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Introduction
    Overview
    How This Manual Is Organized
    Conventions Used in This Manual
          Terminology
          Sample Links
          Default Locations and Values
    Available Features
    Additional RealSystem Resources
    Technical Support

1 Quick Start
    Overview
    Starting RealServer
          Windows NT
          UNIX
    Using RealSystem Administrator to Test Your RealServer
    Playing Sample Files
    Creating and Streaming Your Own On-Demand Clips
       Step 1: Creating a Music Clip
       Step 2: Putting the Music Clip in the Content Directory
       Step 3: Creating a Link (Optional)
       Step 4: Playing the Sample Clip
    Creating and Broadcasting Live Events
       Step 1: Encoding an Event
       Step 2: Creating a Link (Optional)
       Step 3: Playing the Clip

2 What's New in RealServer 8?
    New Features in RealServer Version 8
          Distributed Licensing
          Port Hinting
          Redundant Encoders
          Splitting
          Stream Encryption
          Support for Additional Data Types
    New Features in RealServer Version 7
          Ad Server Integration with RealServer
          ISP Hosting Support
          Log Rolling for Both Access Log and Error Log Files
          Multicast Shift to Unicast Feature
          Pending Changes Page in RealSystem Administrator
          SureStream Support for G2SLTA and Live File Archiving
          View Source Code of SMIL Files
    Compatibility with Earlier Releases

3 Overview of RealServer
    What Is RealServer?
    What Is RealSystem?
    How RealServer Works
       Channels and Protocols
          Occasional Exceptions
       Communication Between Encoders and RealServer
       Communication Between RealServer and RealPlayers
    Streaming Media Delivery Methods
    Choosing a Delivery Method
       On-Demand Streaming
       Live Event Broadcasting
          Unicasting
          Splitting
          Multicasting
       Simulated Live Event Broadcasting
       Summary
    Linking to RealSystem Content
    Working with Other Webcasting Professionals
    RealServer Features
          Ad Streaming
          Access Control
          Authentication
          Firewalls
          ISP Hosting
          Monitoring
          RealProxy
          RealSystem Administrator
          Redundancy
          Reporting (Log Files)
          View Source
       Using RealServer Features Together
    License Files
       Information Stored in the License
       Reading the License
       Minimum Licensed Features

4 Sources of Content
    Overview
    Creating an On-Demand Source with RealProducer Plus
       Step 1: Creating the Clip
       Step 2: Copying the Clip to RealServer
       Step 3: Linking to the On-Demand Clip
    Creating a Live Source with RealProducer Plus
       Step 1: Starting the Live Encoding with RealProducer Plus
       Step 2: Linking to the Live Event
          Virtual Paths
    Creating a Live Source with G2SLTA
       When to Use G2SLTA
       G2SLTA Used with Other Features
          On-Demand Streaming and G2SLTA
          Live Unicasting and G2SLTA
          Archiving G2SLTA Broadcasts
          Splitting and G2SLTA
          Multicasting and G2SLTA
          Access Control, Authentication, and G2SLTA
          Java Monitor and G2SLTA
          Reporting and G2SLTA
       Setting Up and Running G2SLTA
          Step 1: Configuring RealServer
          Step 2: Creating a Playlist
          Step 3: Running G2SLTA
          Step 4: Linking to the Simulated Live Broadcast
       Stopping G2SLTA
       Optional G2SLTA Features
       Using G2SLTA for Splitting and Multicasting
       Files Required by G2SLTA
    Working with Redundant Sources
       Redundant Sources Used with Other Features
          On-Demand Streaming and Redundant Sources
          G2SLTA and Redundant Sources
          Archiving Redundant Broadcasts
          Splitting and Redundant Sources
          Multicasting and Redundant Sources
          Access Control, Authentication, and Redundant Sources
          ISP Hosting and Redundant Sources
          Java Monitor and Redundant Sources
          Reporting and Redundant Sources
       Setting Up Redundant Sources
          Setting Up the Source
          Linking to Redundant Content

