What and how to watch on media hom. How to set up a DLNA server on Windows, connecting a TV to a home network. What you need to set up a server at home

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 in the end, smart app Share raises a lot of problems. 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 proprietary 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 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 desired length of the 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 indicate 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 external hard disk. 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 the files you need. 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 have only considered the discovery public access to files, and start 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.

A free application that allows you to open folders with movies, music or pictures to play them all on your TV screen, audio player, PDA or tablet.

To get acquainted with the functions of the program, you will need a little understanding of the abbreviation UPnP. This is a set of protocols that allow you to connect several devices, and then exchange data between them.

Now imagine the situation: you have long wanted to watch some kind of movie, but it is still not on the TV program. Thanks to the media server, you can turn on the movie on your computer / laptop, and the image will be on the TV screen. In addition to video transmission, you can broadcast music (for example, to the player), online radio and TV.

It is worth noting that the setup of the Home Media Server is quite simple. All you have to do is open the program, add the folders from which the broadcast will be performed in the settings, select the device (all detected devices are automatically connected) and turn on the desired movie, song, picture.

Download home media-Server is available for Windows 7, XP or 8.

Capabilities:

• broadcasting media content to TVs, players, tablets;
• playback of online-TV and radio on devices;
• opening a file on several devices at once;
• function parental controls, giving rights to view only the files you have selected on a specific device;
• transfer of subtitles to video;
• limit broadcast time on the selected device.

Advantages:

• Russian interface language;
• home media server is distributed free of charge;
• large list of supported devices.

Things to work on:

• outdated interface design;
• some devices do not synchronize well with the program.

If you have a lot of electronics in your house that support the UPnP protocol, then this application make your life more comfortable. The only negative is the old interface design, but it does not affect the quality of the program functions at all.

Before starting the story configuring the Home Media Server program I would like to clarify that this program help resolve the issue "How to watch movies, listen to music from PC on TV with DLNA technology". These include Samsung's AllShare technology. Download program "Home media server" you can follow this link.

Supported HMS operating systems:

• Windows 95, 98, ME, 2000, XP, 2003, Vista, 7;
• UNIX-like systems using Wine;
• MAC OS using WineBottler, CrossOver Mac.

Adding directories of media resources to the Home Media Server program

• button "Settings"- chapter "Media Resources"- page "Directory List" — "Add"
• from Windows Explorer drag (and release) with the “mouse” the required directories into the main form of the program (can be used with the standard file search in Windows).

To access the server through a browser, you must enable the mode web, set the server's constant port in the section Settings - Server - "Port" field(value from 1024 to 65535). Accessing the server from a browser:

http://server IP address: server port specified.

The server IP address can be found in the section Settings - Server - List of allowed network connections- Search.

Launching Home Media Server

Be attentive to any messages that may appear from network protection programs when you first start the server.

Click the button "Launch" in the button bar of the main program window. If the server starts successfully, the button "Launch" becomes unavailable, but buttons become available "Stop" and "Restart", there will be lines in the message log
"Server start".

What to do in case of errors when starting the home server

• check the list of available network connections in the application settings (section Server - List of allowed network connections - Search). If the list of allowed network connections is not empty, then compare it with the list of available network connections by clicking the button "Search".
• check the settings of the network protection program you are using, the Home Media Server (UPnP) program must be allowed network activity, for stricter rules, UDP port 1900 must be open for incoming and outgoing packets, the server port specified in the TCP program settings must be available for incoming connections.

You can generate a list of allowed network connections from the list of available network connections, mark the network connection to be included in the list in the first column. If for the media server in the program settings (section "Server" - field "Port") a constant port number is set, then the availability of the media server can be checked from the browser at http://server IP address: server port specified. If yes, the media server welcome page will open. If in the section Program settings - Device , Web mode is enabled, it will open upper level bases of media resources.

Automatic start of home media server

• Enabling automatic server startup at program startup: button Settings - section "Advanced" - "Autostart the server when the program starts".
• Autostart the program when the user logs in Windows system: button Settings - section "Advanced" - "Startup of the program at the start of a Windows session".
• Setting the server as windows services: Settings button - "Advanced" section - "Install Windows service Home media server (UPnP)".

Options for connecting media devices to the server

You can familiarize yourself with the options for crimping network cables. To avoid misunderstandings, a media device also means a TV.

1. Computer - Media device. A crossover cable must be used for the connection.
2. Computer - Switch - Media device
3. Computer - Router (router) - Media device. Direct cables must be used to connect devices.
4. Computer - Wi-Fi router - Media device. You can find more information about the wireless connection method in the article. .

The operation and settings of the media server do not depend on the connection option. When using a router, enable the automatic assignment of IP addresses to devices, for details on configuring a router (router), see the article. When using 1 and 2 connection options, ip-addresses are assigned manually, the addresses must differ in the last part of the IP address, the subnet mask is 255.255.255.0, the main gateway is the IP address of the computer, if necessary, you can specify the addresses of DNS servers, you can specify the address of the computer. Example: computer address is 192.168.1.4, media device address is 192.168.1.5.

