Review of UPnP/DLNA Media Server

You may have seen many UPnP/DLNA Media Server popping up every day. It's hard to find out a comprehensive list, where you may choose one. I'm going to cover most the currently available Media Server in the market. This list will grow as more Media Server will be available in the future. So, please keep visiting this page for constant updates.

Media Server can be either categorized as Software based or Hardware based. Software based Media Server can be run on PC mainly on win32, linux or Mac platform. And, hardware based Media Server may run on any NAS (Network Attached Storage) or any specific hardware for delivering media future PVR. Currently, there are more software based Media Server than hardware based, but I guess that will change soon.

Media Server - Software
Some of Media Server you can download for free but they may not provide all the functionalities you need. But, it may give you good start and later on according you your requirement you may buy the paid one. Paid Media Server generally provides more funcationlities and customer support. You may try paid version of software for limited time.

Allegro Media Server - The Allegro Media Server is a full-featured and fully compliant implementation of a UPnP Media Server. AMS runs on a Macintosh or Windows PC and provides access to media files and iTunes library contents from UPnP Media Players or UPnP Media Control Points. But, this media server will only covert your iTunes library. You may import your music collection in iTunes and share it on network. It is only Music Server and not DLNA compliant.

Platform Supported: Windows PC, Macintosh

Cidero Internet Radio Server - This is only Internet Radio Server. By default, they provide list of popular shoutcast radio stations. Users may add stations by simply creating new station files, using existing files as a template. One interesting functionality they provide is proxy mode in which server can function as a repeater to enable a single connection to an Internet radio station to serve multiple devices inside the home.

Platform Supported: Java

CyberMediaGate - CyberMediaGate is a reference implementation of UPnP AV Media Server. It supports the local file system and some PVR projects such as MythTV to distribute as the object items of the content directory service. It is released as open source software under GNU license.

Platform Supported: Java, C++, Linux

Digital5 Media Server - The Digital 5 Media Server is a PC-based software which aggregates, manages, plays back, and streams digital entertainment content such as audio, video and photo files from your PC to UPnP connected media devices throughout the connected home. It supports DRM protected contents, DTCP-IP enabled, Intel NMPR enabled above all DLNA enabled. It has long list of internet preminum contents support. This server comes with GoVideo and Gateway DVD Player. If you want to download then goto GoVideo/Gateway support side and download it. Even though it's content management UI is great but somehow I was unable to connect this server (downloaded from GoVideo support page) with any network receiver/control point.

Platform Supported: Windows

Elgato AV Media Streaming Server - It enables media player to stream EyeTV recordings, digital photos, music and movies from Mac onto TV or stereo.

Platform Supported: Mac

GeeXboX uShare Media Server - uShare is a UPnP A/V Media Server. It implements the server component that provides UPnP media devices with information on available multimedia files. uShare uses the built-in http server of libupnp to stream the files to clients. GeeXboX uShare is able to provide access to images, videos, music or playlists files. It does not act as an UPnP Media Adaptor and thus, can't transcode streams to fit the client requirements. It was mainly developed to provide media to GeeXboX client but also can be used as generic UPnP server. uShare is free software - it is licensed under the terms of the GNU General Public License (GPL).

Platform Supported: Linux

GMediaServer - This is UPnP Media server released under terms of GPL Lincense.

Platform Supported: Linux

J. River Media Center - This is basically media organizing software with UPnP media server funcationlity. It can share audio, video and photos on the network can be considered as windows media center replacement. I'm not sure whether people want to pay $40 to buy it.

Platform Supported: Windows

MediaTomb - This is UPnP Media server released under terms of GPL Lincense. It has Web UI to add/edit/remove/browse media files. You may use either sqlite of MySql for organizing database. It is based on libupnp sdk and lot's of open source softwares.

Platform Supported: Linux

MusicMatch - MusicMatch server comes with MusicMatch player. You have to goto Options->Settings->CD Lookup/Connectivity (Tab). Check "Enable Music Server", server will start as windows service. This music server works ok but not great. With DSM-520 receiver, I was unable to play any songs for more than few seconds, after that it used to keep repeating it.

Platform Supported: Windows

Nero MediaHome Server - Nero MediaHome Server comes with Nero application suite. It has lots of option for transcoding. It seems it's DLNA compliant too. Media organization could have been better, atleast first level of browsing should fetch "Music, Pictures, Video" to help many media receiver to skip first level. It has good setup UI too. Overall, it's pretty good server. Trial version can be downloaded here. This server doens't provide search functionality.

Platform Supported: Windows

On2Share - It is windows based media server, which can use your Windows media player/Winamp player library to share your media on the network. It requires .Net framework. You may download 14 days trial version or pay $20.