5 Understanding Link Formats
    Overview
    Parts of a Link
       Protocol
          Choosing the Right Protocol
       Address
       Port
       Mount Point
          Including Multiple Mount Points in One Link
          Mount Points and Directories with the Same Name
       Path
          Mount Points vs. Paths
       File
    Sharing Information for Links
    Metafiles
       Ram Files and Ramgen
          Ram Files
          Ramgen: A Shortcut to Ram Files
       SMIL Files
    Where to Put On-Demand Clips
          Storing Clips in the Content Directory
          Storing Clips in a Subdirectory of the Content Directory
          Storing Clips in a Different Directory
          Creating Additional Mount Points
          Recognizing Clips in a Different System
          Authenticated Clips
    Where to Put Live Clips

6 Starting and Stopping RealServer
    Windows
          Starting RealServer Manually
          Setting Up RealServer as a Service Under Windows NT
          Additional Options for Windows NT
          Stopping RealServer on Windows NT
    UNIX
          Starting RealServer on UNIX
          Stopping RealServer on UNIX

7 Customizing RealServer Features
    Overview
    Customizing RealServer Using RealSystem Administrator
       Starting RealSystem Administrator
       Using RealSystem Administrator
       Restricting Access to RealSystem Administrator
    Configuration File
          Editing the Configuration File with a Text Editor
    Common Settings
       Port Numbers
       Mount Points
       MIME Types
          MIME Types on a Web Server
          MIME Types on RealServer

8 Advanced Features
    Displaying Source Code for SMIL Files and Media Clips
          View Source on SMIL Files
          Security
          Listing All On-Demand Content
          A Note About Web Servers
       View Source Used with Other Features
          Streaming, Unicasting, and View Source
          Archiving and View Source
          G2SLTA and View Source
          Splitting and View Source
          Access Control, Authentication, and View Source
          Reporting and View Source
       Changing View Source Settings
       Optional View Source Features
          Displaying Source Code Only for Certain Streams
          Temporarily Overriding Individual Path Settings
          Allowing Users to See Complete Paths in SMIL Files
       Browsing Your Content
          Changing Content Browsing Settings
          Optional Content Browsing Settings
    RealServer Caching Features
       Caching used with Other Features and with RealProxy
          Streaming On-Demand Clips and RealProxy
          Unicasting, Splitting, Multicasting and RealProxy
          Access Control and RealProxy
          Authentication and RealProxy
          ISP Hosting and RealProxy
          Monitoring and RealProxy
          Reporting and RealProxy
          Ad Streaming and RealProxy
       Changing Cache Settings
       Optional Caching Features
    Distributed Licensing
       Setting Up Distributed Licensing
          Setting Up the Publisher
          Setting Up Subscribers
       Monitoring Distributed Licensing
    Reserving IP Addresses for RealServer's Use
    Running Web Servers and RealServer on the Same System
    Port Hinting
          Setting Up Port Hinting
    Features Specific to the Operating System
       Windows NT-Only Features
          Windows NT Service
          Windows NT Performance Monitor
          Windows NT Event Viewer
       UNIX-Only Features
          User and Group Variables
          Process ID (PID)
          SIGHUP

9 Firewalls and RealServer
    Overview
       Who Should Read This Chapter
       Highlights of This Chapter
       Firewalls and Their Interaction with RealServer Features
          On-Demand Streaming and Firewalls
          Live Unicasting and Firewalls
          Splitting and Firewalls
          Multicasting and Firewalls
          Caching and Firewalls
          Access Control, Reporting, and Firewalls
          Authentication and Firewalls
          ISP Hosting and Firewalls
    Protocols Used by RealServer
    How Firewalls Can Affect the User Experience
          Potential Problems with Firewalls
    Communicating with Software Behind Firewalls
       Communicating with Clients
          How Clients Communicate with a RealServer from Behind a Firewall
          Improving User Experience for Clients Behind a Firewall
       Communicating with Encoders
       Communicating with Receivers
       Communicating with RealProxys
    Firewall Configurations (for Firewall Administrators)
       Application-Level Proxy Firewall
       Transparent Proxy Firewall
       Packet Filter Firewall
       Stateful Packet Filtering Firewall
       SOCKS Firewall
       Network Address Translation Firewall
       Summary of Firewall Types and Characteristics
    Best Firewall Configurations
          Locating RealServer Near the Firewall
    Ports Used in Streaming and Unicasting
          Port Numbers Used by RealServer
          Port Numbers Used by Receivers
          Port Numbers Used by RealProxy
          Port Numbers Used by Encoders
          Port Numbers Used by RealPlayer

