Installing Minimserver

[Ryers]

I am trying to install the Minimserver software on a 64 bit Dell PC to work with my new Lumin player. I have installed Java 64 and the Minimserver program for my computer as per the instructions. When I try to open the program from the desktop shortcut I get the following message, "can't run multiple instances with the same configuration file" I've tried reinstalling several times and I keep getting the same message. Any help would be appreciated to get this program installed in My Music on my C Drive as well as my Qnap NAS.

Thanks

[simoncn]

(01-11-2013 20:10)Ryers Wrote:  I am trying to install the Minimserver software on a 64 bit Dell PC to work with my new Lumin player. I have installed Java 64 and the Minimserver program for my computer as per the instructions. When I try to open the program from the desktop shortcut I get the following message, "can't run multiple instances with the same configuration file" I've tried reinstalling several times and I keep getting the same message. Any help would be appreciated to get this program installed in My Music on my C Drive as well as my Qnap NAS.

Thanks

This message means that you have started MinimServer more than once on your Windows PC. Did you perhaps check the box in the installer wizard to request the installer to start MinimServer, and then start MinimServer again by clicking on the desktop shortcut?

When MinimServer has been started (either manually or by the installer), you will see a small icon with a minim symbol in your system tray. This icon might be placed in the system tray overflow area (not visible) if the system tray is already full with other icons. If this happens, you can use the system tray "Customize..." dialog and select "Show icon and notifications" to make the minim icon always visible in the system tray.

[Ryers]

Simon,

Thank you for your prompt response. I now have a green icon with the Minimserver symbol in my system tray. When I mouse over the green icon it tells me that Minimserver is running on my PC. My question is how to launch the program so I can scan my music library in my PC.

Thanks,

Bob Byers

[DavidHB]

It is in fact running, and indexes your music files automatically when it starts. Right-click on the green icon and select Properties to check that MinimServer is accessing the correct folder on your PC; if it isn't, change the contentdir setting to show the path of your music folder, then use the same right-click menu to restart MinimServer so that it indexes the files in that folder. Having done that, use a Control Point (in your case, presumably, the Lumin app on your iPad) to connect to MinimServer and access the music from your renderer (the Lumin). The Control Point should identify MinimServer as a server and give you the option to access it (usually just by tapping). Other servers may be present in the system; for example, if you have a NAS, it may have a DNLA server that the Lumin app can see, so you need to select MinimServer.

Something that confuses beginners (it was a learning experience for me too) is the fact that MinimServer is, essentially, a service working in the background. The excellent MinimServer documentation has the details.

David

[Ryers]

DavidHB

Thank you for your help. The program was right in front of me and it worked just fine with my music files. This reminds me of standing in front of the refrigerator looking for the jar of mustard. I can't find it because it's right in front of me! My next challenge is get Minimserver installed on my QNAP NAS.

[DavidHB]

Not seeing the obvious is an occupational hazard for new users, I think. I remember reading the sentence "MinimServer should now be running, and you should be able to see it in a UPnP control point" in the (otherwise very clear) installation instructions, and having no idea what a control point was ...

David

[simoncn]

(05-11-2013 00:44)DavidHB Wrote:  Not seeing the obvious is an occupational hazard for new users, I think. I remember reading the sentence "MinimServer should now be running, and you should be able to see it in a UPnP control point" in the (otherwise very clear) installation instructions, and having no idea what a control point was ...

David

This is explained on the UPnP AV page.

[DavidHB]

(05-11-2013 00:49)simoncn Wrote:  

(05-11-2013 00:44)DavidHB Wrote:  Not seeing the obvious is an occupational hazard for new users, I think. I remember reading the sentence "MinimServer should now be running, and you should be able to see it in a UPnP control point" in the (otherwise very clear) installation instructions, and having no idea what a control point was ...

David

This is explained on the UPnP AV page.

Indeed. I know that, now. But I didn't have any idea at the time. This is not a criticism of the MinimServer documentation, which cannot cater for every contingency. It is a reflection of the fact that network music systems are moderately complex, and that newcomers can easily become bewildered. As a recent newcomer myself, I'd like to encourage other new users to feel that there is no such thing as a stupid question.

David

[simoncn]

(06-11-2013 00:56)DavidHB Wrote:  Indeed. I know that, now. But I didn't have any idea at the time. This is not a criticism of the MinimServer documentation, which cannot cater for every contingency. It is a reflection of the fact that network music systems are moderately complex, and that newcomers can easily become bewildered. As a recent newcomer myself, I'd like to encourage other new users to feel that there is no such thing as a stupid question.

David

I understand and I agree completely. Ideally, the MinimServer website would provide the right level of information for people at all stages of this journey, from beginner to advanced. I've tried to do this, but there's plenty of scope for improvement.

[DavidHB]

(06-11-2013 09:38)simoncn Wrote:  Ideally, the MinimServer website would provide the right level of information for people at all stages of this journey, from beginner to advanced. I've tried to do this, but there's plenty of scope for improvement.

I don't want to sound too fulsome, but the fact of the matter is that MinimServer is better documented, in terms of your entirely appropriate objective, than any other part of the suite of applications I use for my network music system (the runner-up is, interestingly, Microsoft's 'unsupported' SyncToy folder synchroniser). Given that, by now, your level of expertise must make it rather difficult for you to put yourself in the position of a beginner, I think you do pretty well already. And no-one would want to divert you from completing the next release of MinimServer ...

David