Files out of order when trying to stream from FreeNAS

[Bruncko]

Hi All,

I have recently setup a NAS at home running FreeNas 9.?? (something, can't remember the version update off the top of my head)
Have setup the CIFS share, and permissions and can copy to and from fine - I can browse to the share without any dramas from both a windows machine, and a networked 'Smart' Bluray player (LG) - basically stream media

Now the issue I have is:
On the windows machine, files appear ordered based on what I set it (i.e. alphabetical, modify date, etc), but when I get to the share through the Bluray, they are all over the shop and I can't work out what tag/detail is being used to sort the files on the Bluray - all I know is that is sure isn't alphabetical - (not useful when trying to stream a t.v. series one episode after the other.

I know the bluray is capable of this, as I used to have the files on the windows machine, shared out that way, and there was no dramas - files displayed alphabetically.

So I am thinking it has something to do with the Linux system.

And yes, I have checked the spelling of the files (Show_S01E01, Show_S01E02, etc), tried giving full access to the 'Everyone' container (from the windows interface) - just to try in-case it was permission based, but to no avail :(

Any Ideas?

 

[pirateghost]

What does Linux have to do with any of this?

Sent from my Nexus 5

 

[Bruncko]

I have recently been advised that linux has nothing to do with it - but freeBSD - as this post is in the N00bs section please forgive the slight.

What ever the back-end is based on - I just am trying to work out if there is something I am missing to cause the files not to be presented sorted.

 

[Yatti420]

Blu-ray player?

 

[Bruncko]

The Bluray is an LG BD660 - and is network capable.
Able to play avi, mp4, (and limited mkv depending on file size) from a network location, or USB device - like a media centre.

I used to have the files I'm trying to view on a windows machine, shared out, and the bluray interface displayed all the files correctly.

I literally duplicated the files and structure to the FreeNas CIFS by copy and pasting from the windows environment.

I re-enable the windows share, and went to it from the bluray, the windows connection shows all the files in order, but when I connect to the NAS share, the files are out of order (alphabetically anyway - I don't know if it is being ordered in any fashion, it doesn't appear to be)

So its either the bluray not sorting the files, or it is the NAS not presenting the files ordered.
I would like to think it is just the player - but realistically, it is just showing what it is being given from the server, as I can get a sorted list from the Windows share.

N.B. there is no option on the Bluray interface to sort.

 

[HoneyBadger]

Is your Windows machine sharing via CIFS as well, or DLNA or another "home streaming" protocol?

Quick searching suggests that several networked disc players have this issue, including pricey Oppo models; so this might not be something fixable.

 

[Bruncko]

windows share was just a right click, share with > everybody

 

[Bruncko]

All,
Thanks for your input so far!

Have found out that MS will sort and send the file list, but SAMBA will send the file list as provided by the file system - unsorted
Which explains the current situation.

Which led to the following

-----
http://www.samba.org/samba/docs/man/manpages-3/vfs_dirsort.8.html

vfs_dirsort — Sort directory contents
Synopsis

vfs objects = dirsort
DESCRIPTION

This VFS module is part of the samba(7) suite.
The vfs_dirsort module sorts directory entries alphabetically before sending them to the client.
Please be aware that adding this module might have negative performance implications for large directories.
-----


Which then led to the following on the FreeNAS site

https://bugs.freenas.org/issues/1940

It sounds like it it can be done manually for the moment, so I'm going to try play around with that for the moment.
Is adding the module as simple as adding the command vfs objects = dirsort to the 'auxiliary parameters section of the CIFS settings dialog'? or is there something I need to download first?

 

[cyberjock]

I haven't seen someone ask about sorting the files in a long time...You don't have to download anything, just add the parameters. Note you have to add it per-share and not for the CIFS service settings.

Keep in mind this is NOT recommended because it increases CPU usage on the server side. With very large directories it can actually cause the client machine to timeout due to the length of time to sort the entries. It is recommended and preferred that the files be organized on the client as it can sort the entires without risk of a timeout error.

If I were you I would be looking less at this parameter and more at why Windows isn't sorting them properly. I know there's many ways to screw up sorting in Windows thanks to some registry entires, but I don't know them off the top of my head.

 

[Bruncko]

Hi Cyberjock,
When browsing to the NAS share from windows, all is good - It is the Bluray interface that doesn't have the sort feature on it.
I will take on board the recommendation of not using the parameter

I'll add the parameters and keep an eye on the speed, if it makes the NAS unusable at least I will know why and then I will just have to put up with the files not being sorted until I can get my hands on a better network media player

Thanks for your assistance everyone!