Weird Problem With Installation

[sekhu]

I've had to reinstall Subsonic 4 or 5 times now. Basically it works fine for w while then when I log in a random day it will remove the play/playlist/add buttons from the side of the tracks or video files.

I dont know why this is, but it has happened eveytime I re-enter my license details - it's almost as though instead of adding features it's removing them when I enter the license. I could be off base, but 4 installs is not a good sign.

Also the easy to use webaddress which is part fo the paid feature does not work correctly for me. My ports are correctly forwarded according to canyouseeme.org and the subsonic install in networking, but the easy to remember address says:

Status: <name>.subsonic.org responded successfully, but it could not authenticate

Any suggestions on what I can do to troubleshoot? I delete all the subsonic folders each time I do an install including the c:\subsonic.

thanks

EDIT: Using win 7 x64 as my OS.

[GJ51]

Most problems are due to improper setup on the router. Setting a fixed internal ip address for the server and proper port forwarding rules on the router are essential for long term stability.

Disable any DHCP services in any VOIP equipment you have. Only one device per network should handle DHCP assignments.

First read: http://monroeworld.com/android/subsonic/ This is the Windows tutorial but most of the concepts apply to any setup. Specific setup instructions for other Operating Systems are available in the Tutorials section. http://forum.subsonic.org/forum/viewforum.php?f=6 and on the Subsonic website at http://www.subsonic.org/pages/installation.jsp

Never use port 80 or 443 - ISP's often use or block them and these are also the default ports on WHS for the remote login page. 8080,8081, work fine. 808X always works. I've seen others use different port numbers that have caused install failures.

Start with a fresh Java install to the latest version. If you have Java already, uninstall, then do a clean install of the latest version. If you use a 64 bit browser be sure to get both 32 & 64 bit Java.
http://www.java.com/en/download/faq/java_win64bit.xml

In Subsonic Settings/Network - UNCHECK " Automatically configure your router to allow incoming connections to Subsonic (using UPnP or NAT-PMP port forwarding)." make sure to hit the SAVE button, you may have to scroll down to see it depending on your screen size. UPnP or Plug & Pray works sometimes, but not very often and you're better off learning what's going on anyway. You're dipping your toe into the network mgmt. thing anyway, might as well learn what's going on as home networks don't get simpler as time goes on. As your network gets more complex, you're going to have to learn this stuff! No time like the present.

Manually assign a fixed intenal IP and static route to your server at the upper end of the address range of the router, out of the way of DHCP, e.g. 192.168.1.254

Set up your router manually. uPNP might work, but most often it doesn't. Learing how to do it will be a skill you'll love having as your network grows.

Check the Subsonic Control Panel to make sure it's using the right port you're going to use. I typically use 8080, 8081, etc.

Set up port forwarding in your router to direct traffic on the selected port to your server. Consult your router documentation to do this, they are all a bit different.

Learn your external IP address assigned by your ISP. Go to http://www.canyouseeme.org/ enter your SS port number and click the Check box to be sure the Subsonic port is open.

Test your setup by entering your external IP:port# to see if it connects. e.g. http://98.117.185.5:8084/ If it works, you're good to go.

If your still having problems. Clear browser cache. Reboot the server. If that doesn't work, uninstall/reinstall Java. If still no joy, try reinstalling SS right over the top of the current SS using the latest version.

[sekhu]

hi gary

i've done all of that. honestly - but the problem is the installation for sure. I'm not sure why it's getting corrupted, or maybe it's not is there way to check for the integrity of the files?

I;m in a windows 7 x64 environment, and the play buttons have just disappeared again once more - I haven't added the license key this time. Other users are seeing the same thing.

I'll reinstall java etc and see ifthat helps but I shouldn't be doing this so often. Any ideas on what it might be? I've done a disk check and it passed, I've defragged, and ran a registery checker and cleaned up any errors. Not sure what else I can do. Only a clean install will fix the problem

But to answer your other questions - reinstalled Java, reinstalled Subsonic over the top of the previous installation, can see my external ip, can log in via it, can use https and http, ports are forwarded, canyouseeme sees the ports, other users can log in - everything works, excepo tthe play button disappears fromt eh side of the tracks and video files. Also the player doen't play anything when this happens

thanks

[bushman4]

You don't have a corrupt install... you are inadvertantly turning party mode one.

Party mode removes the "Play" button so that you don't overwrite your entire playlist in the middle of a party. You can only queue files in party mode.

And since videos cannot be "queued" videos are a complete fail in party mode.

So just shut off party mode for the account you are logging in as, and you will get your play buttons back.

HTH,

[sekhu]

omg lol i've been uninstalling it and reinstalling cuz i had party mode on? Thank you so much for your help it worked!

[bushman4]

If I had not done it myself in the past (and not wanted to recreate a 30+ person user database) I never would have known.

I know, I know, you see a checkbox labelled "Party Mode" and think "Hey, I'm a happenin' kind of guy; I like to party" and you check it off.

And an hour later you go to replace your playlist completely and think "why do I have no Play button? Am I not a PLAYer?"



Glad I could help,

[GJ51]

Good call Glenn. I should have recognized this too, it's been a while since we last ran into this.

[3R3]

Thats so good to see it resolved. I didnt have the slightest idea of what it might have been. Not been using the party mode in RL though

[sekhu]

how does party mode work then - and what does it actually do? I mean the player doesnt work, who has control? It's a weird feature, but then I dont know how to use it so it must seem like that to me.

thanks again, was racking my brain for ages

[GJ51]

You just add tracks to the playlist and then use the controls on the player bar.

[sekhu]

hmm i think i'll leave it then. cuz when i dont see how I can add files, when I click party mode it....wait sO I add the files BEFORE i click party mode and then click play or something like that? Because once in party mode it doesn't allo wme to play anything. But when in party mode I;m just wondering, what it does, can two accounts watch the same thing together? Like I add the files, then in party mode I say everyone ready or wahtever and hit play? Is that how it works?

[GJ51]

Party mode really only works if you already have several predefined playlists and you don't want others messing around with you system. For most users, it isn't of much practical use. the best way to learn all the features of Subsonic is to test each screen to see what it does. Once you become more familiar with the intyerface, it all becomes pretty easy to figure out. Just be patient and try everything.