[SignFinder]

Hi team,
I have enabled UPNP support in Kodi on my TV and found that there is not option for Content Type choosing (Movies, TV Series etc.) for DLNA sources.
Otherwise the same library, added to Kodi as SMB share - has menu option for content type choosing.
Might it can be enabled for DLNA sources too by any way?

[CrystalP]

I don't think so and believe it's not available on purpose. Among other things the library scanner would likely make a mess when attempting to detect nfo, artwork, etc.

[SignFinder]

I don't think so and believe it's not available on purpose. Among other things the library scanner would likely make a mess when attempting to detect nfo, artwork, etc.

Thanks for this explanation.
It is a pity because dlna looks better comparing SMB.
For example - Kodi smoothly shows  big size 4k mkv files from internal DLNA server on Zyxel Keenetic routers, but the same files are shown with interruptions via SMB share.
To be honest I do not understand the differences between SMB and ordinary DLNA servers - both just giving Kodi "url" SMB:\\ or upnp:\\ with the list of files, and Kodi scans them using one of available plugins like the movie database or TMDb TV Shows.

Ordinary DLNA servers do not have any additional information like Plex - they just scan folder and prepare list of files and folders inside.

[Buschel]

Could this just depend on the DLNA/UPNP server? I just enabled UPNP server on a Kodi 20.5 instance and connected a Kodi 21.0 client to it (add source "UPNP clients" and select the Kod 20.5 instance). This worked and lets you browse through the different folder and metadata like Genres, Actors, ...

[SignFinder]

Sure.
Ordinary DLNA servers like:
Home Media Server https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/9p4j28rhsnmh
or internal Windows 10 DLNA server https://helpguide.sony.net/speaker/lspx-...86224.html
or Linux ReadyMedia (former minidlna)
only provide and stream the list of files inside directories using protocol upnp\dlna.
They do not have any additional options related to metadata reading or downloading of additional information from internete databases like imdb.

But when I create SMB share source, I can choose content type TV Episodes and connect information from (for example) TMDB.


If I am not wrong - UPNP video source folder is the same as MSB share source video folder. Two folders with the same folders and files inside.

[Karellen]

https://kodi.wiki/view/UPnP

[CrystalP]

The UPnP server dictates the directory structure presented by all clients, Kodi, TV, Bluray player or others. Some UPnP servers are more sophisticated than others, use metadata, allow customization of the structure, etc.

re performance of playback, how can you tell that the bottleneck for SMB is the router and not your Android box.
At a low level playback from a UPnP server is a http download, which has better performance for your combination of hw.
If you were able to share the folder with your media with an http server on your router, you'd likely be able to play it back correctly AND would be able to scan it into Kodi's library as you were asking originally.

[jbinkley60]

Thanks for this explanation.
It is a pity because dlna looks better comparing SMB.
For example - Kodi smoothly shows  big size 4k mkv files from internal DLNA server on Zyxel Keenetic routers, but the same files are shown with interruptions via SMB share.
To be honest I do not understand the differences between SMB and ordinary DLNA servers - both just giving Kodi "url" SMB:\\ or upnp:\\ with the list of files, and Kodi scans them using one of available plugins like the movie database or TMDb TV Shows.

Ordinary DLNA servers do not have any additional information like Plex - they just scan folder and prepare list of files and folders inside.

There are some DLNA servers out there which have full rich metadata libraries, built-in scrapers, offer the ability for custom media types (including defining your own), work well with Kodi, support non-Kodi access/clients and much much more.  I have many other media types such as video, Home Movie, Radio Station, Personal and more.   Unfortunately there are many more DLNA servers out there which are pretty basic UPnP servers.

I would avoid basic DLNA servers which still use upnp vs. http / https as the transport.  I have typically found that many of those (not all) tend to offer a much more limited set of media metadata and artwork.  I've spent quite a bit of time debugging UPnP server XML metadata the Mezzmo Kodi addon.  I try to support as many as I can but there are limits. Kodi is a notable exception here but as has been pointed out has limits, including not supporting images / pictures due to not having an imaqe library / database.

I concur with you that a better quality DLNA server, with the right setup, and that offer a GUI mode browsing in addition to Kodi's native mode is preferable.  I've been running this way for almost 10 years with a 15+ various DLNA clients (over half are Kodi) all using DLNA vs. SMB sharing.  It has worked extremely well for me and with almost 0 maintenance.


Thanks,

Jeff

[SignFinder]

Thanks a lot for previous persons in charge. That is a reason why I asking Kodi Team to enable possibility to choose content type and related to movies\tvseries online database for video source type -upnp.
IMHO - for ordinary DLNA\UPNP servers and their video sources it will be suitable - to download information about movies, tv episodes as well as for another video sources like SMB.
Most of internet routers like Keenetic, OpenWRT based and other - have just torrent client, USB port for external drive and SMB\DLNA(UPNP) servers. And it can be enough for people to use this setup.