But, still, is there a way for me to browse my network share without the CORE? 
At this point I want to see how well the network streaming is with Linux. As I said, I do not have a spare motherboard with 2 NICs to build a CORE... 
...I do not want to rework my infrastructure and later find out that the one thing that is most important to me, streaming hi-def content, is not up to par.
lev - some interesting comments...
Asking if your can browse your network share without the CORE is rather like saying you just want to drive down the street using your petrol/gas, you don't want to have to bother with the actual car! The Core is the actual LMCE engine.... everything else is just periphery that LMCE utilises, the smarts are in the Core... however, I'm sure this was just a nomenclature thing
Next point - you do not need a spare motherboard with 2 NICs, just grab a 15 buck PCI NIC from a comp store and stick it in to the machine you are using as your core. When you are done, just pull it out.
Finally - "rework my infrastructure"... that is slighly unforgivable!
Please read the link I gave you.... focus on the points I make about how this most specifically
does not require you to fundamentally change your infrastructure.... especially if you are just testing. If you have the 2nd NIC, just unplug your cable modem/ADSL modem from your switch, insert your core, and patch your switch into the 2nd NIC (adapt terms as necessary).... ie put the core in line... nothing else changes on your network.. perhaps just reboot all your devices so they get LMCE IP addresses, but everything else stays the same. To revert, remove, and reboot your devices again... all done...
on the subject of hi-def streaming... well that depends on exactly what you mean by hi-def and streaming. However, if you are referring simply to HD avi/mp4/mkv/etc media files, then you are likely to be surprised. Obviously, gbit networks are going to be better for higher bit rates, and you need to be aware that currently some additional activities are required to use hardware acceleration for very high bit rate H264 sources. That aside.... I have never seen any system so seemlessly handly searching and moving through media files, live, over simple SMB/netbios/CIFS network connections. Particularly the UI2 ability to "scroll" using absolute positioning, through media files over a network (even worked perfectly well for SD content using 100M networks)... with the UI and a Fiire remote I can whiz from beginning to end and back again of a 2GB video file in 2 secs with a flick of the wrist, there is no sensation at all that it is even over a network... you literally wouldn't know if you didn't know! I can flick my wrist to the left .... beginining of the movie, flick my wrist to the right .... end of the movie... total time... less than 2 secs...
