Media server for Philips SMART TV. Home Media Server: Setup and Aspects of Application. Automatic Starting Home Media Server

Today, many users face the problem of playing a video playing in the memory of your computer or file storage, on other devices, such as the TV, the game console or tablet. All this is quite feasible with the help of DLNA.

So what is DLNA? The abbreviation of Digital Living Network Alliance, literally translates as a "home network alliance". This technologywas created by developers and manufacturers of audio / photo / video - techniques for transmitting media content (photo, video, audio) from one device to another, bypassing any digital media and using an exceptionally local network for these purposes.
There is a huge amount of software (both paid and free), which can cope with this task, but we will use the easiest, of possible, methods and create your home media server, through standard and publicly available Windows operating system tools. All we need is the Windows 7 or higher operating system and 15 minutes of free time, proceed. What we need to know:

The device you want to view media content supports DLNA technology and connected to your home network.
The version of your operating system is older than Windows 7 Home Basic.
If you use wireless Wi-Fi connection, then it bandwidth It should be enough for a comfortable transfer of media data. (It is preferable to use the 802.11n standard)

To begin with, we will need to create a "home group" on the PC, from which we are going to broadcast media content. First, go to the control panel.

And here is the password of the home group, write it down, later you can change to the one that you easier to remember.

Setting up the parameters of the home group:

After we have pressed the "ready" before us, a window with a home group parameters should appear. Here we perform final settings and can change the password that has assigned automatically. (! Recommendation - Change the password before connecting other devices to your home group, otherwise they will all be excluded from it!)

How it works?

Now you can access other devices to previously selected folders, such as "video", "Music". Accordingly, on your devices, you will see these folders as - "Video Library", Allshare, Smartshare and others. Names can change, it all depends on the manufacturer and the type of device itself, but it does not change the essence. (Often, this information can be specified from the user manual, which is included with the equipment)
In addition, the most fast way get into your media server settings menu, start it standard application Operating system - Windows Media Player. From this menu item, you will go to the multimedia streaming settings.

Possible difficulties:

Sometimes, devices, such as TV, can meet a video that it cannot reproduce. For this, just, you just need to enable the "Allow remote player management" item and not close it (player) on the computer
.
By fulfilling all the above recommendations, we were able to configure the media server at home, without using any extraneous programs and devices.

What is DLNA and UPNP?

The integrated digital network consortium (DLNA) is a group of companies that have merged with the goal of creating a common, open standard for connecting devices. All devices that have support for DLNA can automatically be on the same network, configure reception from each other and view content.

What types of devices have support for DLNA?

DLNA-compatible devices are televisions, cell phones, PCs and laptops, music players, game consoles, such as Sony Playstation 3, homemade 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 your device has such support. All devices with the DLNA certificate have an appropriate logo or sticker, which means that the product has been tested for compliance with the DLNA requirements and is able to connect to other certified devices. Next, the device must have a description of the type of supported digital content (for example, audio, video, photographs), as well as the type of destination (for example, server, printer, player, and so on.). A more detailed description of the adopted designations at the end of the article.

Currently, the list of members of the organization The Digital Living Network Alliance combines the majority large players On 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 aside, which developed its standard - Airplay. So if you have a device from an apple family, turn it on to your media, consisting of devices from other manufacturers, will not work.

How does the DLNA media server work on Windows?

DLNA devices are intended for mutual connection. Each device is assigned its class depending on its purpose. For example, any cumulative device belongs to the Digital Media Server class. These are mobile phones stored in their memory photos, music and video. Any device capable of receiving and playing digital content from another DLNA device will be a digital media player (Digital Media Player). This is your TV, which is able to play video, music and photos from other devices.

In order to create a homemade media server, you will need at least one DLNA server for storing content (for example, a laptop or mobile phone) and one DLNA device for playback, for example, such as TV.

DLNA devices are connected and switch to each other by means of a customized home network. The diagram of this network is probably similar to the device of your home Internet. In fact, the router is the central point of communication in the network and is used to connect devices to each other.

Here is a brief list of what you need:

tV with support for DLNA
at least one DLNA digital media server, such as file server, laptop or phone
router
one of the three for connecting the receiver with a transmitter: PowerLine adapters (for distribution of the Internet through a power grid), Ethernet cables or wireless adapter to connect to your network.

Configuring a DLNA home media server on a Windows computer or laptop?

We came close to the topic of setting up home media server by DLNA. First of all, you need to connect a laptop and a TV with support for this technology (for example, Samsung with smart TV) to the router. There are several ways to execute this. This is stated in detail in, but briefly they are listed below. Which one to choose to solve you depending on how removed the router from your TV and other connected DLNA devices.

