MINIDLNAD(1)

💖 MINIDLNAD 💖

okay bestie, sit DOWN, because we're about to talk about minidlnad(1) — the manual page for the lightweight DLNA/UPnP-AV server, and it's genuinely iconic. this is the little daemon that beams your media around the house like it's running its own personal streaming service. no cap. 🎀

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✨ NAME ✨

minidlnad — lightweight DLNA/UPnP-AV server 💅

like, that's it, that's the whole vibe. lightweight. server. serving. periodt.

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🌸 SYNOPSIS 🌸

minidlnad [-f config_file] [-d] [-v] [-u user] [-i interface] [-p port]
          [-s serial] [-m model_number] [-t notify_interval]
          [-P pid_filename] [-w url] [-S] [-L] [-R]

minidlnad [-h | -V]

so basically: a whole bunch of flags, OR just -h or -V if you're only here to ask a question. very "pick a lane, queen" of it. 💜

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🦋 DESCRIPTION 🦋

The minidlnad daemon is a DLNA/UPnP-AV server sharing media files (video, music and pictures) to clients on your network. so it's out here distributing your videos, your music, and your pictures to anybody on the network who asks nicely. it's giving main character energy but for your LAN. 🔥

and who are these "clients", you ask? typically multimedia players such as vlc, totem and xbmc, plus devices like portable media players, smartphones, televisions, video game entertainment systems and blu-ray players. so like, the TV in the living room, the console in the bedroom, your phone, your grandma's blu-ray player — everybody eating at the same table. obsessed. 🍓

By default, minidlnad listens on all the network interfaces (except loopback) for clients. so it's out there on basically everything except the lil self-referential loopback guy (he's not like other interfaces). This behavior can be changed on the command-line using the -i option, or in the configuration file through the network_interface option (see minidlna.conf(5) for details). so you got two ways to control the interface situation: command line or config file. pick your fighter. 💅

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👑 OPTIONS 👑

Most of the options below can also be set in a configuration file, as described in minidlna.conf(5). so like, if you're a config-file girlie, you can do most of this there too. we love flexibility. 🫶

• -d — Activate debug mode (do not daemonize). it stays right there with you instead of running off into the background. debug mode is basically "don't leave me, I need to see everything you're doing". 😭
• -f config_file — Specify the location of the configuration file. Uses /etc/minidlna.conf by default. so if your config is living somewhere else, tell it where. ✨
• -h — Show help and exit. the "hey bestie, what are my options" flag. then it dips. 💖
• -i interface — Network interface to listen on. Can be specified more than once. yes, MULTIPLE times. stack them. more interfaces, more love. 🌈
• -L — Do not create playlists. no playlists, no problem. sometimes you just don't want them, and that's valid. 💀
• -m model_number — Model number the daemon will report to clients in its XML description. it's literally introducing itself to clients with a fake-ish model number. catfishing, but make it UPnP. 🙈
• -P pid_filename — PID file to use; the default is /run/minidlna/minidlna.pid. that's where its little PID lives. its home address, if you will. 🏠
• -p port — Port number to listen on. pick a port, any port (well, any valid one). 🎀
• -R — Forces a full rescan of the media files. First it will remove all cached data and database. Any bookmarks will be lost. okay so this one is the DRAMATIC one. it nukes the cache AND the database, and it does NOT care about your bookmarks. > ⚠️ your bookmarks will be lost. gone. say goodbye. this is the nuclear option, bestie, do not press it casually. ☠️
• -r — Do a non-destructive rescan of the media files on start-up. the polite version of the above. rescans on start-up, breaks nothing, keeps your stuff. the well-behaved sibling. 🌸
• -S — Stay foreground. Can be used when minidlnad is being managed by systemd. systemd wants to keep an eye on it, so it stays up front like a good little daemon. ⭐
• -s serial — Serial number the daemon will report to clients in its XML description. same catfishing energy as -m, different field. 💜
• -t notify_interval — Notify interval, in seconds; defaults to 895 seconds. that's how often it goes "hey!! I'm still here!! still serving!!" to the network. 895 seconds of patience, exactly. 🦋
• -u user — Specify which user minidlnad should run as, instead of root; user can either be a numerical UID or a user name. drop the root privileges, queen, it's safer down there. 🫶
• -V — Show the program version and exit. the "who even are you" flag. 💖
• -v — Verbose output. it will tell you EVERYTHING. it will not shut up. we love a chatty daemon. 😭
• -w url — Sets the presentation url; the default is http address. so when clients go looking for the web-y landing page situation, that's where they land. 🌈

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🧚 FILES 🧚

• /etc/minidlna.conf — Default system-wide configuration file. See minidlna.conf(5) for details on the syntax. this is THE config file. the blueprint. the whole personality lives in here. 💅

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🔥 SEE ALSO 🔥

• minidlna.conf(5)

like, go read the config page too, bestie, they're a matching set. 💖

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and that's the whole page, no notes!! this one came from the Debian folks, dated June 7, 2013 — yeah, she's been around a minute, and she's still slaying. go forth and stream your media, and remember: -R is forever. 🎀✨💖🦋