Installation and initial setup of DLNA Home Media Server (HMS) on Windows. We configure the DLNA server using the “Home Media Server (UPnP, DLNA, HTTP)” program. View files from your computer on your TV
Somehow it happened that the tag DLNA server is more common in question posts than in answers. And if some user experience has been accumulated regarding installation on a home Windows PC, then deciding on the choice of software for a home server/NAS/media center turned out to be difficult. Distributed among sandboxes, people separately solve the problems of each program separately. But I personally failed to understand which of them is worth what and whether it is needed at all.
And so, armed with a link from Wikipedia How to choose a DLNA server for Windows, Mac OS X or Linux, I tried almost everything that is available for Linux.
DLNA - its place in the home network
Most people have probably already gone down this path - new media devices appear in the house, the number of family members consuming media content grows, and the database of films, music and photographs itself swells.At the same time, everyone builds media infrastructure in their own way. For some it is a computer with TV-OUT, for others it is a netbook or HTPC. Someone shares folders from a NAS via NFS, someone connects an HDD to a media player, someone uses the capabilities of Sony PS...
Confusion appears in storage locations, formats, codecs, etc.
So, in my case it turned out:
- Plasma in the living room is better served at 720p than FullHD
- It’s better not to feed a Sony TV in a child’s room connected via Wi-Fi more than 15Mbit/s, H.264 it needs a maximum of Profile 4.1, and it doesn’t see files on network storage at all
- The Openbox satellite receiver cannot play audio tracks in DTS, it does not support more than 30Mbit/s via SMB, and it does not display Cyrillic via NFS
- Nokia Lumia and iPhone are generally limited everywhere
Theoretically, it will bring content from different places into one folder tree, and adjust the resolution and check codec compatibility and, if necessary, re-encode. Beauty…
What to bet on
Home computer- as a rule, this is a Windows machine. Watching a re-encoded film while someone else is playing will not work; There is no 24/7 mode at all. Not suitable for the role. That's why I didn't even consider the Windows versions of the programs.Router flashed with DD-WRT/OpenWRT- there are packages for these firmwares and they work. Hardware resources are very limited - transcoding is unrealistic, the speed of access to the USB port and network folders is very limited. Nevertheless, this suits many people.
NAS or home server with Linux- the most universal solution. There are many programs. There are no protocol restrictions. The performance of x86 processors from 5 years ago (in my case, the Athlon X2-6000) is enough to simultaneously transcode two films of any format on the fly.
Personal experience, program evaluation
MiniDLNA, uShare and xupnpd
These are different projects, but in essence they are the same thing. Lightweight and fast. The only function they perform is to provide network access to media files via the DLNA/UPnP protocol. The player or TV should be able to do everything else themselves. DLNA is not fully supported and many devices simply cannot be seen by these servers.Very massive. They work everywhere. Packages exist for all kinds of Linux distributions, routers with DD-WRT/OpenWRT firmware and NAS. The installation procedure is simple and well described on specialized forums. There are no GUIs
If you, and only you (otherwise complaints from family members are inevitable):
- watch/listen only from one omnivorous device (such as a Samsung TV)
- Your device cannot directly retrieve files from network folders or is too slow (such as a Sony Bravia TV)
- store movies/music on an inexpensive NAS or router with a USB drive
- select content in advance in the required format or take the time to re-encode it manually
- media files are already well sorted into folders or this does not bother you at all
MediaTomb
The developers clearly write that “this is not a DLNA server, it only supports part of its functions.” And although there may be some compatibility issues, this is quite a project worthy of attention.There is already a GUI running through the built-in http server - you can manage folders with content in it. Add new ones, create shortcuts to existing ones, set scanning intervals, etc.
It is well distributed - there is no problem installing it on any Linux distribution, it does not entail heavy dependencies. Configured with a single text file. Very stable in operation, not resource intensive.
