VLC for iOS iPad SMB share crashing WD TV Live

[summit48]

WD TV Live
Part number: WDBGXT0000NBK
Firmware Version: 1.16.13
WD TV Live is Ethernet attached and has a USB attached HDD

VLC for iOS
Version: 2.7.6(276.2) All Along the Watchtower

iPad 4
Model: MD511X/A
iOS: 9.3.1 (13E238)

When using VLC for iOS iPad via SMB (Samba share) and I select Network > Local Network > HDD Videos - it crashes the WD TV Live and causes it to reboot.

[summit48]

Update:

Since my last post I conducted the following tests.

1) Yesterday: I confirmed that the VLC for iOS on iPhone was also crashing the WD TV Live SMP in exactly the same manner as the VLC for iOS on iPad. Just by attempting to connect via SMB to the WD TV Live SMP for the simple purpose of browsing folders/files.

2) Today: On the WD TV Live SMP, I turned Windows Shares(SMB) OFF and Turned Mac Shares(AFP) ON.

I then opened VLC for iOS on iPad and without attempting a connection to the WD TV Live SMP, the WD TV Live SMP crashed and rebooted.

If VLC for iOS is completely closed(not running in the background of iOS) the WD TV Live SMP doesn't crash.

3) Today: On the WD TV Live SMP, I turned Windows Shares(SMB) OFF and Mac Shares(AFP) OFF.

I then opened VLC for iOS on iPad and again without attempting a connection to the WD TV Live SMP, the WD TV SMP crashed and rebooted. Yes the WD TV Live crashes with Network Shares(SMB & AFP) OFF.

If VLC for iOS is completely closed(not running in the background of iOS) the WD TV Live SMP doesn't crash.


Reply as linked Topic

[summit48]

Update 2:

I discovered another issue with VLC for iOS and the WD TV Live SMP. This time it is VLC for iOS automatically turning ON the WD TV Live SMP.
I suspect it also applies to the WD TV and I can confirm this in a couple of days when I test the WD TV.

Steps to reproduce the problem
1. Turn off the WD TV Live SMP using the remote
2. Start VLC for iOS (in this case it was an iPad)
3. Select Network > Local Network <-–this starts VLC network discovery
4. At 3 mins the WD TV Live SMP turns its self on, then after some time crashes --> Reboots --> Crashes --> Reboots……

I only discovered this issue by chance as I was using VLC for iOS to access files on a PC and saw the WD TV power light come on.

Huge compatibility issue with VLC for iOS and WD TV & WD TV Live SMP...Could it be a problem with the network discovery packet?

[fkuehne]

Thanks for the all details!

We requested a testing device from WD and actually got one. It's waiting for me at the office and I'll see what I can do. (note that I won't be at the office until mid June)

[summit48]

Well that is certainly good news!

I had also logged a case with WD and posted on their forums to alert the customer base of this issue. Like at VLC it took a while, but they eventually escalated the problem and responded by saying "the appropriate engineering team is aware and working on the issue". Not sure if this includes sending you a WD TV and/or a WD TV Live SMP unit. Either way, it is good to see both parties working on the problem.

[summit48]

Forgot to mention, I also supplied a whole lot of log files to WD Tech Support from both the WD TV & WD TV Live SMP.

[summit48]

Hi Felix,

Any resolution on this problem?

[Swoledad]

Hi summit and felix.
I too am having the same issue.

IPad Air 2 iOS 9.3.1
VLC For iOS 2.7.8
WDTV Live

Again connecting to a SMB share on a network server via VLC causes the WDTV to crash and reboot.

[summit48]

As you can see from my last post Felix from VLC has not responded and my numerous emails were never answered.

To add insult to injury, a new and significantly upgraded version of VLC for Android was released which works well and does not cause any issues for the WD TV Live or the WD TV.

WD did not follow up and it looks like they have discontinued the WD TV product line. I will still continue to use if as a NAS for existing DVD/Blu-ray 1080 files.

I switched to OPlayerHD Lite for iOS and PlayerXtreme for iOS both were free.

[summit48]

I can confirm that VLC for iOS 2.8.4 and VLC for tvOS 11(Apple TV 4) is still crashing the WDTV Live via SMB file shares.

PlayerXtreme app is a good alternative if you was to access content via SMB file shares, it is available on both iOS and tvOS(Apple TV).

[summit48]

It is very easy to reproduce the WDTV Live crashing. On the iPhone: Network/Local Network> Connect to Server> SMB

I ran the following two traces;

1. VLC For Android(192.168.1.103) to WDTV Live(192.168.1.12)

55 66.900113 192.168.1.103 224.0.0.251 MDNS 165 Standard query 0x0000 PTR _ftp._tcp.local, "QM" question PTR _smb._tcp.local, "QM" question PTR _nfs._tcp.local, "QM" question PTR _sftp-ssh._tcp.local, "QM" question PTR _rtsp._tcp.local, "QM" question

Frame 55: 165 bytes on wire (1320 bits), 165 bytes captured (1320 bits) on interface 0
Ethernet II, Src: SonyMobi_61:90:17 (e0:63:e5:61:90:17), Dst: IPv4mcast_fb (01:00:5e:00:00:fb)
Internet Protocol Version 4, Src: 192.168.1.103, Dst: 224.0.0.251
User Datagram Protocol, Src Port: 5353, Dst Port: 5353
Multicast Domain Name System (query)


60 66.938214 192.168.1.12 224.0.0.251 MDNS 474 Standard query response 0x0000 PTR WDTVLive._smb._tcp.local A, cache flush 192.168.1.12 SRV, cache flush 0 0 445 WDTVLive.local TXT, cache flush

Frame 60: 474 bytes on wire (3792 bits), 474 bytes captured (3792 bits) on interface 0
Ethernet II, Src: WesternD_65:d8:a1 (00:90:a9:65:d8:a1), Dst: IPv4mcast_fb (01:00:5e:00:00:fb)
Internet Protocol Version 4, Src: 192.168.1.12, Dst: 224.0.0.251
User Datagram Protocol, Src Port: 5353, Dst Port: 5353
Multicast Domain Name System (response)

2. VLC for iOS(192.168.1.106) to WDTV Live(192.168.1.12)

75 82.513949 192.168.1.106 224.0.0.251 MDNS 163 Standard query 0x0000 PTR _plexmediasvr._tcp.local, "QM" question PTR _ftp._tcp.local, "QM" question PTR _http._tcp.local, "QM" question PTR _nfs._tcp.local, "QM" question PTR _sftp-ssh._tcp.local, "QM" question OPT

Frame 75: 163 bytes on wire (1304 bits), 163 bytes captured (1304 bits) on interface 0
Ethernet II, Src: Apple_9b:bc:66 (4c:8d:79:9b:bc:66), Dst: IPv4mcast_fb (01:00:5e:00:00:fb)
Internet Protocol Version 4, Src: 192.168.1.106, Dst: 224.0.0.251
User Datagram Protocol, Src Port: 5353, Dst Port: 5353
Multicast Domain Name System (query)

76 84.643420 192.168.1.12 224.0.0.251 MDNS 960 Standard query response 0x0000 A, cache flush 192.168.1.12 PTR, cache flush WDTVLive.local SRV, cache flush 0 0 3388 WDTVLive.local TXT, cache flush PTR _wdtv-webremote._tcp.local PTR WDTVLive._wdtv-webremote._tcp.local SRV, cache flush 0 0 445 WDTVLive.local TXT, cache flush PTR _smb._tcp.local PTR WDTVLive._smb._tcp.local

Frame 76: 960 bytes on wire (7680 bits), 960 bytes captured (7680 bits) on interface 0
Ethernet II, Src: WesternD_65:d8:a1 (00:90:a9:65:d8:a1), Dst: IPv4mcast_fb (01:00:5e:00:00:fb)
Internet Protocol Version 4, Src: 192.168.1.12, Dst: 224.0.0.251
User Datagram Protocol, Src Port: 5353, Dst Port: 5353
Multicast Domain Name System (response)

The VLC for iOS Standard query does not include PTR _smb._tcp.local, QM question. The WDTV Live Standard query response 0x0000 A, then crashes.