Platform Supported: Windows

Philips Media Manager - This media server takes lots of memory and initial scanning for organizing media also takes lot of time.

Platform Supported: Windows

Rhapsody Home Audio - Embedded UPnP Media Server comes with Rhapsody player. You have to enable it by going to Tools->Preferences->Rhapsody Server(UPnP). I was able to play songs using this server on my DSM-520 receiver.

Platform Supported: Windows

Sony VAIO Media Server - This UPnP/DLNA media server comes pre-installed with VAIO PC. It works with most of the receiver available. But, you can't download or buy it.

Platform Supported: Windows

TVersity - This is free UPnP Media Server and has pretty good functionalities. In addition to sharing local contents, it can share internet audio/video contents too. It can even transcode to the format, which media receiver understand. It has nice UI to manage contents. By default, it provides list of free internet radion and TV channels. If you want more then you need to add it. They have used lots of open source software and used sqlite to store metadata.

Platform Supported: Windows

TwonkyVision Media Server - My experience with TwonkyVision Media Server was great. It was a snap to setup the server and share my files. It uses less memory and can be started as a service on Windows platform. By default, it organize the media pretty well and for more advanced user they have functionality to customize the directory tree. They are compatible with lots of media adapters. TwonkyVision media server supports more video/audio format than other servers. This server also provide me functionality to stream shoutcast radios. If you are not looking for playing DRM protected content then you are going to love this server.

Platform Supported: Windows, Linux, Mac

Windows Media Connect - This media server is by Microsoft. It works well with most of the receiver. It is one of the microsoft product you may like. It is worth mentioning here that this is second generation of Windows Media Connect server, first version had auckward configuration in which you have to allow individual media receiver. In second version, you can check one box "Automatically allow new devices" in settings and forget it. If you want to play Windows Media DRM protected content then you have to stick to this server.

Platform Supported: Windows

Media Server - Hardware
In general, industry trend is to put Media Server funtionality in the NAS (Network Attached Storage). It make more sense also because people don't want to run their PC all the time. NAS gives nice alternative and flexibility to run low cost media server. For home use, NAS with inbuilt HDD and Media Server would be perfect fit. Price range of these device vary from $100 to more than $1,000 depends upon the processor speed and RAM. For most of the consumer, it will be affordable at around $150 - $250 (with HDD and Media Server).

Buffalo Media Server -

D-Link DSM-602H 20GB Central Home Drive -

Infrant ReadyNAS X6 - It's high performance, expandable NAS with UPnP Media Server. It's quick to setup, simple to use, quiet and compact drive. But, it's bit pricy may be because it has bunch of functionalities.

IOGEAR StorCenter Network Hard Drives -

Maxtor Shared Storage Family -

Sonos Zone Player - Sonus Zone Player is a UPnP Media Server, which reads the contents from the shared SMB hard drive. It keeps reference to all the contents in a very nice organized manner. Good thing is that if you have two Zone player then your content list is always synchronized. Only problem is that you can't play it's content on any non-sonos device. It uses some propritory protocol to stream audio. So, even though it seems UPnP compliant but not DLNA. It's bit pricy for only audio capability.

I kindly request you to help me in adding more Media Servers, which I missed.

Thank You!

Keep visiting. This post will be frequently updated.

D-Link DSM-520: Excellent Media Receiver

D-Link DSM-520 Media Receiver (D-link call it MediaLounge) is one the best among the available media receiver in the market. Not only it's much better than it's predecessor DSM-320, but with ton's of additional features it's affordable too. Having USB thumb drive support in the front gives option to the user to play video files directly from the external hard drive.

Pros: Stream music, photos, video from any UPnP AV compatible media server, stream online radio from radio@AOL, live365.com, direct USB thumb drive support, stream Windows Media DRM protected content using Windows Media Connect, HD interface, support most of the media format, above all affordable.

Cons: Photo thumbnail support is horrible, UI can be improved, no support for bread crumb, no music album art, video forward/rewind functionality can be improved.

Bottom Line: If you are in the market for Media Receiver/Hub then you may end up buying this. Direct connection to the USB drive open up lot of option for many users.

Photo Gallery: Before going ahead, I want to share some of the photos of DSM-520.

Front picture of DSM-520. You may notice power button on the left and USB drive in the middle.

Back side of DSM-520




Above photos give close look of back panel of the DSM-520

Remote Control of DSM-520

Looking at photos, you may have noticed that it will embed well in your living room entertainment center. You are out of luck, if you don't like blackish finish.

