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[JustinChase]

I was trying to watch a video on my server, using a Samsung smart TV, which did find both DLNA servers, the server, and the running player both seem to present themselves to the TV.

Picking the server version gives one view of folders, the player version gives a different view of different folders.  Neither view presented is what I have setup in the settings jremote, gizmo, etc

The server version shows far more folders, but no matter which one I selected, it said it was empty.  I switched to the player view, and was able to finally navigate to the video by picking the folder called "disk" then navigating to my video.  Works fine this way.

But, I'd prefer to have the folders/views rearranged, but can't find any setting that affect what the TV shows me.

Not possible, or I'm just missing it?

[RoderickGI]

Options > Media Network > Add or configure DLNA servers >  Customise Views

A similar process to Theatre View views.

[JustinChase]

Bah!  I looked right past it, thanks for opening my eyes to that.

I'm updating the views right now.  It lets me make changes that I do see on the TV, but only when I select the player option in the DLNA options on the TV (instead of the server itself).  Selecting the server seems to display a different view, but  all the folders are empty.

If I decide that I can get this TV/view setup, I won't need to run MC on the server, just the MC server would work, but I can't figure out where to control whatever determines how that server is presented, if possible.

[Spike1000]

Is this one of the situations where you need to close and restart MC and the MC server running in the background for the changes to take effect on the remote device?

Spike

[JustinChase]

I don't think so.  My changes are shown without restarting, buy only for 1 of 2 DLNA servers.  I can't find where to update the other one.

[RoderickGI]

I'm no expert and I haven't used my TV that way in some time, but is this what you are trying to do?

[PC running JRiver Media Server only][MC DLNA Server only (not Controller or Renderer)] > [TV running DLNA Player]

Then use the TV as both the DLNA Controller and Renderer, which are part of the DLNA Player in the TV settings.

Correct? Should work.

When you boot up the PC the JRiver MC Media Server should start, assuming it is set to start in the Startup setting. I think that it will start the MC DLNA Server in that configuration.

I think you need to ignore the Server option in the TV settings. That would be a DLNA Server that the TV can run to serve media from a connected USB Drive or USB Stick I suspect. As you don't have either connected to the TV, nothing shows up in the, what I suspect are, default folders.

The TV's Player option is showing you the MC DLNA Views because the Player is connecting to an external (to the TV) DLNA Server, being the MC Server, which has media content.

Anyway, I haven't had a Samsung TV to play with for years, but I think that is how it worked. My current Sony works a bit like that. Well, did until I disabled the DLNA components.

[JustinChase]

Thanks Roderick for your help.  I think we're almost on the same page, but I'll try to provide all details of what's still not working for me.

What I'm trying to do is use a Samsung TV remote to find my DLNA Server (called Server) then to play a file on the TV after browsing to them with remote.  I started this while on one TV, and am testing on a second Samsung TV now.  It behaves similarly to the first.

I've captured and notated my settings, which seem set correctly for what I want to do.



Here is what I see offered on the TV when the servers' server and player are both running.  Notice how only the servers' server is shown here, not the servers' player.  The Laptops' server and player are both showing, which is what I expect to see from the server.



Here is another odd one.  After I closed the laptop instance of MC, I then saw this offering from the TV, which looks like a 'play to' icon of some sort.  I've not seen it before or since restarting everything.

[RoderickGI]

Well, the answer to this;

Selecting the server seems to display a different view, but all the folders are empty.

was easy on my Sony TV, once I redid the Network settings on the TV and played with the various media standard Apps, which on my Sony Android TV means the Video, Music, and Album (images) Apps.

First, the setup on my Sony, and the way it works since it is an Android TV, are very different to your Samsung TV I suspect, based on my memory of an older Samsung Smart TV I used to have access to. But the concepts are the same.

