BubbleUPnP Server - proxy Media Server

[jes]

I have BubbleUPnP Server running on my Synology NAS. There is an option to "Create a proxy Media Server on this LAN" for Media Servers. Would there be an advantage to turn this on for MinimServer and use it instead of the standard MinimServer?

[stefano_mbp]

Use that configuration only if you have issues to discover/use the regular mediaserver
This is from Bubbleupnpserver features page
“ fix issues of UPnP/DLNA Media Servers (discovery issues, broken data, add some audio DLNA compliance) by creating a proxy Media Server”

[simbun]

A real world example of using BubbleUPnP to address an incompatibility between a server and renderer is that of KODI/LibreELEC and Linkplay UPnP devices (not WiiM as of a month or so ago).
The problem arises because KODI appears to double encode spaces when translating filenames to URL's, so if a file that KODI serves contains a space you'll see %2520 in the URL. For most control points and renderers this isn't a problem but Linkplay devices can't handle this and the action fails.

KODI serves the file '01 - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.flac' as:

Code:

http://192.168.1.112:1737/%25/f0c89d988292a1793600323b6cdc8a7d/01%2520-%2520Sgt.%2520Pepper%2527s%2520Lonely%2520Hearts%2520Club%2520Band.flac

If we use BubbleUPnP Server to proxy KODI the URL becomes:

Code:

http://192.168.1.112:58050/stream/audio/16d47cff462cc86b1abea107dba90a21.flac

To improve compatibility BubbleUPnP presents a simplified URL, removing the problem %2520 string.

If you're using a control point to create and save playlists, proxying MinimServer comes with a caveat, and that's because the playlists will no longer contain the real path and filename of the track being served, so it will no longer be possible to export and convert those playlists to m3u8 and have them served by MinimServer (in order to have them available across control points) - at least not without speaking to @bubbleguuum to see if there's a way to convert them back.

[simoncn]

My view is that it is best to keep things as simple as possible unless there is a reason to do otherwise. The scenario posted by simbun doesn't involve MinimServer and I haven't seen any reports of MinimServer problems that would be fixed by adding a BubbleUPnPServer proxy media server. Adding a proxy server for no specific reason puts an extra component in the chain and creates the possibility that this might cause unexpected issues.

[jes]

Thanks for the feedback. I was also wondering whether there are noticeable benefits from "Creating an OpenHome renderer" or "Creating a DLNA renderer"?

[stefano_mbp]

Using Bubbleupnpserver you can just Create an OpenHome renderer … where did you find that alternative?

[simbun]

(21-05-2023 02:38)stefano_mbp Wrote:  Using Bubbleupnpserver you can just Create an OpenHome renderer … where did you find that alternative?

If the source is a Google Cast device then both options become available.

(21-05-2023 01:02)jes Wrote:  I was also wondering whether there are noticeable benefits from "Creating an OpenHome renderer" or "Creating a DLNA renderer"?

There are no sonic benefits, just compatibility (can be controlled by DLNA/OpenHome only control points/software) and OpenHome brings additional functionality.

I proxy my renderers to OpenHome for the additional functionality it brings, but it does limit your choice of control point - not that I'd use anything other than the BubbleUPnP Android app anyway!