Keeping Players in Sync

[pmcdunnough]

I would like to see an easy way of keeping various MrMC, Kodi players in sync and not via some public utility. Running an sql database seems really complicated. Surely there must be an easy way?

[amet]

Mysql is easy if You have NAS, other than that .., use upnp and share kodi database, MrMC will see that just fine

[pmcdunnough]

Mysql is easy if You have NAS, other than that .., use upnp and share kodi database, MrMC will see that just fine

I do have a NAS, in fact two ( Synology and QNAP). I guess easy is a relative term. Doesn't seem easy to me! Synology in particular seems to have made it harder. I am not sure what you mean by sharing the Kodi database by upnp. Are you saying to use a Kodi install as a server, sort of like PleXBMC? If I watch something on my Apple TV using MrMC will it be recorded as watched on the MrMC on a FireTV? What about resuming a video?

I just don't see any easy or elegant solution available to multi-platform MrMC setups at this time. That is one advantage of PleX. I don't end up watching something multiple times. This syncing issue is the one thing stopping me from using MrMC for most viewing.

I am not trying to be difficult here but I don't feel there is currently a simple solution to the syncing issue available to MrMC and Kodi users over multiple platforms. Perhaps it is my "mindless" iOS approach that is causing this as some of my friends keep saying;)

[CallClear]

Using UPnP would be problematic if you aren't running a Kodi client that is always on (for the UPnP server). I tried using MrMC as a UPnP server and quickly discovered it just wasn't a viable solution since MrMC had to remain on and in the foreground at all times. I'm guessing right now your users are primarily Kodi users but I would imagine there will come a time when people are only syncing MrMC...no Kodi...from their aTV's, FireTV's, etc. Ideally, it would be nice not to require Mysql or require one MrMC (or even Kodi for that matter) to be always on. I do see the difficulty in this though since you need something running to store and serve the status of your media.

Perhaps a cloud service like Trakt TV could work...assuming it really works. I've never tried it since I'm now using mysql but if it does keep track of your media and manages watched status and resume points, I think that would be an easy way to bridge the media syncing gap...not just between the MrMC clients but between any application that uses it.

[pmcdunnough]

@CallClear

Does MySQL keep track of the library, watched status, resume points and so on ... for all MrMC, Kodi clients?

Before switching to MrMC I used PleXBMC with Kodi which was actually pretty neat.

I am not familiar with Trakt TV. Something like that would work in a way but you would have to have Internet and be ok with shouting your viewing habits to the world! Surely there must be a local solution that is reasonably simple. To me that is a very positive aspect of Plex.

[amet]

MySql would take care of all that, it keeps all my clients in sync.... All 6 of them

If You want me to assist in setting up MySQL, find me on IRC, freenode.net .... Username 'amet' .

We should be able to do it in no time

[CallClear]

Amet is right. It works well and it is actually pretty easy to set up. It is just intimidating and not a very elegant solution for the average layperson. I held off on setting it up for a long time because I was concerned about the complexity...but it took me less than 10 minutes to have it up and running when I finally took the plunge (using the instructions here: http://kodi.wiki/view/MySQL/Setting_up_MySQL ).

The problem I have with Plex, Emby, Kodi UPnP, Kodi MySql is they all require a server to be running at all times. But then again, whatever hardware that stores the media must be running at all times...so I'm probably just spitting in the wind...

[pmcdunnough]

Ok, I set up an SQL server on my NAS. I then enabled it on MrMC on my Apple TV. It removed my videos from my Library. I had to then rescan them in. Where does the metadata live? If I go to another MrMC or Kodi and enable SQL and point it to the SQL server and database will I have to rescan all videos again. If so then how do they stay in sync? That is, suppose I change a poster on one MrMC setup how will the other MrMC know to use it?

Edit: Neat. I went to MrMC on my FireTV and entered the SQL server settings and I didn't have to do anything. It set everything up without scraping! Now to see if it keeps things in sync. It just can't be this easy:) Mind you, Kodi seems to be trickier as there doesn't seem to be a MySQL tab anywhere.

[amet]

we have added mysql setup tab to make it easier, kodi uses advancedsettings file for those configurations

[pmcdunnough]

we have added mysql setup tab to make it easier, kodi uses advancedsettings file for those configurations

Thank you for that. It really works well. Am surprised. I still think it's a bit much for a lot of users. SQL does not exactly relay positive feelings of simple and user friendly.