How to install MiniDLNA on Ubuntu Linux 14.04 LTS Trusty Tahr

When I was running Ubuntu Linux 12.04 LTS on my home server, I had installed minidlna as a media server that is accessible to DLNA capable clients, including a Smart TV where one can view photos on a large screen.

However, when the server was upgraded to 14.04 LTS, minidlna stopped working. Searching Google turned up forum posts from 2014 with instructions that no longer work.

Gladly, there is the backports repository, that you can configure and it contains the minidlna server.

To configure the backports repository, execute the following commands:

sudo echo "deb http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ trusty-backports main restricted universe multiverse" > /etc/apt/sources.list.d/backports.list 
sudo echo "deb-src http://ca.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ trusty-backports main restricted universe multiverse" > /etc/apt/sources.list.d/backports.list 

Then update the repository list:

aptitude update

Finally, install minidlna:

aptitude install minidlna

Once that completes, you need to edit the file /etc/minidlna.conf and add as many 'media_dir=' lines as you have directories you want accessible through DLNA clients.

Restart minidlna for your changes to take effect:

service minidlna restart

And you are done!