1-click install of h.264 codec fails

[konsultor]

VLC couldn’t play a video because VLC didn’t have the h.264 codec. The one-click install failed because:

:~> sudo zypper ar Index of /openh264/openSUSE_Leap repo-openh264
Adding repository ‘repo-openh264’ …[error]
Repository named ‘repo-openh264’ already exists. Please use another alias.

Deleted the h.264 repository in Yast and succeeded on another try with the above 1-click. Restarted VLC but it still doesn’t play, with error message:

Codec not supported:
VLC could not decode the format “h264” (H264 - MPEG-4 AVC (part 10))

What am I missing?
Thanks in advance.

[deano_ferrari]

Check the advice given in this thread:

Multimedia codecs (h264 etc.) for fresh Leap 15.6

Playing an MP4/h264 video in VLC shows “Codec not supported”. Forum topcis tells about existing openH264, and also of using YaST to add Packman rep. Doing that and switching to it, it shows that many libav libs (libavcodec57, 58_134, libacformat58_76) and vlc-* libs are installed already. The first non-installed is libavformat57. So I wonder, if I’m at the right place: Is missing codecs in system packages the reason? What shall I do to have modern codecs available (not only in VLC)? …

Also, show us the results from

zypper se -s vlc

[mrmazda]

Is libx264-164 from Packman installed?

[deano_ferrari]

That’s for encoding. The vlc-codecs package (from packman repo) is required.

[konsultor]

~> zypper se -s vlc
Problem
[ftp.gwdg.de-openSUSE_Leap_$releasever|Index of /pub/linux/misc/packman/suse/openSUSE_Leap_15.6/] Failed to retrieve new repository metadata.
History:

• [ftp.gwdg.de-openSUSE_Leap_$releasever|Index of /pub/linux/misc/packman/suse/openSUSE_Leap_15.6/] No permission to write repository cache.

  Note: Repository ‘Packman Repository’ is out-of-date. You can run ‘zypper refresh’ as root to
  update it.
  Error building the cache:
  [repo-openh264|Index of /openh264/openSUSE_Leap] No permission to write repository cache.
  Warning: The metadata cache needs to be built for the ‘repo-openh264’ repository. You can run ‘zypper refresh’ as root to do this.
  Warning: Skipping repository ‘repo-openh264’ because of the above error.
  Some of the repositories have not been refreshed because of an error.
  Loading repository data…
  Reading installed packages…

[deano_ferrari]

When posting commands and output, please use the pre-formatted text ‘</>’ button. More on that here

Posting code or preformatted text

[myswtest]

@konsultor executed:

~> zypper se -s vlc
Problem

Yep - the prob is running it as a regular user.

[Sauerland]

@myswtest

Yep - the prob is running it as a regular user.

That is working…

Only if you want to change something with zypper, you need root.

But only showing something does not need root.

Same with rpm.

[konsultor]

@Linspak:~> sudo zypper se -s vlc
[sudo] password for root: 
Refreshing service 'NVIDIA'.
Refreshing service 'openSUSE'.
Retrieving repository 'update-backports (15.6)' metadata ....................................................................................[done]
Building repository 'update-backports (15.6)' cache .........................................................................................[done]
Retrieving repository 'update-sle (15.6)' metadata ..........................................................................................[done]
Building repository 'update-sle (15.6)' cache ...............................................................................................[done]
Retrieving repository 'Update repository of openSUSE Backports' metadata ....................................................................[done]
Building repository 'Update repository of openSUSE Backports' cache .........................................................................[done]
Retrieving repository 'Update repository with updates from SUSE Linux Enterprise 15' metadata ...............................................[done]
Building repository 'Update repository with updates from SUSE Linux Enterprise 15' cache ....................................................[done]
Loading repository data...
Reading installed packages...