Transcoding can be used, but it is implemented in a simple form. Thus, profiles are linked to the input file format, and not to the output device. The server does not distinguish at all who connected to it. Accordingly, there are no ready-made profiles for devices - everything needs to be configured manually:
- which formats to transcode and which to transfer directly
- set the encoder according to the situation: ffmpeg, vlc, mplayer or something else
- set bitrate, number of audio channels, H.264 profile and other encoding options
- apply a video filter such as crop or crop
At the same time, when viewing a transcoded stream on a TV, rewinding and selecting an audio track will not work. Attaching subtitles is also a separate matter.
In general, MediaTomb is a very brutal tool for true Linux users. You can’t call it universal, but you can customize it perfectly to suit you and your hardware.
Rygel
Massive, available almost everywhere. But it is very crooked to put it in daemon mode (you need to write an init script yourself, create folders and a user). It is part of the gnome project and pulls gstreamer (or even pulseaudio). If anyone has KDE or something else on their computer, it’s completely inconvenient. Icons for videos are generated via tumbler from the XFCE project, and even then with nuances. Falls regularly.I didn’t get around to studying the features of transcoding. My verdict - " unfit".
PS3 Media Server
A very old project. And although from its initial application: “Distribute movies/music from your home Windows PC to Sony PS,” the project has evolved greatly. But the JAVA code and the requirements for running the X server turned me away from it.XBMC
It has a DLNA server. But keeping this combine for the sake of just one module is stupid.Moreover, it was from XBMC that a separate Plex media server project was born.
Universal Media Server
He's kind of crooked. Showed me the entire directory tree instead of the selected folder. I opened only a few files and regularly threw errors into the console. I haven't figured out transconding at all.Very heavy due to JAVA code. You definitely need a running X server - you can't make it a daemon. " Unfit."
GMediaServer
The project has been abandoned. Not worthy of attention.LXiMedia
Simple and convenient implementation of a DLNA server. All you need to do is select folders with files, strictly set transcoding parameters, audio track, subtitles. No profiles, settings. Moreover, this is a GUI application, it cannot be installed as a daemon.In my opinion, it is useless in this form - one of many and far from the best.
Serviio
Perhaps the fastest growing project right now. Updated regularly. It is actively acquiring plugins, profiles and applications for mobile OS.It is a JAVA application running as a daemon. DLNA protocol support is complete. Quite skillfully scatters content into folders and categories. Can create previews for films. It is easy to connect different on-line broadcasting channels.
Transcodes using ffmpeg. The database of device profiles is already quite large (and continues to grow) - the server correctly selects encoding parameters for any of the home hardware. What I didn’t recognize is that it’s not difficult to choose a profile or write your own.
Due to the fact that ffmpeg is used - the same problem as in mediatomb - there is no rewind in the transcoded stream and the audio track does not change.
All this is controlled either from a JAVA client, or a web interface written in PHP, or a smartphone (there are applications for Android and WP).
Unfortunately not available as a .deb or .rpm package. You need to install it manually: create folders, create a user, unpack it, get the init script from the support forum, add it to autorun." There is a ready-made package for Synology NAS.
In general, it may well become a single point of access to media content at home. He can do everything you need.
Skifta
Not included in Linux repositories and therefore rare. But it has a graphical installer and carries jre with it, and therefore will work on almost any system. It is inconvenient because it is launched in two steps - first the utility in SystemTray, then the media-server itself. Without X's it won't work as a demon. Very simple and concise, but heavily loads the system (JAVA code).TVMOBiLi
Costs $30 (or subscription fee $1.5/month). Available as .deb and .rpm packages. It is quite difficult to install not in Ubuntu/Fedora - the built-in vlc and ffmpeg will probably find the missing libraries and refuse to work. I couldn't find USE flags for vlc in Gentoo. It didn’t work at all, I had to redo the profiles so that only ffmpeg would be used.Overall, transcoding profiles are its strong point. You can set any logic and any parameters.
Controlled through a nice WEB-face. Has a rich database of transcoding profiles. It is possible to play files via the built-in http server. Can't generate thumbnails.