Ethernet cable
If the router is located close to the TV, the Ethernet cable is the easiest way to connect them.
Just connect one end of the cable to the TV Ethernet port, and the other to the port of the router.
Wireless bridge
if you have wireless router, Or the TV is quite deleted, it is worth thinking about installing a wireless bridge to connect the TV to the router. The wireless bridge is connected to the TV through the Ethernet port, and to the router wireless communication. Or, if your TV supports work with WiFi through a built-in or external adapter, then connect it to the router directly.

Some wireless routers, such as Buffalo Technology, have a DLNA certificate and are specifically designed for the DLNA home network.

By electrical network, without using cables
The network using a power grid is a great way to customize the network in the whole house. Installation using the electrical home network is simple and safe. Because the existing wiring is used, connected cables within the DLNA network will not be required. Connection adapters for a power outlet produce almost all network equipment manufacturers. They are called PowerLine devices. Next, you simply, as usual, connect the plug of the router, TV and other devices into the power outlet, but now all your devices will form a DLNA network

Before you can transmit files from a computer, you must install the corresponding software on it. Among the options - Windows Media Player 11 or 12 (included in new version Windows 7) or Vaio Media Server (for TV from Sony), AllShare for Samsung, LG Smart Share, Home Media Server, etc. After installing the software, you can select files for transmission to a TV - Photo, video, music files, etc.. How the transmission takes place depends on the software used, but, as a rule, it comes down to specify the playlist, library or files, or add them to the appropriate folders.

Let's now look at the most popular programs that allow you to broadcast files from your computer to other devices.

Windows Media Player.

To configure Windows Media Player to transfer files from a laptop to a TV, follow these steps:

Samsung Allshare Software.

You can download here. More advanced compared to the previous program, but again only for Samsung. It is based on the * DLNA standard, and with it, you can share multimedia content not only on a telephone, but also on many other devices that support standard * DLNA: computers, tablets, video cameras, digital cameras, mobile phones, etc.

The order of work is as follows:

Now for more clearly, look at the video demonstrating work with these programs from Samsung.

Home Media Server - Home Media Server

This is another cool free program To organize from your computer, a full-featured media server from which files can be broadcast to other devices that are included in the local network - not only TV, but also the tablet with Android OS, for example. Plus it is that it is suitable for any televisions with support for network connections, such as the same inexpensive LG. Download the latest version can be.

Let's consider in more detail how to use home media server Home Media Server. After installing it, you will ask you several times asking the basic parameters - here we press the "Cancel" everywhere, but do not do anything, since everything will set everything.

We get into the main program window.

In addition to viewing files, this program Also allows you to broadcast streaming from the Internet to the TV. But let's talk about it separately ..

I hope that now all blog readers have become clearer what is the media server DLNA and how to connect various devices to it. Well, after a thorough study of all this information and competent implementation, you can build something like this:

By the way, the phone can also work as a server - but about it in a separate article about. About the same way to connect to the home media server, you will learn.

For a snack, there are still many all kinds of delicacies - the most popular questions with answers, a dictionary of terms and visual videos on DLNA. And do not forget to subscribe to the blog news through the form under the article so as not to skip the output of the next article from the series about DLNA. It will be devoted to the universal cross-platform media server Xbox Media Center (XBMC).

Frequently asked Questions

Are all TVs have a DLNA certificate?

No, not all TVs support DLNA. To make sure that yours supports the DLNA network, find the corresponding logo on it.

What should I do if my router is located from a TV at a big distance?

There are two options for action if your router is far from TV and other devices

DLNA: Connection using a wireless bridge or by electrocabeel. So you can connect the TV and device to the router
DLNa. wireless way. This article describes detailed installation actions.

Is it possible to connect other devices to DLNA serverdoes WiFi?

Some DLNA devices have built-in WiFi feature. The way to connect via WiFi will depend on the device itself. You may need to activate the WiFi or Network Sharing feature ( General access To the files within the network) in order to connect to the router (and to the DLNA network).

My TV does not connect to the media server. What should I do?

Check the cable and connections between the TV and the router, as well as between DLNA devices and router.
Check your network setting on the TV. In detail about connecting TV to the network, it is described in a separate article, the reference to which I gave above.

What devices have support for DLNA?

There are a number of devices with DLNA support. Look at the integrated digital network consortium site (DLNA)

My BRAVIA TV sees some devices. What should I do?

If BRAVIA TV does not find content on another device, the following reasons are possible:

Your TV or other DLNA device is not connected to the network.
The problem is related to the router or with the operation of the network.
Another device does not have DLNA support or is not a digital media server (Digital Media Server), in other words, does not have the memory for storing files.
On your PC or laptop, the corresponding DLNA server is installed.
Depending on the network settings, on your laptop, you may need to turn off the function of the firewall. You must be aware of the risks associated with this action. They are entirely your personal responsibility. If you do not know how to do, consult professional help.

What method of setting the network is better - cable or wireless?

It all depends on the remoteness of the network components and on how despite the presence of visible cables in the house. Cable networkHowever, it can work a little better than wireless. A few more advice:

Try to avoid complex schemes Network installations with numerous subnets and hubs, as this may affect the performance of your DLNA network.
If you want to be able to stream video files in HD format, we recommend using the network at least 200 Mbps for more sustainable work.
When choosing an Ethernet cable, give preference to CAT5E type, not CAT 5, as this will allow your network to develop a higher speed.

Can I rotate the image when the TV is connected to a PC?

No, it is impossible to rotate images on the screen. You should rotate the image on a laptop or other device before it appears on the TV screen.

Photos are displayed on the TV screen in a distorted form. Why?

With an increase in the photo, the image quality can become worse. In order for the quality to be optimal, displays photos in their own resolution, even if they won't take the entire screen.

My photos do not fill the entire TV screen?

Images may not occupy the entire screen. It depends on their permission and format. In order for the quality of the images is optimal, do not change their own permission.

What types of file types are supported by DLNA devices

It depends on the device itself. Check out the DLNA certificate of a specific device
Or look at the DLNA website. Depending on the network device, some files may be converted before
transmission. Below is a list of files that are usually 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 BRAVIA TV is a DLNA media player. This means that it is capable of finding and playing files from DLNA mediarsers that contain content. Your BRAVIA TV with DLNA support guarantees amazing audiovisual sensations from watching movies and listening to music. In every sense, the TV is the most best Media Player DLNA.

Does the installation required for your PC or laptop to transfer files? Where can I find it by?

Yes, in order for your PC or laptop to transmit files within the DLNA network, installation of software is required. In some cases, such as Windows Media Player 11, the required software is already installed. The following programs are listed that allow file sharing within the DLNA network and which you can download free: may be lost between the DLNA device and the router. Check the cables and connections. To test the connection between the DLNA device and the TV, you can also carry out an automatic diagnostic check, which is performed on each model in its own way.

Sometimes quality video when streaming wireless transmission Quite low. Why?

The quality of the wireless network connection may vary depending on the distance between the bridge and the router, from any interference in the room and the quality of the wireless router itself. In order to improve image quality, use a wireless router with support for streaming video with a frequency of 5 GHz and place the router as close as possible to the wireless bridge.

Legend in DLNA technology

When using DLNA connections, you can construct a link between any devices working with this standard, while each of them can act in different roles. For their accurate designations, a number of terms are used as described below.

The first group of device connections that are used mainly at home is called HND (Home Network Devices)

	DMS (Digital Media Server) - media server. These are devices that are the source, that is, which contain the files that we want to look at another device. This can be a computer with a special software installed above, a NAS device that has support for DLNA.
	DMP (Digital Media Player) is a media player, or DLNA client. These are those devices that receive content from the media server and can either reproduce it or transfer to another device, acting as a mediaander. These are televisions, game consoles, independent monitors, home cinemas, etc.
	DMR (Digital Media Renderer) is a mediaander. A device that can reproduce the content obtained through the media controller, which to its query transmits it from the media server. This is usually able to do the same as listed above in media players.
	DMC (Digital Media Controller) - media controller. Allows you to find files on the mediaserver and transmit it to play on the mediariter. These are tablets, smartphs, digital cameras with support WiFi connections
	DMPR (Digital Media Printer - devices providing a print service for the rest are printers. To transmit the printed information to them are capable of media players (DMP) and media controllers (DMC).

Another group of devices - MHD (Mobile Handheld Devices) is portable devices that can transmit and take content - mobile phones, tablets, smartphones, camcorders, cameras.

	M-DMS (Mobile Digital Media Server) - Mobile media services. Gadgets that are able to distribute content stored on them on mobile players (M-DMP), media holders (DMR) and printers (DMPR). These can be mobile phones or portable media players.
	M-DMP (Mobile Digital Media Player) is a mobile media player capable of playing video from servers - stationary and mobile (DMS and M-DMS). In this role there are phone numbers, PDAs,
	M-DMU (Mobile Digital Media Uploader) - portable gadgets that can upload files to servers. For example, digital cameras, cameras or phone numbers.
	M-DMD (Mobile Digital Media Downloader) - portable deviceswhich can find and download a media content from DMS and M-DMS servers (mobile phones and media players)
	M-DMS (Mobile Digital Media Controller) - portable media controllers that have a property of finding content on media server and broadcast it to DMR media players - phones and PDAs.

Somehow it happened that the tag DLNA server It is more often found in questions of questions than in the answers. And if in matters of installation on the home Windows PC some user experience accumulated, then decide on the choice of software for the home server / NAS-A / media center - it turned out to be not easy. Having trollenged on sandboxes, the people separately solves the problems of each program separately. And to understand what of whom is what it costs and whether it is necessary at all - I personally failed.

And so, I am armed with a link from Wikipedia How to choose a DLNA server under Windows, Mac OS X or Linux - has tried almost everything that is under Linux.

