HTTP file sharing

[jvho]

Hi, everyone, hi, Merlin!

A noob here trying to figure out if I should flash the asuswrt-merlin firmware so I could set up a webserver, for only sharing one single video file through http, plus a blank page to block file listing.

Actually I'm looking for a way to help my friend hosting a highres mp4 video through a usb stick on my AC68U router. The goal is to make the video public so it could be embedded on a webpage, and to save bandwidth from the 1GB cap of his web hosting service provider. The purpose is online viewing, so not through FTP sharing as the whole video has to be downloaded first.

Yes, why not Youtube? because when the page is loaded and the video has to start playing at the highest resolution at the beginning without further interaction (pressing the HD icon, choosing video resolution, etc), no matter on a computer, a smartphone or a tablet. Youtube also compresses the video so quality lost even though they say it's HD.

So for this goal, do I really need Optware+Cherokee or Entware+Lighttpd?
Is there something even lighter as those cgi / php features are not needed?
Or is there already something simpler in the Merlin firmware webui to set up http sharing?
Or do I actually need the video streaming feature from Cherokee, not only a web server? < I really have no idea for this one.

Hope someone could kindly give me some suggestion and direction.
Thank you very much in advance, guys!

Jack

 

[jmir]

Hi, everyone, hi, Merlin!

A noob here trying to figure out if I should flash the asuswrt-merlin firmware so I could set up a webserver, for only sharing one single video file through http, plus a blank page to block file listing.

Actually I'm looking for a way to help my friend hosting a highres mp4 video through a usb stick on my AC68U router. The goal is to make the video public so it could be embedded on a webpage, and to save bandwidth from the 1GB cap of his web hosting service provider. The purpose is online viewing, so not through FTP sharing as the whole video has to be downloaded first.

Yes, why not Youtube? because when the page is loaded and the video has to start playing at the highest resolution at the beginning without further interaction (pressing the HD icon, choosing video resolution, etc), no matter on a computer, a smartphone or a tablet. Youtube also compresses the video so quality lost even though they say it's HD.

So for this goal, do I really need Optware+Cherokee or Entware+Lighttpd?
Is there something even lighter as those cgi / php features are not needed?
Or is there already something simpler in the Merlin firmware webui to set up http sharing?
Or do I actually need the video streaming feature from Cherokee, not only a web server? < I really have no idea for this one.

Hope someone could kindly give me some suggestion and direction.
Thank you very much in advance, guys!

Jack

Hi, jvho!
I am a noob as well, but I do have a little experience in streaming video over the web using enabled Arm processors gadgets (like the Linksys NAS «NLSU2» or my Asus RT-N16). Web servers like Lighttpd and Cherokee are ok and available at the optware and entware repo's, but if you want something lighter and suitable (imho, at least) for streaming video using your router, I suggest you drive test Thttpd web server (also available at optware and entware). Being a teacher, I try to make available online on a regular basis to my students video documentaries (most of them HD) and this «small footprint» webserser is the only one that assures a decent online experience over an average internet connection...

You might want to check thttpd site and maybe this how-to as well concerning installation issues at the Nslu2-Linux site. It's not difficult to implement on the router if you have installed Merlin's fw. Good luck!
Joao
P.-S. I guess the only relevant difference between optware and entware is that the 2d, being newer, has today a larger number of applications and is updated more regularly than optware. If you're not acquainted with this, check the how-to's at Merlin's Wiki page

 

[jvho]

Thank you very much, jmir.
Let me try to set it tonight.

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