Home media server review. UPnP: what is it? UPnP DLNA home media server. Reasons for stopping / slowing down content playback
From this article you will learn how to configure the program home media server, as well as how to access movies, music and photos from your smart TV on your computer. If your TV supports network connection via Wi-Fi or LAN and supports the transmission of media content in real time using DLNA technology, then you should definitely take advantage of this.
Of course, you can play music and videos from a flash drive, but before that you need to transfer all the information to it. In our case, you just need to open access for the TV to any folder on your computer that stores media content.
There are branded applications from TV manufacturers, for example, LG has Smart Share, and Samsung has AllShare. Often, applications from manufacturers leave much to be desired and do not provide the necessary functionality, which cannot be said about the wonderful Home Media Server program. By the way, you can connect to the created media server not only from the TV, but also from any other DLNA client, for example, from a game console.
Before you start setting up your home media server, you need to connect your TV using the connection method available to you, usually LAN and Wi-Fi. The TV is most conveniently connected to a router, but in extreme cases it can be connected directly to a computer or laptop.
Setting up a media server.
If you still don't have a Home Media Server installed, you can always download it from our catalog.
After installing the program, open it and go to the menu "Settings".
In the left part of the window that opens, select a category "Media Resources", on the tab "Directory List" you must specify which drives (local, network, removable) and folders with media content will be available on the TV. By default, standard folders with photos, videos and music are already open.
To add the necessary folders and drives, use the button "Add". In the explorer window that opens, you just have to select the folders or drives that you want to give access to and click "OK".
When adding or deleting folders or drives, it is necessary to scan directories of media resources, usually the program itself asks for permission to scan. This will keep the list of available files up to date.
You can also configure automatic directory scanning. On the tab "Scanning" you need to check the two boxes shown in the screenshot below. Note that checking the box next to "Automatically scan directories when they change while the server is running" may slow down the speed of directory navigation from the TV.
Here we recommend checking the box before "Always use the filename as the name of the media resource", then in the list you will always see the files by their names, otherwise the TV will name the file based on its tags.
Category "Devices" in the drop down menu "Default device type" You must select the device that best matches yours. Depending on the selected device, the list of formats supported by the device will change.
If you know that your TV supports more formats than those presented in the proposed list, then you can open the settings window by clicking on the appropriate button, and in the extension fields "Movies", "Music" and "A photo" specify the required formats separated by commas.
Category "Additionally" you can set the program to start automatically and the server to start automatically when the computer is turned on. To do this, you need to check certain boxes indicated in the screenshot. It is also recommended to check the box next to "Installing the Windows Service Home Media Server (UPnP, DLNA, HTTP)", in which case the media server will run as a service.
This completes the setup of the home media server.
Now you need to run it by clicking on the button "Launch".
Now you can turn on the TV. If everything is connected correctly, then the TV icon should appear at the bottom of the program window on the tab "Playback Devices (DMR)".
If the TV does not appear, in the right part of the window, click on the button "Update". If the TV icon still does not appear, then you have connected the TV to the computer incorrectly or home network. Most often, in more than 90% of cases, the problem occurs due to incorrect settings of antiviruses and firewalls. Disable them, if the TV icon appears, then you need to configure them correctly.
View media resources.
After setting up a home media server, there are two ways to start watching shared content.
The first, of course, by starting the playback of content from the TV, guided by the instructions for your device.
Second, start playback directly from the Home Media Server itself. First, in the main window of the program, you need to select the type of content to be played by clicking on the tab icons "Movies", "Music" or "A photo". Next, on the film we need, for example, right-click, select the item "Play to" and choose a TV. At the same time, the movie should start playing on the TV.
The Home Media Server program actually provides a huge number of all kinds of settings and offers playback of not only video, music and photos, but also Internet radio, as well as IPTV. In turn, we only considered setting up a home media server to open access to files stored on a computer for playback on a TV.
The DLNA media server opens up wide opportunities for broadcasting video and other media files from one device to another via WiFi. Since this technology is cross-platform, it can be used to transfer pictures from a laptop or PC to Windows to a TV or set-top box under Android control. The previous article aroused such interest among readers that I decided to develop this topic and talk in more detail about the capabilities of the UPnP home media server on Windows, as well as how to organize work with the Home Media Server and SmartShare programs.