I connected from my TV to my JRiver DLNA server and was able to generate the "The server has no content" message easily, because the TV itself was doing some filtering. It worked like this;

If I opened the Video App, I had the option to connect to any available Devices. I connected to my JRiver DLNA server, which was named based on my HTPC name and the MC DLNA server name. So "WILMA (Generic DLNA)" was the device name. I am still using the default views with just one modification, so had options such as Audio, Images, Video, and Playlists.

If I selected Video I was offered the options of "Movies" and "Shows All" (my modified name to test View changes showed up), and then I could drill down and play movies and TV shows. However, if I select Audio, Images, or Playlist and tried to drill down to the content, I got the "The server has no content" message.

Similarly, if I used the Music App to connect to the "WILMA (Generic DLNA)" device I could drill down to Audio and Playlist content, and play both, but if I selected Images or Video, I got the "The server has no content" message.

Again, if I used the Album App to connect to the "WILMA (Generic DLNA)" device I could drill down to Images content, and display images, but if I selected Video, Audio, or Playlist sections I got the "The server has no content" message.

So, as above, the TV Apps are filtering the DLNA server content to those media items that the App is designed to play. I do not know if this is the same reason you are getting the no content message, but it seems possible.

As my Sony TV is based on Android I can download and install a whole bunch of Apps for it. I could, for example, use the Google Play Store to install the "Plex" Android App onto the TV, and use that to connect to the JRiver DLNA server and play all media types in the one App. I'm sure there are also other DLNA Client Apps that I could install which would play all media types.

I thought that Samsung TVs had a "Player" App that played all media types, and that is what I thought you were talking about when you mentioned seeing the Player in the Server list. I'm still not sure about that, as I believe that my old Samsung automatically ran a DLNA server which appeared as an available DLNA server in MC. So maybe the built-in Samsung DLNA server is connecting to the MC DLNA server and presenting all media types, and the Samsung Player is connecting to the Samsung DLNA server to show you the media?


Notes:
. Your image shows you have the "DLNA Renderer" selected in settings. You don't need the DLNA Renderer for this setup. Turn it off. It may be confusing things.
. I'm still not sure if you have a separate PC that is running the JRiver Media Server without the MC GUI and is, therefore, acting as the DLNA server, or if it is the laptop that runs it. If the laptop, the JRiver Media Server should be visible in the Windows System Tray with a JRiver icon.
. Calling the MC DLNA server PC "Server" is just darn confusing. I would be renaming that to something unique and identifiable, like my WILMA for my HTPC.
. I don't know why your TV isn't seeing the DLNA Server called "Testing", but my Sony has an option to refresh the devices it sees on the network, including DLNA server. I think it was part of the network setup or diagnostics. It could be that your TV is using cached names that it found earlier.
. Shut down the Laptop while you are testing if it is a separate PC. Or take it off the network. Is it called "Spectre" by any chance, and hence the "SPECTRE: Chris:" and "Spectre (Laptop)" are servers or shares on the laptop?
. Does your TV support the Video and Audio modes that you have set in the MC DLNA server? i.e. 24bit PCM?

That is probably enough to get you thinking. At least I have fixed my TVs network settings and now I can get a DLNA connection from the HTPC to the TV again. 

Oh, finally, while I was only using a wireless connection for my TV to the network, which may have had an impact, the video quality using my 2016 high-end Sony TV as a DLNA Renderer was rubbish. The interface using the standard built-in Apps was also awful, and wouldn't be fixed much by changing DLNA Views in MC. A different App on the TV may make a big difference to both those issues, but it may not.

[JustinChase]

The Samsung TV connects to the DLNA servers via the TV Remote Source button.  It shows things connected dynamically.  HDMI 1, HDMI 2, TV, DLNA servers, etc.  DLNA items come and go as MC is opened/closed on different computers.

I have a server box running MC.  That version opens the MC server and client when windows starts.  Client opens to Theater View by default.

My Laptop is called Spectre and is what I use to connect to the server via Slashtop.  I have to have it running to use the server, so I cannot test without it.  However, I restarted the server after changes and also the laptop.

The TV has no apps for audio or video, only the DLNA servers presented, and shown in the screenshots.

