Das Werkstatt

[Target]
Install and run a PS3 MediaServer running uPnP Protocol to stream HD video content to the PS3 console.


[How-to]

1.
sudo apt-get install mplayer ffmpeg vlc libtsmux0 sun-java6-jre mencoder

2.
wget http://ps3mediaserver.googlecode.com/fi ... 1.10.5.tgz
(check for newer releases!)

3.
Unpack pms-linux to a directory, here: /opt/pms
chmod +x PMS.sh
chmod +x ./linux/tsMuxer
4.
Startscript: 5.
Connect your PS3 to the LAN. After starting the PMS, it should be visible for the PS3 after a few seconds. Most configuration is directly done with the PS3.

5a.
If you want to tweak the settings, for example to stream 1080p over WLAN (normally too little bandwidth), create a file called PMS.conf in the installation directory (/opt/pms). For available settings and ideas check the PMS official forums on how to use the conf file.

First experiences:

1. Full HD real time transcoding on a AMD X2 5200+ w/ 4GB RAM is too slow, also the 100Mbit LAN could be a bottleneck. As the CPU/RAM should easily be enough tho, i think it might be a misconfiguration somewhere with the used transcoders

2. Its hard to manually create a PMS.conf file due to very little documentation on the available commands. Also, the program does not output if the config file is loaded at all, or which one if you have multiple. There are reports that it only works if the PMS.conf is in the same directory as the PMS.sh script, but others have to put the config file in their home directory for it to work.

3. On the good side, there is a lot of people playing with config files and posting theirs. Some even manage to get weaker computers to at least transcode 1080p to 720p without stuttering in the video/audio, AND over WLAN (20Mbit)

4. The Web Frontend appears to be not existing so far

5. The Windows Version appears to work a little bit better, but also was used on a stronger machine, so its hard to compare (X2 5200+, 4GB DDR VS AMD 7750 BE w/ 8GB DDR2)

6. Overall the software already gives a very nice feeling with the PS3 configuration options and thumbnails, as well as support to transcode almost everything into a PS3 streamable format.


So, the real only problems at the moment are:

1. Full HD real time transcoding appears to be too slow even on fast hardware - have to check config and if the bottleneck is maybe the LAN

2. Audio decoding Surround is working, BUT center is moved to rear right box?? This problem got solved with different methods in the official forums, but so far none worked for us (mostly because i cant even be sure if the fscking config file iam working on is being used AT ALL. Grrrrrr.)