Airport Extreme and DLNA

[ozaz]

I am in the process of choosing a new router and I am considering the Airport Extreme.

One of the things I don't understand is whether the choice of router matters when it comes to using DLNA devices on the network. Specifically, whether it matters if I get an Airport Extreme.

I notice some routers (but not Airport Extreme) describe themselves as DLNA certified. This is the source of my confusion really.

e.g. http://www.netgear.com/home/products/wirelessrouters/high-performance/WNDR4300.aspx

Does it mean I need one of these routers to use DLNA devices on my network?

 

[Weaselboy]

You do not need any special router to run DLNA devices on your network as long as you are using your computer to serve up the data. So you install a DLNA server on your computer and use a DLNA client like a PS3 or whatever to access the data (movies/music etc). If this is your plan, the AE will work fine.

What you are seeing with that Netgear device is they have added the DLNA server software IN the router. So you could put your movies/music on a USB drive attached to the router and access it from say your PS3 without even having the computer on.

 

[ozaz]

Thanks. That's what I started to suspect after posting my question, but great to get confirmation.

 

[Peter78]

There are no DLNA certified routers. Some routers have embedded DLNA/UPnP Media Server to share content from USB HDD or flash drive.

Also some routers have stupid firewall default settings and needs to enable UPnP network exchange manually. Make sense to check support forum before particular model.

 

[Weaselboy]

There are no DLNA certified routers. Some routers have embedded DLNA/UPnP Media Server to share content from USB HDD or flash drive.

Also some routers have stupid firewall default settings and needs to enable UPnP network exchange manually. Make sense to check support forum before particular model.

This shows quite a few that are certified. Or am I misunderstanding what you are saying?

 

[Peter78]

This shows quite a few that are certified. Or am I misunderstanding what you are saying?

Yes, I went through several, all routers/gateways where certified as DMS (Digital Media Server), for instance this one http://certification.dlna.org/certs/REG61006626.pdf

It means router can share the audio/video/pictures from USB connected HDD or flash drive.

My point was that some WiFi routers couldn't pass DLNA/UPnP traffic due to firewall settings.