S  | Name                           | Type       | Version                               | Arch   | Repository
---+--------------------------------+------------+---------------------------------------+--------+----------------------------------------
   | libvlc-gtk0                    | package    | 0.6.8.20210620.c5781e5-150600.1.pm.10 | x86_64 | Packman Repository
   | libvlc-gtk0-debuginfo          | package    | 0.6.8.20210620.c5781e5-150600.1.pm.10 | x86_64 | Packman Repository
v  | libvlc5                        | package    | 3.0.21-150600.2.5.pm.4                | x86_64 | Packman Repository
i+ | libvlc5                        | package    | 3.0.21-bp156.2.3.1                    | x86_64 | update-backports (15.6)
i+ | libvlc5                        | package    | 3.0.21-bp156.2.3.1                    | x86_64 | Update repository of openSUSE Backports
v  | libvlc5                        | package    | 3.0.20-bp156.1.11                     | x86_64 | repo-oss (15.6)
v  | libvlc5                        | package    | 3.0.20-bp156.1.11                     | x86_64 | Main Repository
   | libvlc5-debuginfo              | package    | 3.0.21-150600.2.5.pm.4                | x86_64 | Packman Repository
v  | libvlccore9                    | package    | 3.0.21-150600.2.5.pm.4                | x86_64 | Packman Repository
i+ | libvlccore9                    | package    | 3.0.21-bp156.2.3.1                    | x86_64 | update-backports (15.6)
i+ | libvlccore9                    | package    | 3.0.21-bp156.2.3.1                    | x86_64 | Update repository of openSUSE Backports
v  | libvlccore9                    | package    | 3.0.20-bp156.1.11                     | x86_64 | repo-oss (15.6)
v  | libvlccore9                    | package    | 3.0.20-bp156.1.11                     | x86_64 | Main Repository
   | libvlccore9-debuginfo          | package    | 3.0.21-150600.2.5.pm.4                | x86_64 | Packman Repository
   | nulloy-vlc                     | package    | 0.9.5-bp156.2.9                       | x86_64 | repo-oss (15.6)
   | nulloy-vlc                     | package    | 0.9.5-bp156.2.9                       | x86_64 | Main Repository
i  | phonon4qt5-backend-vlc         | package    | 0.11.3-bp156.3.6                      | x86_64 | repo-oss (15.6)
i  | phonon4qt5-backend-vlc         | package    | 0.11.3-bp156.3.6                      | x86_64 | Main Repository
i  | phonon4qt5-backend-vlc-lang    | package    | 0.11.3-bp156.3.6                      | noarch | repo-oss (15.6)
i  | phonon4qt5-backend-vlc-lang    | package    | 0.11.3-bp156.3.6                      | noarch | Main Repository
   | python3-python-vlc             | package    | 3.0.20123-bp156.1.1                   | noarch | repo-oss (15.6)
   | python3-python-vlc             | package    | 3.0.20123-bp156.1.1                   | noarch | Main Repository
v  | vlc                            | package    | 3.0.21-150600.2.5.pm.4                | x86_64 | Packman Repository
i+ | vlc                            | package    | 3.0.21-bp156.2.3.1                    | x86_64 | update-backports (15.6)
i+ | vlc                            | package    | 3.0.21-bp156.2.3.1                    | x86_64 | Update repository of openSUSE Backports
v  | vlc                            | package    | 3.0.20-bp156.1.11                     | x86_64 | repo-oss (15.6)
v  | vlc                            | package    | 3.0.20-bp156.1.11                     | x86_64 | Main Repository
   | vlc                            | srcpackage | 3.0.21-150600.2.5.pm.5                | noarch | Packman Repository
   | vlc                            | srcpackage | 3.0.21-150600.2.5.pm.4                | noarch | Packman Repository
   | vlc                            | srcpackage | 3.0.21-bp156.2.3.1                    | noarch | update-backports (15.6)
   | vlc                            | srcpackage | 3.0.21-bp156.2.3.1                    | noarch | Update repository of openSUSE Backports
   | vlc-beta                       | package    | 20241105.477f37bdba-150600.37.pm.3    | x86_64 | Packman Repository
   | vlc-beta                       | srcpackage | 20241105.477f37bdba-150600.37.pm.3    | noarch | Packman Repository
   | vlc-beta-debuginfo             | package    | 20241105.477f37bdba-150600.37.pm.3    | x86_64 | Packman Repository
   | vlc-beta-debugsource           | package    | 20241105.477f37bdba-150600.37.pm.3    | x86_64 | Packman Repository
v  | vlc-codec-fluidsynth           | package    | 3.0.21-150600.2.5.pm.4                | x86_64 | Packman Repository
i  | vlc-codec-fluidsynth           | package    | 3.0.21-bp156.2.3.1                    | x86_64 | update-backports (15.6)
i  | vlc-codec-fluidsynth           | package    | 3.0.21-bp156.2.3.1                    | x86_64 | Update repository of openSUSE Backports
   | vlc-codec-fluidsynth-debuginfo | package    | 3.0.21-150600.2.5.pm.4                | x86_64 | Packman Repository
v  | vlc-codec-gstreamer            | package    | 3.0.21-150600.2.5.pm.4                | x86_64 | Packman Repository
i+ | vlc-codec-gstreamer            | package    | 3.0.21-bp156.2.3.1                    | x86_64 | update-backports (15.6)
i+ | vlc-codec-gstreamer            | package    | 3.0.21-bp156.2.3.1                    | x86_64 | Update repository of openSUSE Backports
v  | vlc-codec-gstreamer            | package    | 3.0.20-bp156.1.11                     | x86_64 | repo-oss (15.6)
v  | vlc-codec-gstreamer            | package    | 3.0.20-bp156.1.11                     | x86_64 | Main Repository
   | vlc-codec-gstreamer-debuginfo  | package    | 3.0.21-150600.2.5.pm.4                | x86_64 | Packman Repository
