Ubuntu Linux play encrypted DVDs
Q. How do I play encrypted DVDs under Ubuntu Linux?
A. You need to install a special library which allows you to play encrypted DVDs under Ubuntu Linux.
In this FAQ you will learn how to use linux command line to install CSS library and DVD playback using open source linux software such as xine.
Ubuntu Linux will not be able to play most of the DVDs out of box. Please read this my article which explains why linux don't support MP3 and DVD out of box.
Now let us see how to configure Ubuntu Linux to play encrypted DVDs .
Most DVDS comes with Content Scramble System (CSS) which is a Digital Rights Management (DRM) scheme. The CSS key sets are licensed to manufacturers who incorporate them into products such as DVD drives, DVD players and DVD movie releases. Most DVD players are equipped with a CSS Decryption module. CSS key is a collective term for authentication key, disc key, player key, title key, second disk key set, and/or encrypted key.
In order to play encrypted DVDs just install CSS library with following linux command
First install open source Linux player such as vlc or xine, mplayer etc using apt-get command:
$ sudo apt-get install vlc xine mplayer libdvdread3
Now install CSS library:
$ sudo /usr/share/doc/libdvdread3/examples/install-css.sh
Now you can play DVD by visiting Applications > Sound & Video > Movie Player > Select player menu option.
Updated for accuracy.
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Related Linux / UNIX FAQ:
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Discussion on This FAQ
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Tags: content_scramble_system, css_decryption, css_library, linux_command_line, linux_media_player_installation, mplayer, play_dvds, sudo_command, support_mp3, ubuntu_linux, vlc ~ Last updated on: September 20, 2007
December 19th, 2006 at 7:06 am
You wrote:
$ sudo apt-get install vlc xine mplyer
I guess you mean
$ sudo apt-get install vlc xine mplayer
December 19th, 2006 at 12:16 pm
Daniel,
Thanks for heads up!
March 13th, 2007 at 11:58 am
sudo
/usr/share/doc/libdvdread3/examples/install-css.sh
got reply
command not found
try to search “install-css.sh” not found any where?
Pls help.
Regards
Kaithy Aravind Reddy
March 16th, 2007 at 8:40 am
Kaithy,
Install lib libdvdread3
sudo apt-get install libdvd3
September 19th, 2007 at 2:42 am
don’t you mean sudo apt-get install libdvdread3 or is this something different
September 19th, 2007 at 9:30 am
Ron,
Thanks for the heads up. The FAQ has been updated.
September 19th, 2007 at 6:18 pm
Hi, very helful post, then if you can put a link in the “Please read this my article which explains why linux don’t support MP3 and DVD out of box” - that would be more helpful to the users to locate the articles.
Thanks a lot!
September 20th, 2007 at 5:23 am
Ram,
The faq has been updated as per your request. I appreciate your feedback.
October 1st, 2007 at 6:54 am
in feisty use this command
sudo /usr/share/doc/libdvdread3/install-css.sh
November 12th, 2007 at 1:48 am
in gutsy as in feisty
sudo/usr/share/doc/libdvdread3/install-css.sh
(i.e. no example folder)
November 13th, 2007 at 3:33 am
Replace “xine” with “xine-ui” for more luck under Gutsy.
December 18th, 2007 at 2:33 pm
This how-to worked for me. I did not have an example folder. But reading down the page I found the example and everything seemed to work out just fine. Now to play a dvd!
February 10th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
Ran “sudo apt-get install vlc xine-ui mplayer”
Then, “sudo /usr/share/doc/libdvdread3/install-css.sh”
Worked like a charm! Watching Hercules in New York right now with VLC Media Player.
February 25th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
Thank you! Now I can watch [i]all[/i] my dvd’s, and not just the, erm, backups. Just installed the libdvdread and the css, and VLC plays them quite nicely. Totem still doesn’t, however. Is that normal?
March 3rd, 2008 at 1:41 am
Ran “sudo apt-get install vlc xine-ui mplayer”
Then, “sudo /usr/share/doc/libdvdread3/install-css.sh”
worked perfect
thanks