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What DLNA Is and How to Use It
Simplifying media file access within a home network
By Barb Gonzalez Barb Gonzalez Writer The University of California, Davis Barb Gonzalez is a former freelance contributor to Lifewire and the Simple Tech Guru, an advocate for simple, understandable technology. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on June 23, 2021 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email In This Article
Expand Jump to a Section What Is DLNA The Need for DLNA Certification Guidelines Certification Categories More About Certification Bottom Line The DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) is a trade organization that sets standards and guidelines for home networking devices, including PCs, smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, Blu-ray Disc players, home theater receivers, and media streamers, among others. What Is DLNA
When a DLNA certified device is added to a home network, it can automatically communicate and share media files with other connected DLNA products on the network. DLNA certified devices can: Find and play movies.Send, display, or upload photos.Find, send, play, or download music.Send and print photos between compatible network-connected devices. Examples of DLNA in action include: Send audio and video from a mobile device to a DLNA-certified TV.Access audio, video, or photos on a DLNA-certified PC and play them on a certified TV or Blu-ray Disc player.Send photos from a certified digital camera to a DLNA-certified TV, PC, or other compatible devices. Digital Living Network Alliance / Wikimedia Commons The Need for DLNA
When networked home entertainment was introduced, it was difficult for devices on the same network to communicate. DLNA changed that. In 2003 the Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) was created to implement certification requirements. This ensured that select products made by participating manufacturers were compatible with a home network. It also meant certified products from different brands could communicate with little or no additional setup. DLNA Certification Guidelines
Each type of DLNA-certified device serves a specific role in a home network. For example, some products store media and make it accessible to media players, and others control and direct media from its source to a particular player in the network. There is a certification for each of these roles. Within each certification, there are DLNA guidelines for: Ethernet and Wi-Fi connectivity. Hardware. Software or firmware. User interface design. Instructions for connecting the device to a network. Displaying different media formats. You can use DLNA-certified devices to save, share, stream, or show digital media. Certification can be built into the hardware or be part of a software application running on the device. This relates to network-attached storage (NAS) drives and computers. For example, Twonky, TVersity, PlayOn, and Plex are popular software products that can act as digital media servers. When you connect a DLNA-certified media component to a home network, it appears in the menus of other networked components. Your computer and other media devices discover and recognize the device without any setup. DLNA Device Certification Categories
Some certification categories for DLNA products and devices include: Digital Media Player DMP
This applies to devices that can find and play media from other devices and computers. A certified media player lists the components (sources) where your media is saved. Roku You choose the photos, music, or videos you want to play from a list on the player's menu. Then, the media stream sends the selection to the player. A media player may be connected to or built into a TV, Blu-ray Disc player, or home theater AV receiver. Roku Digital Media Server DMS
This certification category applies to devices that store a media library. It may be a computer, network-attached storage (NAS) drive, smartphone, DLNA-certified networkable digital camera, or a network media server device. A media server must have a hard drive or memory card where the media is saved. A digital media player can call up the saved media. The media server makes the files available to stream media to the player. Digital Media Renderer DMR
This certification category is like the digital media player category, as these devices can also play media. The difference is DMR-certified devices can be seen by a Digital Media Controller, and media can be streamed to it from a digital media server. While a certified Digital Media Player can only play what it sees on its menu, you can control a Digital Media Renderer externally. Some certified Digital Media Players are also certified as Digital Media Renderers. In addition, many standalone media streamers, smart TVs, and home theater receivers can be certified as Digital Media Renderers. Roku Digital Media Controller DMC
This certification category applies to go-between devices that can find media on a Digital Media Server and send it to the Digital Media Renderer. Smartphones, tablets, computer software like Twonky Beam. Some cameras and camcorders may be certified as Digital Media Controllers. Digging Deeper Into DLNA Certification
You may see the DLNA logo on a product or product description, but rarely will you see what certification it has been given. The DLNA website lists many products under each certification. This can help you find what you need, whether it's a Digital Media Server, a Digital Media Player, a Digital Media Controller, or a Digital Media Renderer. Other DLNA certification categories apply to digital media printers and specific mobile devices. Mobile certifications include Mobile Digital Media Server, Mobile Digital Media Player, and Mobile Digital Media Controller. There are also DLNA certifications for Mobile Digital Media Uploader and Mobile Digital Media Downloader. These certifications allow mobile devices to upload media through the network to a computer or media server. A computer or media server can save these files, eliminating the need to connect the camera for future file playback. Similarly, a Mobile Digital Media downloader can find media on a media server and save the file to itself. For example, you can find music in a PC music library and load it to your phone via the home network. Here are a few more points about DLNA-certified devices to consider: Once you use a Digital Media Controller to start playback from the Digital Media Server to the Digital Media Renderer, you no longer need the controller. This means if you used a smartphone to start playback, you could leave with the phone, and playback would continue.If you look at the list of Digital Media Renderers on your media controller, and you don't see a media player connected to your home network, it's not a Digital Media Renderer. Therefore, you won't be able to send media to that device.Windows 7, 8, and 10 are compatible with DLNA as a Digital Media Server, Digital Media Renderer, and Digital Media Controller. First, however, you need to set up media sharing and network homegroup. More Digital Media Players are also Digital Media Renderers. This means you can send files to play on it, or you can choose files from sources from the player's menu. The Bottom Line
Understanding the DLNA certifications helps to understand what's possible in home networking. For example, DLNA makes it possible to walk in with your smartphone loaded with photos and videos from your day at the beach, press a button, and start playing it on your TV without the need for any connections. A notable example of DLNA in action is Samsung's SmartView family. Sharing via DLNA is built into Samsung's networked entertainment products, including cameras, laptops, TVs, home theater systems, and Blu-ray Disc players. Samsung US In 2017, the DLNA disbanded as a non-profit trade organization and relinquished all certification and other related support services to Spirespark. For more details, refer to the Official Announcement and FAQs posted by the Digital Living Network Alliance. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire Samsung's AllShare Has evolved into to SmartView: Simplified Media Streaming What Is a Network Media Player? Should You Buy a Blu-ray Player? Media Streamers vs Network Media Players How Software Turns Your Computer Into a Media Server Microsoft Edge vs. Google Chrome How a Media Server Shares Photos, Music, and Movies What Is a Powerline Adapter? The 8 Best Blu-Ray and Ultra HD Blu-Ray Players of 2022 What Is a NAS (Network Attached Storage) Device? Smart TVs: What You Need to Know How to Set Up a Home Theater System IMAX Enhanced Certification for Home Theater Products How to Install and Set Up a Home Theater Receiver What Is Wireless Home Theater? What Is HDMI and How Do You Use It? Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies