UPnP Media Server not being "seen" from AX86U Pro - Ideas?

[SR-71]

Hi, looking for some troubleshooting ideas here on the ASUS DLNA/UPnP media server feature in case I've missed something. Up to recently, it was working fairly well for a free NAS alternative.

I've had the ASUS UPnP media server enabled on my ASUS routers for years, and could previously stream movies and shows to mobile apps at home. But not lately.

SMB works just fine across devices, it's just the UPnP server that's not being seen/detected. It happens when my two USB drives are attached simultaneously. Some player apps don't offer SMB logins but instead support DLNA/UPnP, which is where I'm stumped. I've had these same two drives connected for years that worked with DLNA/UPnP in our player apps with both attached. The drives check out fine.

Objective:

Tying to get it so family members can stream to their devices without having to login. DLNA/UPnP is supposed to just present the server and folders for browsing and playing what you want. I'm perplexed by this change in behavior.

Setup:

• Two USB hard drives plugged into a powered USB 3.0 hub, which in turn is plugged into the AX86U's USB 3.0 port with USB 3.0 enabled in router.
• This works just fine with the hub, as SMB logins to each drive/path work across many devices with both drives plugged in simultaneously. (SMB enabled in adjoining tab in router admin)
• UPnP Media Server is enabled in AX86U's admin. Exact path to media files on each drive added in the manual media server path table below it (Audio, Image, and Video are all "checked" for each).
• RT-AX86U Pro running latest stock firmware, meshed with AX3000 V1 also running its latest stock firmware. This issue arose while on a slightly earlier firmware version on each from last year. Updating firmware didn't change anything here, nor did factory resetting the AX86U Pro and restoring the config file.

Examples of the problem:

Have a new Roku Express 4K+ streaming box. It's built-in Media Player can only see and play files from the AX86U Pro when only ONE of the two hard drives is plugged into the router. Doesn't seem to matter which one, as long as it's only one drive connected at a time. If both drives are attached, then the Roku says the media server hasn't been started up so it doesn't work at all. At first I thought this was a limitation in the Roku app (saw something very similar with our older Roku Express+ box on a different TV -- but at least that one actually "saw" the UPnP server and could play files on the first drive attached while both drives were connected).

BUT now VLC on my Android phone can't see the ASUS UPnP server either. I know it used to work, because I saved it as a "favorite" in VLC for Android in its network screen. But now that saved link doesn't work over UPnP either and VLC removed it.

Not sure what's changed, other than I meshed the AX3000 last year when I added the AX86U Pro as the main router. Also just tried Nova Player on Android, which exhibited mostly the same behavior as VLC -- only worked for "seeing" the ASUS UPnP media server when only one drive is attached.

Any ideas on why this is happening and how to fix it? (I'm not in a position to go full NAS and need two drives attached simultaneously.)

 

[gk802]

I would first look to see if your media files are being scanned and indexed correctly. In the minidlna.conf file (located in /etc), you should find a line "db_dir=". That will point to where miniDLNA is building its sql database (files.db). That file can be copied to another location and browsed with a sql browser like SQLite. The contents of that file is what Roku Media Player is using. Within that db, table "Details" should list all of your media files and table "Objects" defines the hierarchy structure. Whether the db is present and structured correctly should point to the next diagnostic step (playback issue or indexing issue).

 

[gk802]

If you find that it's an indexing issue, one of the problems that arises when media files are spread across multiple physical devices is that miniDLNA restarts every time a device is mounted, and the indexing process gets interrupted. This comes into play when the router is started or rebooted and the devices are mounted sequentially. I know you're using the stock firmware, but this article provides a bit of context of how this issue can be addressed using the Merlin firmware.

Minidlna ‐ Common Issues & Solutions

Third party firmware for Asus routers (newer codebase) - RMerl/asuswrt-merlin.ng

github.com

 

[bennor]

The first troubleshooting step, if not done already, should be to take the USB hub out of the mix and connect both drives to the RT-AX86U Pro's two USB ports. Also as a troubleshooting step, use the All Disks Shared option for the Media Server rather than Manual Media Server Path. Another troubleshooting step, if not done already, try other USB drives if possible to rule out a controller issue with the first two drives tested.

In a quick and dirty test, not having a problem seeing media on two USB drives when using the Media Server.

RT-AX86U Pro with 3.0.0.6.102_34336, no AiMesh.
Drive 1: PNY SSD drive in Orico USB 3.0 enclosure
Drive 2: Hitachi HDD in Orico USB 3.0 enclosure
Orico powered 7 port USB 3.0 hub

First test was with both drives connected to the router's two USB ports with manual media server paths configured for media server. Windows 11 VLC Playlist Universal Plug'n'Play can see and play video from both drives. A Roku Ultra's Media Player can see and play video from both drives.

Second test was removing both drives from router. Attach a Orico USB hub to the router's USB 3.0 port. Connect both USB drives to the USB hub. Manual media server paths configured. Both VLC's Plug'n'Play and Roku's Media Player can see and play video from both drives.

 

[gk802]

An additional test that can be run is to turn off and on the media server via the GUI without rebooting the router (be sure "rebuild database at start" set to "yes"). As both devices remain mounted through that step, that would either suggest or eliminate any sequential mounting effect on the indexing process.

 

[bennor]

Not sure what's changed, other than I meshed the AX3000 last year when I added the AX86U Pro as the main router.

Not sure if you indicated but are the devices having issues both connected to the AiMesh node rather than the main router? If yes, does the issue persist if you connect those devices to the main router rather than the AiMesh node?