iSedora can be easily installed on any modern computer running Windows or Mac OS and connected to your home network. This can be any desktop computer, file storage server, notebook or even your netbook — iSedora will effectively stream the media from computer to your TV or console. The only restrictive requirement arises if you want to transcode Full HD videos — this will require at least Core 2 Duo CPU at 2.5 GHz.

If using Mac computer, please, make sure it is 64-bit Intel-based (learn how to find out if you have a 64-bit Intel-based Mac).

Microsoft Windows (32 & 64-bit supported): Windows XP, Server 2003, Vista, Server 2008, Windows Home Server, Windows 7

Mac OS (Intel 64-bit only): Snow Leopard 10.6 (64-bit)

Processor: Core 2 Duo or later (live transcoding of Full HD videos requires minimum Core 2 Duo at 2.5 GHz)

Memory: at least 512 Mb

Disk space usage: 60 Mb for Mac OS, 150 Mb for Windows

Multiroom version: 128 Mb of RAM for each connected DLNA device, 2 CPU cores at 2.5 GHz for each Full HD video transcoding 

Windows (XP, Vista, Server 2003, Server 2008, WHS, Windows 7 — both 32 and 64-bit)

• Download the latest release of DLNA server  and run setup executable
• Follow installation wizard instructions
• On Vista and Windows 7 installation under "Program Files" folder is not supported, we recommend using a folder like "c:\iSedora"
  
• After installation, start iSedora Media Server from Start menu
   

Mac OS X (Snow Leopard from 10.6 (Intel 64-bit only))

• Download the latest release of DLNA server and open DMG image
• Drag iSedora.app to Applications folder, iSedora is being installed
• Close DMG image and start iSedora from Applications folder

Generally you don't even need to configure or apply any settings to your DLNA devices. When iSedora discovers any DLNA devices in a network, it configures them automatically, making them ready to playback your media without effort.

However you may fine tune some device settings to optimise DLNA server performance and minimize CPU overload while media transcoding. According to DLNA and UPnP standard, all devices should report DLNA server the details about media formats they are able to playback. Having got this info DLNA server makes a decision upon the best way of streaming media to device: if the media is supported by device natively it is simply streamed out, other media formats are transcoded on the fly for streaming. Sometimes unfortunately a device fails to report correctly its DLNA compatibility, or, more worse, fails to play the media it should support. In this case you may need manually configure device settings for every media format.

To access device settings navigate to Server panel of iSedora, select the device in the list of connected DLNA devices and press Configure button. Settings window appear, where media options could be set separately for video, music and photo.

As any DLNA server, iSedora operates over your home network an so totally relies on the settings you define for all your network components: OS net settings, firewall permissions, hardware adjustments. You shouldn't much worry about network settings if iSedora works fine just after install, as it happens in most cases. However we recommend to check the following points to make network connection between iSedora and your DLNA devices more reliable:

1. Please, make sure that you use the latest firmware version with your DLNA device. It happens oftenly, that even brand new devices just out-of-the-box need to have their firmware updated. Please, consult your DLNA device manual to learn how to upgrade firmaware.
2. Please, make sure that iSedora DLNA server communication with devices is not blocked by any network filtering software like firewall or other DLNA software. iSedora uses UPnP port for serving DLNA devices as well as HTTP port specified in application Preferences/Advanced panel. These ports should be allowed for inbound/outbound connection in your firewall.
   • We recommend to disable firewall for connections bounded to your home network, setting it enabled only for public network.
     
   • For Mac OS X users: If you use Elgato EyeTV/EyeConnect software, please make sure it is loaded after iSedora. EyeTV/EyeConnect is known to block UPnP port for other DLNA servers. We recommend to quit EyeTV/EyeConnect completely when using iSedora.
3. Please, make sure that your network router is not blocking iSedora communication with DLNA devices. Some routers might be configured to block ports for UPnP technology and multicast network traffic. You'll need to configure your router to allow traffic through these ports. Typically, your router's administration page is accessible via a web browser, and will have options to enable UPnP technology and multicast network traffic. For specific information, check the user manual for your router.
4. To ensure more reliable connection between iSedora media server and DLNA devices we recommend to use for home network static ip addressing instead of dynamic DHCP addressing for both DLNA server and devices. Find more info how to set up static ip addressing for Windows | for Mac.
   • For Mac OS X users: If you use AirPort Express or AirPort Extreme in your network setup, static ip addressing is highly preferable. iSedora is known to loose connection unexpectedly with router via dynamic DHCP.

iSedora DLNA Media Server is best tuned for numerous Sony DLNA compatible devices — TVs, players, consoles, receivers. However you can make the communication between iSedora and any Sony device even more flawless, as well as decrease vastly the capacity needed by DLNA server to transcode various media formats. Any DLNA device reports to DLNA server what media containers and codecs it is able to play natively without transcoding, and iSedora, according to this data, selects the best way to playback a file to device. However it sometimes happens, that DLNA device, being able to play something natively, doesn't reveal this info and DLNA server has to use transcoding that is not actually needed in some cases.

Sony engineers are constantly improving native support of media formats and many new Sony devices can play much more formats without transcoding than their DLNA client software reports to DLNA server. In that case the best setting for the Sony device in Configuration dialog is to check the supported codec checkbox, after that all these files will be transferred to DLNA device without transcoding. Here's unofficial* list of natively supported media codecs for 2010/2011 Sony Bravia/Bluray devices via DLNA:

* unofficial means that this info is general and any codec support is not guranteed for any definite end user device

Before setting any Sony device for playing back any media codec without transcoding it is always recommended to check the device firmware is up to date, using Sony eSupport or internal device update service if applicable.

