VLC (Solved)

gillsman

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I am trying to cast media from my computer to a chromecast that's connected to my tv using VLC, when I click on playback / Rendering I see my Chromecast & select it, I then select the relevant media file(s) & the title appears on the tv but it will not play, if I I disable my firewall (UCFW) & try again it works perfectly so the firewall is obviously blocking VLC.
Here's the problem, I don't have a clue how to add a rule to the firewall, I spent all morning searching the internet for an answer & found nothing. I could of course turn the firewall off each time I wish to cast but I don't want to take that risk.
I know nothing about iptables or whatever they're called. Can anyone help me with an easy to follow way of allowing VLC (safely) through the firewall please.
Many Thanks.
 


Do you have GUFW installed - it is the graphical Interface for UFW (Uncomplicated Firewall) If not add the GUFW interface which can be had through the Synaptic Package Manager.

from the terminal run
Code:
netstat -nlp
this will tell you which port is being used then you can allow that port in GUFW
 
Do you have GUFW installed - it is the graphical Interface for UFW (Uncomplicated Firewall) If not add the GUFW interface which can be had through the Synaptic Package Manager.

from the terminal run
Code:
netstat -nlp
this will tell you which port is being used then you can allow that port in GUFW
This is what I get from that command, unfortunately it's all double dutch to me
$ netstat -nlp
(Not all processes could be identified, non-owned process info
will not be shown, you would have to be root to see it all.)
Active Internet connections (only servers)
Proto Recv-Q Send-Q Local Address Foreign Address State PID/Program name
tcp 0 0 127.0.0.53:53 0.0.0.0:* LISTEN -
tcp 0 0 127.0.0.1:6341 0.0.0.0:* LISTEN 7398/megasync
tcp 0 0 127.0.0.1:6342 0.0.0.0:* LISTEN 7398/megasync
tcp 0 0 0.0.0.0:8010 0.0.0.0:* LISTEN 376550/vlc
tcp6 0 0 :::8010 :::* LISTEN 376550/vlc
udp 0 0 127.0.0.53:53 0.0.0.0:* -
udp 0 0 224.0.0.251:5353 0.0.0.0:* 160167/slimjet --ty
udp 0 0 224.0.0.251:5353 0.0.0.0:* 160094/slimjet
udp 0 0 0.0.0.0:5353 0.0.0.0:* -
udp 0 0 0.0.0.0:54699 0.0.0.0:* -
udp6 0 0 :::52253 :::* -
udp6 0 0 :::5353 :::* -
raw6 0 0 :::58 :::* 7 -
Active UNIX domain sockets (only servers)
Proto RefCnt Flags Type State I-Node PID/Program name Path
unix 2 [ ACC ] STREAM LISTENING 32494 3743/cinnamon-sessi @/tmp/.ICE-unix/3743
unix 2 [ ACC ] SEQPACKET LISTENING 17135 - /run/udev/control
unix 2 [ ACC ] STREAM LISTENING 102024 160094/slimjet /tmp/.org.chromium.Chromium.MjBgbJ/SingletonSocket
unix 2 [ ACC ] STREAM LISTENING 32113 3701/systemd /run/user/1000/systemd/private
unix 2 [ ACC ] STREAM LISTENING 32118 3701/systemd /run/user/1000/bus
unix 2 [ ACC ] STREAM LISTENING 32119 3701/systemd /run/user/1000/gnupg/S.dirmngr
unix 2 [ ACC ] STREAM LISTENING 32120 3701/systemd /run/user/1000/gnupg/S.gpg-agent.browser
unix 2 [ ACC ] STREAM LISTENING 32121 3701/systemd /run/user/1000/gnupg/S.gpg-agent.extra
unix 2 [ ACC ] STREAM LISTENING 32122 3701/systemd /run/user/1000/gnupg/S.gpg-agent.ssh
unix 2 [ ACC ] STREAM LISTENING 32123 3701/systemd /run/user/1000/gnupg/S.gpg-agent
unix 2 [ ACC ] STREAM LISTENING 27815 - /run/irqbalance//irqbalance666.sock
unix 2 [ ACC ] STREAM LISTENING 32124 3701/systemd /run/user/1000/pk-debconf-socket
unix 2 [ ACC ] STREAM LISTENING 32125 3701/systemd /run/user/1000/pulse/native
unix 2 [ ACC ] STREAM LISTENING 36544 7398/megasync /home/rick/.local/share/data/Mega
unix 2 [ ACC ] STREAM LISTENING 32225 - /run/user/1000/keyring/control
unix 2 [ ACC ] STREAM LISTENING 36545 7398/megasync /home/rick/.local/share/data/Mega
unix 2 [ ACC ] STREAM LISTENING 28771 - @/tmp/.X11-unix/X0
unix 2 [ ACC ] STREAM LISTENING 31613 - /run/user/1000/keyring/pkcs11
unix 2 [ ACC ] STREAM LISTENING 32541 - /run/user/1000/keyring/ssh
unix 2 [ ACC ] STREAM LISTENING 17103 - /run/systemd/private
unix 2 [ ACC ] STREAM LISTENING 17105 - /run/systemd/userdb/io.systemd.DynamicUser
unix 2 [ ACC ] STREAM LISTENING 17115 - /run/lvm/lvmpolld.socket
unix 2 [ ACC ] SEQPACKET LISTENING 17119 - /run/systemd/coredump
unix 2 [ ACC ] STREAM LISTENING 17121 - /run/systemd/fsck.progress
unix 2 [ ACC ] STREAM LISTENING 17131 - /run/systemd/journal/stdout
unix 2 [ ACC ] STREAM LISTENING 18437 - /run/systemd/journal/io.systemd.journal
unix 2 [ ACC ] STREAM LISTENING 24772 - /run/acpid.socket
unix 2 [ ACC ] STREAM LISTENING 28772 - /tmp/.X11-unix/X0
unix 2 [ ACC ] STREAM LISTENING 64047 - @/tmp/dbus-GX0QBQ6Oqo
unix 2 [ ACC ] STREAM LISTENING 31526 - /tmp/ssh-SmPLi62uRJ0C/agent.3743
unix 2 [ ACC ] STREAM LISTENING 32495 3743/cinnamon-sessi /tmp/.ICE-unix/3743
unix 2 [ ACC ] STREAM LISTENING 24774 - /run/avahi-daemon/socket
unix 2 [ ACC ] STREAM LISTENING 33051 5341/dbus-daemon @/tmp/dbus-hBo5xFrqOH
unix 2 [ ACC ] STREAM LISTENING 24776 - /run/dbus/system_bus_socket
unix 2 [ ACC ] STREAM LISTENING 24778 - /run/uuidd/request
 
Guess I should be more clear you have to have your VLC up and running and connected with Chromecast like you would normally then run the command I listed above - This should find the port it is using alternatively you can try what is below

open vlc > tools > preferences > select "all" (at the bottom) > stream output > sout stream > chromecast > HTTP Port = ????. I think it is 8010 which is default but you have to check

Then open gufw,
click "+" to add a new rule,
"Advanced" tab,
"Name" = VLC Chromecast
"Policy" = Allow,
"Direction" = Both
"Protocol" = Both
"To / Port" = <add your port number here>.
clicked on "Add" then "Close".

It is pretty much the same process when I connected HDHomeRun to watch TV through VLC on my laptop
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Guess I should be more clear you have to have your VLC up and running and connected with Chromecast like you would normally then run the command I listed above - This should find the port it is using alternatively you can try what is below

open vlc > tools > preferences > select "all" (at the bottom) > stream output > stout stream > chromecast > HTTP Port = ????.

Then open gufw,
click "+" to add a new rule,
"Advanced" tab,
"Name" = VLC Chromecast
"Policy" = Allow,
"Direction" = Both
"Protocol" = Both
"To / Port" = <add your port number here>.
clicked on "Add" then "Close".

It is pretty much the same process when I connected HDHomeRun to watch TV through VLC on my laptop
Ok my apologies for being a bit thick, I will try this shortly & let you know how I got on, in the meantime thank you so much for your assistance & patience.
 
Ok my apologies for being a bit thick, I will try this shortly & let you know how I got on, in the meantime thank you so much for your assistance & patience.
Not a problem it took me awhile to figure this out to when I connected HDHomeRun on my machine
 
Ok my apologies for being a bit thick, I will try this shortly & let you know how I got on, in the meantime thank you so much for your assistance & patience.
OK so I've followed your instructions exactly, the HTTP port was 8010, I put these rules in as you said but the firewall said "No rules added" & when I looked in the logs it said
[25/11/20 15:49:11] Error running: /usr/sbin/ufw allow out from any to 8010 > ERROR: Bad destination address |

What have I done wrong here?
 

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Put 8010 on right side, left side is for IP, right side for port - here is mine for HDHomeRun which HDHomeRun uses multiports and UDP protocol - if you do not know which protocol it uses select Both or try one or the other
 

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Cracked it, instead of putting those values in the advanced section I put them in the section "Simple"
this time the rules appeared so I started VLC again & bingo, it works.
Thank you Lord Boltar, couldn't have done that without your input.
 
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