10 Streaming On-Demand Presentations
    Overview
       When to Use Streaming
       On-Demand Streaming Used with Other Features
          Live Delivery Methods: Unicasting, Simulated Live Broadcasting, Splitting, Multicasting, and On-Demand Streaming
          Live Archiving and On-Demand Streaming
          RealProxy and On-Demand Streaming
          Firewalls and On-Demand Streaming
          Access Control, Authentication, and On-Demand Streaming
          Monitoring and On-Demand Streaming
          Logging and On-Demand Streaming
    Storing On-Demand Clips
    Streaming On-Demand Clips
       RealServer Settings
       Linking to On-Demand Clips
    Working with SureStream Clips
          Files Created with Previous Encoder Versions
          All Other Data Types

11 Unicasting Live Presentations
    Overview
       When to Use Live Unicasting
       Live Unicasting Used with Other Features
          On-Demand Streaming and Live Unicasting
          Live Archiving and Live Unicasting
          Simulated Live (G2SLTA) and Live Unicasting
          Splitting and Live Unicasting
          Multicasting and Live Unicasting
          RealProxy and Live Unicasting
          Firewalls and Live Unicasting
          Access Control, Authentication, and Live Unicasting
          ISP Hosting and Live Unicasting
          Monitoring and Live Unicasting
          Logging and Live Unicasting
    Unicasting Live Clips
       Configuring RealServer for Live Unicasting
          Encoders
          Pre-G2 Encoders
       Creating the Link to the Live Unicast
       Optional Live Unicasting Features
    Archiving Live Broadcasts
          Choosing the Size of the Archived Files
          Temporary Files in the Archive Directory
       When to Use Live Archiving
       Live Archiving Used with Other Features
          On-Demand Streaming and Live Archiving
          Splitting, Multicasting, and Live Archiving
    Setting Up Live Archiving
       Disabling Live Archiving
       Linking to Archived Files
       Optional Live Archiving Features
          Archiving Only Certain Streams
          Creating Small Files Limited by Size or Time
          Archiving to Another Disk Drive
          Using Bandwidth Negotiation

12 Splitting Live Presentations
    Overview
       Example Splitting Scenario
       Splitting Used with Other Features
          On-Demand Streaming and Splitting
          Live Unicasting and Splitting
          Multicasting and Splitting
          Live Archiving and Splitting
          G2SLTA and Splitting
          RealProxy and Splitting
          Firewalls and Splitting
          Access Control and Splitting
          Authentication and Splitting
       Calculating Latency and Bandwidth
          Stream Acquisition Latency
          Bandwidth Considerations
       Compatibility with Earlier Versions of RealServer
    Setting Up Splitting
       Step 1: Setting Up the Transmitter
          Optional Transmitter Features
       Step 2: Setting Up the Receiver
          Optional Receiver Features
       Step 3: Linking to Split Content
    Optional Configurations
       Broadcasting Over Multiple Network Paths
       Using Receivers as Transmitters
       Using Backup Transmitters
          Linking to Backup Transmitters
       Chaining Receivers
          Setting Up Chain Splitting
       Pull Splitting
          Using Push Splitting and Pull Splitting Together
          Setting Up the Transmitter for Pull Splitting
          Setting Up the Receiver for Pull Splitting
          Linking to Pull Split Content
          Example Pull Splitting Link