Finding a server in a media device

The search for a server with shared folders is performed according to the user manual of the media device. If you have any questions, please refer back to the above articles on Allshare and Smart TV.
If the server was not found, but all connections were made correctly, then in the application settings (Server section) check that the list of allowed client devices is empty or that the device's IP address is included in the list of allowed ones. When using a firewall program, check the rules for accessing the module's network hms.exe(if the server is running as a Windows service, then for the hmssvc.exe module), if possible, switch the network protection program to learning mode, restart the Home Media Server (UPnP) program. If other media servers are used, then it is better to turn them off at the setup stage.

If the server is found, but there is no way to open it in the media device

The settings of the Home Media Server (UPnP) program that can help solve this problem, in section Device: "DLNA 1.0", "DLNA 1.5", "Authorization service", "Russian names of the main folders" mode, in the Server section, set the server's constant port (from 1024 to 65535).

Navigating through files on a media device (TV, media player)

If the device supports the Russian language, then in the program settings (section Device) you can enable the “Russian names of the main folders” mode, this affects the names of the main folders of the media resource base. If the media device does not support the Russian language, select Translit for the Russian names encoding mode, the “Russian names of the main folders” mode is turned on / off at the request of the user (if it is turned off, then there will be English names of the main folders of media resources).
The names of folders can be changed in the main form of the program by right-clicking the mouse - the item "Change name".
Extra folders of media resources can be deleted in the main form of the program by right-clicking the mouse - the item "Delete folder" or the "Exclude empty folders when transferring information to UPnP devices" mode can be enabled in the Device section.
Slow navigation through the database of media resources may be due to the peculiarities of the media device, the inclusion of the "Exclude empty folders when transferring information to UPnP devices" mode, the presence of slow removable media in the system, frequent changes in media resource directories and the enabled "Automatic scanning directories when they change while the server is running. The "Exclude empty folders when transferring information to UPnP devices" mode can be turned off, the "Removable media" folder can be deleted in all sections of media resources (Movies, Music, Photos).
Navigation through the directories of media resources in the structure of their storage on disk can be done through the folder "Watch Folders" (Russian language is turned off), "Catalogs of media resources" (Russian language is included).
If some media resources are not visible on the media device, but are present in the main form of the program, then this may be due to the mime type transmitted by the server for this media resource. The mime type can be changed in the program settings - the Settings button - the "Media Resources" section - "File Types" - the choice of file extension - the Change button.

Watching movies from the server

The server can transfer movies to the media device in their original form or through transcoding (converting the movie to a format supported by the media device). The movie is automatically transcoded if the file extension is not in the list of supported ones, or if a transcoding profile is selected for the movie. Setting the movie file extensions supported by the media device: button "Settings"- chapter "Device" — "Integrated file support" — "Movies". The list of file extensions is formed according to the media device user manual or information on the website of the media device manufacturer. If the movie is played in its original form, then the choice of the audio track and the subtitles included in the movie file is possible only if this choice is supported by the media device. When you select a movie through the Transcoding folder, you can select the audio track, internal and external subtitles, audio delay, transcoding profile for converting the movie.

A transcoding profile is a script (macro) that generates parameters for calling the transcoding program or performs transcoding using DirectShow. Edit transcoding profiles: button "Settings"- chapter - button "Profiles".

The transcoding profile to be used can be selected:

• for all movies: Settings button - section "Transcoder" - "Parameters of the transcoded file" - Movies - "Transcoding profile"
• for movie files of a certain type (extension) - Settings button - "Media resources" - "File types" button - select file extension - button Change - "Transcoding profile"
• for a specific film: in the list of films of the main form of the program, right-click the mouse - "Transcoding profile" or through the navigation of the media device, if the selection of the film is performed through the Transcoding folder in the Settings folder formed by the server for each film.

When playing movies, media devices usually stretch the video to fill the entire screen, therefore, to preserve the proportions of the movie frame, the server generates parameters for complementing the original frame size with color to the frame size specified in the settings. The setting of the transcoded frame size and the color of the add-on are set in the program settings - the Settings button - the "Transcoder" section - the "Codecs, frame" page - "Frame size". Color supplementation is not supported by all transcoder programs, so if you select a transcoding profile other than the main ones, it may not be available.

Causes of errors when playing movies from a home media server:

• the original movie file is selected, in which the format, video encoding or audio track is not supported by the media device, Possible Solution problems - select a movie through the folder Transcoding
• a movie is selected through the Transcoding folder, in which video or audio encoding is not supported by the transcoder program, a possible solution to the problem is to select a different transcoding profile for the movie; problems with the audio track can also be solved by setting the number of channels in the program settings (section Transcoder - page "Codecs, frame") - 2
• media device or server not available: Reboot media device or server.

