Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2012 5:57 Post subject: Access Restriction - Netflix on Xbox 360
Greetings.
My situation: someone in my house likes to play netflix movies way past a respectable hour (he thinks he falls asleep better). I want to block the streaming to his xbox 360 without also limiting his gameplay (which he does with headphones).
Does anyone know the streaming protocol from the netflix servers or how to go about limiting it just to the MAC address of his xbox?
You can either use time based access restrictions by mac address or by IP (if you set a static IP for the xbox in services/services) or shut of the radio at certain times using advanced wireless settings. This would shut down the wireless for everyone.
I am versed in the access restriction protocols - I simply wondered if anyone knew about how to block netflix streaming exclusively (and just on the xbox360 - I already blocked on the PC, which is why he watches it on his xbox).
Also, I want his xbox to work for xbox live (games and such) while not working for netflix. He won't be able to discern the problem, and will simply go to bed.
In short: I am looking to block whatever DNS netflix uses to stream to the xbox 360 (I have determined that it is not netflix.com or any variation thereof).
Thanks for all the help so far - I have implemented the following list as HTTP request denials to the xbox's MAC. Netflix continues to function normally.
Joined: 06 Nov 2010 Posts: 42 Location: Harlem, GA
Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2012 22:33 Post subject:
You need to block both ports (80 and 443)... Try changing the Mac to the Mac of one of your computers, and try loading Netflix in a web browser- both use the same protocol; the Xbox just uses a special .xml based API on the same servers..
I tried it with my computer, and there netflix alone is sufficient to totally block content - I won't even let me search for netflix in any web-based search.
Here's how I have it set up - it seems to me as though I have all the ports accounted for. I also double-checked the MAC, and blocking all access to the xbox proves effective. It seems as though we still haven't pinpointed exactly where the data is coming from.
blocking "https://agmoviecontrol.netflix.com/" would appear to be sufficient; but the reverse-dns that DD-WRT sees is not quite the same. Here are the IPs that it is using in the south-eastern US as of today (they change quite oftenly):
I suppose a crude method would be to use DNSMASQ to return invalid DNS for agmoviecontrol.netflix.com; but it would not easily be turned ON and OFF..
IE: --address=/agmoviecontrol.netflix.com/127.0.0.1
The thing that caught my eye from the report was near the very end of the article. It says that the video comes in with a .wmv extension. Looking through netflix's recent blogs, it seems as though they have since switched to a VC1 encoder.
Regardless, I have switched tacts, and am now trying to block the last link in the chain -- the media file itself. I have blocked the following containers, but to no avail. Do you have any other ideas concerning which format Netflix may currently be sending?
Joined: 26 Jan 2008 Posts: 13049 Location: Behind The Reset Button
Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2012 22:22 Post subject:
interesting topic..
might I suggest you call netflix.. They have always been very helpful. Going through xbox live, you are actually using the xbox servers.
rumor has it that they are close to implementing just such restrictions by time and device although not ready to release just yet (only rumor). _________________ [Moderator Deleted]
Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 5:22 Post subject: Blocking via router
I have nearly the same problem with my roommate, ps3, and buffalo router. I blocked moviecontrol.netflix.com on the router which killed playback to all computers in my house (half win). My roommate found the ps3 workaround so now I'm wondering if I can sniff those packets via Wireshark or the log window, find a header and use the "website blocking by keyword" ddwrt feature. That seem logical?
Well, it is the game time. My nephews are coming over to my place. This time I have added a few good shows by Andy Yeatman for them to watch. Also, we can play on the play station together. It was nice coming across this informative post.
