I am trying to access my files (Vids, pics etc) on my Western Digital Media Plus player. I have the player directly hooked up to my router and am accessing my network wirelessly on my laptop. I can only see my files on media server and not on network shares. If I have shared the files correctly and worked out the permissions should I be able to see the Files in Both N.S as well as M.S. What is the difference between network shares and media servers. I cannot see or play VOB files when accessing my files via media shares. Why is enabling the gues account so important when trying to set up network shares. It is annoying as then the log in always gets stuck at admin and guest account when logging in. Is media server another name for Windows media player and this player does not support VOB. Is there a workaround? Does Media share files and network share files play with the same quality. Appreciate some feedback on this topic. Thanks
Well, not necessarily.
Media Servers and Network Shares are two totally different things, operate in completely different ways, and are configured independently of each other.
Media Servers take a list of LOCAL FILES, and “stream” them to a client. Both the client and the media server must use the DLNA protocol. As such, both the server and the client must support the media being streamed.
Network Shares are quite different A Network Sharing CLIENT (your WD) accesses the entire shared VOLUME and can see every single file in there, media or not. The server doesn’t have to support the specific type of media file. Only the CLIENT need support it.
Also, there’s no such thing as “MEDIA SHARES.” That’s mixing the two terms MEDIA server and network SHARES.
You are not REQUIRED to set up a “Guest Account” to use network shares. That’s just a simple setup that works for most people most of the time. I, for one, do NOT use any guest accounts. All of media players have individual accounts and passwords, and can only access the files I allow them to access.
No, Media Server is not another name for Windows Media Player. They are related only because Microsoft includes components of both in one location.
Yes, in general, if the file is supported, the quality will be identical between network shares and media servers.
Also, consult the FAQ in the WDTV Live/Live+ General Discussions forum for more information.
TonyPh12345, Thanks for the very informative information regarding media Servers and network shares. Can you tell me why VOB files are not showing on my media servers Video section. Is that because WM.Player does not play these files. Is their a workaround to get my VOB files to show up under Videos-media Servers. I have everything I need under media Servers, except the ability to see and play my VOB files. Thanks.
That’s correct. Your server doesn’t support them.
You might have to pull the MPEG streams out of the VOBs and save them as MPEG2 files.
Thanks for the info! That process sounds like a pain. I guess it is either that or figuring out how to set up network shares. Why would windows media player support m2ts files and not VOB? I must go back and revisit the network share tutorial. I do not want to set up that guest account or any other second account and get stopped at the Windows Log in screen.
I really think that my Kaspersky Anti Virus is totally blocking my ability to see the network shares on my Laptop. I have similated another laptop the exact same Dell Studio laptop with the Linksys E3000 router without kaspersky and it works. Is this a common problem that may inhibit network shares. Thanks
