How to setup Rhythmbox 2.95 as an Ampache client

Ampache, for those who don’t know, is a personal streaming music service. It lets you play your MP3s anywhere there’s an internet connection.

You don’t need anything special to play music via Ampache, just a web browser. But certain music applications integrate full Ampache support, which means you can browse all your MP3s from within the app.

On Linux, I use Rhythmbox to play music. There’s an Ampache client for it, but it’s not as easy to install as it should be with newer versions of Rhythmbox.

Here’s what worked for me.

1. If you have not done so, on your Ampache server set permission to allow XML RPC (Manual is here for complex setups.) For the most basic setup, log into Ampache as an admin. Click the Admin button, then “Add ACL.” In the box that pops up, enter the following:
   • Name: [whatever you like]
   • ACL Type: RPC
   • Start: 0.0.0.0
   • End: 255.255.255.255
   • User: All
   • Remote Key: [leave this blank]
   • Level: Read

   Now hit “Update.”

2. Make sure Rhythmbox is not currently running.
3. Install or upgrade to Rhythmbox 2.95 (or 2.96) if you don’t have it already. For Ubuntu Oneiric, you can grab it off this PPA.
4. If you don’t have it, install Subversion. Check out the code for the Ampache plugin:
   

   svn checkout http://rhythmbox-ampache.googlecode.com/svn/branches/for_rhythmbox-gtk+3/ rhythmbox-ampache-read-only

5. Copy the files.
   

   cd rhythmbox-ampache-read-only/
   mkdir ~/.local/share/rhythmbox/plugins/ampache
   mv * ~/.local/share/rhythmbox/plugins/ampache

6. Run the installer.
   

   cd ~/.local/share/rhythmbox/plugins/ampache
   sudo python setup.py install

7. Now open Rhythmbox.
   • Go to Edit -> Plugins
   • Check the box next to “Ampache Library”
   • With Ampache Library selected, click “Preferences”
   • Enter your server info here.
   • Now close the dialog and double-click Ampache in the Rhythmbox sidebar.

It may take some time to sync with your server, but once it does you should be good to go. Personally I find this plugin to work a lot better than the Amache plugins for Amarok and Banshee, but your mileage may vary.

Updated Aug 2012