| Figure 2. Windows 7 displaying shared libraries in Windows Media Player
In Windows Media Center, media servers can be browsed in the new shared pivot view of all libraries: music, pictures, videos, and recorded TV. The shared pivot is available from each music, pictures, video, and recorded TV media library. Figure 3 shows the discovery of media servers in the new shared pivot view of Windows Media Center.
Figure 3. Windows Media Center automatically discovering the shared music library
In addition to automatic DMS discovery in Windows Media Player and Windows Media Center, media servers are automatically discovered in Network Explorer. Network Explorer is available from the navigation pane of Windows Explorer. By selecting a media server in Network Explorer, Windows Media Player is started to interact with the shared media library. Figure 4 shows the discovery of media servers, media players, and media renderers in Network Explorer.
Figure 4. Network Explorer discovering available devices and services on the network
In addition to automatically discovering network media devices that implement the DMS role on the network, Windows 7 also performs the DMS role through the Windows Media Player NSS. Users can enable this functionality from the Advanced Sharing Settings in Control Panel or in Windows Media Player from the Share menu. Both methods open Share with Media Devices in Control Panel, which enables users to configure media sharing, including the ability to allow or block users and devices from accessing the shared media library. Figures 5 and 6 show the Share menu in Windows Media Player and the resultant Control Panel, which provides the option to enable sharing with media devices.
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