Cidero Explained

Okay, when I wrote the post before I didn't know what Cidero really was other than my ability to use it as a "view" into my DLNA servers that are serving my content to the network. Here is the official blurb from their website and URL below:

Cidero
http://www.cidero.com/

It's 3 components, listed below:

1. Media Controller
A growing number of UPnP A/V-compatible MediaServer and MediaRenderer devices are becoming available for the networked home. To date, control of these devices is most commonly accomplished via a UPnP control point embedded within a MediaRenderer device and driven by an infrared remote. In some situations, such as browsing large media collections, the infrared remote control-based UI can be inconvenient, and when a PC is available, a PC-based remote control capability can be preferable. The Cidero UPnP Media Controller is a Java-based, cross-platform solution that addresses this need, providing support for browsing and playback of digital music, photos and movies.

2. Internet Radio Server
This UPnP media server application parses a directory tree of ASCII-based XML radio station meta data files and exports the radio station data to interested UPnP control points. A default radio station database of 60-plus popular (shout cast-only at the moment) Internet radio stations is supplied with the server. Users may stations by simply creating new station files, using existing files as a template. The exported server browse tree reflects the structure of the station database directory tree, allowing users to modify the server's browse tree if desired by simply adding to or modifying the database directory tree on disk.

3. UPnP Bridge
The UPnP bridge software allows non-UPnP devices, to be used in a UPnP network, and extends the UPnP capabilities of others. Support for bridging of the Prismiq Media Player is currently implemented, with support for things like IR-controllable devices planned for the future.


I mostly use number 1 above and it works great for checking your DLNA servers to see if you are getting all the meta data and the files themselves to a generic consumer. Great for debugging!

p.s. For myself I saved a copy of the installer at my main website's root dir.