Do you manage multiple KODI boxes? For family or a few in your house. Annoying and of my own making I manage them for all my family. The biggest problem is if their is a update usually a ADDON will stop working. If your streaming or just simply updating this becomes a massive pain.
I usually try to setup KODI using s specific theme so I can walk each family member through navigation etc if they have problems.
Want them all the same? And updated from a single source here is how.
KODI and SYNCTHING your centralized solution.
I usually try to setup KODI using s specific theme so I can walk each family member through navigation etc if they have problems.
Want them all the same? And updated from a single source here is how.
KODI and SYNCTHING your centralized solution.
This example below is setup on a windows 7 64 BIT OS:
(Why windows 7 - less bells and whistles then windows 10 and for a pure media center it allows for more customization )
Step 1:
Start by downloading KODI get it setup with all your addons - I use the PLEX add on to sync to my plex server. I set the KODI theme to CONFLUENCE or AMBER both are simple and easy to work with.
Step 2:
Download Syncthing - For this blog I am using it on Windows so download their SyncTrazyor which is a nice little windows app. Install it.
Step 3:
Within the SyncTrazyor you chose which folder you wish to share with everyone. For windows you will need to sync - c:\users\"Your User Name"\AppData\Roaming\KODI
(Why windows 7 - less bells and whistles then windows 10 and for a pure media center it allows for more customization )
Step 1:
Start by downloading KODI get it setup with all your addons - I use the PLEX add on to sync to my plex server. I set the KODI theme to CONFLUENCE or AMBER both are simple and easy to work with.
Step 2:
Download Syncthing - For this blog I am using it on Windows so download their SyncTrazyor which is a nice little windows app. Install it.
Step 3:
Within the SyncTrazyor you chose which folder you wish to share with everyone. For windows you will need to sync - c:\users\"Your User Name"\AppData\Roaming\KODI
Step 4:
Next take note of MD5 ID - Located under the COG wheel named Actions at the top right. The ID is what allows you to add this primary share on remote devices.
Step 5:
To make this more seemless, and only if you use this a pure media center. I create a simply BATCH file on the computer. Example below. Basically it kills Explorer.exe, starts Sync and then starts kodi.
Now I wrapped the very same batch file in a EXE that runs silent. If you wish to use it your more then welcome. Please note I did not pay the 179.99 to register it so your AV might complain.
Here is the link from my ONEDRIVE account. Basically place it in your startup folder or create a shortcut to it in the start up folder.
BATCH FILE EXAMPLE:
=======================================================================
echo off
taskkill /im explorer.exe /f
"C:\Program Files\SyncTrayzor\SyncTrayzor.exe"
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Kodi\kodi.exe"
=======================================================================
Place the batch file in a safe spot, create a shortcut and place it in your startup folder.
C:\Users\"Your Username"\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
You also want to set your user to auto login and have the password never expire.
Step 6:
Remote computer, follow the same setup as above but when it comes time to setup SyncTrayzor we are not sharing we connect to the KODIMASTER computer.
Step 7:
Open SYNCTRAYZOR from the taskbar on the remote machine. You will need to "ADD Remote Device" which is located on the bottom right. You can see from my picture below, this is my master machine. But the remote devices can be added you just need their ID (Actions Cog wheel)
So on your remote machine add the ID of your KODI Master machine. This takes time to link - so depending on your internet speed just sit back and wait. You will need to jump on your KODI MASTER machine and allow it to connect, a yellow bar will ask you to add it. You add and share the APPDATA folder you have already synced. So share it with your remote system.
Step 8:
Back on your remote system, a yellow bar will show up asking you to add the KODI MASTER share. This is where you will need to go to your APPDATA install of KODI. DONT DO THIS QUIT YET. READ BELOW
c:\users\"Your User Name"\AppData\Roaming\KODI
Delete all contents in this folder, yes thats right I said delete everything, don't worry we are getting this back from your KODIMASTER system. So to confirm on your remote computer, delete all the contents but leave the folder. Once all the files are gone but the folder still exists, go back to SYNCTRAYZOR.
Now we add the shared folder - It will ask you to save it somewhere. Choose this same path.
c:\users\"Your User Name"\AppData\Roaming\KODI
It should start Syncthing the files FROM you KODIMASTER to your remote computer. Once its 100% you should be good to go. Do a reboot - the PC should auto start, auto login to your user account and start SYNCTHING then KODI with all your addons, theme etc setup the exact same as your KODIMASTER.
For me this saves me adding the streaming APPS, updating KODI, themes the addons which constantly break and require updates. I do this on one machine and it updates them all. You now have a single source to update, like a ONERING to rule them all.
Next take note of MD5 ID - Located under the COG wheel named Actions at the top right. The ID is what allows you to add this primary share on remote devices.
Step 5:
To make this more seemless, and only if you use this a pure media center. I create a simply BATCH file on the computer. Example below. Basically it kills Explorer.exe, starts Sync and then starts kodi.
Now I wrapped the very same batch file in a EXE that runs silent. If you wish to use it your more then welcome. Please note I did not pay the 179.99 to register it so your AV might complain.
Here is the link from my ONEDRIVE account. Basically place it in your startup folder or create a shortcut to it in the start up folder.
BATCH FILE EXAMPLE:
=======================================================================
echo off
taskkill /im explorer.exe /f
"C:\Program Files\SyncTrayzor\SyncTrayzor.exe"
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Kodi\kodi.exe"
=======================================================================
Place the batch file in a safe spot, create a shortcut and place it in your startup folder.
C:\Users\"Your Username"\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
You also want to set your user to auto login and have the password never expire.
Step 6:
Remote computer, follow the same setup as above but when it comes time to setup SyncTrayzor we are not sharing we connect to the KODIMASTER computer.
Step 7:
Open SYNCTRAYZOR from the taskbar on the remote machine. You will need to "ADD Remote Device" which is located on the bottom right. You can see from my picture below, this is my master machine. But the remote devices can be added you just need their ID (Actions Cog wheel)
So on your remote machine add the ID of your KODI Master machine. This takes time to link - so depending on your internet speed just sit back and wait. You will need to jump on your KODI MASTER machine and allow it to connect, a yellow bar will ask you to add it. You add and share the APPDATA folder you have already synced. So share it with your remote system.
Step 8:
Back on your remote system, a yellow bar will show up asking you to add the KODI MASTER share. This is where you will need to go to your APPDATA install of KODI. DONT DO THIS QUIT YET. READ BELOW
c:\users\"Your User Name"\AppData\Roaming\KODI
Delete all contents in this folder, yes thats right I said delete everything, don't worry we are getting this back from your KODIMASTER system. So to confirm on your remote computer, delete all the contents but leave the folder. Once all the files are gone but the folder still exists, go back to SYNCTRAYZOR.
Now we add the shared folder - It will ask you to save it somewhere. Choose this same path.
c:\users\"Your User Name"\AppData\Roaming\KODI
It should start Syncthing the files FROM you KODIMASTER to your remote computer. Once its 100% you should be good to go. Do a reboot - the PC should auto start, auto login to your user account and start SYNCTHING then KODI with all your addons, theme etc setup the exact same as your KODIMASTER.
For me this saves me adding the streaming APPS, updating KODI, themes the addons which constantly break and require updates. I do this on one machine and it updates them all. You now have a single source to update, like a ONERING to rule them all.