It works quickly and beautifully. Good candidate.
TwonkyServer
Installed by unpacking tar.gz. or through the installer. It is not available in Linux repositories. Very fast code, instant launch, convenient web interface. Well and competently distributes content into folders. There are ready-made init scripts. Can extract meta data from files and generate thumbnails. All liked it. One problem - $19.95.But still: " I recommend".
Plex
As the developers write - “A complete Media Solution”. I confirm.This monster grew out of XBMC and can do everything and even more. Find movie posters, ratings and a bunch of data. The series will also be divided into seasons and episodes. The music collection can be organized from any source type.
Transcoding makes everything possible. Settings can be controlled directly from the TV's OSD menu. For smart devices like LG Smart TVs and Apple TVs, support goes well beyond the DLNA protocol.
There is support for its own cloud service, which allows you to watch home videos remotely - the server will adjust the parameters of the sent video to the capabilities of the device and communication channel.
There are separately written clients for mobile OS and Windows 8 tiles.
There are ready-made packages for Ubuntu, Fedora, CentOS and mainstream NAS models. Under everything else - installed by simple unpacking. Of the dependencies, only Avahi-daemon is required.
Unfortunately, the transcoding mechanism does not allow interference with the work - profiles can be corrected, but the possibilities are very limited.
It is capable of solving any problems within the framework of the topic, while it is free, stable and, oddly enough, fast.
I would really like someone to add to this list and/or make changes.
If you want to create a home entertainment network based on your TV and computer, which will provide all the capabilities for playing content of various formats, then you should be interested in learning how to set up a home media server. Let's learn how to install the server creation software and then see what features it provides to users.
Connecting a computer and TV
Before you start installing a home media server, you need to resolve the issue of connecting your computer to your TV. It is better to make a wired connection between devices using a LAN cable and a router. Of course, you can use a wireless connection, but then you become dependent on the antenna power and the presence/absence of obstacles.
To avoid possible problems with playing movies in Full HD format, it is better to use a LAN cable, carefully laying it between the computer, router and TV.
The router, of course, must be configured to access the network, otherwise no media server will work. If you have figured out the question of how to set up the Internet on Windows 7, then you can proceed directly to installing and configuring the program.
Program installation
Download the program distribution package to begin installing it. It is better to download from the official website, since the current and verified version of the utility is located here. You can choose two types of download - as a *.exe file or in an archive format. There is no difference between them, so choose according to your taste.
The installation process itself is extremely simple: you only need to specify the directory in which the application's executable files will be stored and decide whether to create a program shortcut on the desktop.
After assigning installation parameters, click the “Install” button. Wait until the installation is complete to begin setting up the program.
Setting up the program
When you first launch the program, it should appear with initial settings where you need to select your media device. 
Depending on the type of hardware you specify, the Native Support field will display a comma-separated list of supported formats.
If your TV can play some formats that are not in the “Built-in support” field, then check the “Custom device” checkbox. Manually write the formats supported by your equipment and click “Next” to move to the next settings window.
In the “Media resource directories” window, you need to make directories or local and network drives visible to your device (“share”). By default, standard folders are open, but to avoid confusion with them, it is better to allow access to local drives. To perform this procedure, check the boxes of the drives that you want to make accessible through the media server and click the “Scan” button. 
You can also manually add directories or external media. To do this, click the “Add” button, select the directory you need and start the scanning process. 
After scanning local and removable drives, in the program interface you can see a complete list of audio, video and photos stored on your computer.
Remember that the more multimedia information the program has to check, the longer it will take to start, so do not overdo it with the number of “shared” directories.
The next setting item is backup settings. You can specify your path to store the backup used to restore program data, or leave everything as is. 
After clicking the “Run” button, the backup process will begin. You can specify which parameters you want to save in the backup file by checking them. After completing the data backup procedure, click the “Close” button.
Starting the server
After setting up all the important parameters, you can proceed directly to enabling the DLNA server on your computer. To do this, click on the “Launch” button - a message will appear on the screen that the start was successful. 
