Archive:UPnP/Media source: Difference between revisions

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(→‎Compatible UPnP MediaServers (UPnP-servers): I doubt this list has been touched in a long time, and it is waaaay tooo masive. Feel free to add various options back via Supplemental tools pages)
(New intro taken from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Universal_Plug_and_Play&oldid=536732214)
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{{see also|UPnP/Server|HOW-TO:Share libraries using UPnP}}
{{see also|UPnP/Server|HOW-TO:Share libraries using UPnP}}
UPnP media sharing is an extremely easy method of sharing your media (pictures/video/audio) on your network as it features automatic-discovery and does not require any configuration.
UPnP media sharing is an extremely easy method of sharing your media (pictures/video/audio) on your network as it features automatic-discovery and does not require any configuration.


UPnP (short for "Universal Plug and Play") is a set of computer network protocols from the [http://www.upnp.org UPnP Forum]. The goals of UPnP are to allow UPnP devices on a network to detect each other and connect seamlessly, without the need for manual configuration on the users end, and then be able to share/stream data (usually video and audio files). For a more detailed explanation on the inner working of UPnP please read the "[[UPnP Sharing#Developers notes on UPnP|Developers notes on UPnP]]" section at the end of this article. There are three main types of UPnP AV (Audio/Video) device control protocols (also called profiles); there is the "UPnP AV MediaServer" which sole purpose is to share content, and there rhe "UPnP AV MediaRenderer" which render content to exposes an interface to control the playback, and then there is the "UPnP AV MediaServer ControlPoint" which can detect/find "UPnP AV MediaServer" and browse them to read media/data from them. A DMP (Digital Media Player) like XBMC typically only implements the "UPnP AV MediaServer ControlPoint" device profile.
A UPnP AV media server is the UPnP-server (a 'master' device) that provides media library information and streams media-data (like audio/video/picture/files) to UPnP-clients on the network. It is a computer system or a similar digital appliance that stores digital media, such as photographs, movies, or music and shares these with other devices.


The drawback is that an upnp Server only sends metadata and so it is not possible to integrate the upnp shares into the XBMC library.<br />
UPnP AV media servers provide a service to UPnP AV client devices, so called control points, for browsing the media content of the server and request the media server to deliver a file to the control point for playback.
 
UPnP media servers are available for most operating systems and many hardware platforms. UPnP AV media servers can either be categorized as software-based or hardware-based. Software-based UPnP AV media servers can be run on a PC. Hardware-based UPnP AV media servers may run on any NAS devices or any specific hardware for delivering media, such as a DVR. As of May 2008, there were more software-based UPnP AV media servers than there were hardware-based servers.
 
Currently, due to technical limitations (dynamic file paths) UPnP file sources can't be scanned into the library. However, as many UPnP servers can also provide metadata as well as the files themselves, this may not be an issue.<br />


== Setting up UPnP file sources in XBMC ==
== Setting up UPnP file sources in XBMC ==

Revision as of 08:14, 8 February 2013

See also: UPnP/Server and HOW-TO:Share libraries using UPnP

UPnP media sharing is an extremely easy method of sharing your media (pictures/video/audio) on your network as it features automatic-discovery and does not require any configuration.

A UPnP AV media server is the UPnP-server (a 'master' device) that provides media library information and streams media-data (like audio/video/picture/files) to UPnP-clients on the network. It is a computer system or a similar digital appliance that stores digital media, such as photographs, movies, or music and shares these with other devices.

UPnP AV media servers provide a service to UPnP AV client devices, so called control points, for browsing the media content of the server and request the media server to deliver a file to the control point for playback.

UPnP media servers are available for most operating systems and many hardware platforms. UPnP AV media servers can either be categorized as software-based or hardware-based. Software-based UPnP AV media servers can be run on a PC. Hardware-based UPnP AV media servers may run on any NAS devices or any specific hardware for delivering media, such as a DVR. As of May 2008, there were more software-based UPnP AV media servers than there were hardware-based servers.

Currently, due to technical limitations (dynamic file paths) UPnP file sources can't be scanned into the library. However, as many UPnP servers can also provide metadata as well as the files themselves, this may not be an issue.

Setting up UPnP file sources in XBMC

UPnP file sources can be used in videos, music, and pictures. Configuring UPnP file sources in XBMC is as easy as setting up any other type of file source, such as SMB or NFS.

  • Step 1: Go into ether videos, music, or picture file views, depending on the content you want to add, and use the "add" button to bring up this window. Step 2: Then click on the "browse button" on the right hand side.

    Step 1: Go into ether videos, music, or picture file views, depending on the content you want to add, and use the "add" button to bring up this window.
    Step 2: Then click on the "browse button" on the right hand side.

  • Step 3: This new window will pop up. Scroll down and select "UPnP Devices"

    Step 3: This new window will pop up. Scroll down and select "UPnP Devices"

  • Step 4: All available UPnP servers on your network should show up here. If a source/server doesn't show up, it might be blocked by one of the other UPnP servers due to a misconfiguration. Select the source you wish to add.

    Step 4: All available UPnP servers on your network should show up here. If a source/server doesn't show up, it might be blocked by one of the other UPnP servers due to a misconfiguration. Select the source you wish to add.

  • Step 5: The file source will open up and you'll see any folders inside. You will not see files at this point, which is normal. Select "OK".

    Step 5: The file source will open up and you'll see any folders inside. You will not see files at this point, which is normal. Select "OK".

  • Step 6: You can now change the name of the file source if you wish. When you are done select "OK".

    Step 6: You can now change the name of the file source if you wish. When you are done select "OK".

  • Step 7: The new UPnP file source is ready to use, next to the other sources (if you've added any) in the file view.

    Step 7: The new UPnP file source is ready to use, next to the other sources (if you've added any) in the file view.

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