A media center is a computer or computer-like system that plays multimedia content to a playback device. Many media centers are configured to stream media files (music, video, or images) to a home television set, but you can also use a media center to stream to a game console, mobile device, or computer. The FOSS universe includes several Linux distributions that are designed to serve in the media center role – including Kodi and LibreELEC – but some users consider these tools too complicated for a casual home environment. The complex functions of the common media center can overwhelm many users and often require advanced knowledge.

If you are looking for a media server for your home network that sets up quickly, is immediately ready for operation, and streams content to any computer or DLNA-compatible TV, game console, or MP3 player, then Serviio [1] might be the right choice for you. The Java-based Serviio media server comes from a fairly young company, Six Lines Ltd., based in the county of Northamptonshire in England.

The Serviio software is subject to a proprietary license. You can choose between a free version and a commercial Pro version, which costs a one-off fee of $25. Serviio Pro has some additional functions not available in the free version, such as a web-based media browser and an app for Android devices. Serviio uses free libraries, such as FFmpeg, x264, and the LAME MP3 encoder.

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