After starting the server, you need to turn on the TV. If the connection is established correctly, it will appear on the “Playback Devices” tab in the program. If the list is empty, update it using the special button on the right panel. 
Test the server by running files from your computer on your TV screen:
If the Home Media Server program is configured correctly, the file you launched from your computer will appear on the TV screen. But opening media files from a computer is not always convenient, so you need to learn how to additionally run them directly on the TV. 
To prevent the program from disturbing you on your computer, close it by clicking on the red cross. The work of the home server will not be completed, since the application will not turn off completely, but will only be minimized to the system tray.
Viewing files on TV
After setting up the server on your computer, you can go to the TV and try to open “shared” folders through it. Different TV models connect to the created server in their own way. For example, LG devices have a built-in Smart Share app. 
Select the created home server as the signal source. If this item is not on the list, update the list of sources.
Don't forget to configure your firewall by temporarily disabling it; otherwise, the firewall will block the TV's attempts to connect to the home server.
After selecting the signal source, you will see a directory of folders, among which there will be directories “shared” on the computer. You can launch available files and watch them on your TV screen.
Possible applications
The Home Media Server program provides users with several interesting features that allow them to expand the functionality of a regular TV into a true home entertainment center.
Interactive television
To enjoy all the benefits of interactive broadcasting, you can set up Rostelecom television. But there is another option that allows you to do without concluding an additional agreement with the provider - download an interactive television playlist and launch it through your home media server.
For IPTV to work, you need to install the VLC Player program. Installing this application will not be difficult even for a novice user, since the convenient installation wizard does everything automatically - all you have to do is click the “Next” button.
The next step is to restart the home media server, which is done by clicking a special button on the top panel of the program. 
After this, you can go to the TV and select the “Internet Television” folder in the media server directory. If you downloaded the working playlist and installed it correctly, you will see a list of channels presented in it. 
Of course, this is not the most convenient option for playing interactive television, especially if the user has a Smart TV or has configured the IPTV function from the provider. However, if you have nothing but a home server, then using the “Home Media Server” program can be called the most adequate solution.
If your TV does not support Smart TV, but you want to be able to watch online broadcasts, then you can delegate some smart TV functions to the Home Media Server program using installed podcasts.
Podcasts in this case are files that allow you to directly launch online cinemas on your TV. For example, on the forum of the official website of the Home Media Server application, it is possible to download a podcast for playing and managing video files from the VKontakte social network.
Download the desired podcast to your computer and drop it into the main program window, as you did with the interactive television playlist file. 
Expand the “Podcasts” section and select the application you downloaded for online broadcasting. Right-click on it and select “Update”. 
Wait for the update process to complete and go to your TV. Find the “Podcasts” folder and select the application downloaded through the media server inside it. 
Having at your disposal a home media server for Windows, you significantly expand the possibilities of using your information.
This can bring maximum benefit if you have several computers and modern TVs at home.
Although the server will also simplify the use of information on mobile phones, laptops, game consoles and tablets connected to a common network.
Thus, each family member can watch videos and photos, as well as listen to music, using any suitable device.
What is a home media server?
A home media server is software that makes it possible to exchange information between various devices on a home network - for example, a computer, a smartphone and a TV equipped with the appropriate technology.
It uses the DLNA streaming standard and free software such as the UpnP, DLNA, HTTP Home Media Server application.
All devices can already be networked using wired connections, although setting up a home network in this case will be quite complicated.
But this option allows you to transfer fairly large amounts of information at high speed (up to 1000 Mb/s).
Still possible wireless connecting devices via a Wi-Fi router that supports quality standards of up to 100 or up to 300 Mb/s.
Although with this type of connection, when watching high-quality video (1920p or 4K), the image may freeze.
But such a connection is much easier to set up - you just need to set up a router (and, preferably, set a password) and connect all computers, TVs and phones to it.
As a rule, users choose wireless networks due to the ease of connection and the absence of wires throughout the apartment.
