HowTo: OpenMediaVault - Install and configure DLNA plugin for media streaming - Nerdiy.de - Nerdy DIY HowTo's about electronic, 3D-printing and more.

In the article Raspberry Pi – music streaming to the Raspberry Pi via DLNA client, I have already described how to use the Raspberry Pi as a playback device for content from a DLNA server. DLNA describes a standard with which you can easily stream content across devices in your own network.

For example, you can use the DLNA standard to stream videos, music or photos from a data source/server to your SmartTV. Perfect for presenting your own photo collection or playing your own music on the TV.

In this case, the SmartTV or the Raspberry Pi mentioned above would be the playback device. Of course, you also need a server from which the content to be played can be obtained. This is where OpenMediaVault comes into play.

OpenMediaVault is not just a simple NAS. Thanks to the many plugins, its functionality can also be expanded. So you can easily retrofit the function of a DLNA server with the MIniDLNA plugin.

What you have to do is described in the following article.

Safety instructions

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Requirements

Helpful articles:
Before you start this article, you should have prepared a Raspberry Pi so that it can be reached via the network and controlled via SSH.

The following articles describe what needs to be done to prepare the Raspberry Pi.

In the following lists you will find all the parts you need to implement this article.

Required tool:

Number	Link
1x	*Screwdriver set* Buy at Amazon
1x	*SD card reader* Buy at Amazon

Required material:

Number	Link
1x	*Raspberry Pi* Buy at Amazon
1x	*Raspberry Pi power supply* Buy at Amazon
1x	*Raspberry Pi case* Buy at Amazon
1x	*Micro SD card 64GB* Buy at Amazon

Create share folder

In order for you to be able to share media, it should of course be stored on the NAS. This is often the case. For example, if you use your OpenMediaVault installation to store your photos, you can easily stream them to your SmartTV via DLNA.

To do this, your photos (music and videos work the same way) must be in a shared folder. If you have not yet prepared such a folder, you should do so now.

You can find tips on how to do this in this article

OpenMediaVault - Set up an external hard drive as a drive

Install and activate DLNA Server

In order to be able to use the DLNA server, you must first activate it.

To do this, click on the tab

system

other

plugins

Now use the search function to search for the plugin shown and click on the blue arrow pointing down.

Confirm the start of the installation process by clicking

The installation should then start…

… and be completed shortly thereafter.

You can then close the window by clicking on

After the installation you have to activate the DLNA plugin. To do this, click on the tab

services

and the subpoint

MiniDLNA

Then click on the tile

Settings

At this point you can activate the DLNA server by ticking "Enabled".

You can also assign your own name for the DLNA server here and make other settings.

Click on "Save" to apply the settings.

Then you have to confirm the changed configuration again by clicking on the check mark in the yellow area and…

… confirm this again.

Set media sharing

So that the DLNA server knows which media to release and how, you now have to create a media release.

To do this, click in the subcategory

MiniDLNA

on the section

To add a media share you have to click on the small plus in the top left corner.

In the following view you can then specify what type of media you want to release.

You should be careful here. For example, if you only set videos as "Content Type", photos contained in the share will not be displayed.

You can also select the shared folder from which the media data will be streamed.

How you can share a folder is explained in the following article

OpenMediaVault - Set up an external hard drive as a drive

To apply the settings click on

Save

Then you have to confirm the changed configuration again by clicking on the check mark in the yellow area and…

… confirm this again.

Start scanning the media data

In order for the media to be recognized in the (new) shared folder, you should initiate a "rescan" at this point.

To do this, click on the following button in the "Settings" view of the "MiniDLNA" plugin

rescan

Test media sharing over DLNA

There are basically several ways to test your new DLNA server. For example, many SmartTVs offer the option of streaming content via DLNA. Meanwhile there is also a good client in Windows11.

On Windows 11, the DLNA Server should appear soon in the drives section.

Once you click on it, you have the option to choose whether you want to view the content by type or by folder structure.

For example, if you click “Browse Folders”…

…you will see the folder structure, which you should know from the folder structure of your share.

Here you can now navigate through the folders until you…

… arrived at the content you were looking for.

Have fun with the project

I hope everything worked as described. If not or you have any other questions or suggestions, please let me know in the comments. Also, ideas for new projects are always welcome. 🙂

P.S. Many of these projects - especially the hardware projects - cost a lot of time and money. Of course I do this because I enjoy it, but if you appreciate that I share this information with you, I would be happy about a small donation to the coffee box. 🙂