Specifically, Handbrake can import most video formats and transform them into the MP4 and MKV (Matroska video format) containers. Most, but not all media servers and extenders support MP4. Fewer still support MKV.

Handbrake does not, however, include software to decrypt the video and audio on a DVD into a format it can then translate into a format you can stream. For that you'll need another program, such as , , and . The last program, MakeMKV, which is shareware, is the only program I trust to decrypt Blu-Ray disks.

Of course you won't need a DVD decryption program if you're converting DVDs that don't come with it. You can also convert some of the few older movies, such as the classic screwball comedy, , which have fallen out of copyright, and thus can legally be downloaded.

There are a lot of programs out there that promise that they'll do it all for you. They'll both decrypt DVDs and translate them into formats that your media server and extender can handle for under $50. Don't believe them. Many of them don't work worth a darn, and those that do are built on top of the open source and free or shareware programs that do work.