USB drive access - a different direction.

 


At this point in time, I have tried connecting USB drives to the LG oled Smart-TV, and the TP-Link router.

Both approaches have issues. The router recreates a database for all drives attached to the router. This means drive access is not available until some time after booting up. Remember, I live off-grid and power down the house every night. This means I have to wait on the router to make the database every day.

The TV has limits on the drive space as well as the number of drives. Bottom line: only some of the drives would be accessible.

When I first began the study, I ran across mention of a software program, miniDLNA. I had installed the Windows version on my laptop but had access issues and quickly moved on.

Some months ago, I purchased a new version of the SoC(System on a Card) Raspberry Pi. A model 3B+ has been running 24/7 on my system as a controller and monitor for my solar power station. I new I would probably want the newer model 4B as a media server for my entertainment system.

After frustrations with the router, I dug up the model 4B and installed the latest version of the proprietery operating system. I installed the wifi system, then the miniDLNA software. The DLNA standard determines the behavior of such programs, including the router's software. In fact, both the router and the miniDLNA software on the RPi-4B create database files that reflect the contents of all drives attached to them. Currently, I am having problems getting the TV to recognize the drives. I had to rebuild the RPi-4B system after a crash. Before the crash I had established TV connect with a test drive/hub. Since the new installation, I've had problems making that contact. That is the current status. In passing, the RPi-4B uses a variant of the Debian Linux operating system. Quite different from Microsoft Windows 11.

The morning after:

Completed installation of the Amazon hub with H1 and H2 connected. usbf1(H2) is immediately available, usbe1(H1) is not. Files from both drives are available from SSH. Will wait for the rest of the afternoon for usbe1(H1) to become accessible.


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