Using Nodejs as a fileserver

Creating a Simple Fileserver.
Tip #2
I wanted a simple fileserver, I tried looking for a variety of search terms, but finally came upon simple file server. I came across the post linked by Tip #2 above, but it wasn't exactly clear what it was doing exactly.

The documentation isn't 100% clear so I played with it a little, (and added some comments to one of the posters).

I used connect.

Install it with npm connect.

Next use the following code:

var connect = require('connect'),
    http = require('http');
connect()
    .use(connect.static('pathyouwishtoserve'))
    .use(connect.directory('pathyouwishtoserve'))
    .listen(8080);

.use(connect.static('pathyouwishtoserve')) tells the server where to look for files.
.use(connect.directory('pathyouwishtoserve')) tells the server to return the following directories contents.

If you now navigate to http://your-ip-address:3000 you'll get a list of the directory contents,
if you add a /filename to that path you'll get the file.

I'll be posting tips as I come across them of using NodeJS as an intranet fileserver.
Long story short, I want to build a Roku app that will refer to the NodeJS server for where to find the files. I figure it'll be simpler than PLEX, and also faster (I'm hoping). Once I get the stuff running I'll plan on running it on my Pogo Plug as a media server for my Roku, totally awesome!

Using NodeJS as an Intranet Webserver

I'll be posting tips as I come across them of using NodeJS as an intranet webserver.

Long story short, I want to build a Roku app that will refer to the NodeJS server for where to find the files. I figure it'll be simpler than PLEX, and also faster (I'm hoping). Once I get the stuff running I'll plan on running it on my Pogo Plug as a media server for my Roku, totally awesome!

Tip #1
When running a http://nodejs.org/ port, the IP address should be of the machine you are currently on. I chose the port 8080 as it's the standard http port.

From linux you can find this by doing a simple ifconfig command on the command line. From windows ipconfig should do it.

Then using the example below: (from the NodeJS website)

var http = require('http');
http.createServer(function (req, res) {
  res.writeHead(200, {'Content-Type': 'text/plain'});
  res.end('Hello World\n');
}).listen(8080, '100.11.1.6');
console.log('Server running at http://100.11.1.6:8080/');

So when you go to another machine such as your phone and access the page 100.11.1.6 you should get "Hello World". When you're able to do this, your Roku can now see the server (when you have the app setup).

The above tip was discovered after a google search to figure out an error. The link is from stackoverflow, and can be clicked above on the Tip #1 link.