If you are using Linux and the MediaTomb server, you can choose the user identity of the server, and you can choose the access permissions to files that will determine what files the server, executing as the user you have designated, can serve. It's all under your control.Ken S said:
Wish List - Switch for Network Functions
I would like DirecTV to give users the option to turn off some/all of the networking functions on a machine by machine basis. I would like the controls to be put under Parental Controls or at least password protected.
Reasons:
1. Mediashare is difficult to limit from the server side. Some server software doesn't give you the option to limit a DVR's access, other gives you the ability, but if you have multiple DVRs it's not all that easy to figure out which is which. I don't know of any server software that allows me to set access permissions to files (as opposed to machine) on a server by server basis. Without this parents have no way to limit a child's access to media files on their server.
2. DoD - Internet access in a home is a shared resource. Parents should have the ability to lock certain machines out from using that resource.
3. Outbound data flow - While most routers will allow a user to shut down net access to a DVR they're generally difficult to use.
4. MRV (see 1.)
Reasons:
1. Mediashare is difficult to limit from the server side. Some server software doesn't give you the option to limit a DVR's access, other gives you the ability, but if you have multiple DVRs it's not all that easy to figure out which is which. I don't know of any server software that allows me to set access permissions to files (as opposed to machine) on a server by server basis. Without this parents have no way to limit a child's access to media files on their server.
2. DoD - Internet access in a home is a shared resource. Parents should have the ability to lock certain machines out from using that resource.
3. Outbound data flow - While most routers will allow a user to shut down net access to a DVR they're generally difficult to use.
4. MRV (see 1.)
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GregLee,GregLee said:If you are using Linux and the MediaTomb server, you can choose the user identity of the server, and you can choose the access permissions to files that will determine what files the server, executing as the user you have designated, can serve. It's all under your control.
Of course you're correct, but we both know the percentage of HR2x users running a linux based media server isn't going to be large. Especially compared to those running Vista who click the "Share Media" button during install of that OS.
Yes, we do both know that. Still, you said you didn't know of server software that would give you the control you seek, so I thought it would be appropriate for me to tell you of its existence.Ken S said:... but we both know the percentage of HR2x users running a linux based media server isn't going to be large.
GregLee,GregLee said:Yes, we do both know that. Still, you said you didn't know of server software that would give you the control you seek, so I thought it would be appropriate for me to tell you of its existence.
Thank you...it was appreciated. I've actually played with mediatomb a few times.
At present I'm so tired of media server software I'm just using my popcorn hour in file sharing mode and have given up with the HR2x as a media player until I get the two to work together well enough for my wife/child to be able to consistently play video.
I don't personally have a need to block network services on a receiver-by-receiver basis, but I can clearly appreciate that others may have that need, so I would support an option under Parental Settings to achieve this.
I'd love to find the "switch" that turns on MediaShare! 
Umm, OK. But what do you think about Ken's proposal, you know, the topic of this thread from the first post, to turn on and off individual services on a machine by machine basis?hdtvfan0001 said:I'd love to find the "switch" that turns on MediaShare!
I can see this one... it doesn't affect me, but I can see where parents might want to limit their childrens access to a media server. Ironically this is easy to do on the computer, but I guess on the DVR it would have to be a parental password protected "access to network services" on/off switch.Drew2k said:Umm, OK. But what do you think about Ken's proposal, you know, the topic of this thread from the first post, to turn on and off individual services on a machine by machine basis?
I can think of a few ways to control media for children:
1. Don't put shared media you don't want your kids to be able to watch on the network. How hard is that?
2. Block internet sites via your router. Why should it be the DVRs job?
I can see parental controls on the stuff DirecTV brings into your household but to ask them to control your own media server is a bit much to me. Do you demand that your Bluray won't play porn without a password or do you keep it away from your kids?
1. Don't put shared media you don't want your kids to be able to watch on the network. How hard is that?
2. Block internet sites via your router. Why should it be the DVRs job?
I can see parental controls on the stuff DirecTV brings into your household but to ask them to control your own media server is a bit much to me. Do you demand that your Bluray won't play porn without a password or do you keep it away from your kids?
Kens.... I'm all for it...
I'm all for anything that doesn't take away but adds capabilities, especially when they have to do with what your kids have access to...
I'm all for anything that doesn't take away but adds capabilities, especially when they have to do with what your kids have access to...
I'm not demanding they do anything I'm asking for the ability to turn something on and off. Please tell me is there some harm in offering this capability? I'm not looking to change the way anyone else uses the device or mandate what it can and cannot do.tonyd79 said:I can think of a few ways to control media for children:
1. Don't put shared media you don't want your kids to be able to watch on the network. How hard is that?
2. Block internet sites via your router. Why should it be the DVRs job?
I can see parental controls on the stuff DirecTV brings into your household but to ask them to control your own media server is a bit much to me. Do you demand that your Bluray won't play porn without a password or do you keep it away from your kids?
