node-upnp-utils

The node-upnp-utils is a SSDP (Simple Service Discovery Protocol) client implementation. It allows you to discover UPnP devices or services in the same subnet and to fetch device descriptions (XML) from the discovered devices.

Note that this module does not work well on Windows by the default Windows setting. See the section "Running on Windows" for detail.

Dependencies

• xml2js

Installation

$ npm install xml2js
$ npm install node-upnp-utils

Table of Contents

• Usage
  • Discover UPnP devices or services
  • Discover and monitor UPnP devices or services
  • Get the current active devices or services
• Methods
  • discover() method
  • startDiscovery() method
  • stopDiscovery() method
  • getActiveDeviceList() method
  • invokeAction() method
  • wait() method
• Events
  • added event
  • deleted event
• The structure of discovered device
• Running on Windows
• Release Note
• References
• License

Usage

Discover UPnP devices or services

1const upnp = require('node-upnp-utils');
2
3(async () => {
4    // discover devices
5    const device_list = await upnp.discover();
6
7    for (const device of device_list) {
8        console.log('------------------------------------');
9        console.log(' * ' + device['address']);
10        if (device['description']) {
11            console.log(' * ' + device['description']['device']['manufacturer']);
12            console.log(' * ' + device['description']['device']['modelName']);
13        }
14        console.log(' * ' + device['headers']['LOCATION']);
15        console.log(' * ' + device['headers']['USN']);
16    }
17})();

The sample code above shows the discovered devices or services as follows:

------------------------------------
 * 192.168.11.29
 * Sony
 * BRAVIA 4K GB
 * http://192.168.11.29:8008/ssdp/device-desc.xml
 * uuid:2ea85932-fa00-ddd4-4a18-8209f8eade79::upnp:rootdevice
------------------------------------
 * 192.168.11.37
 * SHARP
 * AQUOS-4KTVJ17
 * http://192.168.11.37:8008/ssdp/device-desc.xml
 * uuid:457d6192-c077-27eb-53f6-a62b2fac68e6::upnp:rootdevice
------------------------------------
 * 192.168.11.40
 * Justin Maggard
 * Windows Media Connect compatible (MiniDLNA)
 * http://192.168.11.40:8200/rootDesc.xml
 * uuid:4d696e69-444c-164e-9d41-000c294ea6f0::upnp:rootdevice

Discover and monitor UPnP devices or services

1const upnp = require('node-upnp-utils');
2
3// Set an event listener for 'added' event
4upnp.on('added', (device) => {
5	// This callback function will be called whenever a device or a service is found.
6	console.log('[added] ------------------------------------');
7	console.log(' * ' + device['address']);
8	if (device['description']) {
9		console.log(' * ' + device['description']['device']['friendlyName']);
10	}
11	console.log(' * ' + device['headers']['USN']);
12});
13
14// Set an event listener for 'deleted' event
15upnp.on('deleted', (device) => {
16	// This callback function will be called whenever an device was deleted.
17	console.log('[deleted] ------------------------------------');
18	console.log(' * ' + device['address']);
19	if (device['description']) {
20		console.log(' * ' + device['description']['device']['friendlyName']);
21	}
22	console.log(' * ' + device['headers']['USN']);
23});
24
25// Start the discovery process
26upnp.startDiscovery();

Get the current active devices or services

1const upnp = require('node-upnp-utils');
2
3(async () => {
4	// Start the discovery process
5	await upnp.startDiscovery();
6
7	// Wait for 10 seconds
8	await upnp.wait(10000);
9
10	// Stop the discovery process
11	await upnp.stopDiscovery();
12
13	// Get and show the discovered devices (services)
14	const device_list = upnp.getActiveDeviceList();
15	for (const device of device_list) {
16		console.log('------------------------------------');
17		console.log(' * ' + device['address']);
18		if (device['description']) {
19			console.log(' * ' + device['description']['device']['manufacturer']);
20			console.log(' * ' + device['description']['device']['modelName']);
21		}
22		console.log(' * ' + device['headers']['LOCATION']);
23		console.log(' * ' + device['headers']['USN']);
24	}
25})();

---

Methods

discover() method

The discover() method sends M-SEARCH messages, then gathers information of UPnP devices or services in the same subnet, then returns a list of the discovered devices or services. This method returns a Promise object. In the await syntax, this method returns an Array object containing the discovered devices or services.

If this method is called during the discovery process is ongoing, an Exception will be thrown.

Arguments

discover(params)

params (optional)

This value must be an object containing the properties as follows:

Property	Type	Required	Description
mx	Integer	Optional	MX header of M-Search. This value must be an integer in the range of 1 to 120. The default value is 3 (seconds).
st	String	Optional	ST header of M-Search. The default value is upnp:rootdevice.
wait	Integer	Optional	This method waits the M-Search responses for the specified number of seconds. The value must be in the range of 1 to 120. The default value is 5 seconds.

