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Build a simple LMS server

pCP Team 18 July 2021 pCP 8.0.0 Projects

This project is to create a simple LMS server with the music library on an attached USB HDD. This is the LMS server I use every day for personal use and for testing piCorePlayer.

What was used #

Hardware #

Software #

  • piCorePlayer 8.0.0 (piCorePlayer8.0.0.img)
    • LMS

Network Diagram #

graph TD Switch[8-port Network Switch] Switch --> |Ethernet cable| RPi[RPi4B - pCP LMS] RPi --- |USB cable| HDD[(USB HDD)]

Steps #

Step 1 - Download pCP
Step 2 - Create SD card
Step 3 - Boot pCP
  • Insert the SD card into the Raspberry Pi.
  • Connect the Ethernet cable.
  • Connect the power cables.
  • Connect the (NTFS formatted) USB hard drive.
  • Turn the power on.
Step 4 - Determine the IP address
Step 5 - Set static IP (optional)
  • Set static IP on the DHCP sever (ie. http://192.168.1.51). The DHCP server is often on the router—see Your router manual.
Step 6 - Set player name
  • Access pCP using IP in a browser (ie. http://192.168.1.51)
  • Select [Squeezelite Settings] > “Change Squeezelite settings” > “Name of your player”.
  • Type player name.
  • Click [Save].
Step 7 - Set hostname
  • Select [Tweaks] > “pCP System Tweaks” > “Host name”.
  • Type host name.
  • Click [Save].
  • Click [OK] when requested to “Reboot piCorePlayer”.
Step 8 - Resize filesystem
  • Select [Main Page] > [Beta]. (Bottom left)
  • Click [OK] when requested to “Accept risk”
  • Click “Advanced mode operations” > [Resize FS].
  • Select “Whole SD Card”
  • Click [Resize].
  Info
piCorePlayer will now reboot a couple of times, but after a couple of minutes piCorePlayer should refresh to the [Main Page].
Step 9 - Set mode to Player/Server
  • Click on the “Player/Server” tab found on the bottom left corner.
Step 10 - Mount the USB hard drive
  • Select [LMS].
  • Check what FS Type is displaying in “Pick from the following detected USB disks to mount”.
  • If you are using a non-default disk format, like NTFS, you will be prompted to Please install extra file systems in the UUID field.
    • Click “Install and Enable additional File Systems” > [Install].
  • Type a mount point name (ie. /mnt/USB).
  • Tick “Enabled” checkbox.
  • Click [Set USB Mount].
Step 11 - Install LMS
  • Select [LMS].
  • Click [Install].
Step 12 - Start LMS
  • Click [Start LMS].
Step 13 - Configure LMS
  • Click [Configure LMS].
  • Set “Media Folders”. (ie. /mnt/USB/CD)
  • Click [Apply].
    • A scan of the library should now commence.
  Info
An LMS scan for music will start. This can take some time. For example, 1300 albums will take about 10 minutes.
  Danger
I have noticed sometimes a second scan is initiated that gets stuck at the Pre-caching Artwork stage. I haven’t tracked down the cause, so if you see Pre-caching Artwork message taking a long time – reboot. A clear library and rescan everything may then be necessary.

More information #

pCP + Waveshare + jivelite
Standalone pCP
The Software is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind, either express or implied, including without limitation any implied warranties of condition, uninterrupted use, merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement.
Raspberry Pi is a trademark of the Raspberry Pi Foundation.