Sitting back on the couch is definitely the preferred method for consuming video content, and while there are many different ways to get video onto a PC, users looking to sit in front of the TV instead of in front of a keyboard have had few options to stream media until relatively recently. Fortunately, there's been an explosion in media streaming devices, and thanks to a technology called DLNA, streaming media around the home might require less and less effort.
DLNA is short for Digital Living Network Alliance, and defines a standard for moving movies, photos, music and other media from device to device. DLNA servers can store media in one location, and, without any setup or configuration, can stream the media to DLNA compliant players, like the PS3 and Xbox 360. The big draw behind DLNA is to throw away major configuration, and create a simplistic way for consumers to get media from one device to another.
To get started with DLNA, find an appropriate server for your network. While many standard Windows Media Center computers work with the standard, we like the idea of using a Network Attached Storage (NAS) device to store all of our media in one place. Since it's a central repository, all of your computers can access it to use and store media, and DLNA capable players can access the media from the NAS and play it back on your TV. Typically, NAS devices are slightly more expensive than comparably equipped external hard drives, but instead of simply plugging into a computer, NAS devices plug directly into the network, freeing up a computer from staying on all the time and serving media. The devices are about $400, like Buffalo's 1TB LinkStation Mini (pictured right).
If you're really determined to save some cash, Nero MediaHome is a software based solution that will turn any Windows PC into a DLNA server. The plus side is that users won't need to duplicate media, and if Windows Media Center isn't an option, MediaHome will fill the void nicely. MediaHome runs $40 direct from Nero.
Regardless of whether you've set up a software or hardware server, playing back the video will definitely require some additional hardware. While we wouldn't perhaps recommend it as the best possible game console, Sony's PlayStation 3 is definitely one of the best home theater components around. With its DLNA capabilities alone, the console does an excellent job of streaming DLNA compatible media, not to mention the built-in Blu-ray drive for playing back high definition movies.
Other DLNA player options include Microsoft's Xbox 360 — now bargain basement priced at $199 — and some higher end options like Pioneer's BDP-HD1 Blu-ray player, which doubles as a DLNA player. Or, if you're looking to skip the set top box all together, manufacturers are starting to bundle DLNA into newer HDTVs so check for a DLNA logo, and skip the set top box all together.
DLNA certainly isn't a mainstream technology yet, but the technology behind it is only a year or two away from mass adoption. If you've got a massive collection of music, photos, movies or have a PC based DVR, DLNA could help get your media around your home. If you're not ready to plunk down the cash, keep watching, as we think DLNA will be a tech item to keep an eye on.
[Photo credit: Jerine]
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Comments (33)
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Randall Bennett
(12:48 PM on Thu Oct 23, 2008)
It's basically the next version of SMB shares. The real reason, you guessed it, is a standardized DRM set, along with zero configuration. Also, since there's a standards group behind it, there might actually be interoperability, rather than simply reverse engineering SMB over and over again.
Anonymous (4:10 PM on Fri Nov 28, 2008)
So I bought a NAS hard disk (Iomega) and a Sony Bravia TV with DLNA - but it can't see the disk. It acquired an IP address ok. What gives?
Frankly (6:53 PM on Tue Dec 9, 2008)
You may require a crossover network cable for this direct connection to work (send on one end connects directly to receive on the other), and you may also need to setup the drive using a pc.
Laraine (4:56 PM on Fri Jul 31, 2009)
If you purchased your TV from a big box store then you got the "wholesale" version and not the "retail" version. This means that although your TV says it "has" DLNA, the firmware to support it is not installed. According to a Sony sales rep, in these cases, the firmware cannot be upgraded. This is probably why these big box stores have a two-year return policy.
Laraine (5:47 PM on Fri Jul 31, 2009)
Actually, I have to correct my statements. I just talked with the big box store's 800 number. The Sony person must have been mistaken (horribly so)! My installed firmware (software) is standard for all of these model TVs and is the latest/most current. I also found out that on my Bravia (KDL40VL160...) the software only supports USB 1.1. Not sure why that is, seems like it should support USB 2.0. I'll have to email Sony for verification as there is nothing on their website and I don't want to call and get another wrong answer!
mentar (8:28 AM on Wed Jan 7, 2009)
DLNA has a lot of potential. It can also be implemented with zero cost. No need to pay for Nero when you have software like Tversity(Windows) and MediaTomb(Linux) just to name 2. I currently have a setup where I have a central server running Linux on an old computer that basically acts as a bloated NAS and serves media and files. I have a PS3 in my living room to watch photos, music and videos, and also have the Freecom's MusicPal to listen to music wirelessly in my bedroom.
