vlc upnp client mkv support

[gvfarns]

I have a upnp server on my lan (running minidlna) and serving up my collection of movies, each of which is in mpeg2 and ac3 stored in an mkv format (created using mkvmerge). These are ripped from my DVD's without any trancoding.

These files stream through upnp very happily to my WD live streaming device. I can also play them with VLC over smb (or locally). No apparent problem with the files. However, when I try to stream them through upnp to VLC, they don't even appear as available. I can successfully stream other file types (not mkv) from the same server using VLC. So

1. The server is happy to stream mkv files over upnp
2. VLC can play mkv locally
3. VLC can play other types of files over upnp

BUT

4. VLC cannot play mkv files over upnp

I guess I don't understand why the file types supported by vlc over upnp are a subset of what is supported for local playback. It seems like if my WD streamer can receive these files, I would expect VLC to as well. I was going to file a bug report/feature request on the subject, but I want to double check that there is no insurmountable technical reason why VLC will not play mkv files over upnp. I know mkv is not a part of the dlna standard, but as I understand it, upnp is not limited to dlna formats.

Does anyone know why this format is missing for upnp streaming?

I'm running VLC 2.0.4 on fedora and also on windows 7. I'm using the latest minidlna (1.0.25) on an ubuntu 12.04 server.

[Rémi Denis-Courmont]

Does it work with any non-WD receiver? I could be wrong, but I don't recall that the UPnP specification would support Matroska.

Most probably libupnp does not recognize some WD extensions.

[gvfarns]

It doesn't work on XBMC or in totem either (other file formats do work).

So what you are saying is that it's not a VLC problem, but a problem with libupnp? If so, that's helpful. Might as well get the feature request to the right people.

[gvfarns]

UPDATE: Actually, the problem isn't with the container type, it has to do with whether there is an image in the folder as well.

I have my movies organized with one folder per movie, with an image in each folder called folder.jpg. This is what is most convenient with the WD streamer. If I investigate one of these folders in VLC, then I see only one item, with the right name. If I try and play it, I just get the folder image playing for a few seconds. However, if I make a copy of this directory (including the movie) and delete the folder.jpg file, I can play the movie without problems. So it appear that VLC can play matroska movies through upnp after all. It just can't do so if I have an image in the same folder. Strange.

Is this a VLC bug or perhaps a minidlna issue? Remember that I have no problem playing the movie on the WD device.