If I connect to the DLNA called Network Sceptre (Laptop), it shows the MC folder setup I can manage, and videos I play play fine, so I know the connection can work.

If I pick the DLNA called Network SPECTRE: Chris: I get the TV folders and they all appear to be blank.

The first option is only offered if my laptop has an active MC session running.  No Server session needs to be running on the laptop for the second option to be present.  I don't think this second option should be offered when it's not running/available.  I think it's offered/running because the server session of MC shows this as a library.  It's shown in the orange callout above, and just above that callout you can see that it's not loaded, so MC knows it's not loaded, so not available, so it seems a mistake to offer it.

The weird thing with tonight's testing is that there is not a DLNA option shown for Network Server (Testing) even though the MC client is running, whether Theater View is up or not.  It had been presented when I tested to create this thread, on the other TV.

I have the renderer box checked because it's description leads me to believe its necessary for the TV to control the media (play/pause/skip).  If this control is available without this checked, great.  I'll actually test that now, but wanted to post this first.

I think I addressed all your thoughts/suggestions, hope that better explains what I'm trying to do.

**"Server" maybe isn't the best choice to name my server in this case, I agree, but normally it's fine, and other things rely on that name at this point, so it will need to stay.

[RoderickGI]

Okay, so Splashtop is a Remote Desktop application like Teamviewer or VNC, and in the first image you are using the laptop to remote into the "Server Computer". So you are essentially running the "Server Computer" as a "headless server". i.e. Running it without a monitor or TV attached, and remote connecting to it to manage it. But you don't need any version or component of MC running on the laptop to be able to do that. Just Splashtop. Your second image shows the third network option is "Spectre (laptop)", and it has a MC Logo, so it looks to me like MC is running on the laptop, with Media Network, which is why the TV sees it. I know you said that neither MC or Media Server are running on the laptop in the blue callout, but why would the "Spectre (laptop)" have a MC Logo if it wasn't a MC instance?

Of course, you could run a MC Client on the laptop, and use it as a DLNA Controller to tell the DLNA Server on the "Server Computer" to play a media file to the DLNA Client on the TV, which is acting as a DLNA Renderer. But even in that situation, MC has better capability in the Tremote functionality, where it can act as a remote control for another MC instance.

The DLNA Renderer description is a little unfortunate. I'm pretty sure that you would only need it if you had a TV or monitor connected to another Computer and wanted to tell MC to play something on that monitor or TV. Hence "control Media Center". For example, if you had a PC running JRiver Media Server, and a NUC connected to a monitor/TV, then the NUC would need to run a DLNA Renderer as it is the target of the playback and will be rendering the media file. In your case, the DLNA Client on the TV will act as the DLNA Controller and tell the DLNA Server on the "Server Computer" to play something to the DLNA Client on the TV. The TV will then act as a DLNA Renderer and render the media file onto the screen and play the audio.

Aside: I just noticed that you are using a non-standard TCP port for Media Network, 360 instead of the standard 52199. That is fine, but it isn't a good idea to use port numbers in the low number range. Certainly not below 1024 I think it is, and up to 1055 according to GRC's "Shield Up!". Port 360 is used for something called "scoi2odialog", which may not impact your setup, but it still isn't the best port to use. Pick a high number above 5000 and below 65000 if you want to use a non-standard port.


So, back on track. I remember a bit more about my old Samsung now, and that it connected via the Source function, using the remote control.

The network option that makes most sense to me is the second one, the "SERVER: Server:". But it doesn't make sense that it doesn't have a MC Logo, or why it has the same logo as the "SPECTRE: Chris:" options.

I think the "SPECTRE: Chris:" library is shown in your first image because MC remembers Dynamic Zones, which in this case is the MC instance on your laptop. It is both a library on the laptop, and a Zone that can be played to. What the first image doesn't show is if the "SERVER: Server:" library is loaded. It needs to be for your setup to work. Judging by the icon colour to the left of the library names you have the "Main Library" loaded. What is that library? Is it the correct library with all your media files referenced in it? In fact, does it have any contents at all?