DLNA - its place in the home network

Probably, this path has already passed the majority - new media devices appear in the house, the number of family members consuming media content is growing, the database of films, music and photographs scatter.
At the same time, each builds media infrastructure in its own way. Someone has a computer with TV-out, someone has a netbook or HTPC. Someone shares the folders with NAS-A via NFS, someone connects the HDD to the media player, someone uses the capabilities of Sony PS ...
There is confusion in places of storage, formats, codecs, etc.
So, in my case it turned out:

plasma in the living room is better to serve 720p than FullHD
the Sony TV in the children's connected via Wi-Fi is more than 15Mbit / s better not to feed, H.264 He needs a maximum Profile 4.1, and it does not see files on network storage
openBox satellite receiver does not know how to play sound tracks in DTS, the SMB does not pull more than 30Mbit / S, the NFS does not displays Cyrillic
Nokia Lumia and iPhone are generally limited everywhere and everywhere.

In general, the only way to shine all this animal among themselves is the use of a DLNA server.
Theoretically - it will reduce theoretically from different places in the other folder tree, and the resolution is poning and the compatibility of codecs will check and recodulates if necessary. Beauty…

What to put

Home computer - As a rule, this is a Windows machine. Watch a movie with recoding while someone plays - do not work out; 24/7 modes are not close. It is not suitable for a role. Therefore, Windows version of the programs did not even consider.
Router stitched DD-WRT / OpenWRT - There are packages for these firmware and they work. Hardware resources are very limited - transcoding is unwise, the speed of access to the USB port and network folders is strongly limited. Nevertheless, many and this is suitable.
NAS or home server with Linux - The most universal solution. There are a lot of programs. There are no restrictions on protocols. The performance of X86 processors of 5 years ago (in my case it is Athlon X2-6000) enough for simultaneous transcoding on-summer two films of any format.

Personal experience, program evaluation

Minidlna, ushare and xupnpd

These are different projects, but in essence - the same thing. Lightweight and fast. The only feature they perform - provide network access To Medifiles on the DLNA / UPNP protocol. The whole rest player or TV should be able to themselves. DLNA is not fully maintained and many devices simply do not see these servers.
Very massive. Work everywhere. Packages exist for all sorts of Linux distributions, routers with DD-WRT / OpenWRT and NAS-s firmware. The installation procedure is simplest and well painted on profile forums. No gui
If you and only you (otherwise the complaints of family members are inevitable):

see / Listen only from one omnivorous device (such as Samsung TV)
Your device does not know how to directly take files from network folders or does it too slow (such as Sony Bravia TV)
keep movies / music on an inexpensive NAS-E or router with a USB disk
select the content in the desired format in advance or do not be lazy to transcode manually
media files are already well sorted by folders or it does not bother you at all

- You can restrict ourselves to such a DLNA server. Choose from them the one that is in the packages under your piece of iron and will be seen by the render.

MediaTomb.

The developers definitely write that "this is not a DLNA server, it only supports part of its functions." And although some compatibility problems may be quite worthy of the project.
Here already exists through the built-in HTTP server GUI - it can be controlled by folders with content. Add new, create shortcuts to existing, set scan intervals, etc.
Well distributed - there is no problem to establish in any Linux distribution, heavy dependencies do not pull. Configured by the only text file. Very stable in work, not resourcemaker.
You can use transcoding, but it is implemented in a given form. So, the binding of profiles is carried out to the format of the input file, and not to the output device. The server does not distinguish anyone who connected to it. Accordingly, there are no finished profiles under the device - everything must be configured manually:

what formats are transoded, and which transmit directly
set Situation Encoder: FFmpeg, VLC, MPlayer or something else
set Bitrate, number of audio channels, H.264 profile and other coding options
to impose a video filter, such as circumcision of fields or CROP

In my case, I had to write a separate script to specify the FFMPEG arguments based on the audio track format (DTS or AC3).
At the same time, when viewing a transcoded flux on the TV, the rewind and the selection of the adujodojd roads will not work. Protect subtitles - also a separate song.
In general, MediaTomb is a very brutal tool for True Linuxoids. You won't call it universal, but you can configure my own iron perfectly.

Rygel

Mass, eat almost everywhere. But very crooked is put in the daemon mode (you need to write an init script yourself, create folders and user). It is part of the GNOME project and pulls the Gstreamer (or even PulseAudio). If anyone has a KDE on a computer or something else is completely inconvenient. Icons for video generates through TUMBLER from the XFCE project, and even that with nuances. Regularly falls.
Before studying the features of transcoding, my hands did not reach. My verdict - " unfit".

PS3 Media Server

Very old project. And although from its primary use: "Distribute movies / music with home windows PC on Sony PS, "the project has developed greatly. But Java code and requirements for starting the X server turned from it from it.

Xbmc.

DLNA server in it is. But keep this combine for the sake of the module only stupid.
Moreover, it was from XBMC a separate PLEX media server project was born.

Universal Media Server

The curve is some kind of curve. Show me all the directory tree instead of the selected folder. Files open only some and regularly loudly errors in the console. With the TransConding-Ohm I did not understand at all.
Extremely heavy due to java code. Be sure to need a running X server - you will not deliver it. " Unfit."

GMediaserver.

The project is abandoned. Attention is not worthy.

Lximedia.

Simple and convenient implementation of the DLNA server. It is enough to select folders with files, rigidly set transcoding parameters, audio track, subtitles. No scoops, settings. In the same way, this is a GUI application, do not put a demon.
In my opinion, it is useless in this form - one of many and far from the best.

SERVIIO.

Perhaps the fastest growing project now. Regularly updated. Actively fines with plugins, profiles and applications for mobile OS.
Is a Java application working a demon. DLNA protocol support is complete. Quite skillfully scatters content according to folders and categories. Able to create a previe to the movies. Different channels on-line broadcast are easily connected.
Transcodes using FFMPEG. The database of the device profiles is already large enough (and continues to be replenished) - the server correctly selects the coding parameters for any of the domestic glands. What I did not recognize - pick up your profile or write my 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.
It is managed by all either from the Java client, or a Web muzzle written in PHP or a smartphone (there are applications for Android and WP).
Unfortunately unavailable in the form .Deb or.rpm package. You need to put manually: Create folders, user, unpack, take an init script on the support forum, register in autorun. "Under Synology NAS has a ready-made package.
In general, it may well become a single point of access to the media content of the house. All you need - he can.

Skifta.

Not included in the Linux repository, and therefore rare. But it has a graphical installer and brings with him JRE, and therefore will become almost in any system. It is inconvenient to be launched in two steps - at the beginning utility in SystemTray, then the Media-Server itself. Without ICS and the demon will not go. Very simple and laconic, but the system is very loaded (Java code).

Tvmobili.

It costs $ 30 (or subscription fee of $ 1.5 / month). Available in the form.deb I.RPM packages. Not in Ubuntu / Fedora, it is quite difficult to install - the built-in VLC and FFMPEG will surely find the missing libraries and refuse to work. I could not find it in Gentoo USE flags for VLC. I did not work at all, I had to redo the profiles, which would be used only ffmpeg.
In general, the transcoding profiles is its strength. You can set any logic and any parameters.
Managed through a pretty web-face. It has a rich database of transcoding profiles. There is playing files through the built-in HTTP server. The previe cannot generate.
Works quickly and beautiful. Good candidate.

Twonkyserver

Installed by unpacking tar.gz. or through the installer. There is no repositories in Linux. Very fast code, instant launch, convenient web interface. Well and competently spreads content according to folders. There are ready-made init scripts. Able to extract META data from files and generate a previe. All liked it. One problem - $ 19.95.
But still: " Recommend".

Plex

As developers write - "A Complete Media Solution". I confirm.
This monster rose from XBMC and can do everything and even more. Films will find posters, ratings and a bunch of data. The series is also distributed over the seasons and episodes. The musical collection is ordered from any source species.
Transcoding makes everything from everything. Parameters can be controlled directly from the TV on-screen menu. For smart devices Like LG Smart TV and Apple TV, Support comes far beyond the DLNA protocol.
There is support for your own cloud service, which allows you to watch the home video remotely - the server sets the parameters of the video sent to the ability of the device and the communication channel.
There are separately written customers under mobile OS and windows tiles 8.
For Ubuntu, Fedora, CentOS and mass models NAS have ready-made packages. Under everything else - installed simple unpacking. Dependes require only Avahi-Daemon.
Unfortunately, the transcoding mechanism weakly admits interference with the work - the profiles can be corrected, but the possibilities are very limited.

It is capable of solving any tasks within the framework of the topic, while free, stable and oddly enough - fast.

I would very much like that someone would add this list and / or amended.

One of the characteristics that distinguishes some modern TVs from others is the degree of their intelligence. In a figurative sense, of course. We are talking On the technological advantages of the so-called Smart TV. Normal digital TVsAs a rule, can play the role of the TV itself, working in a receiver with the receiver, reproduce the media system using the built-in player (alas, often with a limited list of readable formats), and also serve as a monitor for a computer, game or TV console. Whereas Smart TV, they are as smart televisions are able to morely participate in the content chain as independent participants.

1. About streaming multimedia and DLNA technology

Smart TV - these are actually the same computers, because they have their hardware power, have their own softwarecan connect to wired and wireless networks. And the latter is almost complete independence from source devices. The advantages of direct access of the TV to the Internet are obvious, but there are many of them and local access to a computer. Multimedia streaming from a computer on TV is direct television access to files on your computer. Streaming is eliminated from non-flash drives and external hard drives. From the computer on TV files are transmitted over the network. Without the participation of the computer, if only it was simply included, without the participation of the smartphone, without the participation of consoles and other source devices using the TV, the entire allowed material - video, photo, music, any media files that such a TV can play are played.

The devices of the same network will exchange the media content allows the DLNA technology. It is supported by many modern devicescapable of connecting to the network - computers, tablets, smartphones, TV and game consoles, and, of course, Smart TV. For example, Smart TVs from LG supporting DLNA technology have a SMART Share company application - the shell of this technology with user interface. Applications of other SMART TV brands are called differently and, accordingly, have a different interface. In particular, smart TVs Samsung Sheath for DLNA technology is a regular Allshare application. A W. tVs Sony - This is the Vaio Media Server application.

How to configure multimedia streaming with a Windows computer - PC or laptop - on TV? In this question, we will understand in detail below.

2. What is needed to configure streaming from a computer to TV?

To configure streaming from a computer to the TV, as mentioned, it is necessary that the latter supports the network. By the way, for streaming media files "Status" SMART TV for the TV is not required. The TV may not have a super functionality, it simply must support the network and allow the selection of a signal source at least primitive standard functionality. In such a TV, there should be a built-in either a Wi-Fi module or a network Ethernet port. As a rule, modern Smart TV provide both options - both wired and wireless network connection.

Both devices - both TV, and PC or laptop - must be connected to a single local network. When connected to the router (router), any devices - computers, smartphones, tablets, consoles, smart TVs - automatically combine into one small network. Of course, if the router is not available, you can do and directly connect the TV to the computer over the network. What you need for this is to connect it network cable to Ethernet ports of devices. But in this case, if the computer has only one network port (one network card with one Ethernet port), you will have to constantly reconnect the cable from the TV and the Internet provider's cable. It is not comfortable. The router must be in the house, if there is a matter of disclosing the SMART TV potential. Well, a Wi-Fi router is just necessary if smartphones or tablets are used in the house.

The method of connecting the TV to the network is wired or wireless if it provides both options, not principled.

The following streaming condition - configured access using DLNA technology to the media libraries on the computer. In the Windows system, this can be done in several ways.

3. Setting the network access to the computer files in the Windows Media Player

The way to configure access to the computer files in the Windows system without the need to install third-party software - the use of a regular Windows Media Player.

On the Windows Media Player toolbar, we click the "Stream" option and exhibit a tick near:

"Enable streaming multimedia ...".

After enabling this parameter, the system window opens with streaming parameters where you can specify the media library and flexibly adjust the availability of the media system for specific devices Networks: For some, leave the preset permission, and for others it is removed.

Customized permissions will open network access to other devices to files only in the user profile folders. These are the folders "Video", "Music", "Images", which are displayed in Windows Explorer with the disk partitions, drives and removable computer devices. If this is more than enough, you can already start testing the playback of files on the TV through local applications running with DLNA technology.

But the storage of files in the user profile folders on the system disk is not the most successful idea and from the position of having free space on the disk C, and from the perspective of the safety of these files in case of a critical failure windows work. As a rule, the mediates of impressive sizes are stored on the non-system sections of the computer disk. Folders of these libraries are necessary to add to windows library Media Player,

To make the contents of other computer folders available for streaming on the TV in the Windows Media Player window by clicking the "Sort" option, select the "Control Library" item, and in it one of the types of content: "Phonoteka" for audio files, "Video" for video files , "Gallery" for photos and pictures.

A window will open with a list of already available libraries, and to add to this list of the desired folder click the button on the side of "Add". Add this folder in the opening conductor window, then click "OK" in the list window.

Alternative way to add folders with media content to a system list of folders with open access For home network devices - add to the library using the context menu command in Windows Explorer. At any time to any folder on a computer where video, music or photos is stored, you can open access to playback from network devices. To do this, you need to open this folder in the Explorer, call the context menu and select the "Add to Library" command. The folder will be added to the corresponding library, and its contents will be available for streaming broadcast.

The list of folders with the video and audio files open for streaming and audio files will also vary and when you make changes to Windows 10 "Cinema and TV" and "Music Groove". In the following applications section, you can add and delete folders to local collections of video and audio files. Local application collections work in conjunction with system libraries.

4. Setting the network access to the computer files using the LG SMART SHARE program

Some SMART TV brands have its desktop software. operating systemsBy which you can configure access to computer media files. These programs can be downloaded on the site of TV manufacturers or on the Internet. For example, to access smart TVs Samsung to the content of computers, the South Korean corporation has created sAMSUNG program AllShare. And for LG TVs on the company's website is available for free download Windows-program LG Smart Share for PC. Consider it in more detail. On the LG website, select the version for Windows and download.

Installing LG Smart Share Standard. Running the program, you need to select any of the proposed content settings options - Movie, Photo, Music.

In the appeared window, access must be enabled. If it is disabled, set the switch to the "On" position.

Switch to the "My general files" Here you can enable access to files in the specified folders. Using the button in the form of a folder with a plus card, you need to add any other folders with the media content in the end to existing folders of the user profile. After adding the clamp the "Apply" button below, then "OK".

All - Now the content of all the folders displayed in the "My General Files" program will be available for network devices, in particular, for TV.

In the program parameters tab, just below - "My Device Settings" - you can change the computer name. Using this name, the computer will be determined on the network for other devices.

The LG Smart Share service process will automatically start with the Windows system, providing further access to the computer's media files.

In order to make sure that everything works as it should, launch the SmartShare application on the TV.

Go to the "Devices" section and choose our media server.

Open any of the shared folders in which there are media files.

We try to play the file.

5. Setting the network access to the computer files using the Home Media Server program

Another way to provide access to TVs, filiers, mobile and other devices that support the network and DLNA technology, to the computer media content is a Windows program " Homemade media server (UPNP, DLNA, HTTP). " The program works with many popular TVs: LG, SAMSUNG, TOSHIBA, SONY, PHILIPS. With this program, the DLNA server is running on the computer to which all network devices can be connected. The default program provides control from the TV files of the server - in fact, computer files.

The advantage of using the "Home Media Server" program compared to all the methods of access to streaming transmission listed above are a larger number of functions and a large configuration. The program provides for various transcoders of video and audio files, which allows you to convert a media system if on the computer it originally exists in an unsupported TV format, to the format that is supported by them. You can additionally configure the broadcast on the TV of individual Internet channels (Radio and digital television).

"Home Media Server" can be downloaded absolutely free on the site of the creators.

Download the program, install it and run. When starting, the initial settings window will appear immediately. It can be left by default and refuse to scan media files. We move to the program settings in a separate order.

In the program window, click the "Settings" button on the toolbar at the top of the window.

In the settings window that opens, we will see the right-tab-tab. In the first tab of "Media Resources", we can use the "Add" button, respectively, add any folders with the media content to the list of programs to open access for streaming broadcast. Common access can be opened immediately to all partitions of the computer (C, D, E, etc.), to all network drives to all connected removable media. To do this, it is necessary at the bottom of the window to set ticks near the necessary options - respectively, " Local disks"Network disks" and "Removable devices".

The "Media Resources" settings tab provides many options for added folders. For example, by clicking the "Change" button, we will get the ability to exclude hide files and directories, remove individual file types, set the other name of the folder - and all this as part of the DLNA server, without changes on the computer.

At the bottom of the MEDIA-Resources tabs are present separate sections With an abundance of various settings. In the "Scan" section, you can pay attention to the option "Always use the file name as the name of the media resource." Without establishing a tick on this option, the names of the media files in Russian will be converted to a latin translitement or unreadable crochels.

In the Device Settings tab, we will see a list of all detected network devices that the DLNa server files will be available. Any of the List devices can be turned off by removing the green activity button.

In the "Server" settings tab, instead of the default DLNA server name, set your name, for example, more convenient for perception. Next to the server name field, we will see his port - 45397. It may happen that the anti-virus or firewall operating on the computer or the firewall will block the DLNA server operation. In the case of such a blocking for the port of the DLNA server, you must provide permission to work in the settings of the anti-virus or firewall.

Also, in the "Server" tab, you must pay attention to the default option that prevents the computer to switch to sleep during the DLNA server operation. If it becomes necessary to translate a PC or laptop to sleep mode, the DLNA server will later need to stop. If, on the contrary, a check mark on the "obstacle to the transition of a computer into sleep mode during server operation," for some reason it is not installed, it is better to set it. Otherwise, watching the movie on the TV will be unceremoniously interrupted as soon as the laptop is plunged into sleep to save battery charges.

The Home Media Server program has a very rich selection of settings, and its potential can be disclosed gradually, testing those or other opportunities as they meet them. In the meantime, you will restrict the settings already done and save them. We click "OK" below and agree on scanning media files in customized folders.

After the program completes the scanning process, we can run a DLNA server. To do this, click the "Run" button on the toolbar at the top of the main program window.

"Home Media Server" works in background modeAnd the program can be controlled from the system tray. Calling the context menu on the program button in the system tray, the DLNA server can be stopped, run, restart.

Automate this process so that the DLNA server starts automatically with launching Windows., You can in the program settings. The last settings tab "Advanced" provides in the "Auto-loading" column, the startup of the program itself when Windows startup, the DLNA server autorun, along with the start of the program, as well as installing its background service in the Windows system.

As soon as the DLNA server is running, the entire computer media system can be played on the TV through the local application to interact with DLNA technology. The DLNA server app will be displayed as a connected playback device. Inside it, folders with a computer media content configured in the Home Media Server program will be available.

