A Linux home entertainment server with UPnP and DLNA
In Full Stream
© Bonita Cheshier, 123RF.com
Thanks to protocols such as UPnP and DLNA, video, audio, and photos are distributed to TVs, gaming consoles, PCs, and smartphones without the need for configuration. Linux as a central media server is a welcome guest.
Expensive turnkey solutions such as Microsoft's Media Center or the closed source Apple AirPlay are currently making headway into many living rooms. The most widely used open platform for streaming, which supports devices from almost any manufacturer, is DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) [1], a standard approved by an industry consortium.
In this article, I describe how DLNA works, including the underlying protocols and device types, and how a Linux PC, an Android smartphone, and a PlayStation can link up to a television set.
DLNA and UPnP
Among other things, DLNA lets you stream media content such as music, movies, and photos. It entails the client and server finding one another and playing the content without any configuration. Modern TV sets, Blu-ray players, and gaming consoles have DLNA clients in their firmware; Android phones have a DLNA player, and some even have a DLNA server. If it is not included in the standard installation, smartphone owners can download an app from Google Play.
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