Media Streaming From A NAS

  • I have a Seagate PersonalCloud Network Attached Storage (NAS) device that I use as a streaming server over my local area network. I would like to extend that capability into a WordPress site that runs locally on a computer existing on the same LAN as my NAS. When accessing a video file, for instance, on my NAS from a local computer running Windows, I simply open a Windows Explorer window, navigate to the video file location on the NAS and open the file, which streams to my default media player. Note, my NAS does not allow for remote streaming (i.e., media streaming over an external network).

    In WordPress, it seems that the default video player, as well as any number of WordPress video player plugins, essentially allow two paths for playing back videos. One option is to upload a video, after which the video is imported into the WP Media Library. The second option works for streaming, where one provides a URL to an external streaming service (e.g., YouTube, Vimeo). Neither case works for my purposes.

    How do I accomplish playing stream media in a WP site, where the streamed content emanates from a NAS located on the same network as my computer’s web server locally hosting a WP site? Is this achievable either with WP’s stock video player or with WP video player plugins? My goal is to stream content from my NAS so that I do not need to store the content in my WP site’s Media Library.

    Optionally, is it possible to do the following?

    • Embed a view for a local media software application (e.g., Windows Media Player) within WordPress
    • Abstract access to my NAS media files to that the NAS does not receive an HTTP request?

      • Any other possibilities? Thank you.

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)

  • Note, my NAS does not allow for remote streaming (i.e., media streaming over an external network).

    Are you able to stream your video file on the NAS from your web browser? If can’t then WordPress cannot get the video file for streaming too.

    Thread Starter aspsa

    (@aspsa)

    Thank you for the reply, Liew.

    >> Are you able to stream your video file on the NAS from your web browser?
    >> If can’t then WordPress cannot get the video file for streaming too.
    Yes. In my web browser, I log into my NAS, and the NAS File Browser app opens by default. The URL address line displays the following:

    <my IP address>/#app_board-com_seagate_filebrowser

    Interestingly, when I drill down the directory structure to a specific video file, the URL address remains the same. After selecting the video file, the NAS File Browser app opens a media player from within which I can stream the content. Note, the media player runs within the NAS File Browser context and not as a standalone media player. This differs from accessing the very same file over my LAN using Windows File Explorer. In this case the default media player instantiates and loads the video. However, when playing the content, it is streamed from the NAS in both cases (i.e., via the web browser; via the instantiated media player).

    The obvious challenge here is determining the specific URL, as the NAS File Browser application abstracts the publicly displayed URL in the manner shown earlier, and the URL address remains the same for any path location of a given video file.

    Any thoughts?

    • This reply was modified 4 years, 3 months ago by aspsa.

    you need to at least able to get the specific URL for the video file.

    Thread Starter aspsa

    (@aspsa)

    Thus far, I am able to stream content from the NAS in one of two ways:

    • Via a Windows File Explorer Window: (1) Locate the media file on my NAS; (2) Open it with my default media player, or any other media player application of my choosing.
    • Via my PersonalCloud account: (1) Log into my account using a web browser; (2) Run the PersonalCloud “File Browser” web app; (3) Drill down on my directory structure to select a media file; (4) Run the file in a media player within the context of the File Browser web app.

    In either case, I am able to stream content from my NAS.

    After further research, I attempted providing a link to a media file on my NAS using the UNC file format (see: “How To Create A Link In WordPress To A File On A Local Network Server” The challenge I have is in accessing a media file on my NAS via WordPress’ native video player, for which I ONLY wish to do so over my local area network. I prefer to avoid duplicating content by pulling the media files into my WordPress site’s Media Library, which is why I opt for using “Insert from URL” to link to a media file with a UNC file formatted name, as described in the aforementioned link.

    I realize the standard URL form uses the “http/s” protocol while the UNC form uses the “file” protocol. However, I tested this and was able to access and stream a video file located on my NAS over my local area network using a UNC-formatted text string in my web browser’s URL address line. Unfortunately, this very same approach does not work with the WordPress native video player. Neither does it work as a link defined within, say, a WordPress Gutenberg paragraph block, which suggests the WordPress platform is not designed to resolve UNC file names to URLs – at least not out of the box.

    Is there a workaround for this, or, optionally, are you aware of any WordPress video player plugins that accept UNC-formatted names so that I can access and stream content from my NAS?

    Thank you.

    • This reply was modified 4 years, 3 months ago by aspsa.
Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)
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