Anonymous (7:17 AM on Mon Jan 19, 2009)
I have a setup where I have 2 computers, a Buffalo Linkstation and a PS3 in a home nertwork, Router is Zyxel Prestige 600HW (100mps). ALl the computer share the media directories with eachother. Buffalo Linkstation is a DLNA server in the network. When I started with it it was very promising: All the music and photos stored into it were available on TV through PS3 nicely and with good performance. So i decided to move all my mediafiles to the Linkstation. It was some 17.3 gigs of photos, 13.6. gigs of music and 21 gigs of videos. After a quite long transfer over the 100mps network it took about 20 hours from the Linkstation to setup the DLNA database so that all the stuff got visible through PS3. And...the performance was gone. Photos com over the network (cable, not WLAN) OK but quite slowly. Music is streamed so slowly that most songs don\'t play from start to end without distructions. Also, starting the next song after the previous one is finnished, takes quite a long time. Video is impossible to watch as it brakes all the time. Now, my question is: How much the media file folder tree structure affects the DLNA performance? The DLNA database reflects this structure, doesn\'t it. Does anybody have any experience of this? Can I gain beter performance by arranging the media into some particular structure or order?
Anthony (2:48 PM on Fri Jan 1, 2010)
You should just get a nice computer and a HD router with the ps3 done lots of drives in the computer simple as that.
Salil (12:05 PM on Fri Jan 29, 2010)
Actually, the performance drop probably has more to do with the processor speed of the NAS serving up the content than the directory tree structure. The PS3 and your home PCs have comparatively powerful CPUs, which makes file sharing and streaming a LOT faster.
moebius (6:32 PM on Thu Feb 5, 2009)
It is a shame that so many websites are promoting DLNA when they have not even tried it themselves, I'dont know where they get the information that Xbox360 supports DLNA since it is
not listed on their website, nor on the DLNA supported devices. The Xbox360 is not DLNA compliant,
period. Actually not a big loss, since the DLNA standard is kind of useless because it doesn't even support avi files(yes, check it out).
Anonymous (1:13 PM on Wed Feb 11, 2009)
DLNA does play most AVI. Remember that AVI are a package format. You will need to check what media files are supported per each DLNA player. The Buffalo LinkTheater has no issues with divx or xvid AVI, but can not play back MJPG AVI (Canon camera movie format).
Slow IO with the Buffalo Linkstation has been commented on at many sites. Recommend using any free DLNA server software on a standard 7200 RPM 1TB drive from Windows or Linux PC. Easy to maintain.
Anonymous (7:47 PM on Sat Mar 21, 2009)
After having just spent the weekend assisting my early adapter but technologically illiterate brother through the weird incompatibilities of DLNA I have to wonder whether the technology media ever considers readers to be their customers or if they are totally focused on getting fools to part with their money for the benefit of 'the industry'.
His is rig the de rigeur PS3 (he doesn't game!) a simple two workstation home network running XP and a "Conceptronic Grab'n'GO Media Storage Server" basically two 1 terrabyte sata drives running a basic linux config claiming to be a "next generation media server".
After some coaxing the network elements all 'saw' each other but the next generation media server was incapable of any meaningful service to the PS3 until it copped a firmware upgrade.
The server manual was about as much use as tits on a bull to the sort of end user this technology is aimed at. let's remember what the writer said above "users looking to sit in front of the TV instead of in front of a keyboard have had few options to stream media until relatively recently." the potential users are not puta heads yet the recommended protocol for this POS was FTP! no client supplied of course.
Fortunately the thing did some basic tasks (ie filling the drives up with data using standard file sharing protocols across the LAN) and after much messing around it will no doubt stream to the PS3 as long as the drives can handle the data, remember these 'servers' are going to be used for movies great big resource hungry sound and video files served up by tiny processors, and less memory, does that sound like an innovative 'solution'?
