VLC for PCBSD

[markus]

Hi, guys.
Do you know why VLC media player for PC-BSD doesn't want to play commercial (encrypted) DVDs? As i know the libdvdcss is included into VLC, but it doesn't decode the commercial DVDs. It's very interesting because i use the same VLC media player on MS Windows and it works just fine. Is it possible somehow to make that media player to play the commercial (encrypted) DVDs on PC-BSD? [/b]

[TerryP]

Looking at the PBI mirrors I doubt it can legally contain libdvdcss in the case of the US mirrors.

It should be using the Essential Codecs PBI to handle that.

you probably can copy all the libdvdcss* to the VLC directory in /Programs.

I think I'll install VLC tonight and see how it works on my system. I don't like kaffeine or mplayer for DVD. (And the ogle PBI is probamatic.)

[markus]

you probably can copy all the libdvdcss* to the VLC directory in /Programs.

All libdvdcss* are already included into the VLC directory.
Here you can see it:
(VLC directory)
%ls -f /Programs/VideoLanClient0.8.2/lib
libdvdcss.so.2
libdvdcss.so
libdvdcss.la
libdvdcss.a
libdvdread.so.3
libdvdread.so
libdvdread.la
libdvdread.a
libdvdnav.so.4
libdvdnav.so
libdvdnav.a

(Essential Codecs directory)
%ls -f /Programs/EssentialCodecs1.0
libdvdcss.a
libdvdcss.la
libdvdcss.so
libdvdcss.so.2

As you can see, the same libdvdcss* are included into the VLC directory. So, there is no sense to copy libdvdcss from the Essential Codecs directory into the VLC directory unless libdvdcss* in VLC directory are really bad.

I think I'll install VLC tonight and see how it works on my system.

Terry, let me know how VLC works on your system and how you solved this problem. I will be glad to make the VLC media player work on my PC-BSD system as well.

[TerryP]

I downloaded the VLC PBI from the first mirror on the list (USA/Texas). Installed it fine. I double checked the libs dir in vlc just to make sure and they are there. Scanned advanced settings *noted a bug that blows perferences menu up when at times* No need for a change.

Without mounting the disk first, right clicked on player, selected Open -> Open Disk and waited. Also clicked play, files made sure it was set to use the drive and clicked ok. Took a while to start went smoothly

DVDs Tested:
Spaceballs the DVD - pass
Matrix Reloaded Disk I - pass
Blackhawk down - pass

Test Machine: Gateway MX 6436
PCBSD 1.11a
AMD Semprom Mobile 3300+
512MB DDR RAM
DVD +/- RW Dual Layer drive
15.4 Inch TFT LCD Display.

I don't know if it's my change from VESA to ATI driver or the players but they also looked nicer in VLC then Kaffeine.

I've a older version of the Essential codecs PBI installed that required me to copy libdvdcss files from /usr/local/lib/codecs to /usr/local/lib. But the newer version fixes that, and the PBI weather law permits or not contains it so it should be fine on your end.

Your output should look something like:

Terry@Dixie-%ls -F /usr/local/lib/libdvdcss.*
/usr/local/lib/libdvdcss.a@ /usr/local/lib/libdvdcss.so@
/usr/local/lib/libdvdcss.la@ /usr/local/lib/libdvdcss.so.2@


I don't know what to say, what mirror did you use btw?

[markus]

I downloaded the VLC PBI from the first mirror on the list (USA/Texas)
I downloaded the VLC PBI from the first mirror on the list (USA/Texas) as well.

Test Machine: Gateway MX 6436
PCBSD 1.11a
I use an older version of PC-BSD: PCBSD-1.0rc1
Machine: Gateway 825 GM, Intel Pentium 4 3.4 GHz
1 GB DDR RAM
DVD +/- RW Dual Layer drive
Also i use VMware 4.5.2

I've an older version of the Essential codecs PBI installed that required me to copy libdvdcss files from /usr/local/lib/codecs to /usr/local/lib.
I copied all libdvdcss files from /usr/local/lib/codecs into /usr/local/lib as well.

Your output should look something like:

Terry@Dixie-%ls -F /usr/local/lib/libdvdcss.*
/usr/local/lib/libdvdcss.a@ /usr/local/lib/libdvdcss.so@
/usr/local/lib/libdvdcss.la@ /usr/local/lib/libdvdcss.so.2@

The output on my machine is
%ls -F /usr/local/lib/libdvdcss*
/usr/local/lib/libdvdcss.a /usr/local/lib/libdvdcss.so@
/usr/local/lib/libdvdcss.la* /usr/local/lib/libdvdcss.so.2*

As i see, the output on your machine is a little bit different. You have the @ sign at the end of each file. I don't know if that is important.

The problem is not solved anyway. The interesting thing is that i took two DVDs in our public library. One DVD is not encrypted. The other DVD is encrypted. The VLC media player plays the unencrypted DVD and doesn't play the encrypted DVD.

Terry, do i have this problem because of using an older version of PCBSD or perhaps using VMware? Maybe i just have to do something with the libdvdcss files? I would download a newer version of PCBSD but i don't have a broadband internet connection so far.
Any thoughts, please?

[markus]

Now the VLC media player works just fine on my PCBSD. :D :D
Today i got a CD with PCBSD 1.11a from the russian students living on our campus. I added a second hard drive to my PC and installed PCBSD 1.11a. Then i installed the Essential codecs PBI and the VLC media player PBI. After that i copied the libdvdcss files from /usr/local/lib/codecs to /usr/local/lib. At last i was watching a commercial movies on PCBSD - Transporter 1 and Transporter 2. :D The only problem was that the sound went fast a little bit but it's not a big deal. :(

Terry, thanks a lot for your help. I appreciate it. :D

[TerryP]

Glad it works:)

the -F switch for ls is very nice in that it tells you what the file is. / = directory, * = execuitable, @ = symlink e.t.c. The current version of the essential codecs PBI symlinks them to /usr/local/lib so I added the @ sign to show what the PBI you used should've looked like.

I have no expience with VMWare but I don't see a reason why it'd have been the problem. PCBSD 1.11a has been a fast improvment over 1.0rc1.

Any way, have fun with VLC :)