A lot of equipment simply does not have suitable connectors for inclusion in a single network - on many smartphones, tablets, older models of set-top boxes, and even on some photo frames with WiFi, you can only use a wireless network.
It is advisable to use a wired connection only for transferring information between stationary PCs.
Creating a DLNA server
In order to create a DLNA server, first of all, you should download a suitable program from the network and install it on your computer.
Now for all Microsoft systems starting with Windows 7 and later (there may be problems with Windows 7 Home Edition), you should follow these steps:
- go to the home group (through the “Control Panel” menu, from which you can enter, respectively, through the “Start” button);
- use another option for moving to a group - through the Network Connections Center, which can be opened by right-clicking on the connections icon in the tray;
- after that, you can see the inscription “Homegroup” at the bottom left.
If a homegroup has already been created, a list of currently connected devices will appear on the screen.
If there is no group, you need to select “Create a home group” by opening the “Creation Wizard”.
Now you should specify what information from the main computer will be accessible to other devices.
To work with general documents, select the appropriate item; To watch a movie from your computer’s hard drive, you should select “streaming to all devices” (Fig. 5).
The same item will be needed to create a DLNA server.
During the process of creating a home network, a password will be automatically created, which will be used to provide access to information and protect against entry into the group from unauthorized devices.
You can view it in the “Show or print homegroup password” item, and change it in the menu with the corresponding name.
The text of the message about creating a group will contain instructions for joining new devices to the home group (however, this information applies to wired devices running Windows).
Server settings
After the group and, accordingly, the DLNA server have been created, you can select the name of the library.
The server itself will be designated by the same phrase.
The streaming options menu will indicate devices that are currently connected to the network, working and supporting a connection to the server.
If the administrator wishes, using DLNA he can provide access to video and music to home computers and any suitable equipment.
Advice: To connect a set-top box, TV or multimedia player, you should configure this option in the items SmartShare or AllShare, depending on the manufacturer and model of the device.
To get quick access to server settings, you can use the standard Windows Media Player menu.
To use it, you need to open the app on the computer that is now your home server and enable HomeGroup streaming.
As a result, on a TV connected to the group, you can even watch movies whose format is not supported by the device - for example, mkv.
Although to do this you will have to keep the player turned on while playing the video.
Configuration programs
In addition to using standard system tools, a DLNA server can be created and configured using third-party applications.
Home Mediaserver
For example, using the Home Mediaserver program, which is quite simple to work with and can be downloaded from the manufacturer’s website.
Many equipment manufacturers allow you to download their applications for working with DLNA servers from official resources, simplifying system setup.
We present the most popular of them:
Plex
Plex is a fairly convenient option for any user. The server runs on a PC, and control is carried out either from the application menu or directly in the browser.
According to consumer reviews, the program works without errors in 90% of cases;
Fig. 12. Serviio application.
XBMC
XBMC is a free software program originally designed for the Xbox, but now works on other devices and most operating systems.
Results
Using easy-to-install and configure software or even built-in Windows tools, you can link all your home media devices onto a common network.
This can significantly simplify your leisure time: on a regular TV you will have access to channels with the television company’s service package, and to any information on the Internet, and to the contents of your computer open for viewing.
Thematic video:
I recently realized that televisions are still in the last century. If mobile gadgets and computers are becoming more convenient, faster and simpler, then the only thing that changes on TVs is the screen size and resolution. There's no point in talking about convenience yet.
A TV without a media server on your computer or a special device is practically a useless thing, unless you like to hang out. Therefore, I have selected the 5 best media servers for a computer that will upgrade your TV and make it much more functional.
Plex
PlexPlex is the most popular and perhaps convenient option. Having launched the server on your computer, you can manage it from a browser, set up a media library, add subtitles, etc. Plex downloads all the information about the movie automatically and does it perfectly in 9 cases out of 10. The TV sees the Plex server without any problems and plays everything perfectly. The only downside to Plex and other similar programs is that the TV does not see the subtitles built into the movie, but for most this does not matter.
