DLNA:

Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) is a technology that enables media sharing across a local network to other devices for playback. DLNA consists of 2 components, media server generally located on a computer where the media files for sharing are located, and a playback device like a media centre computer or in this case a PS3.

DLNA works using a protocol called UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) to create small and simple virtual networks between devices. UPnP and “Device and Service Discovery and Control” work together to search out compatible devices on both the media server and playback devices and makes small links between them for data transfer when media is requested. At the moment DLNA works by "pushing" media data to the playback devices, in the future this will change so that the playback device can "pull" the data from the server, this will allow much greater control over the playback to the media.

There are many different DLNA servers out there, some are free and some aren't, and all offering many different levels of features. Some servers include:

• Windows Media Player 11 (Vista and XP)
• TVersity (Windows)
• Twonky Media (OSX)
• Nero 7 (Windows)
• Azureus V3 (Windows, Linux, OSX)
  

Some media servers will transcode media data on the fly, like converting XVID AVIs to MPEG2 to play on the PS3 while the file is being played. Once a media server has been install on the computer and configured, turn the PS3 on and the PS3 should find the server straight away. In each of the media sections on the XMB (Photo, Music, Video) the media server should pop-up above the main menu line, not below. The PS3 needs to have Firmware 1.80 for DLNA media streaming to work.