DirecTV is asking me to connect their device to my network. That device has the capability to scan other devices on the network and make files from those devices viewable. The HR2X is supposed to be a general consumer device...the settings I'm asking for would make it more friendly for the intended audience.
As for how hard is it for people to do things like block websites from their router...why not read some of the questions about basic networking here to get an idea of the general knowledge of dbstalk.com posters...I'd venture a strong guess that posters here know a bit more about networking than the overall average DVR user.
Oh, and if you haven't looked many DVD/Blu ray players and video game consoles like the XBox 360, Wii and PS3 incorporate parental controls In addition, If I had any discs that I didn't want my child (or others) to see I could also secure them.
No harm, and I think they should do it for you. But it's not so easy, you know? You need to settle on a ratings system (G, PG, R, ...?), the video files served have to contain the appropriate rating (or the rating has to be determined in some other way), the mediashare server has to be able to find out the rating for the file, and there has to be a protocol for the server to report the rating to the client (or else there has to be a protocol for the client to tell the server what ratings the client will accept). Censorship is technically difficult.Ken S said:I'm not demanding they do anything I'm asking for the ability to turn something on and off. Please tell me is there some harm in offering this capability?
GregLee,GregLee said:No harm, and I think they should do it for you. But it's not so easy, you know? You need to settle on a ratings system (G, PG, R, ...?), the video files served have to contain the appropriate rating (or the rating has to be determined in some other way), the mediashare server has to be able to find out the rating for the file, and there has to be a protocol for the server to report the rating to the client (or else there has to be a protocol for the client to tell the server what ratings the client will accept). Censorship is technically difficult.
I'm not asking for a rating system on mediashare...I'm just asking for the ability for it to be turned off on a given HR2X and that switch be protected by the Parental Control password system.
I've got no issue with that. Honestly, I'm a bit surprised thats its not already there.Ken S said:GregLee,
I'm not asking for a rating system on mediashare...I'm just asking for the ability for it to be turned off on a given HR2X and that switch be protected by the Parental Control password system.
It doesn't scan things from your hard drive unless you are running a service on your PC to share out the media.Ken S said:I'm not demanding they do anything I'm asking for the ability to turn something on and off. Please tell me is there some harm in offering this capability? I'm not looking to change the way anyone else uses the device or mandate what it can and cannot do.
DirecTV is asking me to connect their device to my network. That device has the capability to scan other devices on the network and make files from those devices viewable. The HR2X is supposed to be a general consumer device...the settings I'm asking for would make it more friendly for the intended audience.
As for how hard is it for people to do things like block websites from their router...why not read some of the questions about basic networking here to get an idea of the general knowledge of dbstalk.com posters...I'd venture a strong guess that posters here know a bit more about networking than the overall average DVR user.
Oh, and if you haven't looked many DVD/Blu ray players and video game consoles like the XBox 360, Wii and PS3 incorporate parental controls In addition, If I had any discs that I didn't want my child (or others) to see I could also secure them.
You are making it look like it finds things without your knowledge.
Control it from your PC. Or don't put the stuff there.
Tony,tonyd79 said:It doesn't scan things from your hard drive unless you are running a service on your PC to share out the media.
You are making it look like it finds things without your knowledge.
Control it from your PC. Or don't put the stuff there.
On Vista and XP if you save a photo the default is to save that file in My Photos. One of the default photos for media sharing? My Photos. It's all too easy for items to end up shared when the user might not want that to happen.
Yes, the person should know that. They should be on top of it. The company providing the device that views those files by default has no obligation to let people know it's doing that or to give them the ability to shut it off on SOME or ALL of their machines.
But...once again...this is repetitious. You don't want DirecTV customers to have this ability from the viewing device...it should all be controlled at the server. We all know that server software is well-known for user friendliness.
I'm taking sides with Ken on this one. Any content restrictions should be at the receiver end.
From my experience installing things, most of the parents that use parental controls only lock up the kids and the common room boxes. They leave theirs wide open.
If it was all server side, each time they wanted to view something, they would have to go to the server, unlock the content, watch it, relock when done. Too much of a PITA IMHO.
From my experience installing things, most of the parents that use parental controls only lock up the kids and the common room boxes. They leave theirs wide open.
If it was all server side, each time they wanted to view something, they would have to go to the server, unlock the content, watch it, relock when done. Too much of a PITA IMHO.
1 - 18 of 18 Posts
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