Reasons for stopping / slowing down content playback:

• browsing may be terminated due to insufficient disk space used to store temporary files; exceeding the file size supported by the device; excess maximum size transcoded file specified in the program settings (section Transcoder - "Transcoded file settings" - Maximum size).
• The film transcoding speed is insufficient for viewing, you can check this in the main form of the program: perform test transcoding by RMB in the list of films — The transcoding speed (fps parameter) must be greater than the frame rate of the film. If the “Show transcoding panel” mode is enabled in the program settings (section Transcoder), then the transcoding speed can be viewed in it after selecting a movie on the media device. You can also turn on the transcoding speed indicator (section Transcoder - "Subtitles, speed indicator"), if the transcoding speed is less than the value specified in the program settings, the current transcoding speed will be displayed on the movie frame at the location specified by the user.

Solutions to the above problems:

• choose to view a transcoding profile with a smaller frame size, video quality
• if the video track encoding is supported by the media device, but the movie file format is not supported, then you can select a transcoding profile that converts the movie file format and leaves the video track unchanged (transcoding profiles "Movies - TsMuxer" - the formation of m2ts files, "Movies - WMF" - the formation of wmv-files). For the "Movies - TsMuxer" transcoding profile, you must additionally download the TsMuxer transcoder program from the home page (in the Transcoding profile settings)
• stop watching a movie on a media device to form a transcoded movie file large enough for viewing
• specify a drive other than the one used by the system to store the paging file to store temporary transcoding files
• optimize the system as a whole - check disk fragmentation, the list of startup programs, etc.

Program settings Home media server using the example of my TV model SONY Bravia KDL-46XBR9

Install, run the Home Media Server program on your PC, go to Settings by clicking on the appropriate button.

On the right is the "Add" button for disks/directories with media content. In this case, you can choose which of these files will be scanned when the program starts. Scanning is necessary if you have changed the contents of this directory and changes have occurred there. The green circle notifies that the type of these files is being scanned.
Now pay attention to the File Types button on the right panel. On some TV models, PAL video files cannot be played, NTSC must be added in order for the content to be recognized. (eg MPEG-PS_PAL_NTSC for *avi).

For the *mkv container, select Transcoding Profile - Core AVC. In DLNA, enter the line MPEG-PS_PAL or MPEG-PS_NTSC, depending on your TV.
Now consider the left panel "Categories" - "Device". Here you will need to select the type and resolution of your TV. DLNA1 and DLNA1.5 is the old and new version, you will learn about the supported DLNA version of your TV from the manual or on the official website. You can also configure Web access to the server here. Let's move on to the next category of the left panel of the "Server" section of the settings.

Add your TV to the client devices (look in the menu, TV network settings for a static IP). When you click on the lifebuoy icon, the program will automatically determine the name of your computer and add it to the line Server - Name. Use the "Search" button to identify devices on the network connected by DLNA technology. Make sure the TV is turned on and connected to a wired or wireless network. After scanning the network, the program will add found network clients (PC and TV). Click on TV and go to client settings.

By clicking on the Settings button, you will be taken to individual settings devices. Set the settings we talked about above.

Clicking the "File Types" button will take you to the file registration settings, where you can make the necessary changes.

Return to the main settings window and navigate from the left pane to the "Transcoder" category.

Set the settings according to the image and go to the bottom tab "Codecs, Frame".

I draw your attention to the parameter section "Sound - Original audio track if compression is the same". Unchecking this checkbox will help to avoid losing the Russian track when playing a video. Remember that before transcoding each file can be viewed and modified if necessary.
The next tab we'll look at is "Subtitles".

In this window, you will set the subtitle display style to your taste and other parameters necessary for their correct display. Let's take a look at the last category on the left panel, Advanced.

Check the checkbox "Installing the Windows service "Home Media Server" (UPnP)". Thus, the program will be automatically loaded as a service when the computer is turned on, I wrote about this in the section Automatic start server.

Home media server (UpnP-DLNA-HTTP) is a server that gives media resources ( audio and video files, images, photos) computer to another UPnP ( DLNA) devices in home network- televisions ( Samsung, LG, Philips, Sony, Toshiba, etc.), game consoles ( Sony Playstation, XBOX), media players ( WD TV Live, Popcorn Hour, Dune, Boxee Box, IconBit, ASUS O!Play, iPad/iPhone/iPod), mobile and RDA devices.

The server includes a transcoder (FFMPEG) that allows you to convert media into a format that will be supported by the playback device. There is also an option to convert media frame format to playback screen format. Transcoding can be selected from any minute.

Feature Home media server (UpnP-DLNA-HTTP)

You can redirect Internet radio and Internet TV streams to another media device. UrnP-DLNA-HTTP supports digital TV, which can also be redirected to another device. The server also supports external and internal subtitles. There is also support for controlling Digital Media Renderer devices, where you can use the "Play on ..." option for both a single device and a group of individual devices.

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 enabling the exchange of information between various devices home network, such as a computer, smartphone and TV equipped with appropriate technology.

It uses the DLNA streaming standard and free software such as the Home upnp media server, DLNA, HTTP.

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.

Typically, 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, 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 Network Connection Center, 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 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 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.

For getting quick access to the server settings, you can use the menu of the standard Windows Player 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 the Home Mediaserver program, 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 a convenient enough 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 configure 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: 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: