linux equivalent of AnyDVD

[dZeus]

Hi,

google didn't help me with this one

Is there an equivalent program to AnyDVD for linux? I can't seem to find any, but I'd be really surprised if the functionality of such a popular win32 program does not exist in linux.

Note that I'm not looking for a DVD ripper (AnyDVD does not do that), but for a program that decodes CSS transparently to the applications that want to access the DVD. Think of it as a read-only dm-crypt /dev/mapper device with deCSS decryption algorithm.

[TransformX]

Good question.. I didn't bother reading the article but this might hold an answer:

http://www.maximumpc.com/article/features/complete_guide_playing_movies_and_music_linux

I usually rip my DVDs using K9Copy and play them on my livingroom streamer.

[dZeus]

ah, there's a problem with that article. I'm using this functionality for my media streamer too. There's currently no way to install custom software into the firmware of the device, and the player does not support decss. If only there was a homebrew mediaplayer community such as openwrt is to routers...

Right now, the only solution is putting the DVD into a shared drive on my MS Windows Vista workstation which has AnyDVD installed.

If there's a way to transparently decode css encryption in linux, I could just hang a DVD drive off my NAS and be done with it. Now I need to power my 100W workstation to watch a DVD.

Ripping is not an option, as it defeats the merits of using a mediastreamer in my view; if it requires that much effort, I can just as well play the DVD from my HTPC.

[TransformX]

My streamer doesn't really stream. It has a built in HDD into which I copy all the movies via wifi.
Ripping with K9Copy isn't too much of a hassle either, 2-pass xvid with the sound track I prefer, running in the background for a while and then copy over.

[dZeus]

My streamer doesn't really stream. It has a built in HDD into which I copy all the movies via wifi.
Ripping with K9Copy isn't too much of a hassle either, 2-pass xvid with the sound track I prefer, running in the background for a while and then copy over.

I'm sure ripping works great, and with some effort it would probably be possible to do it completely automatically (script scanning dvd drive for new drives, automatically rip to certain directory).

However, I prefer my streamer to just work by streaming whatever I've downloaded directly onto my NAS. Recoding/ripping/transferring is a no-no as it requires too much user input, technical expertise (only I could use it) and time+effort.

[Technoid]

Well, VLC does it under Linux with libdvdcss library if that helps

[dZeus]

Well, VLC does it under Linux with libdvdcss library if that helps

seriously, where did you read about that? can't find it anywhere in the documentation for VLC.

Are you sure you haven't confused my question for asking to play back DVD in linux? 'cause that's not what I want to do.

[Technoid]

No, i didnt missunderstand you, but as usual I botched my attempt to use the english language.

what I meant was that VLC's ability to READ and then play(which you dont care about) is through that library > Link <

libdvdcss is a simple library designed for accessing DVDs like a block device without having to bother about the decryption.

[dZeus]

No, i didnt missunderstand you, but as usual I botched my attempt to use the english language.

what I meant was that VLC's ability to READ and then play(which you dont care about) is through that library > Link <

yeah libdvdread has been around for a long time, and there are plenty of players that can use it (e.g. mplayer). The issue is that there doesn't seem to be any application available using it, that mimics the functionality of anydvd in linux.

[dZeus]

yeah libdvdread has been around for a long time, and there are plenty of players that can use it (e.g. mplayer). The issue is that there doesn't seem to be any application available using it, that mimics the functionality of anydvd in linux.

And today I stumbled upon the userspace filesystem (FUSE) driver dvdreadfs which supposedly does exactly what I need.