ReadyMedia, formerly known as MiniDLNA, is a popular open-source media server that allows users to stream videos, music, and other media files to compatible devices. In this tutorial, we will guide you through the process of installing ReadyMedia on an Ubuntu Server.
Before proceeding with the installation, you must have the following:
sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade -y
sudo apt install minidlna
sudo systemctl stop minidlna
/etc/minidlna.conf using your favorite text editor. In this tutorial, we will use nano.sudo nano /etc/minidlna.conf
media_dir: This option specifies the directory where your media files are stored. By default, it is set to /var/lib/minidlna which is not ideal. For example, if you have your media files in /media/<username>/media, you would update this option as follows:media_dir=/media/<username>/media
db_dir: This option specifies the directory where ReadyMedia stores its database. By default, it is set to /var/lib/minidlna, which is also not ideal. Therefore, you should change this to a different directory that is not the same as the media_dir. For example:db_dir=/var/lib/minidlna/db
friendly_name: This option specifies the name of your ReadyMedia server that will be shown on client devices. Change it to something that is easy to remember. For example:friendly_name=My ReadyMedia Server
inotify=yes: This option enables (or disables) watching for changes in your media directory. It is recommended to enable this option so that ReadyMedia automatically updates its database as you add or remove media files.Save and close the configuration file by pressing Ctrl+O followed by Ctrl+X.
Verify the configuration file for syntax errors by running:
sudo minidlna -f /etc/minidlna.conf -R
sudo systemctl start minidlna
sudo systemctl status minidlna
If the service is running without any problems, you should see a message that says Active: active (running).
Copy your media files to the directory that you specified in the media_dir option in the configuration file.
The media files will be automatically detected by ReadyMedia within a few seconds, and you should be able to see them on your client devices.
Congratulations! You have successfully installed and configured ReadyMedia on your Ubuntu Server. Now you can start streaming your favorite media files to compatible devices.
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