Purpose:
To build a network based mp3 player/jukebox to play on my current home stereo.
Requirments:
Run from a linux box, www control interface, nfs mount to main mp3 storage, and connect to my office and Living room speakers.
Tools used:
None, except a screwdriver. :)
Equipment:
One Linux machine (P-120, 80megs Ram)
One Sound card (any will do, but the surround sound is nice!)
Roundeye Duck tape Jukebox
Apache www server
PHP4
MySql
mpg123
Notes:
This is a cheap and easy way to build a Linux mp3 stereo. I was able to use one of my old systems running linux 6.2 and connecting the soundcard to my home stereo. My main thing was to have a web controlled system.
Steps:
  1. Get a Linux box, just about any unix will do.
  2. Download the above programs if you don't already have them installed.
  3. Most of the instructions can be found in Roundeye's Program. You may want to check his CVS site for any new updates.
  4. I'll go quickly over what to install.
    1. Install MySql first. I suggest compiling the source, I first tried the rpm and it did not install everything. Make sure to add a username that you will need for Roundeye's program.
    2. Next install apache and php4. I suggest following the "Static" install in PHP4, but if that doesn't work, then try the "Dynamic model".
    3. Next install the perl mods, DBI, DBD::mysql, Getopt::Long, and MP3::Info. You can find them at the CPAN site or use the 'perl -MCPAN -e shell' command.
    4. Install the mpg123 program.
    5. Last is to install Roundeye's jukebox php pages and programs. Please read his README file, most of it is straight forward.
    6. Oh if you haven't yet, install a sound card. I bought a cheapy $12 one, then upgraded for a nice surround sound card.
  5. I had a problem at this point. My linux box only had 3 gigs of total disk space and I have over 10 gigs of mp3. To solve this I needed to use NFS, Network File share, to connect to my WIN2k pro system. Your network setup might be different, but this is what I had to go through. NFS is easy to setup on Linux, but I had to download a NFS server program for Win 2000 and crack it to work past the default 60 minutes. (I hate paying for Window programs)
  6. I suggest to reboot your system to make sure everything starts up correctly. I had to add a line in my /etc/rc.d/rc.local to start up the jukebox.pl program.
  7. Once I got my www interface working I ran a audio cable from the sound card to the Aux port of my home stereo. Now I can listen in my main livingroom.
  8. Hopefully everything works. This solution worked perfect for my needs, but there are many other programs out there, check freshmeat, if you like.