EPG123 Client Behavior

[byronomo]

I love this software! I feel like i'm 99% of the way to getting it working as I hoped it would. I can't begin to thank Gary enough!

I have 1 PC as the EPG123 Server and about 8 or 9 Clients.
In another thread, I mentioned that I added a batch file to the Task Scheduler to run AFTER the Server does it's daily Task Scheduler update. The batch file runs 30 minutes AFTER the Server update and copies the MXF file to a specific location on my NAS that is accessible to all clients.

On each client I have provided the location of that MXF file during setup by selecting the "Automatch" checkbox and pointing to the network location of the copy of the MXF file and each client seemed to import the file properly upon initial setup.

Now for the problem/question. The clients do not seem to automatically update the MXF file to the newest version each day. If I launch the EPG123Client module and perform a "Manual Import" (again using the network copy of the MXF file), everything seems up to date (Green EPG 123 Icon in WMC with the current date). However, left on it's own, it seems to not access the latest version of the MXF file (date of EPG123 Icon is NOT the current date).

In case its relevant, my clients run WMC 24/7 (with the display off when no one is watching), so I'm not launching WMC each time prior to using it. I'm just wondering when and how often the clients check for/load the MXF file that they are pointed to.

Also---just out of curiosity--what is the difference between the green EPG123 Icon and the green EPG123 icon with a "+" next to it?

[garyan2]

You need to set a scheduled task for the clients as well, and the task needs to have credentials that can access the shared folder.

The plus sign means there is an update available for EPG123.

[byronomo]

To make sure that I follow. In the EPG123Client module, rather than selecting the "Client Mode" Radio Button, I should select the "Full Mode" radio button and assign it a time to read the MXF file which has the location specified in the "Automatch" field (box checked)?

[garyan2]

You want it to be client mode. The automatch selection is optional but recommended, and just need to select a time then create the task. It doesn't monitor the file, so doesnt know when it gets updated.

[byronomo]

Thanks again. I think I'm getting it now. I think I confused myself by assuming that the "Full Mode" radio button had to be active in order to utilize the "Create" button---because of it's position in the window.

Now I see that the time field and the create button are independent of "Full Mode". I think I've finally got it. Thanks for being patient with those tedious questions.

So when you say that automatch is recommended, is my understanding correct that by having automatch selected, (in my configuration) the channel selection on the clients will always match that of the server (ex. in the case of channel additions/removals)?

[garyan2]

No, the automatch is really more accurately termed 'automatic mapping' of guide listings to the tuner channels. So if the mxf file you import has channel 1002, it will be automatically mapped to your channel 1002 in the guide. If the file doesnt have channel 1002, then that channel will be disabled.

[byronomo]

Crystal clear! Greatly appreciated.

[byronomo]

Hi Gary.....I'm still struggling with my ability to achieve the desired result of the clients updating as per the scheduled task. I believe that I've implemented the steps as discussed above (including providing the necessary credentials for the Task Scheduler to access the MXF file from the network location) but my clients have not updated automatically as expected. I also enabled "History" in Task Scheduler to see if the task was encountering an error. Admittedly, I have never viewed a task scheduler history file before but I didn't see anything in the history that (to me) suggested that the task did not run.

When I perform a manual import of the MXF file from the network location, the EPG123Client does indeed update as expected (Green icon with current date).

It takes me a day or so between my posting of messages here because I like to let the task run a time or 2 to see if it's working. When I'm making adjustments to the EPG123Client settings, typically the MXF file gets imported at the time so I'm not immediately able to determine whether or not the automated task is (or will) work.

Any thoughts on what I could be missing or are there any additional details that I could provide that might offer some insight as to what my point of failure is?

Thanks again, kind sir.

[garyan2]

Click the [View Log] button on the client machines and find the error. If it says something like 'file does not exist,' then the problem is probably going to be the credentials used. Did you save the user password with the task?

[byronomo]

Click the [View Log] button on the client machines and find the error. If it says something like 'file does not exist,' then the problem is probably going to be the credentials used. Did you save the user password with the task?

Yes sir, you are correct---my log file does reflect that error. When I set up the task, I thought that I was asked the user/password at the time. At what point (or what tab) should I "save the user password with the task"?

[garyan2]

Make sure the option to "Do not remember..." is unchecked, and when you click OK or Apply, whatever it is, it will ask for the password.

[byronomo]

I've tried those steps (over several days of failures on different clients in case I was missing something) and the clients are still failing to update.

Here is the text of the most recent log from one of my clients. One of the errors is the error you mentioned, but there is another as well. Perhaps they are related to a common issue that I'm missing?

[1/13/2020 3:00:02 AM] [ERROR] File "S:\EPG123\MXF\epg123.mxf" does not exist.
[1/13/2020 4:36:12 AM] ===============================================================================
[1/13/2020 4:36:12 AM] Activating the epg123 client GUI. version 1.3.4.0
[1/13/2020 4:36:12 AM] ===============================================================================
[1/13/2020 4:36:14 AM] [ INFO] Successfully queried the Task Scheduler for status. Could not start. Last Run 1/13/2020 3:00:00 AM; Exit: 0xFFFFFFFF

I'm sure there's just some tiny (probably obvious) thing that I'm missing that keeps the clients from updating.

