How to stream on your LAN using VLC?

What is VLC?

VLC is an open-source video media player that has been around for quite a long time. Chances are, if you've ever downloaded a movie (via legal methods, of course), you have probably used it. But do you know why it's called VLC?

That is because it has very loose controls such as increasing volume more than 100%. 😂

(Note: This is a joke and not true.)

VLC stands for VideoLAN Client. Let's learn about the LAN in VLC.

A Bit of VLC History

The VideoLAN software originated as a French academic project in 1996. VLC used to stand for "VideoLAN Client" when VLC was a client of the VideoLAN project. Since VLC is no longer merely a client, that initialism no longer applies.

It was intended to consist of a client and server to stream videos from satellite dishes across a campus network. 📡 Originally developed by students at the École Centrale Paris, it is now developed by contributors worldwide and is coordinated by VideoLAN, a non-profit organization. 🌍 Rewritten from scratch in 1998, it was released under the GNU General Public License on February 1, 2001, with authorization from the headmaster of the École Centrale Paris. 🎓 The functionality of the server program, VideoLAN Server (VLS), has mostly been subsumed into VLC and has been deprecated. The project name has been changed to VLC media player because there is no longer a client/server infrastructure.

Using VLC as Its Creators Intended

VLC was initially created to stream videos over a network, and while its usage has expanded greatly, it still retains this functionality. Here are some ways you can use VLC to take advantage of its network features:

1. Streaming Media Over a Network

VLC can stream media files over a local network, allowing you to share videos and music with other devices on the same network. 🎥🎶

To stream a media file:

1. Open VLC Media Player.
2. Click on Media in the menu bar.
3. Select Stream....
4. Add the file you want to stream and click Stream.
5. Choose Next and select the output method as HTTP (by default the port is set to 8080).
6. Configure the stream settings to your preferences such as active transcoding and profile (optional).

2. Receiving a Stream

You can use VLC to receive a stream from another device on the network. 🌐

To receive a stream:

1. Open VLC Media Player.
2. Click on Media in the menu bar.
3. Select Open Network Stream.

4. Enter the network URL provided by the streaming source (IP address of the device where you set up the stream).

   • On Windows, use the ipconfig /all command to get your local IPv4 address.
   • On Linux, use ifconfig for the same.
   • Example of IP: 192.168.56.19:8080.

5. Click Play.

3. Using VLC as a Server

While the original VideoLAN Server (VLS) functionality has been integrated into VLC, you can still use VLC to set up a media server. 💻

To set up VLC as a server:

1. Open VLC Media Player.
2. Click on Media in the menu bar.
3. Select Stream....
4. Add the file you want to serve and click Stream.
5. Choose Next and select the output method (e.g., HTTP, RTP).
6. Configure the stream settings and start the server.

4. Using VLC for Remote Playback

VLC has remote playback capabilities, allowing you to control playback on another device from your current device. 🎮

To use VLC for remote playback:

1. Enable VLC’s web interface on the device you want to control:
   • Go to Tools -> Preferences.
   • Select All under Show settings in the bottom-left corner.
   • Navigate to Interface -> Main interfaces.
   • Check the Web checkbox.
2. Use a web browser on your controlling device to access the web interface:
   • Enter the IP address of the VLC device followed by :8080 (e.g., http://192.168.1.2:8080).

By using these features, you can leverage VLC's network capabilities as its creators intended. Whether for streaming media across devices or setting up a simple media server, VLC's versatility makes it a powerful tool for both local and network-based media playback. 🚀

Hope you enjoyed the article! 😊