Sockso Music Server
Setting up your own music server is an interesting way of connecting your music library to the Internet. A fast enough connection at home and Java are the only two requirements for setting up the music server which can then stream music to the same computer, a network or the Internet.
Sockso is a multi-platform music server that can be run under Windows, Linux and Macintosh. Setup differs depending on the operating system. Windows users simply download the Sockso distribution from the website and unpack it to a directory on their hard drive. They then execute the windows.bat file which will load the Sockso server interface. Since it requires Java, you need to make sure that you have the latest Java version installed on the system before you execute the batch file.
The server interface is where the administrator adds music from the computer to the music server. All that is needed is to click on the Connection button and add folders to the server. The Collection Manager is also the place to create playlists that are then accessible in the web interface.
It is a good idea to test the music server both locally and on the Internet before sending the information to your friends. The default port is 4444 which means that you can fire up a browser and load http://localhost:4444/ or http://network ip:4444/ to test the music server locally.
Checking if the music server is working on the Internet demands knowledge of the current IP of the computer. If you do not know about it you can Check the IP here at Ghacks. Then load http://your IP:4444/ in a browser which should also display the web interface of the music server.
If that is working you can begin to send that link to your friends so that they can tune in and listen to your music. It is also possible to simply use this as a way to listen to your own music collection while on the road.
Sockso does work fine as a music server and it is usually only a matter of minutes before it is up and running. It does have some serious limitations though. There is no user administration which means that anyone can connect to the music server not just the invited friends. Users who receive a dynamic IP from their Internet Provider will either have to check their IPs regularly or use a service that gives them a static IP.
It's probably the safest to run Sockso only on a local network. It can be configured to allow music uploads as well and it could become a popular application in University dorms or company networks.
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The warning message about AAC streams when you load streams is because you don’t have the free Orban AAC/aacPlus Player Plugin installed.
http://codecpack.co/download/Orban-aacPlus-Player-Plugin.html
Justin, thanks for the information.
does this support AAC ? or only mp3 streaming
I’d say it supports all pls streams but I have not tried that so cannot verify it 100%.
Thank you Martin for a most informative and viable solution (it allowed me to play streams from a Netherland internet radio station in my WMP)! Continued success to you!
Barnabas (USA)
Your steps’ recommendation is still valid until 7th October 2012.. Thank you very much !!
Thank you!
You must convert file.pls to file.m3u
because file.pls open with winamp and file.m3u open with wmp.
Hi
2017 still kicking on Windows 7
Thx a ton
Hey, even i can do it, i stumbled through it and it works great! The only instruction advice i will add as i had to figure this out, when the wmp box opens that says save or open the bar on right says wmp click that drop down and select “open pls in wmp” once you do that it will work . Took me quite some time to discover that as i am no computer expert by any means. Having said that, previously i had downloaded codec packages and something about aac. None did any good. This rocks, i listen to a lot of internet radio and a number of them have dropped flash player and getting wmp to work had been a nightmare. So many thanks for this great solution to another problem that Micro-Hell will not even address. Peace- Out
openplsinwmp came in a zip file. I unpacked it, and didn’t find anything that looks like an executable, and even the files in the “doc” folder were in a format windows didn’t recognize. I’m not stupid. you said it would open effortlessly. It didn’t. This a rabbit hole I don’t want to go down.