Amp up your LMS fun

LMS plugins is a collection of free utility programs that enable you to add extra features to Logitech Media Server. Developed by philippe44ca, these handy tools are a variety of choices for expanding the functionality of LMS. The plugins mostly support the addition of new hardware players. However, take note that this collection is not a software package. You will have to visit the developer’s site to manually choose and download the plugins that interest you.

Fully customizable

Logitech Media Server—formerly known as SlimServer, SqueezeCenter, and Squeezebox Server—is a streaming audio server supported by the Logitech brand. It was developed to support the brand’s Squeezebox range of digital audio receivers. It’s used to stream music over a network, allowing you to play songs from virtually anywhere that an internet connection is available. While it’s no longer distributed in conjunction with any Logitech hardware product, it’s still in active development.

Thanks to this, plugins from third-party sources are supported by the server so you can customize your own streaming experience however you want. The LMS plugins collection by philippe44ca is one such source that you can reliably use. It provides a surprisingly vast amount of plugin options to choose from. Mainly, however, it includes new standard hardware players to LMS, such as UPnP/DLNA (Sonos), Chromecast, and AirPlay. 

The plugins are easy enough to retrieve but you need to have some prior knowledge of installing them in LMS as the instructions included in their ZIP files aren’t too detailed. The main issue with this collection of utilities is that there are dozens of different plugins available but they’re all bundled separately. Thus, you need to manually browse the main download page to find the ones you want.

Take your pick

All in all, these LMS plugins are great for added functionality if you’re a frequent user of Logitech Media Server. Despite the lack of new hardware support, the server continues to improve—especially with the help of numerous plugins that widen its roots for any type of user. While it’s a hassle to go looking for specific tools instead of a bulk download, you at least don’t have to deal with unwanted installations.