How to use DLNA on Ubuntu

susja · 05-10-2012, 09:30 PM

Hello,
I'm running Ubuntu 11.10.
I have smartphone, iPad and DLNA supportable TV.
I want to connect from all those devices to my PC.
I installed miniDLNA and configured minidlna.conf to search for a few folders that contain media files.
I started client on any of those devices and DLNA server is running on PC.
The problem is that I don't see any of the folders that I provided in minidlna.conf file.
Could someone help me with it?
Thanks

jschiwal · 05-10-2012, 10:52 PM

I have luck using mediatomb. I confess I haven't heard of miniDLNA. Check if the service is running. Check if you are blocking a port that DLNA uses.

susja · 05-10-2012, 11:16 PM

Thanks for reply.
I know that DLNA process is running but how could I check that port is ( or not blocked )?
thanks

susja · 05-11-2012, 10:40 AM

hi jschiwal
I was able to install mediatomb. I don't have experience using it ... so you might be able to share yours.
First of ... I could see my files (despite minidlna ) but my iPad failed to play .avi format. I sure can transcode it before but I assume that mediatomb could do it on the fly. Could you share your experience on that with me?
And how overall do you like mediatomb? Would you recommend me to use it in case I want to play movies from my PC on iPad?
Thanks a lot

scribesyd · 05-11-2012, 11:31 AM

Minidlna is in sony bravia tv's as file share. it seems legit and common but i cannot seem work it out, nor have i triad the other.

jschiwal · 05-13-2012, 02:15 AM

I believe it can transcode. The read me on the configuration file has an example where files with an ogg mime type are transcoded to a wav format. I haven't done that.

The optional requirements include ffmpeg, but it says that is for extracting additional meta-data.
It looks like you define the "agent" that transcodes, and it executes that command, so you could probably use mencoder, transcode or maybe even VLC.

susja · 05-24-2012, 07:46 AM

Well .... I switched to Plex Media server and it works great,
thanks for sharing your thoughts

schneidz · 05-24-2012, 12:19 PM

^ i use xbmc for controlling/playing movies from my fone to tv.

susja · 05-24-2012, 01:31 PM

hi schneidz,
thanks for reply,
I checked that xbmc is a media server.
I'm using Plex media server hence I don't know if I have a reason to switch it ... but since you have experience with xbmc ... could you tell me what it could do? My server streams moview, pictures and music located on my PC. Does xbmc allow to do something more ... like what was my initial intent i.e. transport online movie from your PC to TV?
Thanks in advance

schneidz · 05-24-2012, 01:40 PM

its basically a media center to play movies on your tv.

it has a dlna/upnp server that allows me to play music/ movies on my galaxy s2 or play media on my tv from my fone.