Media Server Software Pros and Cons

I'm of the opinion that the server software one uses is as important (if not more) than the actual media extender chosen. That said, I'd like to get a master list of different server software and the pros and cons of each, perhaps something we can use as a sticky.

I'd like to avoid any Apple flames; I know many people who use iTunes and love it, and just because it doesn't work for me doesn't mean that I don't think it's a legitimate choice for others; one needs to weigh the pros and cons.

I'd also like to avoid any XBMC flames; I know many people who use XBMC and love it, and just because it doesn't work for me doesn't mean that I don't think it's a legitimate choice for others; one needs to weigh the pros and cons.

I'll start out with what I've tried (disclaimer: I'm currently using Tversity). Feel free to correct me if what I've written is incorrect. I'll change/add to this list as others post.

Basic File Server
Platform: Windows; Linux; Mac
Pros: Included with Most Operating Systems; No (little) Configuration Needed
Cons: No (little) Configuration Possible; Few Media Extenders Can Use; Requires Beefy Media Extender, Such as XBMC or HTPC.

D-Link Media Server
Platform: Windows
Pros: Free; Easy-to-Use; UPnP
Cons: Limited Functionality; Buggy; Doesn't Run as a Service; Sorts Album Tracks Alphabetically

Firefly
Platform: Windows; Linux; FreeBSD; AIX; Solaris
Pros: Free; Runs as a Service; Plays iTunes, Including Apple Lossless; Transcodes
Cons: Not UPnP

FUPPES
Platform: Linux; Windows; FreeBSD
Pros: Free; Transcodes
Cons: Not Fully UPnP-Compliant Yet; No Mac Support

GMediaServer
Platform: Linux; FreeBSD
Pros: Free; UPnP; Easy to use web based UI
Cons: No Windows or Mac; Larger Collections Take More Memory; Doesn't Appear to Transcode

iTunes
Platform: Windows, Mac
Pros: Free; Ubiquitous; Built-in Media Store; Easy-to-Use; Windows or Mac
Cons: Doesn't Run as a Service; Doesn't Work with UPnP Devices

Nero MediaHome
Platform: Windows
Pros: Bundled with Nero Burning Software
Cons: Not Free; Windows Only

JRiver Media Center
Platform: Windows
Pros: UPnP; Advanced Library Features; "Theater View" With HTPC; Works With iPod (and other devices); Transcodes
Cons: Not Free; Windows Only; Doesn't Run as a Service

SwissCenter
Platform: Windows; Mac; Linux; NetBSD; NAS
Pros: Free; Integrates With MusicIP; Controls for Paging Through Large Collections; Appears to be UPnP
Cons: ???

Tversity
Platform: Windows Only
Pros: Free; UPnP; Many International TV Feeds Built-In; Runs as a Service; Transcodes On-The-Fly
Cons: Crashes when a User Logs Off the Server; Still a "Work in Progress"; Menu Structure Not Customizable; Doesn't Play Protected Content; Difficult to Work With iTunes; Windows Only

Twonky
Platform: Windows; Mac; Linux
Pros: Runs as a Service; UPnP; Rock Solid; Customizable Menu Structure; Windows, Mac or Linux
Cons: Not Free; Doesn't Play Protected Content; Difficult to Work With iTunes

uShare
Platform: Linux; FreeBSD; FreeNAS
Pros: Free; UPnP; Easy to use web based UI; Included with FreeNAS
Cons: No Windows or Mac; Larger Collections Take More Memory; Doesn't Appear to Transcode; Doesn't Read All Tags Correctly

ViiV
???

Windows Media Connect
Platform: Windows
Pros: Free; Plays Protected WMAs
Cons: Windows XP and Vista Only; Not UPnP

Windows Media Player 11
Platform: Windows XP, Vista
Pros: Free; UPnP; Plays Protected WMAs
Cons: Windows XP and Vista Only

WIZD
Platform: Windows, Linux
Pros: Free, open source, compatible with Windows OS, Linux and NAS, easy to setup, low memory usage, no restrictions on the number of drives/folders/files, no restrictions on root directories, provides capabilities like playing ISO, VOB, file deletion, customizable skins and menu, ts file play, DV avi file play, does not hang up, runs solid day in and day out, runs as a service; Windows or Linux
Cons: The GUI could be a bit better, no NFS, does not play protected content, not UPnP

Added. Is WIZD UPnP? IIRC, I think it is, but am not sure.

It's not. After looking at the Pros list, I was wondering why I didn't install it.

You're still using software on the backend, even if it's just a basic file server. When you open a directory to sharing, you're enabling the file server in the operating system to serve that directory.

Not to knock an XBMC (I like them; I just don't have one), but they're closer to an HTPC than a pure media extender. And as such, can be well suited to working with a basic file server.

Yeah, but it's sort of on-topic. Many people forget that a file server is still a server. I've added a "I'd also like to avoid any XBMC flames" caveat on my first post, and am adding File Server as a legitimate server type.

I tentatively added it. I looked at the UPnP compatibility list and it shows "Winamp + On2Share for Winamp v0.1 Plugin." Is this the actual UPnP server and it's just running on FreeNAS? Or is the UPnP server actually embedded in the OS?

I changed FreeNAS to uShare and added FreeNAS to the supported platforms, with being included with FreeNAS as a Pro.
Does uShare do any transcoding? It doesn't look like it from the website.

I also alphabetized the list to be more agnostic w/re my choice of server, and added a link to the website for each server.

Added.

I had a similar problem with my DSM-320 with all of the servers I tried until I started using MediaMonkey to edit my tags.

Added. Do you have a website for it? I'd g00gle it myself, but I'm cooking dinner at the moment and am waiting for a cast iron pan to heat up.

I haven't heard of that one before. I'll have to try it out this weekend and see how well the MusicIP part works.

According to SwissCenter's FAQ, Mac OS is supported.

Thanks Scott, I've added them.