The cataloguing function is laughable - my bro will get to spend many hard earned weekends manually constructing directories and then spend even longer trying to find his data afterwards since the front end of these servers is strictly utilitarian. Maybe the PS3 will do that for him I neither know nor care, but if the data is typical ie coming from a wide variety of different sources, it is hard to see how this new protocol will manage anything other than DRM and that is likely to be fraught. This server will probably suffer the same fate as the linkstation when it gets close to capacity. ie slow to a snail's pace. In other words all this dlna kit is a very expensive way of helping publishers collect royalties. Oh and it also seems designed to assist the kings of root kit, sony, rid themselves of unloved overpriced and redundant PS3 inventory.
Anonymous (7:21 AM on Sat Apr 25, 2009)
Hi,
Can confirm. Have Sony Bravia 32W5500 TV and QNAP NAS -> both using dlna labels. They just don't work together. Please -> all you reporters who promote dlna technology could you please try things out before promising customers solutions. In fact the Sony does see the files on the QNAP but music stops after some 50 seconds of playing and video doesn't start at all although visible in browser. DLNA is a standard where compliance doesn't mean anything. Sony support replies I should just Windows Media Center instead, TwonkyMedia reports I should try other non-working version, and QNAP doesn't even respond to customers.
Zach Lee
(6:40 AM on Mon May 25, 2009)
DLNA is just starting up, many vendors claims to be its members and their products can talk to each other, but when things dun work as they should, where could we end users find help and support? Are we guinea pigs in a test lab?
David Rhee (11:07 AM on Fri Jun 5, 2009)
That is always the case for new technology. Even with wLAN and the various standards that did not get ratified early on (but later), we encounter so many issues and glitches.. The sad part is that all beginning technology require time, development, support, and ratification for it to be interoperable. As for me, I am looking at this for one of our clients but am not certain how well it is going to work. I hope to try it out with my own machines and will see.. I think the new LED is DLNA compatiable and I might try it out with my PS3, NAS, and/or my media center. I hope to report more on this matter.
Anonymous (6:46 PM on Mon Jun 8, 2009)
Ps3 seems media client seems to have issues. It doesn't work well when you have multiple wireless bridges connected. I tried the setup in http://www.connectedhome.infopint.com/. I have good connectivity with XBOX 360... but not with PS3
Anonymous (6:15 AM on Thu Jun 11, 2009)
DLNA is just another fool hardy attempt to bring Digital Rights/Restrictions Managment into our homes under the guise of an end to streaming compatability issues. This is why I no longer touch apple products regardless of how gorgeous they are.
Bruce Jackson
(5:28 AM on Sat Nov 14, 2009)
DLNA has nothing to do with DRM, it is simply an industry body that wishes to ensure interoperability between
consumer electronics devices made by different vendors.
Anonymous (9:26 AM on Wed Jun 17, 2009)
It's not all bad...I have a Sony Vaio All-In-One Desktop PC (VGCLT28E) and a Samsung Touch of Color LCD TV (LN40a650). I'm happy to say that the Samsung DLNA (Wiselink) connects very easily to the Vaio DLNA (included PC Share Manager software) and I am able to stream my downloaded content (mininova.org) to my television. I have not had any DRM issues.
Anonymous (3:41 PM on Tue Jun 30, 2009)
We are happy with the Samsung LN52A750 using the PC Share Manager client supplied with the set (PC Share Manager runs on a windows PC). Selecting and starting a recorded program is simple. But the Samsung DLNA (Wiselink) does not support fast forward or rewind. After speaking with a tech for some time I was referred to page 99 in the user guide which specifies that fast forward and rewind are not supported. Can anyone make sense of that? - TDH
Zoobee (10:10 PM on Wed Jul 8, 2009)
I have been a happy user of DLNA technology. Following is my setup:
NAS Server - Ubuntu 9.04 Server x86_64, 2x1TB RAID1, 2x500GB RAID0, 2 GigE NICS bonded together, 4GB RAM, AMD 5050e CPU, running uShare DLNA Server
The NAS server contains ALL of my digital media that includes MP3, JPEGS, Oggs, MPEGs (TiVo HD/SD)
Clients: PS3, PC's running XBMC Media center
Wifi Router DIR-825
The setup has worked almost perfectly for over 3 months. Only rare hiccup I experience is when watching HD content over the WiFi connection, the video pauses for buffering once in a while... aside this DLNA has served me well. Of course, I'd like DLNA to do a lot more, but as far as consolidation and easy no hassle accessibility of the digital media content is concerned, DLNA has worked just fine.
