Buzz
Dear Mytour, I'm getting frustrated with having to transfer my movies and TV shows to my PlayStation 3's hard drive every time I want to watch them. I’ve heard I can stream media from my computer using UPnP, but I’m not sure what it actually is or how to set it up. Could you assist me?
Best regards, Frustrated with Streaming
Dear Frustrated, UPnP (short for Universal Plug and Play) is a feature that enables devices on your home network to find each other and use shared services. It’s commonly used for streaming media between devices. Many devices today support UPnP (or its related technology, DLNA), which is great because it means you can store or download media on your computer and stream it directly to your TV—no file transfers required.
Note: The UPnP protocol used for streaming media over your network is not the same as the UPnP setting on your router, which is infamous for security vulnerabilities. You don’t need UPnP enabled on your router to stream media between devices within your home, and doing so won’t introduce any security risks.
There are various ways to set up UPnP, and the process will differ based on the device you're using. I'll walk you through how it works and show you the easiest methods I've used to get it set up.
What You'll Need
A Server Program. This is the software on your main PC that allows it to share media with your UPnP-enabled device. There are many server programs available, but I’ve found that using the previously mentioned XBMC, which includes a built-in UPnP server, works great. For Mac users, I recommend trying the simple Majestic, and for Linux users, MediaTomb is a solid choice. I haven't found anything simpler for Windows. (Update: A lot of you have recommended the user-friendly PS3 Media Server in the comments. This simple server works on both Windows and Linux, and despite its name, it supports a wide range of UPnP devices. Thanks to everyone who contributed this tip!)
A UPnP-compatible device to stream to. This could be a Playstation 3, Xbox 360, a media center running software like XBMC, Boxee, or Plex, or even certain TVs and DVD players. Be sure to check your device’s documentation to confirm it supports UPnP.
How to Set It Up
Step One: Set Up Your UPnP Server
For this tutorial, I’ll be using XBMC as my server because it works on Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux, and it’s relatively easy to set up. As mentioned earlier, if you prefer a different UPnP server, you have plenty of other choices. If you haven’t installed XBMC yet, you can get it here.
Open XBMC and go to Settings > Network. Under the 'Services' section, you’ll find the option to share video and music libraries via UPnP. Check the box, then return to the main menu.
If, for example, you wish to share videos with another UPnP-enabled device, go to the Videos section in XBMC and select 'Add Source'. Navigate to the folder on your computer where your media is stored, select it, and press OK. This folder will now be indexed by XBMC and shared with any UPnP-capable device on your network.
Step Two: Set Up Your UPnP-Enabled Device (If Needed)
Most devices will automatically detect UPnP servers, which is why this process is so simple. For instance, with a PlayStation 3, you should be able to go to the Video section and find your computer listed as a new source. From there, you can browse through your shared folders. If the shared folder doesn’t appear, check your device’s settings to ensure UPnP is enabled, as some devices don’t have it turned on by default. XBMC users will need to go back to 'Add Source' and choose the UPnP device option to detect devices on the network. Refer to your device’s manual if it doesn’t show up right away.
Step Three: Sit Back and Enjoy Your Seamless Streaming Experience
That’s all! UPnP is one of the most straightforward ways to share media throughout your home, and it only takes a few minutes to set up. Just remember, whenever you want to access your media, your server program (in this case, XBMC) needs to be running on your main computer.
I hope this guide helps you get started and saves you the hassle of constantly transferring files. Enjoy your UPnP experience!
Best regards, Mytour
P.S. Do you have a favorite UPnP server that we didn’t mention? Or are you struggling to get yours working on your device? Every server and device is a bit unique, so feel free to share your experiences and help others out in the comments.