You can start the available media system for playback not only in the TV application. Starting the playback of media files on the TV can be charged with the means of the "Home Media Server" program. To do this, in the main window of the program, select the appropriate content - click on the toolbar at the top of the "Movies" button, "Music" or "Photo". In the right-hand side of the program window, the folder files will be displayed to which the broadcast access to the TV has previously been opened. Select the desired video, audio file or picture in the list, call the context menu on this file and choose "Play on" on this file. In the device list that appears, select TV. The selected movie, track or photo will unfold on the TV screen.

6. Function "Lead to Device" Windows 8.1 and 10

The function of playing media files on a computer with an image output to the TV is provided and among the staffing functional in versions of Windows 8.1 and 10. If Windows is installed on the Windows media files to play network devices in the Windows Media player, as discussed above, film, audio, or photo You can run on your computer, and view or listening to continue on the TV. This is a comfortable thing when there is no special desire to mess with the TV and to look for, for example, needed film Among the heaps of other media files, killing the nerves by monotonous turning the file for the file.

To start a media file on a computer, you need to call the context menu on Windows in the Windows Explorer and select the "Lest to Device" command. This is a Windows 10 system command. In Windows 8.1, this context menu command is called "Play To".

After that, we will see the list available to play the network devices. Choose TV. Launched file. It will unfold on the TV screen, and on the computer screen we will see the small Windows Media player window with a playlist where you can additionally add some files.

7. The "Device" function as part of Windows 10 "Cinema and TV"

Available for media files in the context menu of the conductor Windows Function "Lead to the device" is implemented in the Windows 10 "Cinema and TV" application. It works on the principle of starting a video file in the application on a computer and continuing it to view it on the network device, in particular, on the TV screen. Open the "Cinema and TV" application, run the video and in view mode, press the first button at the bottom - the connection button to the available playback devices. A list of all the network devices defined to display the video file will appear in a small window. Choose TV.

In the future, you can continue to view the movie on the computer, in the "Cinema and TV" app. This is a wonderful idea for the house filled with digital technology, which is combined into one network. For example, starting watching a movie on the TV screen in the living room, you can continue on the kitchen TV screen. And then you can move to the living room with the film again. And for this, just need to be interrupted for a pair of simple actions on a computer.

8. Conclusion

As you can see, the choice of ways to configure the computer part of the computer interaction chain and the TV on the network is great. Despite the fact that the article turned out to be volumetric, in fact not all programs in the software market for the implementation of multimedia streaming from a computer to a TV. With the tv setting easier.

As mentioned above, access to the media files of the computer can be obtained in local applications of smart TVs. And these are mentioned above Smart Share for LG TVs, AllShare for Samsung, Vaio Media Server for Sony and others. In ordinary televisions that support the network where the firmware does not provide individual applications, access to the computer files can be configured by selecting a media server as a signal source. In many cases, the source button on the TV panel is called "Source".

Excellent day!

I recently realized that televisions are still in the last century. If mobile gadgets and computers are becoming more convenient, faster and easier, the only thing that changes in the TVs is the size of the screen and permission. About convenience is not worth talking.

A TV without a media server on a computer or special device is a practically useless thing, unless you like to hang in so I chose the top 5 mediover for a computer that pump your TV and make it much more functional.

Plex

Plex is the most popular and, perhaps, a convenient option. By running the server on the computer, you can manage it from the browser, to adjust the library, add subtitles and so on. All information about the PLEX film loads automatically and makes it perfectly in 9 cases out of 10. The TV sees the PLEX server without any problems and everything is perfectly losing. The only minus Plex and other similar programs is that the TV does not see the subtitles built into the film, but for most it does not matter.

PLEX is distributed free of charge, but for additional functions will have to buy a subscription.

Plex

I used this server for a long time on the old TV. It works well enough and unlike Plex, HMS is a whole combine whose functionality does not know the boundaries. The only minus will be the terrible program interface, but since it is needed to play movies on the TV, it will not become a big problem. The program is absolutely free and only in version for Windows.

Initially, PS3 Media Server distributed as an addition to PlayStation 3, which allows you to play movies on the TV using the console. Then the program began to live a separate life. Like previous alternatives, it supports playback via DLNA and does not require the setup.

SERVIIO is far from the most popular media server, but he also deserves places in our top. The application is free, however for $ 25 you can buy a Pro version that opens access to your content from any, not only the home network, and allows you to play content from the web (this feature is given as familiarization and in the free version). SERVIIO has Android applications, however, they act as an auxiliary control panel for the server part on the computer.

Kodi (former XBMC)

XBMC was created to implement the video playback function in Xbox. The project then separated and now KODI is one of the most popular media centers that support almost all platforms due to open Code.. Kodi has applications for iOS and Android, which allow you to use a smartphone as a control panel. The service lives on donations and is absolutely free.

Kodi.

For me, the unequivocal favorite is PLEX. And what do you use?