Sure you can. Trial version of iSedora DLNA media server (download it here) is fully functional, i.e. all the functions of DLNA server are available in a non-licensed copy. There is only one limitation — iSedora server without a valid license key will stop streaming media after 60 minutes. However, you may exit iSedora after that (consider the note below) and start it again — it will operate for 60 minutes more. We do not limit the number of times you may start iSedora, so you may test it just as long as you need.

Note: to start a new 60-minute test period of iSedora you should exit the application and start it again. There is no use to press [Stop] button in [Server] panel of iSedora window — that will not renew the demo expiration counter. Instead you should right-click iSedora icon in task bar of your operation system and select [Exit iSedora] menu item.

To withdraw the streaming time limit of your server you should license iSedora software.

After purchasing iSedora license you get a unique alphanumeric license key. That's your individual iSedora key and you should keep it secure.

To apply and activate the license:

• Check your computer is on-line, start iSedora DLNA server if not started
• Navigate to Preferences / License panel and click Register button
• Enter your iSedora key into the dialog, click OK
• After some time you should see a message 'Registration successful'

Please, note, that iSedora license is registered both on your computer and isedora.com server. So if you want to move your license key to another computer or OS, you should first unregister the key by Unregister button in Preferences / License panel, otherwise while trying to register a new iSedora copy you will get the 'License already registered' error and DLNA server will continue in demo mode. In case your operating system has been damaged or hard disk has crashed and you are unable to unregister iSedora key yourself, feel free to email support@isedora.com with a problem description, we'll help you as soon as possible.

1. Check if media file is recognized by iSedora

Drag and drop media to the program window. The Media Informer tab should display detailed information about the file.

Press 'Report issue to support@isedora.com' to open feedback form. Enter your email address and optional short description of the issue. As soon as we receive the report, the Support Team will try to resolve playback problem.

If the file is not readable, Media Informer will display 'Unrecognized media file'. This might indicate that the media file is corrupted or not supported by iSedora transcoding engine. In this case please check the playback of the file by other installed media players and let us know if it's working. 

Under About tab press 'Log messages' button to open logging window

 Please select 'Debug' level on the tool bar of the logging window

 Navigate to the problem file and try to play.

 Press 'Send log to support@isedora.com' to open feedback dialog with log messages attached.

When your client DLNA device (TV, player, game console) is not listed in iSedora Media Server panel (or vice versa — DLNA server can't be visible from device), please follow the checklist below:

1. First make sure your DLNA device uses the latest firmware available from device manufacturer. Some DLNA devices need to have firmware updated just out of the box to work properly with iSedora.
2. Make sure the computer with iSedora DLNA Server and your device are connected to the same router on the home network and UPnP functions are not disabled in router administrator interface.
3. Check your network supports multicast UPnP routing, no other DLNA software is already bind to UPnP port, and HTTP server port specified in iSedora Preferences/Advanced panel is open.
4. Temporary disable any firewall and antiviral software installed on the computer with iSedora.
5. Restart DLNA server by clicking Stop/Start button in iSedora Server panel, check the connection.

If connection is not available after completing the checklist, email iSedora log messages to support@isedora.com with feedback dialog:

Click 'Log messages' button under About tab (or click Ctrl/Cmd+L):

 In the log window select 'Debug' level on tool bar, switch your device on and restart DLNA server again:

Wait while connection process between DLNA server and devices is finished and the log is populated with data:

Click 'Send log' button on the tool bar to open feedback dialog with log entries attached and enter optional issue description:

 The iSedora Support Team will review log data and reply with possible solution.

Transcoding for Samsung DLNA devices is not working at this time. This is a limitation of Samsung firmware which requires to know the exact size of media before streaming. In case with transcoding this data can't be calculated in advance.

However, you can try to check your media format support (in DLNA device configuration dialog) for direct streaming without transcoding. For instance, Samsung BD players support AVI natively and would play it as intended.

This issue might be fixed in future Samsung firmware updates.

1. Please make sure you're using version 1.6.8 or later of iSedora Media Server
2. Under iSedora Preferences / Advanced enable 'Start minimized' check box (pic 1)
3. Open System Preferences and go to "Accounts" section (pic 2)
4. Select "Login Items" tab and press plus button (pic 3)
5. Choose iSedora.app in the file browse dialog

To enable browsing and watching iTunes movies , manually add the iTunes movies folder to the video roots section.

This folder is located in your home dir / Music / iTunes / iTunes Music / Movies

Yes, the latest iSedora release v.1.7.5 is fully compatible with Mac OS 10.7 X Lion if you upgrade from Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard. The only thing you should do before upgrading to Lion is to unregister your iSedora license (and register it again after upgrade):

1. Make sure your computer is on-line
2. Navigate to Preferences/License panel
3. Click Unregister button, wait for the message that iSedora is unregistered successfully
4. Quit iSedora (press Cmd+Q)
5. Upgrade to Mac OS X Lion
6. Start iSedora, go to Preferences/License panel and register your license key as usual.

If you forget to unregister your iSedora copy, it will start in demo mode after upgrade to Lion.
In that case, please, make us know about it with a message to support@isedora.com and we'll unregister your key asap.

If you've got a new Mac with clean Mac OS X 10.7 Lion, you may need to download a Java runtime package before installing iSedora. The next iSedora release v.2.0 will natively support Lion and will not require any additional downloads.

Some iTunes movies are DRM protected which prevents transcoding and plyaback over network.