MVP fixed, here is how

[SafetyBob]

Like many of you, I have purchased an MVP through the Sage online store. It would not work with SageTV ver4.1.35 (my old two would work however) nor would any of my MVP's work with Ver5.0.2. I thought I had read the manual good enough....not so.

If you are having problems getting your MVPs to connect and they kind of stop at the Loading SageTV Media Center screen (I believe it is something like this), then look at Chapter 7, Installation and Setup section of the Ver 5 manual. It has specific directions as to the ports you need to open in your Windows Firewall in order for Sage to communicate to the MVP's (and clients) properly.

I did and it worked.

Bob E.

[MrApollinax]

For those who don't have the manual handy, here is a link to the FAQ that has the same info:

http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/show...335#post105335

Originally Posted by FAQ

Q: What ports do I need to open in my firewall for using the Hauppauge MediaMVP as a SageTV Media Extender?

A: Several...

The following ports are used for the MVP as a Media Extender:
UDP:
16867 (for booting the MVP)
16869 (for booting the MVP)
31100 (for discovering the SageTV server after boot)
TCP:
31099

[matt91]

This requirement is for the "new" MVPs right? The "old" ones don't seem to require this fix?

Matt

[Opus4]

All versions of the MVP need those ports open in the firewall. One thing that could happen after upgrading is that the firewall (depending on which firewall you are using) might notice that the program is a new file & no longer allow access. If it isn't configured to ask you about allowing access for 'new' attempts, you would have to remember to re-enable access on your own.

- Andy

[matt91]

But this wouldn't explain why the newer MVP wouldn't work on Bob's LAN (with SageTV v4.x) while the older ones would work. Seems that something specific to the MVP is different.

Matt

Originally Posted by Opus4

All versions of the MVP need those ports open in the firewall. One thing that could happen after upgrading is that the firewall (depending on which firewall you are using) might notice that the program is a new file & no longer allow access. If it isn't configured to ask you about allowing access for 'new' attempts, you would have to remember to re-enable access on your own.

- Andy

[Opus4]

Originally Posted by matt91

But this wouldn't explain why the newer MVP wouldn't work on Bob's LAN (with SageTV v4.x) while the older ones would work. Seems that something specific to the MVP is different.

I wasn't covering that issue in my post: the MVPs have changed and only the latest version of SageTV will work with the new model of the MVP.

- Andy

[matt91]

OK, got it. So someone running 5.02 with an old MVP who then purchases a new MVP shouldn't have to mess with the firewall, because the upgrading has already occurred, and the firewall is presumably happy with it.

Matt

[roxy99]

Originally Posted by Opus4

All versions of the MVP need those ports open in the firewall. One thing that could happen after upgrading is that the firewall (depending on which firewall you are using) might notice that the program is a new file & no longer allow access. If it isn't configured to ask you about allowing access for 'new' attempts, you would have to remember to re-enable access on your own.

- Andy

I keep finding these little tidbits of very nb info that I should know about. I am starting to get nervous about buying the MVP. RE: Openning ports. My question is: to which IP address does the router need to forward these ports? What happens if my PC has automatic IP addressing? Will this screw up the port forwarding?

[gplasky]

This is NOT the firewall on your router. This would be the Windows firewall or whichever running on your PC/Sage server.

Gerry

[roxy99]

Originally Posted by gplasky

This is NOT the firewall on your router. This would be the Windows firewall or whichever running on your PC/Sage server.

Gerry

So if I have disabled my windows firewall, and have not other software firewalls, then that's it- no need to open ports on my NAT firewall? It makes sense I guess since the NAT firewall deals with external traffic everything inside my router is open by default.

[SafetyBob]

Let me clear up a few things that happened specifically in my case.

1. I changed the firewall settings in Windows XP. That said, follow the instructions and you can do it easily. No major knowledge of networking needed here. Just open the ports and your done. Windows firewall will work just like before protecting you. You are only opening ports that SageTV needs and nobody else.

2. When I purchased my 2 MVP licenses for the old MVP's, I upgraded to SageTV ver4.1.35. The software did everything for me automatically without any fooling around on my part. When the new MVP arrived, there was a piece of paper that said to upgrade to the latest version for functionality. Version 5 was not out and I believe 4.1.35 was the highest I could download and that was the version I was using already. The new MVP just would not find the video server (now I know why, because the ports weren't open that the new one needed, and yes, the new MVP behaves differently than the older ones at start up). I did check the ver4 manual I had saved and you have to dig for the firewall settings and they are completely different ports than version 5.

3. Let me repeat, if you are having problems connecting with your MVP's, then check to make sure the SageTV program settings are correct (as in enabled), and follow the steps for opening up the ports in Windows Firewall to make everything work. These were the two problems that I had to correct. I suspect in my hurry to set it up I overlooked a couple of things while running the setup wizard.

Oh, Roxy99, don't worry about getting the MVP's believe me, they are worth any amount of trouble you might have. And with the hints about checking to see if services are running and ports on your SageTV server are open, I don't think you will have any major issues.

Bob E.

[roxy99]

Thanks Gerry for clearing that up. : )

In that case why not simply disable the stupid windows firewall - its a useless false sense a protection and causes more problems than it solves. 90% of users here I bet already have a router which also serves as a hardware firewall anyway.

Andy,

Can you please update the FAQ -- RE: Firewall settings- To clearly specify that the settings only apply to a software firewall and that your hardware firewall (router) need not be changed. Causes confusion for nothing.

[Opus4]

Originally Posted by roxy99

In that case why not simply disable the stupid windows firewall - its a useless false sense a protection and causes more problems than it solves. 90% of users here I bet already have a router which also serves as a hardware firewall anyway.

I don't know anything about how good or bad the built-in Windows firewall is, but one reason to have a software firewall in addition to the firewall that is part of the router is that the software firewall can also control what programs have outgoing internet access.

Andy,

Can you please update the FAQ -- RE: Firewall settings- To clearly specify that the settings only apply to a software firewall and that your hardware firewall (router) need not be changed. Causes confusion for nothing.

I didn't realize that part was confusig, so I added a note that the firewall reference for opening ports is for a software firewall on the PC where SageTV is running.

- Andy

[roxy99]

Originally Posted by Opus4

I don't know anything about how good or bad the built-in Windows firewall is, but one reason to have a software firewall in addition to the firewall that is part of the router is that the software firewall can also control what programs have outgoing internet access.

I didn't realize that part was confusig, so I added a note that the firewall reference for opening ports is for a software firewall on the PC where SageTV is running.

- Andy

Thanks Andy, you're the man. Happy to know you took my suggestion. Its confusing only depending on the user.

[mbrown3]

I'm not sure how to do this. I'm running NIS 2005 but can't figure out how to open specific ports. When I turn on the MVP (Hauppauge) I get Hauppauge's application but not Sage. Can anyone help with this? Thanks...

[Narflex]

Uninstall the Hauppauge Media MVP server software from your computer. It's overriding SageTV's usage of the ports.

[mbrown3]

Great, thanks! I'll try that...