13 Multicasting Live Presentations
    Overview
       When to Use Multicasting
    RealServer Multicasting Methods
       Back-Channel Multicasting
          RTSP Multicast
          PNA Multicast
       Scalable Multicasting
       Choosing the Method of Multicasting
       Multicasting Used with Other Features
          On-Demand Streaming and Multicasting
          Live Unicasting and Multicasting
          Live Archiving and Multicasting
          Simulated Live (G2SLTA) and Multicasting
          Splitting and Multicasting
          RealProxy and Multicasting
          Firewalls and Multicasting
          Access Control, Authentication, and Multicasting
          Monitoring and Multicasting
          Reporting and Multicasting
    Additional Resources
    Setting Up Both Types of Multicasting
       Setting Up the Network for Multicasting
       Allocating Addresses and Ports in RealServer
          Determining the Number of Required Addresses and Ports
       Publicizing Your Multicasts
       Multicasting with Multiple Network Interface Cards
    Setting Up Back-Channel Multicasting
       Configuring RealServer for Back-Channel Multicasting
       Linking to Back-Channel Multicasts
       Optional Back-Channel Multicasting Features
          Sending SAP Information with Your Multicasts
          Listing Ranges of Authorized Clients
          Requiring Multicasting Access Rather Than Unicasting
    Setting Up Scalable Multicasting
       Settings Used in Scalable Multicast
       Setting Up a Live Channel
       Linking to Scalable Multicasts
       Optional Scalable Multicast Features
          Sending SAP Information with Your Multicasts
          Using Unicasting as a Backup Method
          Controlling Client Statistics
          Enabling RTSP-based Multicast Clients to Read SDP and SAP Files

14 Limiting Access to RealServer
    Overview
    Controlling Access to HTTP Streams
    Limiting Access by Number of Connections or Bandwidth
    Limiting Access by RealPlayer Version
    Limiting Access to Back-Channel Multicast Reception
    Limiting Access with the IP Address
          When to Use Access Control
       Access Control Used with Other Features
          On-Demand Streaming, Live Unicasting, G2SLTA, and Access Control
          Splitting, Multicasting and Access Control
          RealProxy and Access Control
          Authentication and Access Control
          ISP Hosting and Access Control
          Monitoring and Access Control
          Reporting and Access Control
       Understanding Access Control Rules
          Deciding What Rules to Create
          Numbering the Rules
       Setting Up IP Access Control
          Creating General Access Rules
          Creating Specific Access Rules

15 Authenticating RealServer Users
    Overview
       When to Use Authentication
       Authentication Used with Other Features
          On-Demand Streaming and Authentication
          Live Unicasting and Authentication
          Archiving and Authentication
          G2SLTA and Authentication
          Splitting and Authentication
          Multicasting and Authentication
          RealProxy and Authentication
          Firewalls and Authentication
          Access Control and Authentication
          ISP Hosting and Authentication
          Monitoring and Authentication
          Reporting and Authentication
    Adding User Names and Passwords
    Authenticating Encoder Users
          Encoders
          Pre-G2 Encoders
    Authenticating RealSystem Administrator Users
    Authenticating Content Users
       Step 1: Adding User Names and Passwords
       Step 2: Giving Users Access to Content
       Step 3: Creating the Content
       Step 4: Linking to Authenticated Content
       Optional Content User Authentication Features
          Allowing Users to View a Clip from More Than One Location
          Player Validation
          Automating Registration
          Registering Player Validation Users Via Links
          Using the Evaluate Permissions Feature
          Working with SMIL Files
    Optional Authentication Features (for All Types of Users)
          Creating a New Realm
          Creating a New Database
          Changing RealSystem 5.0 Authentication Passwords

16 Storing Authentication Data
    Overview
       Using Text Files for Authentication Data
          Users Directory
          Guids Directory
          Logs Directory
          Redirect Directory
       Using a Database for Authentication Data
          Users Table
          Permissions Table
          Register_Log Table
          Redirect Table
          Access_log Table
    Setting Up Other Types of Data Storage