Media Server Compatibility: In general, this product can stream media from any UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) AV compliant Media Server. But, this product works well with some and doesn't work at all with others. So, I decided to test this product with various Media Server. First of all, it didn't work with the D-link Media Server provided in the CD, which comes with the product. After installing, I added my media directories and it took forever to complete it. When it finally started running, I couldn't find this server running on PC on my DSM-520. (I have UPnP domain knowledge, so out of curiosity, I started debuggin and found that PC server is sending alive message and immediately sending bye bye message.) So, please don't try to spend more time on this server. I hope D-link will provide better server software in future.

Product install guide has lot of reference to Windows Media Connect server, I guess it promotes it. So, I started setting up Windows media connect server and loaded it with contents. I can immediately see the server and can stream photos, music and video instantly. It is one of the microsoft product you may like. It is worth mentioning here that this is second generation of Windows Media Connect server, first version had auckward configuration in which you have to allow individual media receiver. In second version, you can check one box "Automatically allow new devices" in settings and forget it. If you want to play Windows Media DRM protected content then you have to stick to above server.

My experience with TwonkyVision Media Server was great. It was a snap to setup the server and share my files. TwonkyVision media server supports more video/audio format than windows media connect server. I was mainly interested in sharing DivX/xVid/VOB files. Any of the these format was not shared by Windows media connect server. This server also provide me functionality to stream shoutcast radios. If you are not looking for playing DRM protected content then you are going to love this server.

TVersity Media Server also works well with DSM-520 media receiver. This can also stream internet radio, plus it can stream internet video too. Again, if you are DivX video fan then you are out of luck.

I tried UPnP server provided with MusicMatch Player too. I was able to list the files on the receiver but it only plays first 4-5 seconds of the songs and keep repeating the same. I guess, their HTTP server is not good.

Media Streaming Functionality: Media support wise, this player can play all kinds of media you can think of. It is little bit weak in avi format support. As product manual mention that it only support AVI with mpeg-4.
In general, photo support was pretty good. But, if you want to see photo thumbnail rather than
the list then it takes forever to display thumbnails.

Music file support is also great. I mainly played around with mp3 and wav files. I didn't tried ogg vorbis format but I guess that should have been ok.

I was more interested in video streaming and initally was very skeptical about it. But, even VOB file streaming was great (I'm using 802.11g). I tried, mpeg-1, mpeg-2, mpeg-4, vob, avi, xvid and every format streamed well. Surprisingly, it played DivX format too, even though there was no mentioned about it in the product specs. Now, people can dump their DVD on hard drive in VOB format and directly stream it without further conversion.

Online Media: Besides radio@AOL and Live365.com support, for all other kinds of online media you have to stream from PC. I wish they could have provided support for shoutcast station, in that case I don't need to keep my PC running all the time.

USB Thumb Drive: You are going to love USB support if you have lot of contents on external hard drive. I tried connecting my digital camera and it works too (why not, it supports USB mass storage). It's like directory browsing.

PlaysForSure: It can play any music and videos, which has playsforvideo logo on it. This is one of the microsoft drive for media interoperability.

Competitors: Even though D-Link media reciever is one of the best in it's class but competitor's are also getting better. It has main competition with Roku PhotoBridge, which also provides HD support and many flash card support.

• Roku PhotoBridge HD
• Phillips Streamium
• Netgear Media Player
• Sony VAIO RoomLink™ Network Media Receiver
• Sonos Zone Player (Music player/server only)
  

Remote Control Functionalities: Remote is ok to use. It has shortcut for music/photo/video/usb/online media, which is very handy.

Wireless Connectivity: I heard that previous version DSM-320 only used to work well with D-link router, but DSM-520 works well with any router. I'm using netgear router and never had problem with internet connectivity. Good that it supports WPA securtiy too.

Firmware Upgrate: It's very easy to upgrade firmware of the device. It took me 5-6 mintues to upgrate from 1.0 version to next version.

Hidden Features: Very few people may know that this device comes with UPnP Media Renderer feature too. What this mean is, if you have UPnP based media controller then you can send media from media server to this renderer. In couple of years, you'll see these kind of av media controller in the market, which can direct your server to serve any file from server to renderer.

It supports DivX video format. Good news for DivX lover.

Detail Product Specifications: For detail product specifications, please visit D-Link website.

• Detail product specification
• Product Overview by D-Link
  

Wish List: Following are my wish list from future D-link or their competitors product.

• Provide Bread Crumb feature to know at what menu depth you are at. If displaying on the menu in annoying then info button on remote can provide this.
• Better photo thumbnail view.
• Shoutcast radio support.
• Music Album art support. I guess this should be supported by the Media Server.
• Internal HDD support for storing media through the USB interface. Basically, Media server feature.
• Support for more removable media like memory stick or compact flash card.
• Remember last position of video/audio played.
  

I think, product provides enough functionality to defend it's price. It's a great addition to my living room.