Is it possible to choose ripped dvds for playback through a web browser ?

[jbrooks]

I am building an HTPC, and am keeping all content on a basement fileserver. Instead of traversing the fileserver via a shared drive or NFS/samba/etc., instead I want to run a lightweight web server on the fileserver, and simply browse the filesystem there with a web browser on the HTPC.

So, the question is, is it possible to click on a web link to watch a dvd ? It seems like I would simply link the filetype to the dvd player application in windows, and then when I click on the file in the web browser, it opens the dvd player application. Simple enough.

However, maybe there is something I am missing that would make this more complicated ? One thing that comes to mind is that it seems many dvd rippers rip the dvd to multiple files ... which would make it hard to double-click a single file and have the player read it to view the movie.

Any thoughts ? Is anyone doing this ? If it is of any interest, I plan on ripping the dvds so that they are:

- complete - all bonus and menu/commentary are there
- invisible - meaning that the dvd player thinks it is just playing any old dvd, and traverses the menus just like a normal dvd
- lossless - so I will be ripping for full size/quality

thanks.

[PsychoDogBeast]

Hi there

Can't answer your question, but this link may help you out a little, try posting your question on www.avsforum.com, in the home theatre computers section and somebody may be able answer you.

I have a file server in my office with 500gigs of storage, networked to my HTPC in the living room, I use a piece of software called
myHTPC to browse the files on my server from the HTPC, works pretty well. You can find this at www.myhtpc.net, there is a good community there as well.

best regards and good luck with your project