1const device_list = await upnp.discover({
2    st: 'urn:dial-multiscreen-org:service:dial:1',
3    wait: 10
4});

startDiscovery() method

The startDiscovery() method sends a M-SEARCH messages, then gathers information of UPnP devices or services in the same subnet. Besides, it monitors NOTIFY events until the stopDiscovery() method is called. This method returns a Promise object. In the await syntax, this method returns nothing.

Whenever a device or service is newly found, then this method requests the UPnP device description (XML), then emits added event on this instance until the stopDiscovery() method is called.

Whenever a byebye notification is received from an added device or service, this method emits deleted event on this instance until the stopDiscovery() method is called.

If this method is called during the discovery process is ongoing, an Exception will be thrown.

Arguments

startDiscovery(params)

params (optional)

This value must be an object containing the properties as follows:

Property	Required	Description
mx	Optional	The MX header of M-Search. This value must be an integer. The default value is 3 (seconds).
st	Optional	The ST header of M-Search. The default value is upnp:rootdevice.

1await upnp.startDiscovery({
2  mx:3,
3  st:'urn:schemas-upnp-org:service:ContentDirectory:1'
4});

stopDiscovery() method

The stopDiscovery() method stops the discovery process started by startDiscovery() method. If the discovery process is not active, this method does nothing. This method returns a Promise object. In the await syntax, this method returns nothing.

Arguments

stopDiscovery(callback)

callback (optional)

Note that this argument is deprecated. It will be deleted in the future.

When this method stops the discovery process, the callback will be called. No argument will be passed to the callback.

1await this.stopDiscovery();

getActiveDeviceList() method

The getActiveDeviceList method returns an Array object representing the active devices (services) discovered by the discover() method or the startDiscovery method.

1const device_list = this.getActiveDeviceList();

invokeAction() method

Note that this method is deprecated. It will be deleted in the future.

This method sends the specified SOAP string to the specified device.

Arguments

invokeAction(params, callback)

params (required)

This value must be an object having the properties as follows:

property	required	description
url	required	This value is the URL of the targeted device (service).
soap	required	This value is the SOAP string which you want to post.
action	optional	This value is the value of the SOAPAction header. If this value was not specified, this method will search the SOAPAction value from the specified SOAP string.
cookies	optional	This value is an array of cookies. e.x. ['key1:value1', 'key2:value2']

callback (required)

When the response (XML) from the targeted device comes, the callback will invoked.

Four arguments will be passed to the callback.

The 1st argument is an error object. It will be null if no error occurred.

The 2nd argument is an object representing the response converted from XML to JavaScript object. If xml2js module is not installed, this value will be null.

The 3rd argument is an XML string representing the response.

The 4th argument is an http.IncomingMessage object.

wait() method

The wait() method waits for the specified milliseconds. This method returns a Promise object. In the await syntax, this method returns nothing.

Arguments

wait(msec)

msec (required)

This value must be an integer grater than 0.

1await upnp.wait(1000); // Wait 1 second.

---

Events

added event

Whenever a new device or service is discovered, an added event is fired on the UPnP object. An object is passed to the callback function, which represents the device or service. See the section "The structure of discovered device" for the detail of the structre of the object. Note that you have to invoke the startDiscovery method in order to listen to the event.

1upnp.on('added', (device) => {
2    console.log(JSON.stringify(device, null, '    '));
3});
4
5upnp.startDiscovery();

deleted event

Whenever this module detects any discovered device or service leave the local netwrork, an deleted event is fired on the UPnP object. An object is passed to the callback function, which represents the device or service. See the section "The structure of discovered device" for the detail of the structre of the object. Note that you have to invoke the startDiscovery method in order to listen to the event.

1upnp.on('deleted', (device) => {
2    console.log(JSON.stringify(device, null, '    '));
3});
4
5upnp.startDiscovery();

---

The structure of discovered device

The structure of the object representing a device or service is as follows:

1{
2    "address": "192.168.11.40",
3    "headers": {
4        "$": "HTTP/1.1 200 OK",
5        "CACHE-CONTROL": "max-age=130",
6        "DATE": "Tue, 03 Oct 2023 10:54:46 GMT",
7        "ST": "urn:schemas-upnp-org:service:ContentDirectory:1",
8        "USN": "uuid:4d696e69-444c-164e-9d41-000c294ea6f0::urn:schemas-upnp-org:service:ContentDirectory:1",
9        "SERVER": "Ubuntu DLNADOC/1.50 UPnP/1.0 MiniDLNA/1.3.0",
10        "LOCATION": "http://192.168.11.40:8200/rootDesc.xml",
11        "CONTENT-LENGTH": "0"
12    },
13    "expire": 1696330616771,
14    "dheaders": {
15        "content-type": "text/xml; charset=\"utf-8\"",
16        "connection": "close",
17        "content-length": "2221",
18        "server": "Ubuntu DLNADOC/1.50 UPnP/1.0 MiniDLNA/1.3.0",
19        "date": "Tue, 03 Oct 2023 10:54:46 GMT",
20        "ext": ""
21    },
22    "description": {
23        "$": {
24            "xmlns": "urn:schemas-upnp-org:device-1-0"
25        },
26        "specVersion": {
27            "major": "1",
28            "minor": "0"
29        },
30        "device": {
31            "deviceType": "urn:schemas-upnp-org:device:MediaServer:1",
32            "friendlyName": "futomi-virtual-machine: minidlna",
33            "manufacturer": "Justin Maggard",
34            "manufacturerURL": "http://www.netgear.com/",
35            "modelDescription": "MiniDLNA on Linux",
36            "modelName": "Windows Media Connect compatible (MiniDLNA)",
37            "modelNumber": "1.3.0",
38            "modelURL": "http://www.netgear.com",
39            "serialNumber": "00000000",
40            "UDN": "uuid:4d696e69-444c-164e-9d41-000c294ea6f0",
41            "dlna:X_DLNADOC": {
42                "_": "DMS-1.50",
43                "$": {
44                    "xmlns:dlna": "urn:schemas-dlna-org:device-1-0"
45                }
46            },
47            "presentationURL": "/",
48            "iconList": {
49                "icon": [
50                    {
51                        "mimetype": "image/png",
52                        "width": "48",
53                        "height": "48",
54                        "depth": "24",
55                        "url": "/icons/sm.png"
56                    },
57                    {
58                        "mimetype": "image/png",
59                        "width": "120",
60                        "height": "120",
61                        "depth": "24",
62                        "url": "/icons/lrg.png"
63                    },
64                    {
65                        "mimetype": "image/jpeg",
66                        "width": "48",
67                        "height": "48",
68                        "depth": "24",
69                        "url": "/icons/sm.jpg"
70                    },
71                    {
72                        "mimetype": "image/jpeg",
73                        "width": "120",
74                        "height": "120",
75                        "depth": "24",
76                        "url": "/icons/lrg.jpg"
77                    }
78                ]
79            },
80            "serviceList": {
81                "service": [
82                    {
83                        "serviceType": "urn:schemas-upnp-org:service:ContentDirectory:1",
84                        "serviceId": "urn:upnp-org:serviceId:ContentDirectory",
85                        "controlURL": "/ctl/ContentDir",
86                        "eventSubURL": "/evt/ContentDir",
87                        "SCPDURL": "/ContentDir.xml"
88                    },
89                    {
90                        "serviceType": "urn:schemas-upnp-org:service:ConnectionManager:1",
91                        "serviceId": "urn:upnp-org:serviceId:ConnectionManager",
92                        "controlURL": "/ctl/ConnectionMgr",
93                        "eventSubURL": "/evt/ConnectionMgr",
94                        "SCPDURL": "/ConnectionMgr.xml"
95                    },
96                    {
97                        "serviceType": "urn:microsoft.com:service:X_MS_MediaReceiverRegistrar:1",
98                        "serviceId": "urn:microsoft.com:serviceId:X_MS_MediaReceiverRegistrar",
99                        "controlURL": "/ctl/X_MS_MediaReceiverRegistrar",
100                        "eventSubURL": "/evt/X_MS_MediaReceiverRegistrar",
101                        "SCPDURL": "/X_MS_MediaReceiverRegistrar.xml"
102                    }
103                ]
104            }
105        }
106    },
107    "descriptionXML": "<?xml version=\"1.0\"?>..."
108}

Properties	Type	Description
address	String	IP address of the device.
headers	Object	This object represents the M-SEARCH response header.
dheaders	Object	This object represents the HTTP response header of the device description.
description	Object	This object represents the XML description fetched from the device. The structure of this object depends on the type of device. The node-upnp-utils is agnostic on the structure of this object. If failed to fetch the XML, this property would not exist.
descriptionXML	String	This string is the XML itself fetched from the device. If failed to fetch the XML, this property would not exist.

---

Running on Windows

This module does not work well on Windows by the default Windows setting.

On Windows, the "SSDP Discovery" service (SSDPSRV) is enabled by default. This service prevents the discovery process of this module. If you want to discover UPnP devices using this module, stop the "SSDP Discovery" service (SSDPSRV).

---

Release Note

• v1.0.3 (2024-06-30)
  • Improved the fetch process of UPnP device descriptions.
• v1.0.2 (2024-06-29)
  • Fixed the bug that the script using this module was not terminated even though the discovery process was finished.
• v1.0.1 (2024-06-29)
  • Ignored network interfaces assigned a global IP address in the M-SEARCH process.
• v1.0.0 (2023-10-03)
  • Rewrote all codes in modern coding style using class, async, await, etc.
  • Supported multi-homed environment.
  • Added the discover() method.
  • Added the dheaders property in the object representing a discovered device or service.
  • Added the wait() method.
  • Deprecated the invokeAction() method.
  • Deprecated the callback argument of the stopDiscovery() method.

---

References

• UPnP Device Architecture 2.0 - Open Connectivity Foundation

---

License

The MIT License (MIT)

Copyright (c) 2017 - 2024 Futomi Hatano

Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:

The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all copies or substantial portions of the Software.

THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.