What is DLNA and UPnP?
The Integrated Digital Network Consortium (DLNA) is a group of companies that have come together to create a common, open standard for connecting devices. All devices that have DLNA support can automatically, while on the same network, be configured to receive from each other and view content.
What types of devices support DLNA?
DLNA compatible devices are TVs, mobile phones, PCs and laptops, music players, game consoles such as the Sony PlayStation 3, home media players, personal computers, Android phones, Blu-ray players, tablets, wireless printers, camcorders, flat screen TVs, routers and HiFi systems. First of all, make sure that your device has such support. All DLNA-certified devices have an associated logo or sticker that indicates that the product has passed DLNA compliance testing and is capable of connecting to other certified devices. Next, the device must describe the type of digital content it supports (eg audio, video, photos) as well as the type of destination (eg server, printer, player, etc.). More detailed description accepted notation at the end of the article.
Currently, The Digital Living Network Alliance membership list includes most of the major players in the market, such as Intel, HP, Motorola, HTC, Microsoft, Samsung, LG and Panasonic. These companies create products that successfully interact with each other. Only Apple remained on the sidelines, which developed its own standard - AirPlay. So if you have a device from the apple family, you will not be able to include it in your media network consisting of devices from other manufacturers.
How to use DLNA media server on Windows?
DLNA devices are designed to be interconnected. Each device is assigned its own class depending on its purpose. For example, any storage device belongs to the Digital Media Server class. These are mobile phones that store photos, music and videos in their memory. Any device capable of receiving and playing digital content from another DLNA device will be a Digital Media Player. This is your TV that is capable of playing videos, music and photos from other devices.
In order to create and start using a home media server, you will need at least one DLNA server to store content (such as a laptop or mobile phone) and one DLNA device to play it, such as a TV.
DLNA devices connect and communicate with each other through the configured home network. The layout of this network may be similar to your home Internet network. In fact, a router is the central communication point on a network and is used to connect devices to each other.
Here is a short list of what you will need:
- TV with DLNA support
- at least one DLNA digital media server such as a file server, laptop or phone
- router
- one of three to connect the receiver to the transmitter: Powerline adapters (for distributing the Internet over the mains), Ethernet cables, or a wireless adapter to connect to your network.
Setting up a DLNA home media server on a Windows computer or laptop?
We have come close to the topic of setting up a home media server via DLNA. First of all, you need to connect a laptop and a TV that supports this technology (for example, Samsung with Smart TV) to the router. There are several ways to accomplish this. This is discussed in detail in, but they are briefly listed below. Which one you choose is up to you, depending on how far the router is from your TV and other connected DLNA devices.
Ethernet cable
If the router is located close to the TV, an Ethernet cable is the easiest way to connect them.
Just plug one end of the cable into the TV's Ethernet port and the other end into the router's port.
Wireless bridge
If you have a wireless router, or if the TV is far enough away, consider installing a wireless bridge to connect the TV to the router. The wireless bridge connects to the TV via the Ethernet port, and to the router via wireless communication. Or, if your TV supports WiFi through a built-in or external adapter, then connect it to the router directly.
Some wireless routers, such as those from Buffalo Technology, are DLNA certified and specifically designed for the home. DLNA networks.
On the mains, without the use of cables
Networking using the power grid is a great way to set up a network throughout your home. Installation using the electrical home network is simple and safe. Since the existing wiring is used, cables for connections within the DLNA network are no longer required. Adapters for connecting to a power outlet are produced by almost all manufacturers of network equipment. They are called Powerline devices. Next, you simply plug the router, TV and other devices into the power outlet as usual, but now all your devices will form a DLNA network
Before you can transfer files from your computer, you must install the appropriate software on it. Among the options - Windows Media Player 11 or 12 (included in the new Windows version 7) or VAIO Media Server (for Sony TV), AllShare for Samsung, LG Smart Share, Home Media Server, etc. After installing the software, you can select files to transfer to your TV - photos, videos, music files, etc. How the transfer takes place depends on the software you use, but usually it comes down to specifying a playlist, library or files, or adding them to the appropriate folders.
Let's now look at the most popular programs that allow you to stream files from your computer to other devices.
Windows Media Player
To set up Windows Media Player to transfer files from your laptop to your TV, follow these steps:
Launch Windows Media Player, open the menu (right-click on the toolbar, on which the deactivated arrows are located), section Tools > Options 
SAMSUNG Allshare Software
You can download it here. More advanced than the previous program, but again only for Samsung. It is based on the *DLNA standard and allows you to share media content not only on your TV, but also on many other *DLNA compatible devices: computers, tablets, camcorders, digital cameras, mobile phones, etc.
The order of work is as follows:
Install the program, run it, Go to Tools > Settings > Sharing (Tools - Settings - Folder Settings) and select the folder from which the files will be shared.
After that, go to the "Setting Rights" tab and open access to our TV. All shared folders and files will appear in the main window of the program
Now, for greater clarity, watch a video demonstrating how to work with these programs from Samsung.
Home Media Server - Home Media Server
This is another great free program to organize a fully functional media server from your computer, from which files can be broadcast to other devices included in the local network- not only a TV, but also a tablet with Android OS, for example. Its plus is that it is suitable for any TVs with support for network connections, such as the same inexpensive LG. Download latest version can .
Let's take a closer look at how to use the Home Media Server. After installing it, you will be asked several times to set the basic parameters - here we click “Cancel” everywhere, but we do nothing, since we will configure everything later.
We get into the main window of the program.
In addition to viewing files, this program also allows you to broadcast streaming broadcasts from the Internet to your TV. But we will talk about this separately.
I hope that now it has become clearer to all readers of the blog what a DLNA media server is (not to be confused with) and how to connect various devices to it. Well, after carefully studying all this information and competent implementation, you can build something like this:
By the way, the phone can also work as a server - but more on that in a separate article about DLNA on Android. About the same, you will learn from the link.
There are many other delicacies for a snack - the most popular questions with answers, a glossary of terms and visual videos on DLNA. And don't forget to subscribe to blog news through the form below the article so you don't miss the next article in the DLNA series. It will focus on the Xbox Media Center (XBMC) universal cross-platform media server.
Frequently asked Questions
Are all TVs DLNA certified?
No, not all TVs support DLNA. To make sure yours supports DLNA, look for the appropriate logo on it.
What should I do if my router is far away from the TV?
There are two options if your router is far from the TV and other devices
DLNA connection using a wireless bridge or electric cable. This way you can connect your TV and devices to the router
- DLNA wirelessly. This article describes the detailed installation steps.
Is it possible to connect other devices to the DLNA server via WiFi?
Some DLNA devices have a built-in WiFi function. The method of connecting via WiFi will depend on the device itself. You may need to turn on the WiFi or Network Sharing feature in order to connect to your router (and DLNA network).
My TV is not connecting to the media server. What should I do?
Check the cable and connections between the TV and the router, and between the DLNA devices and the router.
Check your network setting on the TV. Details about connecting TV to the network are described in a separate article, the link to which I gave above.
What devices support DLNA?
There are a number of devices that support DLNA. Take a look at the Integrated Digital Network Consortium (DLNA) website
My TV does not see some devices. What should I do?
If the TV cannot find content on another device, the following may be the cause:
Your TV or other DLNA device is not connected to the network.
The problem is with the router or with the network.
The other device does not support DLNA or is not a Digital Media Server, in other words, does not have memory for storing files.
Your PC or laptop does not have the appropriate DLNA server software installed.
Depending on your network settings, your laptop may need to disable the firewall. You must be aware of the risks associated with this action. They are entirely your own responsibility. If you don't know how to proceed, seek professional help.
What is the best way to set up a network - cable or wireless?
It all depends on the remoteness of the network components and on how desirable the presence of visible cables in the house. A cable network, however, may perform slightly better than a wireless one. A few more tips:
Try to avoid complex network setups with multiple subnets and hubs as this can affect the performance of your DLNA network.
If you want to be able to stream HD video files, we recommend using a network with a speed of at least 200 Mbps for a more stable experience.
When choosing an Ethernet cable, choose Cat5e over Cat 5 as this will allow your network to run faster.
Can I rotate images when the TV is connected to a PC?
No, you cannot rotate images on the screen. You must rotate the image on your laptop or other device before it is displayed on the TV screen.
Photos are distorted on the TV screen. Why?
