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miniDLNA

miniDLNA is a free and open source Linux program that allows you to easily make a very basic media server using the DLNA standard. If you don't know what that is, it's just a communication standard that allows devices to browse and stream media over your local network. When I say basic, I really mean it. I use this all the time, but if you want something feature filled, miniDLNA is not for you. It's a lightweight way to serve media to other devices on your network, and if you don't care about a pretty GUI or features like remembering your playback position or which episode you were up to in a show, it's great. If you just want something simple that serves files over LAN and nothing more while using barely any resources while doing so, miniDLNA is perfect. All you do is install it, point it to the directory containing your media, and away you go! You can now access all that media on any device, provided it's capable of connecting to your local network. The setup is minimal and the program is extremely stable. One issue I have found is that many TVs are a little strange about recognising the server. They work, but they might not detect the server immediately, and might even need to be restarted. Some TVs are better than others, but I've yet to find a TV that outright refuses to work with it. My PC and my phone recognise it instantly, so it's not an issue with the program itself. If you want something that feels like a real streaming service, use Jellyfin I guess. If you're happy using your tv remote to click through boring folders with no thumbnail previews on the files (which believe me, I am, because I love the simplicity of this program) then use miniDLNA. You can turn any junk computer into a media hub in like four terminal commands. It's nothing fancy, but it's right there in the name 'miniDLNA', and if you're an admirer of the KISS principle like I am, then you'll be very satisfied with it

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