Plex is free, but you'll need to buy a subscription for additional features.
Plex
I used this server for a very long time on an old TV. It works quite well and unlike Plex, HMS is a whole combine, the functionality of which knows no bounds. The only drawback will be the terrible interface of the program, but since it is needed to play movies on the TV, this will not be a big problem. The program is absolutely free and is only available in the Windows version.
Initially, PS3 Media Server was distributed as an add-on to the PlayStation 3, allowing you to play movies on your TV using the console. Then the program began to live a separate life. Like previous alternatives, it supports DLNA playback and requires no fiddling with setup.
Serviio is far from the most popular media server, but it also deserves a place in our top. The application is free, but for $25 you can buy the PRO version, which allows you to access your content from any network, not just your home one, and allows you to play content from the web (this function is provided as a preview in the free version). Serviio has Android apps, but they act as a secondary control panel for the backend on the computer.
Kodi (formerly XBMC)
XBMC was created to bring video playback functionality to the Xbox. Then the project split off and now Kodi is one of the most popular media centers, supporting almost all platforms due to its open source. Kodi has apps for iOS and Android that allow you to use your smartphone as a remote control. The service relies on donations and is absolutely free.
KodiFor me, Plex is a clear favorite. What do you use?
In this article, I want to once again talk about how to create on a computer (laptop, netbook) DLNA server. This will allow you to watch movies and photos on your TV, as well as listen to music that is on your computer.
You just need to connect the TV to your computer via a network cable, or simply to one network, start a DLNA server on your computer and start watching a movie or photo.
But, as it turned out, there are many problems with the Smart Share application. Either it does not start, then it produces various errors, or it closes on its own. You can read about this in the comments that visitors left on the article, the link to which is above.
There is a very good and absolutely free program “Home media server (UPnP, DLNA, HTTP)”, which is an excellent analogue of Smart Share from LG, or for example AllShare from Samsung.
“Home Media Server (UPnP, DLNA, HTTP)” is a universal program with which you can launch a DLNA server and connect to it from almost any TV that supports DLNA technology (and if your TV has Wi-Fi or a network connector, then it most likely supports this technology). In principle, a DLNA client can be not only a TV, but for example a game console.
This instruction is suitable for TVs from different manufacturers: LG, Samsung, Toshiba, Sony, etc. Compared to branded applications such as Smart Share, “Home Media Server (UPnP, DLNA, HTTP)” has a large number of settings.
We will not delve into all the nuances, but will only consider how to open shared access to the necessary folders or drives. How to create a server and how to start watching a movie using DLNA technology on your TV.
Connecting a TV to use DLNA technology
Before we start setting up the program, we need to connect the TV to a computer or laptop. If you already have everything connected, for example through a router, then you can move on to the next step.
We need to connect the laptop and TV to the network. If you have a router installed at home, then just connect your computer to this router, via cable or via Wi-Fi, it doesn’t matter. And you need to connect the TV to the same router. You can connect your TV the same way, or via Wi-Fi (see connection instructions ) .
Our task is to ensure that the TV and computer (in my case laptop), were connected to the same router. I have a TV connected to my router via Wi-Fi LG 32LN575U and laptop Asus K56CM. This instruction will be based on their example.
What to do if you don't have a router?
In this case, you can connect the computer to the TV via a network cable directly. Just take the required length of network cable (it can be crimped at almost any computer store), and connect the TV to the computer.
It looks something like this:
Connecting this way should work fine. But my TV refused to see the server created on the laptop. But, in the “Home Media Server (UPnP, DLNA, HTTP)” program, the TV was displayed and I could start viewing photos from the laptop itself, and the photo appeared on the TV.
She also has an idea on how to connect them without a cable and without a router. But I’m not sure what will work and this method is only suitable for TVs that have the ability to connect to Wi-Fi.
You can try to create a computer-to-computer connection on a laptop, which I wrote about in the article ““. Then, connect the TV to the created access point and try to access files on the computer.
