It is good to have a media server attached to these devices. I have my external HDD attached to mine. I had used Minidlna for a good while. However, I stumbled on something far much better for myself. Maybe for you too.
Install the SFTP Server within Luci. With that, I also installed the following other plugins.
Be sure once block mount is installed to enable your external HDD or flashdrive for media.
On any android tv device. Such as amazing fire stick yada yada. Install VLC, then select add a new server to favorites. Select SFTP, then input your information such as local IP (i.e. 192.168.8.1) and root as your username. Don't worry about folder path. Leave that blank. And name your server. Hit ok.
You will be asked for your password, it didn't ask me until the second time I came to VLC and opened my server, this is the admin password for your router that you setup.
It will the add the SFTP Server, then you can select the saved server from your favorites and watch your content. This also works with any router that can install openwrt.
Just my two cents. Minidlna is good, however too many hiccups for my taste. Got tired of resetting it even when the power went out and had to recache the files. Very annoying to me, SFTP doesn't make me do this, with SFTP this way I don't have to do it. Don't have to cache the files either. Even if the power went out, I just waited for my router to boot up and there they were, my media files. Just add a new media file via SFTP program like filezilla , boom done. The new media is there. No recache.
You can definitely use this method with Kodi. The plugins are rather small for installation. Except for SFTP Server. However, it should run fine. Depending on your GL-Inet device, if one plugin fails to install or isn't listed, install all others and if your FLASH DRIVE/HDD is seen in block-mount, you should be good. As long as your drive is listed.
There is a chance things will run great, however if not then maybe the alternate method may work best for you. Please refer to the comments to this post for other alternatives. Every alternative is accurate, it depends on your specified needs and liking.
Install STFP support Kodi:
This add-on is installed from the Add-on browser located in Kodi as follows:
Settings
Add-ons
Install from repository
VFS (Virtual File Systems)
SFTP support
Install
Go into Videos, Add videos, Browse, Add network location, Protocol secure shell (ssh/sftp), fill in the up I.e (192.168.8.1), username: root, password is your admin password for the router. Hit OK. Make sure your sftp address us in the path field. Name your media source. Hit browse and select your sftp, go into that folder and select the mnt partition. This is your flash drive/HHD drive. You will them see your videos on Kodi.
For me SFTP is my best option. Kodi kind of lagged for me, however I added this for Kodi for those to try. VLC worked great on my end. I have the Walmart ONN 4k tv stick
Keep in mind!: You may also need to generate config on the block-mount (mount points) page if you are unsure.
I would utilize this option regardless, it's a great failsafe. It will detect and activate external drive right.
This option is easier compared to the one mentioned above.