As the photo is enlarged, the image quality may deteriorate. For optimal quality, display photos at their native resolution, even if they won't fill the entire screen.
My photos don't fill the entire TV screen
Images may not fill the entire screen. It depends on their resolution and format. For optimal image quality, do not change their native resolution.
What file types are supported by DLNA devices?
It depends on the device itself. Check out the DLNA certification of the specific device
or check out the DLNA website. Depending on the network device, some files may be converted before
transmission.
The following is a list of files that are generally supported by DLNA devices:
Images: JPEG, BMP, PNG, GIF, TIFF
Audio: MP3, WAVE, AAC, AC-3, Ogg Vorbis, LPCM, AMR, WMA
Video: AVI, FLV, MPEG2-PS, MPEG4, H.264 SD, WMV, WMA
Can I store files on the TV?
No, your TV is a DLNA media player. This means that it is able to find and play files from DLNA media servers that contain content.
Do I need to install additional software on my PC or laptop to transfer files? Where can I find this software?
Yes, in order for your PC or laptop to transfer files within the DLNA network, software installation is required. In some cases, such as Windows Media Player, the required software is already installed.
Is it possible to access iTunes or share and play DRM files within the network?
No, although this may also depend on the codecs supported various devices.
Why are the names of files and folders with my photos not displayed?
Some folders or files may not be displayed on the TV screen if certain characters are used in their names. Try changing the title and retransmitting them to the TV. Please note that on many models, only the Latin alphabet is supported in the names of files and folders with photos.
My DLNA server device is listed on the TV screen, but the files are not available. Why?
The connection between the DLNA device and the router may have been lost. Check cables and connections. To check if the connection between the DLNA device and the TV is working, you can also run the Auto Diagnostic Test, which is different for each model.
Sometimes the video quality when streaming wirelessly is quite poor. Why?
The quality of a wireless network connection can vary depending on the distance between the bridge and the router, any interference in the room, and the quality of the wireless router itself. To improve image quality, use a wireless router that supports 5GHz video streaming and place the router as close to the wireless bridge as possible.
Conventions in DLNA technology
When using DLNA connections, you can design a connection between any devices that work with this standard, while each of them can play different roles. For their precise designation, a number of terms are used, which are described below.
The first group of device connections that are used mainly in the home are called HND (Home Network Devices)
| DMS (Digital Media Server) is a media server. These are devices that are the source, that is, which contain the files that we want to view on another device. This can be a computer with the special software listed above installed, a NAS device that has DLNA support. |
| DMP (Digital Media Player) is a media player, or DLNA client. These are the devices that receive content from the media server and can either play it or transfer it to another device, acting as a media renderer. These are TVs, game consoles, independent monitors, home theaters, etc. |
| DMR (Digital Media Renderer) - media renderer. A device capable of playing content received through a media controller, which in turn transmits it from a media server. Usually, the same ones that are listed above in media players can do this. |
| DMC (Digital Media Controller) - media controller. Allows you to find files on the media server and transfer it for playback on the media renderer. These are tablets, smart phones, digital cameras with support for WiFi connections. |
| DMPr (Digital Media Printer - devices that provide a print service for the rest - these are printers. Media players (DMP) and media controllers (DMC) are capable of transmitting printed information to them. Tablets | |
| M-DMU (Mobile Digital Media Uploader) are portable gadgets capable of uploading files to servers. For example, digital cameras, cameras or phones. |
| M-DMD (Mobile Digital Media Downloader) - portable devices that can find and download media content from DMS and M-DMS servers (mobile phones and media players) |
| M-DMC (Mobile Digital Media Controller) are portable media controllers that have the ability to find content on media servers and broadcast it to DMR media renderers - phones and PDAs. |
Thank you! Did not help
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 there are 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 member of the family can watch videos and photos, as well as listen to music, using any suitable device.
What is a home media server?
The home media server is software, which enables the exchange of information between various home network devices, such as a computer, smartphone and 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 quite large amounts of information at high speed (up to 1000 Mb / s).
Still possible wireless uniting devices through wifi router, supporting quality standards up to 100 or up to 300 Mbps.
