How to configure a home server on Windows XP

Many modern users try to configure their own home server in order to be able to view various media files, but often enough they, faced with this issue, simply do not know how to properly configure such a server, and how to use them later. At once it is worth noting the fact that this article will focus on DLNA-servers.

What is DLNA?

DLNA stands for "integrated digital network consortium" and represents a certain group of companies that have joined together in order to create a universal, open standard for connecting various devices. Thus, any equipment that supports DLNA is capable of fully automatic mode, being in a single network, to configure the ability to receive and view various content from each other, but each owner of such a device should initially take care of opening and configuring Own home server.

Which devices have this support?

To date, there is a huge number of different devices that support DLNA. In particular, this applies to telephones, computers, laptops, televisions, players, consoles and, of course, equipment such as a home server. First of all, you should make sure that the purchased device provides such support, and it's quite easy to do, since all equipment that has the DLNA certificate must have a corresponding label or logo indicating that the product has passed the full test cycle Compliance with these standards, as a result of which it can be connected to other certified devices. Also, devices must have an enumeration of supported digital content and specify the type of assignment, since this also needs to be taken into account when connecting their own home server.

To date, DLNA includes a huge number of the largest companies in the current market, including such giants as HTC, Microsoft, LG, Intel, Samsung, Panasonic and many others. These manufacturers are engaged in the manufacture of their own products, but all of them can interact with each other, and in this case only Apple remains to the side, which decided to develop its own standard called AirPlay. In this regard, if you want to use a home server on Windows XP, then you will not be able to include some iPhone or another gadget from this manufacturer in its network.

How does this network work?

As mentioned above, all gadgets that conform to the DLNA standard, initially provide for the possibility of interconnection, and each individual device has its own class, depending on the purpose. Thus, any storage device has a class "digital media server", and, in particular, this includes mobile phones that store music, video or photos.

Any device that can receive and use digital content from some other DLNA device is a digital media player, and this includes, for example, your TV if it has the function of playing music or video files from other devices.

In order to create your own home server on Windows XP, you need at least one repository, which will contain different content. As a basis, you can use your own computer or mobile phone, as well as some device that will play various files.

What equipment do you need?

Devices in the DLNA standard can easily connect and commute with each other through a configured home network, which is roughly the same as that of a standard home Internet network. In reality, in this case, the router is the central point of the message on the network and is used to ensure that the devices communicate with each other.

So, to make a home server on XP, you need a few devices:

• TV with DLNA support;
• One media server, which can act as a telephone, laptop or specialized data store ;
• Router;
• Ethernet cable, wireless adapter or Powerline adapter (in this case only one of three is used).

Connectivity

Initially, we will need to include in the network a TV that has the ability to support the DLNA standard, to the router. There are several ways to do this. In this case, you decide for yourself which of them is optimal, depending on how far the router is installed from the TV, as well as the other connected devices.

Ethernet cable

In the event that the router is located a short distance from the TV, the home DLNA server can be connected using an Ethernet cable, since this is the simplest and most affordable method among all available today. Simply connect one end of the cable directly to the TV, while the other will connect to the port of the router.

Wireless bridge

If you use a wireless router, and while the TV is at a sufficiently large distance, then in this case it is worth considering to use a dedicated wireless bridge to connect them. It is connected to the TV via the same Ethernet port, but the device is already connected with the router via wireless communication. If your device provides work with Wi-Fi due to the built-in or external adapter, then in that case you can combine it with the router directly, and then it remains to understand how the setting is done. The home media server UPnP in this case can be configured especially quickly.

Some wireless routers are DLNA certified, and are specially designed for use in the home network of this standard.

Circuit

The electric grid option is an excellent opportunity to set up a full-fledged network throughout the house, and it is worth noting that for many people this installation option is as simple and safe as possible. Since in this case already used electrical wiring is used, no additional cables need to be used to connect devices inside the DLNA network itself. Specialized adapters for connecting to network outlets today are produced by almost every manufacturer of network equipment, and they are called Powerline adapters.

Here, you simply connect the router, TV and other devices to a dedicated socket, but with the selected devices a full home network will be formed. That's why this option is considered one of the simplest ways to create a home server.

Connecting to a Router

Now you can connect to the router of other servers, including a laptop, player or phone. The TV will already see them through the existing network, and you will be able to enjoy all the relevant content. It should be noted that some DLNA devices are initially equipped with built-in Wi-Fi function or provide the possibility of connecting them through a router in one of the above ways.

Next, we'll look at how to properly connect and configure different equipment in the network.

Computers

Initially, you need to connect your computer to this network using one of the methods listed above. Before you broadcast various content directly to the TV, you need to install the appropriate software. Optimum will be the use of VAIO Media Server or Home Media Server, but it is worth noting that even Windows Media Player 11 and 12 versions provide the option of such connection.

After installing the utilities data, you can begin to select the files that will be transferred to the TV. The method of transmission in this case directly depends on what kind of software you use, but in the majority of cases only the playlist, library, a specific file is specified or they are added to the corresponding folders.

If you use a standard laptop, you will also need to confirm access to your device by activating the function of exchanging various media files with the program. To do this, you can go to the regular Windows Media Player, go to the "Options" section, and then enable the sharing option on the Windows Media Sharing tab.

Cell phones

To date, not yet so many mobile phones support DLNA, but each device that conforms to this standard is equipped with built-in Wi-Fi, so that it can easily be connected to a wireless bridge or router. This is done as follows:

1. Connect your phone to the network.
2. Enable this connection in the "Favorites" list, and then activate the automatic connection function.
3. Activate the ability to exchange data on this network. In this case, the activation process may vary depending on the specific phone model.
4. In the end, completely disconnect the device in an economical power mode.

Players

Players with built-in DLNA support, in most cases, have an extremely simple connection procedure. Simply combine the device with the installed router, for which you can use the Powerline adapter or the option of wireless connection. After that, all your music files will be available for playback using the TV.

Customize

After you connect the device, the home media server DLNA setup begins. To do this, turn on the TV and go to the Smart TV menu. In this case, the principle of tuning on TVs from Samsung will be described, but in the majority of similar systems this process is similar.

After going to the appropriate menu, you need to go to the Allshare application, through which you will need to fill the home server with your own hands. Entering this application, you will see a huge amount of available music, videos and photos located on devices of this standard connected to the network. All files are located under the appropriate icons, so you can always easily find exactly what you are interested in, even if you use a home IPTV server.

In each separate category, all files are sorted by name, manufacturer and by cover. To start them, simply select the file you are interested in and click the play button, after which the program will open it in the corresponding application.

After all these procedures, you can start using your own home media server. Podcasts, music, video - all this can be played from various devices and viewed on the TV at any convenient time. It is for this reason that such systems have now become so widespread among modern users.