Help me think this through

My parents want access to my films etc that I have on my serviio server at home

My thoguhts are

set up a VPN so they can connect securely to my server, whack together a RPi to plug into their TV (not a smart tv) HDMI socket and jobs a goodun

the VPN side of things is done and working brilliantly

I havent yet started on the RPi, this is where I want help, I will need to make choosing film, etc easy for my parents, what interface device shall I give them? (3D mouse perhaps?)
but more pressingly, how can we (READ: I) make it so the RPi can play the films on my serviio install?

and....go!

PS reason for asking is my knowledge on linux/RPi is limited

TIA

[chrismallia]

My parents want access to my films etc that I have on my serviio server at home

My thoguhts are

set up a VPN so they can connect securely to my server, whack together a RPi to plug into their TV (not a smart tv) HDMI socket and jobs a goodun

the VPN side of things is done and working brilliantly

I havent yet started on the RPi, this is where I want help, I will need to make choosing film, etc easy for my parents, what interface device shall I give them? (3D mouse perhaps?)
but more pressingly, how can we (READ: I) make it so the RPi can play the films on my serviio install?

and....go!

PS reason for asking is my knowledge on linux/RPi is limited

TIA

why don't you use serviio's media browser ?

[atc98092]

My parents want access to my films etc that I have on my serviio server at home

My thoguhts are

set up a VPN so they can connect securely to my server, whack together a RPi to plug into their TV (not a smart tv) HDMI socket and jobs a goodun

the VPN side of things is done and working brilliantly

I havent yet started on the RPi, this is where I want help, I will need to make choosing film, etc easy for my parents, what interface device shall I give them? (3D mouse perhaps?)
but more pressingly, how can we (READ: I) make it so the RPi can play the films on my serviio install?

and....go!

PS reason for asking is my knowledge on linux/RPi is limited

TIA

why don't you use serviio's media browser ?

Yes, especially with the new version just released (1.4). The media browser looks and works great.

Although, I might mention a potential issue. Depending on your home Internet connection, you may not have enough outgoing bandwidth to support streaming media. The vast majority of home connections are asynchronous (different speeds up and down). Until recently, my DSL connection was 20Mb inbound, but less than 1Mb outbound. That would never be satisfactory. My new DSL is now 50Mb down, and 3Mb up. That won't support HD outbound streaming, but certainly SD would be fine.

Since I've never played with any cable company Internet connections, I don't know what sort of speeds are available there.

[chrismallia]

In Malta I found cable internet much greater than adsl I had a 60mbps down and 2mbps up and with 2mbps up it streamed hd movies via media browser with no issues at all, now I am getting the 250mbps down and 20mbps up, cable will have better bandwidth

I think serviio's media browser is a good solution for you!

--------------------------------------
http://www.toyswill.com/