Configuring Relax

Originally authored by w m z


What is Relax?
Relax is an XNS Protocol server program.
With it you can share media on your PC to Xbox Media Player.

These notes where originally compiled using...

- Complex version of XBMP 2.3.
- Relax 0.75
- Windows XP Service Pack 1
- A default config.xml file
- Tested with EvolutionX_beta_v1.8.3285 and D.6 BIOS

Notes recompiled on July 1st 2003 using...

- xbmp_2.4_cvs_compile_xbins_6-24-03
- Relax 0.75
- Windows XP Home (No Services Packs)
- A default config.xml file
- Tested with EvolutionX 1.8.3572 and X2 4976.02 BIOS

Why the guide?
It is an attempt to help someone who is new to XBMP/Relax and hopefully
get them up and running with a minimum amount of fuss, ;0]

Installing Relax
Unzip RelaX_v075.zip toyou PC HDD, ie;
C:\relax075\

There are two executables that ship with Relax_075

1. relax.exe
2. relax_ne.exe

So whats the difference? Which one should I use?

- If you want to use Relax as an XP service the use relax.exe
- If you don't want to run Relax as a service then use relax_ns.exe

NOTE: See the Online Relax FAQ for more on the differences between the two.

It's a good idea to run Relax as a service. This way when you reboot your PC
Relax is already up and running.
(From a DOS window) Run the following...

C:\relax075\relax -install

 Example (Installing Relax as a Service)

Now Relax is installed on your PC, time to set up the Relax shares.
Creating the Relax Shares
When you're in the Relax program, you'll see two panes.

The right pane is for browsing to the folders you'll share.
The left pane is where you'll drag and drop the folders from the right pane.
-Doing this tells Relax that you want to share that particular folder.
Sharing your Folders
At a root section of your HDD make 3 folders so you have...

C:\music
C:\pictures
C:\videos

After you've made the 3 folders fill them with the appropriate media types.

Now, in Relax browse into the three folders you made.
You'll see the 3 media folders music, pictures and videos in the right pane.

To share these 3 folders we'll have to right-click on the top part of the
Relax treeview (the left pane) where it says SHARES. Then you'll go
down to Add

Example (Adding folders to Relax)

Due this three times. One time for each folder.
After you've done this you'll see the 3 new shares.
Each will be titled Rename Please

When you click on them, a panel will pop up at the bottom of the left pane.
This is where you'll Rename them accordingly.
One will be named music, one pictures, and one videos.
Example (Renaming the Shares)

Now this is the time when you do the dragging and dropping.
Click on the music folder (right pane) and drag it over to the left one.
When you do this, drag it right over the share titled music
A folder icon will pop under it and have the folder location next to it.

Due this for the other two folders.

Last thing you should do is add your Xbox IP where it says for these
IPs only. Due this by clicking on the share names (not the folders)
like you did when you renamed them.

You may want to consider adding a couple extra IPs just incase, ie;

192.168.0.2
192.168.0.3
192.168.0.4

Not that it's necessary but it may come in handy.
Like if a friend brings his Xbox over with a different IP.

Make sure you add IP(s) for all three shares.

Rebooting and Checking
Once you've configured Relax...Exit it (File>Exit) and reboot your PC.

After the reboot you can see Relax installed and running as a service
by carrying out the folloing steps...
Right Mouse Click on the My Computer Icon> Manage> Services and Applications>
Services (locate Relax in the list)>Properties...

Example (Checking if Relax is Running)
Relax can freeze while starting as a service.
You must place a tick in the box "Allow service to interact with desktop"
This is done from the Relax Properties page.
Example (Relax as a Service Properties)
Auto Startup of Relax Using relax_ns.exe
If you don't want to run Relax as a service, then use the relax_ns.exe
by placing it (or a shorcut to it) into the Windows Start Up folder.
This is accessed from the Start Menu.
So Relax is Running Now What?
Editing of the config.xml file is required.
This is so Xbox Media Player is aware of the Relax SHARES.
How is a Relax Share Defined in the config.xml File?
A Relax share is a Network share and is defined as XNS. See here...

<*share>
<*name>Network (XNS)<*/name>
<*url>c:\shared\music@192.168.1.2<*/url>
<*cachesize>256<*/cachesize>
<*share>

NOTE:The *'s aren't in the config.xml
There only used here to display things correctly.

This is how the url looks by default. You'll have to change it.
Note that this is just the one for Music. You have 2 more, one for pictures
and one for videos.

The urls for each can be gotten by the following...
Double click on the Relax icon in the system tray to open up Relax.

On the left pane where the folder icons and paths are is what you want.
If it say C:\music then that's what you'll put in the url tag of the
of the config.xml. This will be followed by @ and then the IP address of your PC.

Due the same for the other two, Pictures and Videos.

-If you don't know you IP follow these steps.
1. You can run ipconfigfrom a DOS window.
Or you can...
2. Right-click on the My Network Places icon on the desktop.
Then Right-click on Local Area Connection>Properties. Then click on Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) in the list and go to Properties.

Your IP address should be there. If not, you could always add it manually
(provided you're not using a router as it may cause trouble for you).
About the File Relax_Config.XML

When exiting the Relax program the configuration you drop and drop is saved to...

C:\relax075\Relax_Config.XML

The Relax_Config.XML is also written to disk when the PC is rebooted.
This can be confirmed by (the modified) date and time stamp on the file properties.

The Relax_Config.XML can be viewed with WordPad. The layout is easy to interpret ;0]