Kodi and DLNA media server

[rbk123]

I have a DLNA media server that runs Mezzmo and I want to connect to it from another HTPC running Kodi. When I connect to it, I can see the files but when I play them the result is very low quality video and the functionality doesn't appear to be the same as if I had the files on the Kodi PC directly. Are there some configuration settings I am missing?

I do have Kodi directly on the media server as well, as I have a TV hooked up to it. Is there a Kodi "server" function that would be better? Do I stick with Mezzmo? Do I use some network fileshare software like Samba (windows networking is too slow for my HD files) and treat the media server as NAS for the remote Kodi PC? Recommendations?

 

[poofyhairguy]

The optimal way to use Kodi is to share your media via Samba and then add that as a source to Kodi. Then you can scrape information from that source into a library that then gives you all the fanart, descriptions, etc for your content. Here is a good video explaining it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueqwMbdMVHU

If you are going to have more than one Kodi setup and you want them connected (aka sharing the same library and have the ability to stop in one room and finish in another) then you need to setup MySQL first. It is pretty easy here is how:

http://kodi.wiki/view/MySQL/Setting_up_MySQL

Eventually if you get a massive library you might need some tweaks for performance, I can help you there.

 

[rbk123]

Ok I was guessing Samba would be better than DLNA so thanks, I'll give it a shot. The latter you described is more than I really need, but I'll keep it in my back pocket for future reference. Thx.

 

[smitbret]

I have a DLNA media server that runs Mezzmo and I want to connect to it from another HTPC running Kodi. When I connect to it, I can see the files but when I play them the result is very low quality video and the functionality doesn't appear to be the same as if I had the files on the Kodi PC directly. Are there some configuration settings I am missing?

I do have Kodi directly on the media server as well, as I have a TV hooked up to it. Is there a Kodi "server" function that would be better? Do I stick with Mezzmo? Do I use some network fileshare software like Samba (windows networking is too slow for my HD files) and treat the media server as NAS for the remote Kodi PC? Recommendations?

Let me guess, you can't FF/Rew and maybe some trouble with subtitles. It sounds like you have the transcoding on Mezzmo turned on, probably the wrong device profile. Just go into <Manage Devices> and pick the XBMC profile for the HTPC you are playing from. That will turn off transcoding and your video quality will be untouched. If Mezzmo detects a normal PC running as an HTPC I think it generally defaults to the Windows Media Player profile and that will transcode a lot of video files unnecessarily.

 

[rbk123]

You know, I completely forgot about that "feature" with Mezzmo. Had to do that for all my WD's but my alzheimers kicked in and forgot. I'm sure that would resolve it.

I went with Mezzmo first thinking Windows file sharing would be too slow for my 1080p files like it is for the WD's, however it works just fine with Kodi so I'll just leave it.

 

[Jman2600]

I have a DLNA media server that runs Mezzmo and I want to connect to it from another HTPC running Kodi. When I connect to it, I can see the files but when I play them the result is very low quality video and the functionality doesn't appear to be the same as if I had the files on the Kodi PC directly. Are there some configuration settings I am missing?

I do have Kodi directly on the media server as well, as I have a TV hooked up to it. Is there a Kodi "server" function that would be better? Do I stick with Mezzmo? Do I use some network fileshare software like Samba (windows networking is too slow for my HD files) and treat the media server as NAS for the remote Kodi PC? Recommendations?

Not sure if you’re still on here, do you still use mezzmo? I was researching if there was a way of using xml or other options to connect mezzmo play to and Kodi on android. Your post implies you might know how that works, if so is there a way to message on here if that’s easier. Thanks

 

[Ken g6]

I tried Kodi once; couldn't make heads or tails of it. These days I use Jellyfin. It has an Android app among others.