ARCHIVED FORUM -- March 2012 to February 2022READ ONLY FORUM
This is the second Archived Forum which was active between 1st March 2012 and 23rd February 2022
I wanted to listen to music last week and when I fired up BeoMusic on my iPhone, I got a strange message when I tapped on my music server. It said that my Twonky trial had expired. When I went to my old Mac pro and went into Twonky Settings only to find the following message:
“This key is already in use by another instance of the server”
That's not possible. The Mac Pro is the only computer running Twonky. I re-entered my purchased license key, and the same thing happened. I've sent in a support ticket to Twonky only to be met with silence. I thought I'd wait a few days before posting, but it seems perhaps that there is no active support for Twonky Server, even though they released a new version recently?
There's no way I'm paying another $20 for a new license key, as this maybe the only solution if I don't hear back from Twonky Support. I won't be a party to supporting a service / software which doesn't have appropriate customer support. After sending a couple of emails to the Twonky support email address, I immediately received automated robo-replies, but nothing in the way of a solution.
I don't blame B&O completely. It is just frustrating to run into issues with ancillary software which cripples B&O devices. I can't enjoy my own music from my own server because of a 3rd party software glitch?
Has anyone else had this happen with Twonky? Is anyone else using another Server software with their B&O device? I'm running an Essence MkII connected to a pair of BL20s. I tried Plex, it was so slow when being accessed by BeoMusic, and there is no "INDEX" feature, which means playing a song by "Zoe Keating" for example, would require me to scroll endlessly to Z, whereas Twonky has an INDEX where artists, etc are organized by ABC, DEF, which is quicker.
Why don't B&O also implement a search, or develop their own in house DLNA server which plays nicely with BeoMusic so they can completely control the user experience? AND ALLOW TEXT SEARCH for DLNA through BeoMusic.
If I don't hear back from Twonky Support before the end of the week I'm going to be thoroughly disappointed. (sorry for venting)
Follow Up: it seems looking on Twonky Forums this issue has happened to folks before. The Twonky Server software "phones home" from time to time to check on the license servers. In the part, those license servers were knocked offline which apparently inactivated an entire release.
A stopgap solution which has currently worked for me was suggested in, of all places, Linn Forums where folks have had this Twonky issue. I disconnected my ethernet cable (internet connection disabled) from my Mac Pro, allowed Twonky to start and wouldn't you know it? My Registration number / license code was already input as valid in the settings page, just fine and dandy! I left it alone to do its thing. After a bit, I reconnected my network cable, and VIOLA. Twonky is now working, feeding music to the Essence.
Basically don't let the server phone home. I don't know how often Twonky Server phones home, but there is certainly something amiss with what's going on.
What would a non-tech savvy person have done in this situation?
This wasn't an official solution at all, but a hack, which worked... *shakes head*
Again, B&O, please extricate yourselves from 3rd party software of which you have no control, but can totally ruin B&O customer experience.
Thanks Sal, for sharing this useful information.
I'm on version 8.3 now and it continues to be buggy software, a workaround I'm using for the licence key: - delete the “appdata” folder.
"Believe nothing you read and only half of what you see, let your ears tell you the truth."
Chris, where is the appdata folder located so I can try it if it happens again.
Here is an excerpt from the follow up email I received from Twonky Support:
<<
In general, a Twonky license key does not expire. However, it is only valid for up to three different instances, whereas every MAC address to which Twonky Server binds counts as one instance. So, if you have one system with three network interfaces, then all your available licenses would be used. If your systems have only one MAC address each, you could use the license on three different systems.
Furthermore, the licenses are valid for the three most-recently installed systems. This mechanism will allow for moving a license to an upgraded system with a different network interface.
Your license shows up to have been used on (much) more than three systems and therefore all earlier installed systems are no longer valid to use.
If you think, this is an error, you can let us know the MAC (LAN and WLAN) addresses of the system you currently use. We have the option to mark this system as active, so that you can continue to use your license key for this system.Thanks
>>
Completely bogus. This issue happened out of the blue on Twonky Server installed on one computer throughout its life. I ask again, why are we made to jump through these hoops to get our purchased software to work?
As Twonky explains:
.... if you are having trouble entering your license key or if it is not saved correctly the workaround is to delete the “appdata” folder. You can retrieve the path by entering: http://Your IP:9000/rpc/get_option?appdata
This will show you the path on your Mac Pro.
Next, search this folder in your Finder, and right click to show the 'package contents'.
Another interesting file to find in the app folder to play with, the INI file ! Herein you find your license key...
Some interesting commands:
I'm not a Twonky guru but If your a bit tech, not directly related to our Mac version but lots of information to find in this WD page:
https://community.wd.com/t/faq-twonky-dlna-media-server-setup-use/95373
And Ludwig his page:
https://ludwig.im/en/projects/twonkyserver-upnp-dlna