Topic: Using Netflix Watch It Now service problems

[henry44]

SME 7.2 with a static IP and DSL

After the most recent round of updates, I can't consistently access the Netflix "Watch It Now" service. This is a streaming movie service using Windows Media Player as a front end.

If I bypass the SME box and connect directly to my DSL modem, all is well. If I go through the SME box, I have access to a few movies but not to most of them. I don't know where to begin to look for the problem.

Any suggestions?

Henry

[henry44]

Just a bump.
Any clue where to start looking? I was thinking of a port forward rule, but am not sure of the port.
The fact that a few movies will play is confusing to me. I was expecting an all or nothing problem.

Bypassing the SME box eliminates the problem, so I assumed the issue is with the SME configuration. Would there be some firewall/ip tables configuration I could change?

[pfloor]

Did Disabling HTTP proxy help?

http://wiki.contribs.org/SME_Server:Documentation:Administration_Manual:Chapter11#Proxy_settings

[henry44]

That seems to have done the trick. I didn't know anything about the proxie feature.

Thank you..........

Henry

[cheezeweeze]

For me, http proxy is a requirement (using dansguardian) so I decided to post to this old thread to add an alternative to completely disabling the squid proxy.

You can disable caching for netflix in squid.conf by creating custom templates.

SME Server 7.4

Use PuTTY to log in as root.

Create custom template fragment 20ACLnetflix by pasting the following commands:

mkdir -p /etc/e-smith/templates-custom/etc/squid/squid.conf
vi /etc/e-smith/templates-custom/etc/squid/squid.conf/20ACLnetflix

Paste the following into 20ACLnetflix by holding "Shift+I" to start insert mode then right click to paste:

acl netflix dstdomain .netflix.com

Now hit the "Esc" key to leave insert mode then type ":wq" to write the file and quit vi.  (Use ":q!" to quit without saving if you make a mistake)

Create 90no_cache custom template fragment:

vi /etc/e-smith/templates-custom/etc/squid/squid.conf/90no_cache

Paste the following into 90no_cache:

no_cache deny netflix

Now save and quit vi.

Paste these commands to save the changes to squid.conf:

/sbin/e-smith/expand-template /etc/squid/squid.conf
/sbin/e-smith/signal-event console-save

Restart squid:

service squid restart

View changes in squid configuration file (not required):
view /etc/squid/squid.conf

I've been using this successfully for a couple of years now so I hope this helps someone save some time and head aches!

[CharlieBrady]

After the most recent round of updates, I can't consistently access the Netflix "Watch It Now" service.

To quote from the "Start New Topic" and "Post Reply" forms:

Don't report problems here - Please report bugs and potential bugs in the bug tracker

[CharlieBrady]

Paste the following into 20ACLnetflix
...
I've been using this successfully for a couple of years now so I hope this helps someone save some time and head aches!

cheeseweeze, please post such enhancement suggestions in the bug tracker, as a New Feature request. That way you will probably save more time and more headaches for more people. Thanks.

[cheezeweeze]

I didn't realize that this could be an enhancement but I see your point.  Why not make this a default setting.

Thanks Charlie.

Bug 5528 -  Disable caching for netflix in squid.conf 
http://bugs.contribs.org/show_bug.cgi?id=5528