BETA: Channels DVR Server for Raspberry Pi 4 (USB BOOT IMAGE)

Channels DVR Server Raspberry Pi
#574

I'm now using the Channels DVR USB boot image on my Pi 4, and everything is working great. I enabled Samba, but when using the Finder on my Mac to look for the recording files, I only see the following folders in \DVR-SERVER\MEDIA\DVR: Database, Images, Imports and Streaming. Same result when I use the Files app on my iPhone. Why can't I see the folders that contain the actual recordings (aka Movies and TV)?

EDIT: I think I know what my problem is. I connected both the old and new USB drives directly to my Mac via USB in order to speed up the copying of the recording files from the old to the new drive, and now I can't see those folders and files on the new drive when I boot it up on the Pi and connect to it via Samba. Must be some sort of Linux permissions thing?

#575

How is the Pi's firmware updated via the Channels Image?

I thought i read that it gets updated via the OS image, but it was not said how that happens and the process.

Is it hot flashed? or is a reboot or power cycle of the server required?

I have not rebooted my Pi Channels sever in ages, but have updated the image.

Would be great if firmware version and update status would show on the server GUI.

#576

It happens on reboot

Raspberry Pi Documentation - Raspberry Pi Hardware

1 Like
#577

Ok. but how would I know I needed to reboot the Pi to update the firmware if there is not indication that there was a firmware update downloaded?

Or does the "Reboot" option in the server GUI when an image update happens, trigger a full system reboot, and not just a soft reboot of the sever software?

#578

Reboot means full reboot, yes. It always reboots after system image upgrades.

1 Like
2021.12.01.0035 perf regression on RPi
#579

do i have to downloand the file and install like I did to setup the original configuration. I have been running the image on a raspberry Pi for a while now and go on the server page and update the server there and always check for an update under the "operating system section" and it never says there is an update. I always update the status section with pre releases. I boot from the image on my PI. Thanks

#580

You can click and hold on the Check button to get the latest image. I haven't had a chance to do a stable release yet for upgrades.

#581

There was no reply to my prior post, so I'm posting again. I set up the Channels DVR Server on a brand new USB external drive for my Raspberry Pi. I connected both my old hard drive and the new hard drive to my MacBook via USB so I could quickly copy all my recordings from my old drive to the new one. I then booted up the Pi with the new drive and everything works perfectly (i.e., all my old recordings are visible in my library). However, if I turn on Samba, I can't view the files stored in the Movies, TV and Import folders. It must be some sort of Linux permissions setting. Can anyone help? Is there something I can do to the new drive so that all the files will be viewable through Samba?

#582

thanks

1 Like
#583

Sorry there's some known bug with samba file permissions and macOS. I haven't been able to figure it out yet.

#584

I got a raspberry pi 4 for Christmas and put the DVR image on a USB drive. I was running my channels server off of my Sony TV prior to this. The difference is night and day. I no longer get the buffering and freeze ups on the channels I’m watching. The server on the pie is so much smoother and faster. Thank you Channels team for making this work!

6 Likes
#585

The latest beta OS image contains a fix for an problem that was causing performance issues on many WD drives. To update, click-and-hold Operating System > Check for Update

Thanks to @adamandaj and @kylander (who hit this bug and suffered from painfully slow Pi DVRs), for providing a ton of debugging information to me over support. I was able to share with the linux-scsi kernel maintainer and help him test a comprehensive fix for this issue.

For technical details, see https://github.com/raspberrypi/linux/pull/4832

6 Likes
#586

I gave up and moved to SSD, but are you saying I could go back now? :smiley:
Thanks for all of your work here.

#587

I switched from my Windows 10 desktop computer to a dedicated Raspberry Pi Server using the Channels Raspberry Image. It works flawlessly. I am using a WD 500GB WD Blue 3D NAND Internal PC SSD - SATA III 6 Gb/s, M.2 for DVR storage.

2 Likes
#588

Hello,

I have kept having issues with this install. I have imaged the proper image on a USB drive, and I'm able to get the server screen. However, every time I try to log in, I keep getting the "Error during authorization" screen. Ive read all the various forums looking for a solution, but can't find anything that works. Any help would be appreciated.

#589

Logging in to Channels DVR Server? Or the pi?

The Channels image is not designed to log in to. It’s designed to run the pi as an appliance. You run it without a monitor.

1 Like
#590

The Pi 4 Model B is sold out everywhere. It looks like the 400 is available from some sellers.

Is the install and use with the 400 as seamless as the Model B?

It looks like it is supported.

#591

If January 2022, RPi4s everywhere were sold out. From the Raspberry Pi site, I registered with all six US suppliers to be notified when available. I had one in hand within two weeks.

#592

You must mean sold out at the normal retailers...as there has always been plenty of stock elsewhere.

I still see many listings on Amazon, new, different ram sizes, some even with Prime shipping.
Are they MSRP, no, but, there is decent stock, easy to get, if you willing to pay.
You can maybe find better deals on ebay though auctions if you put the work into it.

It is pretty much like the PC GPU shortage (that is now over with for the moment), stocks of Pi boards are all in the hands of scalpers and re-sellers. Normalcy will not return for quite some time, at least 2-3 yrs.

It is up to you to decide if the extra $ of a Pi these days is not worth it....you can buy a nice off lease or refurb mini pc for same cost these days. far more power for a Channels DVR server.

#593

Thanks for the responses!

CanaKit sent a 400 for US$ 75 plus shipping and it arrived in 2 days. It works great for my friends who are now back up and running after being bit by the MyCloud Home OS change. Never buying or recommending their products again. My friends had ordered the Pi 4 board from the link in the Channels help on June 8 and on June 24 were notified that their order was cancelled.

I did sign up for notifications from some of the suppliers for just the board for myself. I can wait. Not paying crazy prices.

I must say Channels support has been very helpful in this changeover! Thanks to them!