http://www.techradar.com/pro/linux December 2019 LXF257 31Media streamers ROUNDUP
1st
2nd
4th
3rd
5th
he objective of these Roundups is to put the subject
candidates through a series of tests to determine a
winner. On rare occasions, the winner stands tall above
all of the rest. But more often than not, it’s a close contest
between the podium finishers, with the other two not far behind.
Before explaining our verdict, we’d like to recommend that you
install all the projects and test them for yourselves – your choice
of media server could well start the next round of flame wars. You
should also spend some time evaluating the different
configuration options. This is because even though the default
settings for all projects would suffice for most users, you just
might find one that’s best suited for your needs, such as enabling
parental controls, allowing limited access to certain users or
using hardware acceleration.
Since the different streaming servers are quite evenly matched
in their default offerings and can each play videos and music files
and display pictures, we’ve placed extra emphasis on the
documentation, configurability and the availability of plug-ins to
decide the winner of this Roundup.
Even though Gerbera works as expected, its lack of quality
documentation is unforgivable. Coupled with forcing users to
manually edit config files, the project essentially guaranteed the
last spot for itself.
Plex doesn’t put a foot wrong, and is one of the best media
servers on offer. But its business model, where many features
require payments, is unpalatable – especially when other media
servers are able to provide similar functionality out of the box.
Our biggest concern with Gerbera, Jellyfin and Universal Media
Server is the lack of focus on documentation. But this can be
easily fixed with some community participation, so we’re happy to
have both these projects on the podium. Considering that Jellyfin
is not yet a year old, the project can easily unseat the winners by
the time we do a follow-up Roundup. Unlike the other media
servers, Gerbera’s web interface is little more than a file browser,
which is another drawback.
Universal Media Server does several things right, but its web
interface, which is limited to providing access to content, needs a
serious facelift.
When it comes to documentation, configuration, the
availability of add-ons and its intuitive interface, Kodi is
consistently head and shoulders above the rest.T
ALSO CONSIDER...
If the idea of running a media server on top of your existing
Linux distribution doesn’t appeal to you, OpenELEC is a viable
alternative. Built around Kodi with the ‘just enough operating
system’ principle, the distribution can easily be run off a pen
drive or Raspberry Pi and helps you serve media from a
dedicated server.
If you want a home theatre setup without going through the
trouble of installing and configuring a Linux distribution and amedia server on top, this is your best bet. Meanwhile, if you’re
not averse to spending money for the right feature-set in much
the same way as Plex, Emby is another viable choice. It boasts
a vast array of plug-ins, not unlike Kodi, and supports a great
many different devices.
Finally, OSMC will appeal to those looking for a project
that’s fine-tuned to run on a Raspberry Pi. It also supports
Apple TV and provides all the same features as Kodi.Web: https://kodi.tv Licence: GPL
Version: 18.4
Primarily an HTPC solution, but can also stream media.Web: http://universalmediaserver.com Licence: GPL
Version: 9.0.1
The web interface and documentation both need serious improvement.Web: http://www.plex.tv Licence: Freemium, GPL
Version: 1.18.0.1913
The basic version should suffice for most users.Web: https://jellyfin.org Licence: GPL
Version: 10.4.0
As it was a coin toss between UMS and Jellyfin, age won before beauty.Web: https://gerbera.io Licence: 1.3.2
Version: GPL
The no-bells-and-whistles approach is an ill fit for a media server.Media streaming servers
The Verdict
Universal Media Server 8/ 10
Kodi 9 /10
Jellyfin 7/ 10
Plex 7/ 10
Gerbera 6/ 10
2226Decmbr rb6c019Gb09aJlyf December 2019 LXF257 31
Media streamers ROUNDUP
1st
2nd
4th
3rd
5th
he objective of these Roundups is to put the subject
candidates through a series of tests to determine a
winner. On rare occasions, the winner stands tall above
alloftherest. But more often than not, it’s a close contest
between the podium finishers, with the other two not far behind.
Before explaining our verdict, we’d like to recommend that you
install all the projects and test them for yourselves – your choice
of media server could well start the next round of flame wars. You
should also spend some time evaluating the different
configuration options. This is because even though the default
settings for all projects would suffice for most users, you just
might find one that’s best suited for your needs, such as enabling
parental controls, allowing limited access to certain users or
using hardware acceleration.
Since the different streaming servers are quite evenly matched
in their default offerings and can each play videos and music files
and display pictures, we’ve placed extra emphasis on the
documentation, configurability and the availability of plug-ins to
decide the winner of this Roundup.
Even though Gerbera works as expected, its lack of quality
documentation is unforgivable. Coupled with forcing users to
manually edit config files, the project essentially guaranteed the
last spot for itself.
Plex doesn’t put a foot wrong, and is one of the best media
servers on offer. But its business model, where many features
require payments, is unpalatable – especially when other media
servers are able to provide similar functionality out of the box.
Our biggest concern with Gerbera, Jellyfin and Universal Media
Server is the lack of focus on documentation. But this can be
easily fixed with some community participation, so we’re happy to
have both these projects on the podium. Considering that Jellyfin
is not yet a year old, the project can easily unseat the winners by
the time we do a follow-up Roundup. Unlike the other media
servers, Gerbera’s web interface is little more than a file browser,
which is another drawback.
Universal Media Server does several things right, but its web
interface, which is limited to providing access to content, needs a
serious facelift.
When it comes to documentation, configuration, the
availability of add-ons and its intuitive interface, Kodi is
consistently head and shoulders above the rest.
T
ALSO CONSIDER...
If the idea of running a media server on top of your existing
Linux distribution doesn’t appeal to you, OpenELEC is a viable
alternative. Built around Kodi with the ‘just enough operating
system’ principle, the distribution can easily be run off a pen
drive or Raspberry Pi and helps you serve media from a
dedicated server.
If you want a home theatre setup without going through the
trouble of installing and configuring a Linux distribution and amedia server on top, this is your best bet. Meanwhile, if you’re
not averse to spending money for the right feature-set in much
the same way as Plex, Emby is another viable choice. It boasts
a vast array of plug-ins, not unlike Kodi, and supports a great
many different devices.
Finally, OSMC will appeal to those looking for a project
that’s fine-tuned to run on a Raspberry Pi. It also supports
Apple TV and provides all the same features as Kodi.Web: https://kodi.tvLicence: GPL
Version: 18.4
PrimarilyanHTPCsolution,butcanalsostreammedia.Web: http://universalmediaserver.comLicence: GPL
Version: 9.0.1
The web interfaceanddocumentation both need serious improvement.Web: http://www.plex.tvLicence: Freemium, GPL
Version: 1.18.0.1913
The basicversionshouldsuffice for most users.Web: https://jellyfin.org Licence: GPL
Version: 10.4.0
As it was acointossbetween UMS and Jellyfin, age won before beauty.Web: https://gerbera.ioLicence: 1.3.2
Version: GPL
The no-bells-and-whistles approach is an ill fit for a media server.Media streaming servers
The Verdict
Universal Media Server 8/ 10
Kodi 9 /10
Jellyfin 7/ 10
Plex 7/ 10
Gerbera 6/ 10