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 - all you need to do is 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 because of 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, old 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 everyone Microsoft systems, starting with Windows 7 and later (you may experience problems with Windows 7 Home Edition), you should do the following:
- go to the homegroup (through the "Control Panel" menu, from which you can enter, respectively, through the "Start" button);
- use another option to go to the group - through the Center network connections, which can be opened by right-clicking on the connections icon in the tray;
- after that, at the bottom left you can see the inscription "Homegroup".
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 the "Create a home group" item by opening the "Create Wizard".
Now you should specify what information from the main computer will be shared with other devices.
To work with common documents, the appropriate item is selected; to watch a movie with hard drive computer, 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 generated, which will be used to grant access to information and protect against entry into the group from unauthorized devices.
You can view it in the item “Show or print the password for the home group”, and change it in the menu with the appropriate name.
The text of the group creation message 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 list devices that are currently connected to the network, operating, and maintaining a connection to the server.
At the request of the administrator, 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 must configure this option in the items smartshare or AllShare, depending on the manufacturer and model of the device.
To get quick access to the server settings, you can use the menu of the standard Windows Media Player.
To use it, you need to open this application on the computer that is now your home server and turn on homegroup streaming.
As a result, on a TV connected to the group, you can watch even those films whose format is not supported by the device - for example, mkv.
Although this will have to keep the player on during video playback.
Programs for customization
In addition to using standard means system, a DLNA server can be created and configured using third-party applications.
home mediaserver
For example, using Home program Mediaserver, which is quite simple to work with, and can be downloaded from the manufacturer's website.
Many manufacturers of equipment 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 enough convenient option for any user. The server is launched on a PC, and management 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. servio app.
XBMC
XBMC, a freeware program originally designed for the Xbox, but now running on other devices and most operating systems.
Results
Using easy-to-install and set-up software, or even built-in Windows tools, you can link all your home media playback devices to a common network.
This can significantly simplify leisure time: on a regular TV, you will have access to channels with a TV company service package, and to any information on the Internet, and to the contents of a computer that is open for viewing.
Thematic video:
In this article, I want to talk again about how to create on a computer (laptop, netbook) DLNA server. This will allow you to watch movies and photos on the TV, as well as listen to music that is on your computer.
But, as it turned out, there are many problems with the Smart Share application. Either it does not start, then it gives various errors, or it closes on its own. You can read about this in the comments that visitors left to 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 LG's Smart Share, or Samsung's AllShare, for example.
“Home media server (UPnP, DLNA, HTTP)” is such 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 manual 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 large quantity settings.
We will not delve into all the nuances, but we will only consider how to share the necessary folders or disks. How to create a server, and how to start watching a movie using DLNA technology on a TV.
Connecting a TV for DLNA
Before proceeding with 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 proceed to the next step.
We need to connect the laptop and TV to the network. If you have a router installed at home, then it is enough to connect your computer to this router, via cable, or via Wi-Fi, it does not matter. And you need to connect the TV to the same router. You can connect the TV in the same way, or via Wi-Fi (See connection instructions.) ) .
Our task is to have a TV and a computer (in my case laptop), were connected to the same router. I have a TV connected to the router via Wi-Fi LG 32LN575U and laptop Asus K56CM. On their example, this instruction will be.
What if there is no router?
In this case, you can connect the computer to the TV via a network cable, directly. Just take the right length network cable (it can be crimped in almost any computer store), and connect the TV to the computer.
It looks something like this:
Connecting this way should work fine. But for me, the 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 how to connect them without a cable and without a router. But, I’m not sure what will work and this method is suitable only 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 the files on the computer.
I think you've got the connection figured out. 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 advise you to download from the official site: https://www.homemediaserver.ru/index.htm. There always a new version and so safer.
Save the archive to your computer. To install, just run the setup.exe file, which is 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 specify local drives, flash drives, external HDD and, or folders whose contents we want to see on the TV. For example, you can only open a few folders containing movies, photos, and music.
A window with settings will open. In the first category media resources, we need to specify 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 tries to sort everything. And in order not to get confused in all these folders on the TV, I advise you to share local disks. By default, if I'm not mistaken, access to them is already open. Check if the checkbox is checked next to Local drives.
If installed, this means that you can open any file on the 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 the explorer.
We can see which folders and drives we have shared. We can delete selected folders. These are the main settings, if you look, there are a lot of settings, I won’t consider them all. To save, click on the button Ok, and agree to scan media resources.
