Enabling MDNS/Multicast/Cast Discovery ??

[fun4stuff]

Phlex (flex) allows one to control plex/chromecast with google home.

https://github.com/d8ahazard/Phlex

I got it up and running, but am having some problems. I can't get it to detect my chromecast.

They say to make sure "multicast filtering", "bonjour","or MDNS discovery is enabled in your router.

Can anyone point me in the direction on how to enable this in merlin (asus rt n66u)?

Thanks!

 

[ColinTaylor]

Which firmware version?

It should be enabled by default. I don't believe there's a GUI option to turn it on or off. Check it's running with:

ps w | grep avahi-daemon

 

[fun4stuff]

Which firmware version?

It should be enabled by default. I don't believe there's a GUI option to turn it on or off. Check it's running with:

ps w | grep avahi-daemon

thanks.

firmware version 380.66_6. ill check.

i suspected this wasnt the router's problem, but wanted to make sure

 

[fun4stuff]

so w

Which firmware version?

It should be enabled by default. I don't believe there's a GUI option to turn it on or off. Check it's running with:

ps w | grep avahi-daemon

so when i run ps w | grep avahi-daemon it returns

1452 S

 

[ColinTaylor]

so when i run ps w | grep avahi-daemon it returns

1452 S

I think you've posted an incomplete line.

 

[fun4stuff]

I think you've posted an incomplete line.

the whole line after typing "ps w | grep avahi-daemon" is:

29544 [my user name] 1452 S grep avahi-daemon

 

[ColinTaylor]

OK. Looks like it's not running. I've checked on my router and it's not running either although I'm running John's fork.

It looks like it might be a bug (or change in behaviour). Can you type this from the command line and post the complete output (if there is any).

avahi-daemon

EDIT: Also try going to USB Application > Media Services and Servers > Media Server and enable the iTunes/Media servers. See if that starts the process.

 

[ColinTaylor]

@john9527 Does this look like a bug to you? (the config directory under /tmp is present and correct)

# ps w | grep avahi
 2658 admin     1400 S    grep avahi
# avahi-daemon
Failed to open file '/mnt/user_data/john9527/asuswrt.ac68/release/src-rt-6.x.4708/router/arm-uclibc/install/avahi-0.6.32/usr/etc/avahi/avahi-daemon.conf': No such file or directory

 

[fun4stuff]

OK. Looks like it's not running. I've checked on my router and it's not running either although I'm running John's fork.

It looks like it might be a bug (or change in behaviour). Can you type this from the command line and post the complete output (if there is any).

avahi-daemon

EDIT: Also try going to USB Application > Media Services and Servers > Media Server and enable the iTunes/Media servers. See if that starts the process.

it returns "-sh: avahi-daemon: not found"

enabling itunes/media server doesn't change anything unfortunately.

thanks for the help

 

[ColinTaylor]

Hmm. I think we'll have to wait for some more input from other users or @RMerlin / @john9527 as I don't have that router/firmware combination.

In the meantime it might be useful to see the output of this command:

find / -print | grep -i -e mdns -e avahi

EDIT: It would probably be a good idea to install the latest firmware as your current one is quite old.

 

[fun4stuff]

Hmm. I think we'll have to wait for some more input from other users or @RMerlin / @john9527 as I don't have that router/firmware combination.

In the meantime it might be useful to see the output of this command:

find / -print | grep -i -e mdns -e avahi

EDIT: It would probably be a good idea to install the latest firmware as your current one is quite old.

thanks for the help. i know, i need to update it!

find / -print | grep -i -e mdns -e avahi
find: /proc/28187: No such file or directory
/tmp/var/lock/mDNSNetMonitor.lock
/usr/sbin/mDNSNetMonitor
/usr/sbin/mDNSQuery
/usr/sbin/mDNSResponder

 

[ColinTaylor]

OK, that's interesting. I wonder whether Merlin's firmware is using mDNSResponder instead of avahi-daemon (in which case this whole discussion has been pointless ). Or it might be a difference between the MIPS and ARM builds. I don't have any mDNS files at all on my router.

Could you see if it's running:

ps w | grep -i mdns

 

[john9527]

Or it might be a difference between the MIPS and ARM builds. I don't have any mDNS files at all on my router.

That's correct. The MIPS routers use mDNSResponder.....the ARM routers avahi-daemon

Does this look like a bug to you? (the config directory under /tmp is present and correct)

Uhhh....yeah. It broke when I updated to a later version of avahi-daemon back in May (guess it's not too critical). You caught it at the right time....I was just getting the next release ready and will slip in the following commit
777e5b9 mdns: fix avahi-daemon config directory location

 

[fun4stuff]

OK, that's interesting. I wonder whether Merlin's firmware is using mDNSResponder instead of avahi-daemon (in which case this whole discussion has been pointless ). Or it might be a difference between the MIPS and ARM builds. I don't have any mDNS files at all on my router.

Could you see if it's running:

ps w | grep -i mdns

ps w | grep -i mdns
1060 S    mDNSNetMonitor
1452 S    grep -i mdns

 

[sfx2000]

Hmm... just a quick observation about avahi-daemon - I've seen where it will fail to start as it can't bind to a socket during initialization, so it exits... restarting it after everything is up and running should be ok.

In any event, whether avahi-daemon is running or not, that normally doesn't impact other devices, as avahi-daemon is advertising services that the router provides itself (itunes, etc...)

@john9527 - not sure if the avahi-utils package is part of things, but if it is, then "avahi-browse -at" is very useful for debugging mDNS issues, along with avahi-publish, avahi-resolve...

 

[john9527]

not sure if the avahi-utils package is part of things, but if it is, then "avahi-browse -at" is very useful for debugging mDNS issues, along with avahi-publish, avahi-resolve...

Looks like a pretty simple/small package...I'll put it on my list to look at pulling it in.

EDIT:
@sfx2000
Looks like adding the avahi-utils would first require me to add the dbus package. Likely not going to happen.