I think we have sorted out the connection. Let's move on to setting up the server.
Setting up the “Home Media Server (UPnP, DLNA, HTTP)” program
First, we need to download and install the program itself. I recommend downloading from the official website: . There is always a new version and it is safer.
Save the archive to your computer. To install, simply run the setup.exe file, which is located in the archive. I will not describe the entire installation process, it is simple. Follow the instructions.
After installation, launch the program with a shortcut on the desktop.
Let's go straight to the program settings. We won't do anything special there. We will simply indicate local drives, flash drives, external hard drives, or folders whose contents we want to see on the TV. For example, you can open only a few folders with movies, photos and music.
A settings window will open. In the first category, Media resources, we need to indicate which drives or folders we want to see on the TV. By default, standard folders with photos, videos and music are open there.
The program is trying to sort everything. And in order not to get confused in all these folders on the TV, I advise you to open shared access to local drives. By default, if I'm not mistaken, access to them is already open. Check if the checkbox next to Local disks.
If installed, this means that you can open any file on your TV that is stored on these local drives (drives C, D, E, etc.).
You can also specify individual folders, or, for example, an external hard drive. To do this, click on the button on the right Add, and select the desired folder, flash drive, or hard drive in Explorer.
We can see which folders and drives we have opened access to. We can delete selected folders. These are the basic settings, if you look, there are a lot of settings there, I won’t go through them all. To save, click on the button Ok, and agree to scan media resources.
We wait while the program scans the folders and disk. Next, you can start the DLNA server itself. To do this, simply click on the “ Launch“.
We see a message stating that the server is running.
Now, just turn on the TV. If everything is connected correctly, it should appear in the “Home Media Server (UPnP, DLNA, HTTP)” program. To do this, go to the tab Playback devices (DMR), and on the right, click the button Update.
If our TV appears, then everything is fine. You can try to start viewing photos directly from the program.
If the TV does not appear in the program, and the server we created is also not visible on the TV, then first of all, check the connection. Is the TV connected to the network and is the laptop connected.
Then, completely disable antiviruses and firewalls. They can block access to the server.
To do this, in the main program window (above), select one of the tabs: movies, music, or photos.
In the left window, media content will appear that is located in those folders and drives to which we have opened access. Right-click on a photo, for example, and select “Play on“, then select our TV.
The photo should immediately appear on the TV screen.
In the same way, you can start playing video and music. This means that we can start playback on the TV screen from the “Home Media Server (UPnP, DLNA, HTTP)” program.
But this is not always convenient. It is much better to go through the TV and open the necessary files. To do this, leave the server running. You can hide the “Home Media Server (UPnP, DLNA, HTTP)” program. Click on the red cross (close the program), and it will hide in the notification panel.
At the same time, the server will work and you will be able to access your computer from the TV.
We start viewing files via DLNA from the TV
This means the server is running on the computer, files are open for viewing.
Now, on the TV, we need to go into the program that is responsible for working with DLNA technology. For example, in LG, this is Smart Share. On other TVs, this application may be called differently.
For example, to launch Smart Share in LG, go to Smart TV (blue button on the remote control) and select Smart Share. If your TV does not have Smart TV, but does have DLNA, the process may be different.
Open the folder My computer, and we see our local drives there, and other folders to which we have opened access.
Afterword
“Home Media Server (UPnP, DLNA, HTTP)” is actually a very cool program, with a lot of settings. We only considered opening file sharing and starting the server. When I started watching a movie through the Smart Share program, the laptop went into sleep mode and playback was interrupted. “Home Media Server (UPnP, DLNA, HTTP)” has a lock that prevents the computer from going to sleep when it is being used as a server.
I hope everything worked out for you and you are now watching your favorite movies on the big screen TV using DLNA technology.
If something doesn’t work out, write in the comments, we’ll try to figure it out.
Also on the site:
We configure the DLNA server using the “Home Media Server (UPnP, DLNA, HTTP)” program. View files from your computer on your TV updated: February 7, 2018 by: admin