Streamline (12:13 AM on Sun Jul 12, 2009)
for 2 years now I have been enjoying my HP Mediavault NAS and Mediaplayer streaming my music off approx 8 gigs and video and photos of approx 30 gigs to my sons PS3. The technology works not perfect but as perfect as I expect with todays technology. I would say I can always count on it. For me the PS3 and HP Mediavault is a perfect match. I am now looking for a half decent 50 inch tv with dlna player for upstairs.
Cash (3:53 PM on Tue Sep 29, 2009)
I am new to this so please be patient, I am looking to buy a NAS drive to store my media (both musiv and video). I already have a media extender which i use from my pc. Before i go and spend money I would like to know if i am able to play media through the windows media extender if my media is stored on the NAs drive?
Anonymous (9:14 AM on Sun Nov 29, 2009)
As someone who has just purchased a Western Digital My World 1TB disk drive which has marked on the box DLNA and MP3 compatable I was surprised for it not to work with my Sony DLNA equipped TV, the music stops after a few seconds. The Supplier/Retailer was no use, searching on the Web provided a clue, Western Digital seem to be in with the copyright industry. I have purchase the CD, I can copy and play it back on my PC, I can stream it to my TV from a Sony DLNA compatable laptop (borrowed) also it works on an IPod but why cannot I stream it to my TV from the Western Digital Drive
Anonymous (11:05 AM on Sun Dec 27, 2009)
Regarding Sony TVs--my new (late model) Sony Bravia claims on the box to be DLNA certified. but it is not listed as being certified on the DLNA website and email to folks at DLNA confirmed that my Bravia is not DLNA certified. Email to Sony was not answered appropriately. So, I would be cautious about purchasing products that claim to be DLNA certified. Check the listings on the DLNA website for the specific model you are thinking of purchasing.
Gunner (2:59 PM on Sat Dec 12, 2009)
If I purchase a DLNA compatible TV and NAS will I be restricted to using the TV's speakers to enjoy the sound of video streamed from the NAS? Or, would it make more sense to use something like a PS3 to stream the music through, which would then be connected to my home theater system?
DC (9:13 PM on Sat Dec 26, 2009)
Most DLNA TVs are 'higher' end and also have a digital stream output (coax or toslink) that you can connect to your receiver.
Peko (10:44 PM on Fri Dec 18, 2009)
What DLNA Software is available to build a DLNA client which can receive 'PlayTo' commands from Win 7?
GaryCx (4:32 PM on Mon Dec 28, 2009)
Questions:
Will DLNA stream to newer DLNA equipped TV's? (Do I need to find a spec on such TV's?)
Also, I plan to stream video to the networked PCs, will DLNA be a quicker setup than, say VLC?
Thanks all.
Anonymous (1:20 AM on Thu Jan 14, 2010)
Now, what is the difference between a Media Server and a NAS that just has an open shared folder that I can access and read the files from? I have a Buffalo NAS but I just made a share on it and play my movies from the share on my XB360.... If I turn on the Media Server I don't really notice a diff...
Anonymous (11:29 AM on Thu Jan 14, 2010)
I am not tech savvy. What is the difference between using DLNA and simply connecting a network-capable device to my existing home network? About two months ago I purchased an LG BD390 wi-fi Blu-ray player and added it to my network; it recognizes and plays files from my computer. With it came Nero MediaHome software, which I just installed the other day. It seems to do nothing but organize the files. Won't transcode any .wmv files to play on the LG. Thought I could perhaps use it to stream full episodes of TV shows from ABC, CBS, or NBC to the LG, but it doesn't seem to want to do that, either. I'm baffled. The DLNA doesn't seem to add anything to my setup. What am I missing?
Ben (10:29 AM on Mon Jan 18, 2010)
I have a Buffalo LinkStation (DLNA), and I can see it from my PS3, but there is no media that shows up in the folders on the PS3 (pics, music, etc.). Do I need to place files a specific directory name on the Buffalo NAS drive? The Buffalo manual isn't any help.
Thanks.
Christopher (7:42 PM on Wed Jan 27, 2010)
The major problem I found with using a NAS drive is that NAS drives do not do any transcoding. Most of my videos are MKV format, and my Sony Bravia TV does not support MKV format. So a NAS drive cannot work for me. I preferred to get some DLNA server software and just keep all my files on my computer's hard drives. After trialling various software tools, I chose Mezzmo. It has the best organizing and also (importantly for me) transcodes all my video files on-the-fly so they can be played on my Bravia TV. Mezzmo found my Bravia TV immediately once I installed it and no further setup was required.