   | vlc-codecs                     | package    | 3.0.21-150600.2.5.pm.4                | x86_64 | Packman Repository
   | vlc-codecs-debuginfo           | package    | 3.0.21-150600.2.5.pm.4                | x86_64 | Packman Repository
   | vlc-debuginfo                  | package    | 3.0.21-150600.2.5.pm.4                | x86_64 | Packman Repository
   | vlc-debugsource                | package    | 3.0.21-150600.2.5.pm.4                | x86_64 | Packman Repository
   | vlc-devel                      | package    | 3.0.21-150600.2.5.pm.4                | x86_64 | Packman Repository
   | vlc-devel                      | package    | 3.0.21-bp156.2.3.1                    | x86_64 | update-backports (15.6)
   | vlc-devel                      | package    | 3.0.21-bp156.2.3.1                    | x86_64 | Update repository of openSUSE Backports
   | vlc-devel                      | package    | 3.0.20-bp156.1.11                     | x86_64 | repo-oss (15.6)
   | vlc-devel                      | package    | 3.0.20-bp156.1.11                     | x86_64 | Main Repository
   | vlc-jack                       | package    | 3.0.21-150600.2.5.pm.4                | x86_64 | Packman Repository
   | vlc-jack                       | package    | 3.0.21-bp156.2.3.1                    | x86_64 | update-backports (15.6)
   | vlc-jack                       | package    | 3.0.21-bp156.2.3.1                    | x86_64 | Update repository of openSUSE Backports
   | vlc-jack                       | package    | 3.0.20-bp156.1.11                     | x86_64 | repo-oss (15.6)
   | vlc-jack                       | package    | 3.0.20-bp156.1.11                     | x86_64 | Main Repository
   | vlc-jack-debuginfo             | package    | 3.0.21-150600.2.5.pm.4                | x86_64 | Packman Repository
v  | vlc-lang                       | package    | 3.0.21-150600.2.5.pm.5                | noarch | Packman Repository
v  | vlc-lang                       | package    | 3.0.21-150600.2.5.pm.4                | noarch | Packman Repository
i+ | vlc-lang                       | package    | 3.0.21-bp156.2.3.1                    | noarch | update-backports (15.6)
i+ | vlc-lang                       | package    | 3.0.21-bp156.2.3.1                    | noarch | Update repository of openSUSE Backports
v  | vlc-lang                       | package    | 3.0.20-bp156.1.11                     | noarch | repo-oss (15.6)
v  | vlc-lang                       | package    | 3.0.20-bp156.1.11                     | noarch | Main Repository
v  | vlc-noX                        | package    | 3.0.21-150600.2.5.pm.4                | x86_64 | Packman Repository
i+ | vlc-noX                        | package    | 3.0.21-bp156.2.3.1                    | x86_64 | update-backports (15.6)
i+ | vlc-noX                        | package    | 3.0.21-bp156.2.3.1                    | x86_64 | Update repository of openSUSE Backports
v  | vlc-noX                        | package    | 3.0.20-bp156.1.11                     | x86_64 | repo-oss (15.6)
v  | vlc-noX                        | package    | 3.0.20-bp156.1.11                     | x86_64 | Main Repository
   | vlc-noX-debuginfo              | package    | 3.0.21-150600.2.5.pm.4                | x86_64 | Packman Repository
   | vlc-opencv                     | package    | 3.0.21-150600.2.5.pm.4                | x86_64 | Packman Repository
   | vlc-opencv                     | package    | 3.0.21-bp156.2.3.1                    | x86_64 | update-backports (15.6)
   | vlc-opencv                     | package    | 3.0.21-bp156.2.3.1                    | x86_64 | Update repository of openSUSE Backports
   | vlc-opencv                     | package    | 3.0.20-bp156.1.11                     | x86_64 | repo-oss (15.6)
   | vlc-opencv                     | package    | 3.0.20-bp156.1.11                     | x86_64 | Main Repository
   | vlc-opencv-debuginfo           | package    | 3.0.21-150600.2.5.pm.4                | x86_64 | Packman Repository
v  | vlc-qt                         | package    | 3.0.21-150600.2.5.pm.4                | x86_64 | Packman Repository
i+ | vlc-qt                         | package    | 3.0.21-bp156.2.3.1                    | x86_64 | update-backports (15.6)
i+ | vlc-qt                         | package    | 3.0.21-bp156.2.3.1                    | x86_64 | Update repository of openSUSE Backports
v  | vlc-qt                         | package    | 3.0.20-bp156.1.11                     | x86_64 | repo-oss (15.6)
v  | vlc-qt                         | package    | 3.0.20-bp156.1.11                     | x86_64 | Main Repository
   | vlc-qt-debuginfo               | package    | 3.0.21-150600.2.5.pm.4                | x86_64 | Packman Repository
v  | vlc-vdpau                      | package    | 3.0.21-150600.2.5.pm.4                | x86_64 | Packman Repository
i+ | vlc-vdpau                      | package    | 3.0.21-bp156.2.3.1                    | x86_64 | update-backports (15.6)
i+ | vlc-vdpau                      | package    | 3.0.21-bp156.2.3.1                    | x86_64 | Update repository of openSUSE Backports
v  | vlc-vdpau                      | package    | 3.0.20-bp156.1.11                     | x86_64 | repo-oss (15.6)
v  | vlc-vdpau                      | package    | 3.0.20-bp156.1.11                     | x86_64 | Main Repository
   | vlc-vdpau-debuginfo            | package    | 3.0.21-150600.2.5.pm.4                | x86_64 | Packman Repository

[hui]

@deano_ferrari

The vlc-codecs package (from packman repo) is required.

sudo zypper in vlc-codecs