Not so long ago, you could not even dream of creating an entertainment center based on a home network to which user devices in the form of computers, laptops, television panels and mobile devices would be connected. However, today such actions no longer seem like something out of the realm of fiction, since to combine all devices into a single network, when you use a home media server for Windows 10 to access, broadcast and play multimedia, you can use special DLNA technology (UPnP, HTTP) . How to create such a center on your own will be discussed further. There is nothing particularly complicated in this, however, at some stages it will be necessary to pay attention to specialized settings, without which the created center will not work.
What is a home media server for Windows 10?
To begin, consider what such an organization of access to multimedia and reproduction of content is. It should be noted right away that the home media server for Windows in terms of installation and configuration is based on the use of a wireless connection.
As a current connection, you can use a connection via a router (router) or Wi-Fi Direct means, if such technology is supported by devices on the network. Especially often, such questions concern television panels of early generations. But on almost all modern TVs there is such support, only it can be called in different ways.
The easiest file access method
Before you start creating a media server and setting it up, pay attention to the point that sometimes it is not necessary to do this to simplify the actions you take.
It is enough to simply “share” folders with multimedia content by setting up shared access for them. In this case, it is mandatory to enable the ability to identify computers on the network. If this is not done, the folders will remain invisible even with the shared access set.
If you have set-top boxes like Mag, the problem is simplified even more, because they already have a predefined setting for DLNA (UPnP), when activated, you can get immediate access to the necessary files and folders.
Also, if devices in the network are detected, you can simply use the PCM menu on the selected file using the line "Bring to device ...", and then select the active device connected to the network. After that, playback of the selected object will immediately begin in the Windows Media player (by default) with the broadcast being transmitted to the connected terminal or mobile gadget.
Windows 10 DLNA server: setup, output content for playback
Now, directly on the methodology for creating and activating an entertainment network center. Setting up a home media server for Windows 10 begins with the use of the network and Internet section located in the “Control Panel” (if the category display is turned on in the view menu), where you need to go to the settings of the home group.
Now the question of how to configure a DLNA media server in Windows 10 (8.1, 8 or 7) is to create a new group and include only those user devices that will be allowed access. To do this, the corresponding button is pressed at the bottom of the window, after which the types of multimedia files to which access is supposed to be selected are selected.
After that, the continue button is used and the transition to the automatic password generation section is carried out. The combination issued by the system needs to be recorded or remembered, since without it it will be impossible to connect gadgets to the server. Then it remains to click the “Finish” button and proceed to editing the parameters.
In a new window, you can change the originally created password that will use the home media server for Windows 10, fix connection problems, etc. However, a prerequisite is the activation of a file streaming point with permission to play multimedia content (selected above) for all devices connected to the network.
Multimedia streaming
The now created media server for the home network in Windows 10 requires one important configuration. In order not to search for it in various menus for a long time, just specify in the search “Multimedia Streaming Options” (without quotes), and in the new window, click the corresponding power button.
Next, you need to name the media folder, which is installed by default. You can also add or remove from the list of devices on the network and without fail click the “Allow all” button.
If you use additional settings, as in the first stages, you can select the type of content. If all types are activated, devices on the network will have access to the “Images”, “Music” and “Video” folders on the parent terminal, which is used as the main server.
By the way, setting these parameters has the advantage that you do not need to create a home group . Here the main condition is the registration of devices on the network so that they are visible.
Note: when installing such options, it is necessary to change the type of network from public to private and enable device discovery for it.
Adding Files and Folders
So, the home media server for Windows 10 is created. Now you need to add folders with multimedia so that their contents can be played on all devices on the network.
To do this, launch the standard Windows Media Player, select the type of multimedia, use the video library (music library or gallery) control in the PCM menu and add the necessary directories. Now their contents can be played (played) on all devices that have DLNA support.
Specialized program for Windows 10
However, you can simplify your work and use specially designed utilities for such purposes. One of the easiest to use exclusively in Windows-systems can be called the software home media server Home Media Server (HMS). You can download it even on the official Microsoft resource.
The program for Windows 10 “Home Media Server” is recommended for use by those users who do not have the necessary knowledge to make settings using the operating system. After starting the utility, the basic settings and options installed by default, you can not change. The essence of using the application is only to add devices and select directories with multimedia content. If for some reason the devices are not visible, you should click the list refresh button or check their connection to the virtual network. But, in theory, there should be no problems.
Serviio App
Another fairly simple but powerful utility, presented as a Serviio package. In the installed application, after running the Serviiio Console applet, you must immediately change the language to Russian.
After that, add directories in which there is material for playback, and that’s all - the server is ready for use. You can disable it at any time using the status item in the settings. This program, like the previous package, does not imply a change in basic settings. Everything works using standard predefined options.
Instead of an afterword
It remains to add that it is better for an ordinary user to create a server to use highly targeted programs, rather than system tools. But for those who do not want to install additional software, the Windows tools are quite enough. However, this is a matter of preferences of the users themselves.
As for the possible connection problems, the created server can be verified using the Windows tools, as described above. The troubleshooter launches in the settings, after which a list of errors and recommendations for resolving them will be displayed. In some cases, if these are not critical failures, they can be fixed automatically. In general, there is nothing particularly complicated here.
Finally, another point can be especially noted. The fact is that when creating such an entertainment center, you can use some of its additional features. For example, downloading the same high-volume movies to a mobile device is not necessary at all. As the final folder for downloading, you can quite simply install some selected directory on the server (PC or laptop on which it was created).