Thanks!

[joeer77]

I've tried those steps (over several days of failures on different clients in case I was missing something) and the clients are still failing to update.

Here is the text of the most recent log from one of my clients. One of the errors is the error you mentioned, but there is another as well. Perhaps they are related to a common issue that I'm missing?

[1/13/2020 3:00:02 AM] [ERROR] File "S:\EPG123\MXF\epg123.mxf" does not exist.
[1/13/2020 4:36:12 AM] ===============================================================================
[1/13/2020 4:36:12 AM] Activating the epg123 client GUI. version 1.3.4.0
[1/13/2020 4:36:12 AM] ===============================================================================
[1/13/2020 4:36:14 AM] [ INFO] Successfully queried the Task Scheduler for status. Could not start. Last Run 1/13/2020 3:00:00 AM; Exit: 0xFFFFFFFF

I'm sure there's just some tiny (probably obvious) thing that I'm missing that keeps the clients from updating.

Thanks!

I received same error on my client computers at first as well. Some things to check:

1. Sharing of .mxf file on server. I had to share just "output" folder of server computer. Do not go up higher in directory in share settings. Also make files available "offline" in Windows sharing. This fixed it for me.
2. I don't leave my client computers on 24/7. I turn on client computers and after about 10 minutes of being idle and LOGGED ON the windows task will execute. If you're computer is on 24/7 and your windows task trigger is time based make sure you are logged in as well. My clients will not update if no one is logged in and I receive fail message in task history.

[garyan2]

You can't use mapped folders for your task. You need to use the UNC path.

[joeer77]

Really? My mapped location is working on each client also running Windows 7. What is UNC path?

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

[garyan2]

It will probably work if you are already logged in, but if the task runs when you are not logged in, there is no mapped drive to connect to.

UNC path is the \\SERVER\share path.

[byronomo]

Thanks to both of you. I'll give this a shot. Does it have to be the Admin user (me) who is logged in or does it have to be just any user since I've credentialed the task as discussed earlier? I set up my clients with a dedicated account specifically for media center and that account is always logged in (they auto log in via netplwiz setting) even after a windows update reboot.

[garyan2]

Doesnt need to be an admin account, but does need network access and permissions to the shared folder.

[byronomo]

OK....I tried changing the path to UNC and also, again, credentialed the task in Task Scheduler as discussed earlier. However, I'm still getting an error related to access. Here's the latest log:

[1/16/2020 3:00:04 AM] ===============================================================================
[1/16/2020 3:00:04 AM] Beginning epg123 client execution. version 1.3.4.0
[1/16/2020 3:00:04 AM] ===============================================================================
[1/16/2020 3:00:04 AM] [ INFO] Beginning epg123 client execution. 2020-01-16 08:00:04Z
[1/16/2020 3:00:04 AM] [ INFO] Import: True , Match: True , NoLogo: False , Force: False , ShowProgress: False
[1/16/2020 3:00:05 AM] [ INFO] Recording in progress: 03:00 AM - 04:00 AM on channel 762 NGCHD -> TV Show 1
[1/16/2020 4:00:14 AM] [ INFO] Recording in progress: 04:00 AM - 05:00 AM on channel 762 NGCHD -> TV Show 2
[1/16/2020 4:00:14 AM] [ INFO] Recording in progress: 03:00 AM - 04:00 AM on channel 762 NGCHD -> TV Show 3
[1/16/2020 4:47:14 AM] [ERROR] Unhandled exception caught from epg123Client.exe. message: Access to the path 'Global\{XXXXXXXX-7D92-4A2F-B3AB-ED8CB42C6F65}' is denied.
[1/16/2020 4:47:49 AM] [ERROR] Unhandled exception caught from epg123Client.exe. message: Access to the path 'Global\{XXXXXXXX-7D92-4A2F-B3AB-ED8CB42C6F65}' is denied.

(I've masked a portion of the path, as well as the titles of the recorded programs)

I absolutely do understand that none of the problems I'm experiencing are due to the EPG123 Client but rather credentialing access to shared storage. Just that the limits of my knowledge of how this works has prevented me from getting the software to work in the manner discussed. All of these client PCs access that network share for any number of functions (storing/viewing recorded TV, viewing DVDs from the storage using MyMovies, accessing music, viewing photos, etc.) I've just never encountered difficulties in their ability to access shared storage before and I'm unsure as to what part of the process is lacking the proper credentials at this point.

Again, I do appreciate everyone's (especially' Gary, of course) help and guidance. I do feel that I'm making progress in getting this resolved as a result and remain optimistic!

[garyan2]

Everything looks like it was operating correctly, but the client was paused waiting until 05:01 AM to see if your recordings were completed. When you tried to do a ?manual import? at 04:47 AM the new session could not grab the mutex and aborted. I don't think you have a permission problem anymore... this one is a patience problem.