interface module: 3 candidates [00000397] main interface debug: using interface module "qt4" [00000397] main interface debug: TIMER module_Need() : 395.458 ms - Total 395.458 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 395.458 ms) [00000397] main interface debug: thread 4772 (interface) created at priority 0 (interface/interface.c:168) [00000397] main interface debug: thread started [00000367] main playlist debug: starting new item [00000367] main playlist debug: processing request item null node Playlist skip0 [00000367] main playlist debug: creating new input thread [00000401] main input debug: Creating an input for 'fake:' [00000401] main input debug: thread started [00000401] main input debug: waiting for thread initialization [00000401] main input debug: `fake:' gives access `' demux `' path `fake:' [00000401] main input debug: creating demux: access='' demux='' path='fake:' [00000402] main demux debug: looking for access_demux module: 1 candidate [00000401] main input debug: thread 4692 (input) created at priority 1 (input/input.c:368) libdvdnav: Using dvdnav version 4.1.3 libdvdread: Using libdvdcss version 1.2.9 for DVD access libdvdread: Could not open fake: with libdvdcss. libdvdread: Can't open fake: for reading libdvdnav: vm: failed to open/read the DVD [00000402] dvdnav demux warning: cannot open dvdnav [00000402] main demux debug: TIMER module_Need() : 89.339 ms - Total 89.339 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 89.339 ms) [00000401] main input debug: creating access '' path='fake:' [00000404] main access debug: looking for access module: 5 candidates [00000404] vcd access debug: trying .cue file: fake:.cue [00000404] vcd access debug: could not find .cue file [00000404] access_directory access debug: opening directory `fake:' [00000404] access_directory access error: fake:: No such file or directory [00000404] access_file access debug: opening file `fake:' [00000404] access_file access error: cannot open file fake: (Invalid argument) [00000404] cdda access debug: trying .cue file: fake:.cue [00000404] cdda access debug: could not find .cue file [00000404] cdda access warning: could not open fake: [00000404] main access debug: TIMER module_Need() : 180.186 ms - Total 180.186 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 180.186 ms) [00000401] main input error: open of `fake:' failed: could not create access: no suitable access module [00000367] main playlist debug: finished input [00000367] main playlist debug: dying input [00000367] main playlist debug: dying input [00000401] main input debug: thread ended [00000367] main playlist debug: dead input [00000401] main input debug: thread times: real 0m0.375000s, kernel 0m0.062500s, user 0m0.000000s [00000401] main input debug: thread 4692 joined (playlist/engine.c:244) [00000401] main input debug: TIMER input launching for 'fake:' : 392.534 ms - Total 392.534 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 392.534 ms) [00000367] main playlist debug: starting new item [00000367] main playlist debug: changing item without a request (current 0/1) [00000367] main playlist debug: nothing to play [00000397] qt4 interface debug: Error while initializing qt-specific localization

The image was not shown on the screen. However, in Linux it does work, so it's kind of puzzling.

Thanks!

[6threplicant]

Going through the previous output listing I noticed that the following messages refer to an attempt to open a dvd:

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libdvdread: Using libdvdcss version 1.2.9 for DVD access libdvdread: Could not open fake: with libdvdcss. libdvdread: Can't open fake: for reading libdvdnav: vm: failed to open/read the DVD

I'm not sure why that is. I'm not trying to open any file in the dvd.

[dionoea]

Hum, I give up. Please post a bug report on http://trac.videolan.org/vlc .

[6threplicant]

All right, thanks.

[borregoja]

Try fake:// and not fake: , work in linux and windows.

[6threplicant]

All right! It worked!

Thanks