So let's simplify by removing pieces of the puzzle. Once the "Server Computer" is set up correctly and is up and running with the JRiver Media Server for the "SERVER: Server:" library, you shouldn't need to run the laptop. So turn it off for testing the TV connection. Then start the TV and see which Network options appear. If the "SERVER: Server:" appears, connect to it. Then try to play a sample of all types of media that you have; Video, Audio, Playlists, Images.

Did any of them show content? Could you play any?


Notes:

1. I'm pretty sure that your TV will cache what it finds in a DLNA Server library. So you may need to refresh what it finds as you test stuff. I just loaded multiple libraries on my Workstation, and my TV decided to remember the contents of the library that it could actually play. After that is kept showing the same library even though I had loaded a new library, and for the new library it couldn't play media. I had to actually change the App I was using on the TV from Audio to Video to Audio to see the new correct contents from the DLNA Server. You may see similar issues. I get a complete power-down of the TV and back on again would also do it, if there are no other alternatives on the Samsung.

2. No, I still don't know why your TV doesn't show the "Testing" DLNA server name. Had you clicked OK, OK in that and the Options dialogue to save the name? Check if the name is still saved. Basically, you have to change the name, click OK, and then re-open the dialogue to see what it is set to. Pressing Enter on the Display Name field doesn't change the name, even though it appears to.

[JimH]

Oh, finally, while I was only using a wireless connection for my TV to the network, which may have had an impact, the video quality using my 2016 high-end Sony TV as a DLNA Renderer was rubbish. The interface using the standard built-in Apps was also awful, and wouldn't be fixed much by changing DLNA Views in MC. A different App on the TV may make a big difference to both those issues, but it may not.

Maybe the DLNA server is converting.

[RoderickGI]

Indeed the DLNA Server was converting, and I hadn't tweak the setting for this testing. But previously I have tried to improve the result. It is a reflection on the TV though, not MC.

The poor user interface for the DLNA Client on the TV is also a TV issue. It just isn't anywhere near as good a MC Theatre View, or the TVs native media presentation interface.

As I said though, a different App on the TV may make a large difference. Samsung TVs support third-party Apps, as does my Sony, so that would be an option.

[JustinChase]

I think all (most?) of your comments and questions are answered in my posts above, but I've posted a lot, so I understand the confusion.  But, as I've continued testing and troubleshooting (and lots of restarting), I think I'm all good now.

I have discovered through much testing that the Network SPECTRE: Chris and Network SERVER: Server are both a result of the computers themselves broadcasting DLNA, and have nothing to do with MC.  The 'empty' folders were the default shared photos, music and video folders on the C: drive of each computer.

I've restarted the server and the TV after enabling only the DLNA Server option and now I'm getting Network server (Testing) on the TV.  This also presents only Audio Photo Video options, but each then presents my customized folders, which is fine.

I've tested with only Media Server running (never starting the client after a restart) and it's still working.

So, it seems the first post telling me where to customize the DLNA was all that needed done to get my custom navigation from the TV.  The other stuff was just a distraction due to the OS adding itself, but me thinking it was a separate MC server instance.

This all did lead me to consider linking my local OS media folders to my network shares, which would allow the TV to navigate via the OS DLNA system.  Maybe someday.  For now, I just needed a way to get to MC media from a TV and no computer access; which I can now do fine.

Thanks again for taking the time to help me walk thru this.

[RoderickGI]

You're Welcome Justin.

I've been meaning to get my TV DLNA working again, and this thread gave me a reason to do so, and have a play with some settings and configuration. So it is a win-win as far as I'm concerned.

I will note that having unknown DLNA servers or Shares running on PCs does seem to catch people out when trying to get DLNA working.

Good that you got it working. Don't overlook the possibility of installing a "better" DLNA Client on your TVs, which might provide a better user experience than the built-in one. There are a lot of Apps for Samsung TVs.