VLC can't load Windows share directory

[jmcaneny]

I want to stream video from a Windows server share to VLC on my desktop Fedora 13 linux box. Individual .avi files from the Windows share play correctly, but on my laptop (also Fedora 13) I can right-click the Video folder in the share (//ntserver/share/Video) and select "Open in VLC Media Player" and it loads all files and subdirectories from /Video into VLC's playlist. When I do that on my desktop box, I get:

Your input can't be opened:
VLC is unable to open the MRL 'smb://ntserver/share/Video'. Check the log for details.

When I check the log for details, I see:

main debug: Creating an input for 'smb://ntserver/share/Video'
main debug: thread (input) created at priority 10 (input/input.c:214)
main debug: thread started
main debug: using timeshift granularity of 50 MiB
main debug: using timeshift path '/tmp'
main debug: `smb://ntserver/share/Video' gives access `smb' demux `' path `ntserver/share/Video'
main debug: creating demux: access='smb' demux='' path='ntserver/share/Video'
main debug: looking for access_demux module: 0 candidates
main debug: no access_demux module matched "smb"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.514 ms - Total 0.514 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.514 ms)
main debug: creating access 'smb' path='ntserver/share/Video'
main debug: looking for access module: 1 candidate
access_smb error: open failed for 'ntserver/share/Video' (Is a directory)
main debug: no access module matching "smb" could be loaded
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 30.961 ms - Total 30.961 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 30.961 ms)
main error: open of `smb://ntserver/share/Video' failed: (null)
main debug: finished input
main debug: dead input
main debug: thread ended
main debug: changing item without a request (current 0/1)
main debug: nothing to play

Can anybody please tell me why VLC will play individual files over the share, but won't load the directory into the playlist? How can I resolve this and make it work correctly? Please advise.

[Rémi Denis-Courmont]

SMB directories are not currently implemented

[jmcaneny]

SMB directories are not currently implemented

As I stated, this already works correctly on my F13 Laptop, streaming video from the exact same Windows share as on the failing Desktop. I'm trying to get it working on my F14 Desktop and constantly getting either "Permission Denied" or "Is a Directory" failures. It's getting very frustrating. Anyone who can advise, please do.

[Rémi Denis-Courmont]

As I stated, SMB directories are not supported currently and never have been in VLC.

On Windows, SMB directories are in the file system - it's completely different.

[jmcaneny]

As I stated, SMB directories are not supported currently and never have been in VLC.

On Windows, SMB directories are in the file system - it's completely different.

You are incorrect, again. Below is gvfs-mount -l from my laptop (jmlaptop) and desktop (LX1):

[JM@jmlaptop ~]$ gvfs-mount -l
Mount(0): jmserver1_c on JMServer1 -> smb://JMServer1/jmserver1_c/
Type: GDaemonMount
Mount(1): jmserver1_f on JMServer1 -> smb://JMServer1/jmserver1_f/
Type: GDaemonMount
[JM@jmlaptop ~]$

[jmcaneny@LX1 ~]$ gvfs-mount -l
Mount(0): jmserver1_c on JMServer1 -> smb://JMServer1/jmserver1_c/
Type: GDaemonMount
Mount(1): jmserver1_f on JMServer1 -> smb://JMServer1/jmserver1_f/
Type: GDaemonMount
[jmcaneny@LX1 ~]$

My laptop loads the JMServer1_f/Video directory into VLC's playlist correctly. My desktop has the exact same shares loaded, but VLC gives a "Permission Denied" error:

Your input can't be opened:
VLC is unable to open the MRL 'smb://JMServer1/jmserver1_f/Video'. Check the log for details.

I made VLC work with smb shares on my laptop. Now I just need some help getting it working on my desktop. As always, any help is appreciated.

[jmcaneny]

The problem was that I had the same username in Linux as used for the Windows shares. I created a new Linux user and VLC loaded the shared directory into its playlist as normal.

[luxigo]

With gnome, using the right-button over a folder from a SMB share opened in nautilus or nemo, and selecting "VLC" in the "open with..." contextual sub-menu, the folder is added to playlist as a local folder (using gvfs) eg: /run/user/1000/gvfs/.... and it can be read.

But when you add anything that way to the playlist, current playback is stopped and restarted for the folder you just added to the running playlist, which is not really convenient (let's stay polite).

However, when using drag'n drop from the nautilus or nemo window - for adding to playlist a directory located on a samba share - the directory is added as a smb MRL (eg "smb:// ....")

VLC then refuse to browse the directory and the content cannot be read:
smb access error: open failed for ..... (Is a directory)

Individual files drag'n dropped that way can be read, but it is not convenient.

I dont know what's the best place to solve this issue:

1. the MRL could be converted into a gvfs path somewhere before/in/after the drag'n drop process (but then you cannot use the playlist when the share is not open by gvfs)

http://askubuntu.com/questions/213638/h ... -gvfs-path

2. Another way would be to implement smb directory browsing into VLC's SMB access module

I hope this issue will be solved one day, thanks anyway for what's here already

Free to you,

Luc

[Rémi Denis-Courmont]

Directory support could be added to the SMB plugin. A more esoteric option would involve mounting the remote file system in a user namespace, thus using the kernel CIFS implementation instead of libsmbclient. But contrary to jmcameny's claims, the fact is that VLC does not currently implement this.

Sponsor or patch welcome.

[luxigo]

As workaround for dropping a folder from a samba share into the playlist:

* "Allow only one instance" and "Enqueue items into playlist in one instance mode" options must be checked in the preferences..
* Then with nemo or nautilus you can right click the folder, choose "open with..." and select VLC
* Or drag'n'drop the folder on the VLC icon (The vlc.desktop file)