We are waiting for the program to scan folders and disk. Further, you can already start the DLNA server itself. To do this, simply click on the “ launch“.
We observe a message that the server is running.
Now, just turn on the TV. If everything is connected correctly, then 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 Refresh.
If our TV appeared, 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, which is located in those folders and disks to which we have opened access. Right-click, for example, on a photo and select “Play on“, then choose 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. Much better, go through the TV, and open required files. To do this, leave the running server. You can hide the “Home Media Server (UPnP, DLNA, HTTP)” program. Click on the red cross (close program), and it will hide in the notification bar.
At the same time, the server will work and you will be able to go to the computer from the TV.
We start viewing files via DLNA from the TV
So the server on the computer is running, the 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 app may have a different name.
For example, to launch Smart Share in LG, go to Smart TV (blue button on remote) and select Smart Share. If the TV does not have Smart TV, but has DLNA, then the process may be different.
Opening a folder My computer, and we see our local drives there, and other folders to which we have shared 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 the movie through Smart program Share, the laptop would go to sleep and playback would be interrupted. There is a lock in “Home Media Server (UPnP, DLNA, HTTP)” that prevents the computer from going to sleep when it is used as a server.
I hope everything worked out for you, and you are now watching your favorite movies on a large TV screen using DLNA technology.
If something did not work out, then write in the comments, we will try to figure it out.
UPnP (abbreviationUniversal Plug and Play) – kit network protocols published by the forum of the same name.
The UPnP Forum is an open association of industry representatives to develop UPnP technology standards, the goal of which is to simplify the interconnection of smart devices initially at the level of home, and later - corporate networks.
UPnP is based on standards and technologies such as TCP / IP , UDP , HTTP , XML and provides automatic connection between similar devices and their joint work on the network .
In this case, in order to give access, for example, to the resources of an FTP server hosted on a PC, it is necessary to perform a port forwarding operation on the router and assign a static IP address to the computer.
Note! Using the UPnP function on the router, all port forwarding settings are done automatically, so this method Suitable for people who are just starting to study the computer. The downside of UpnP is that it reduces the security of your home network.
In most cases, the user receives a router with UpnP enabled. Let's check the activation of this mode in the settings of our router.
To do this, in any available browser, you should write the IP address of your router (usually this is 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1), enter your username and password.
TP Link
Section "Forwarding", subsection "UpnP" - "Status - Enabled"
D-Link
The "Advanced" section, the "Advanced Network" subsection, the "Enable UPnP" box is checked.
ASUS
Section "Internet", tab "Connection" - "Enable UpnP" checkbox is checked in the field "Yes".
Once UPnP has been enabled on the router, it must also be enabled on the application that requires port forwarding.
For example, to enable UpnP in Skype you need to go to section "Additionally", subsection "Compound" and check the box next to "Enable UpnP".
Creating a DLNA Home Media Server
DLNA- a technology that allows you to combine devices into a single digital network for the purpose of receiving / transmitting and viewing various media content on-line.
In practice, it looks like this, there is a computer with a larger hard drive that stores photos, movies, audio recordings and other media content. 
What if you want to watch one of the movies not on the PC screen, but on a large TV?
Or maybe your friends are visiting and you want to show your vacation photos either on the big TV screen or on your phone because you don't want to go into the house.
But what if each family member wants to watch their media files on their personal device (phone, tablet)?
The problem is solved by creating a media server based on a PC and connecting all devices into a single network using a router.
Draw your attention to that routers that support the 802.11N standard (data transfer rates up to 300 Mb / s) do not always cope with the transmission of large streaming volumes of high-quality video over Wi-Fi and fading occurs on the TV screen.
Download and install the program.
After the installation is completed, you should specify from which directory and what type of content will be broadcast to the network (the "Add" button on the right panel of the program).
The choice is made by placing green dots in front of the corresponding directories and content type.
To add resources located on network or removable drives, check the boxes in the corresponding columns at the bottom of the window.
If necessary, you can add the program to startup and install the service "Home media server", this will allow the program to run in automatic mode after the computer is turned on.
To start the DLNA server, click the "Start" button in the top panel of the program, after which you need to turn on the TV.
To launch the content, right-click on the file and select from the context menu "Play on..." instead of three dots there will be your device (in our case, a TV).
Loading...