17 ISP Hosting
    Overview
       Links to Users' Hosted Content
       Account Information
          Connections Available for Each Account
       ISP Hosting Used with Other Features
       Tracking Account Usage
       Dedicating RealServer to ISP Hosting
       Compatibility with Earlier Versions of RealServer
       Example ISP Hosting Scenario-Northwest ISP
    Users' Directory Structures
          Directory Structures in Dedicated Hosting
    Setting Up ISP Hosting
       Step 1: Creating the User List
          Listing Individual Accounts
          Listing Generic Accounts
          Combining Individual Account Listings with a Generic Listing
          Using Multiple User List Files
          Re-Reading an Updated User List File
          Dedicated Hosting User File Format
          Creating User Lists From Earlier Versions
       Step 2: Configuring RealServer
       Step 3: Linking to ISP Content
          Dedicated Hosting Server

18 Monitoring RealServer Activity
    Java Monitor
       Java Monitor Used with Other Features
          Live Archiving and Java Monitor
          G2SLTA and Java Monitor
          Splitting and Java Monitor
          Multicasting and Java Monitor
       Using Java Monitor
       Configuring Java Monitor Settings
       Optional Java Monitor Features
          Options Menu
          Tabs
          Key Tab
          Performance Tab
          Connections Tab
          Files Tab
          Java Monitor Modes
    Windows NT Performance Monitor

19 Reporting RealServer Activity
    Access Log
       Access Log Files Used with Other Features
          Number of Records Created for Each Clip
          On-Demand Streaming and Access Log Files
          Live Unicasting and Access Log Files
          G2SLTA and Access Log Files
          Splitting and Access Log Files
          Multicasting and Access Log Files
          Access Control, Authentication, and Access Log Files
          ISP Hosting and Access Log Files
          Monitoring and Access Log Files
          RealSystem Administrator and Access Log Files
          SMIL Presentations, Ram Files, and Access Log Files
       Reading an Access Log
          Access Log Format
          LoggingStyle Results
          StatsMask Results
       Customizing Information Reported by the Access Log
          Changing Information Gathered with Logging Style
          Changing Information Gathered with Stats Mask
          Omitting Client Identifiers
       Using the GET Statement to Identify Delivery Method
    Error Log
          Error Log File Format
    Log File Rolling
          Disabling Log File Rolling
    Cached Requests Log
          Reading a Cached Requests Log
          Disabling Cache Request Logging

20 Streaming Targeted Ads
    How Ad Streaming Works
       Quick Start for Testing Ad Banner Insertion
          Testing your Own Banner Ads
       General Steps for Setting Up Ad Streaming
    Getting Ad URLs from an Ad Server
       Understanding Ad Types
       Guidelines for Ads in Streaming Presentations
       Integrating RealServer Directly with an Ad Server
       Setting up a Target HTML Page on a Web Server
          Guidelines for Creating a Target HTML Page
       Requesting SMIL Files from an Ad Server
    Configuring RealServer to Stream Ads
       Understanding Ad Streaming Mount Points
          Choosing the Ad Streaming Base Mount Point
          Using Authentication with Ad Streaming
       Creating Ad Streaming Mount Points
          Why are There Different Ad Server Types?
       Setting Up Rotating Banner Ads
    Changing Timeouts Values
    Overriding Mount Point Settings through SMIL
       Overriding the Target URL Location
       Overriding Banner Rotation Settings
    Generating SMIL Files for Ads
       Limitations on Automatic SMIL Generation
       Understanding SMIL Generation Mount Points
       Creating SMIL Generation Mount Points
       Setting SMIL Options

21 Troubleshooting
    Overview
    General Troubleshooting Steps
       Step 1: Make sure RealServer is running.
          I can't start the Server at all.
          When I click the Server icon, the command window opens briefly but then disappears.
          I can start the Server, but I can't connect to it.
          The Server is running, but many features have stopped working.
       Step 2: Try different ways of connecting.
          Try using IP addresses, rather than DNS names.
          Play the sample files.
          Play your files.
       Step 3: Check the production tools.
       Step 4: Check the remaining areas.
       Step 5: Work with the system or network administrator.
    Troubleshooting RealSystem Administrator
          How do I figure out which port number to use for RealSystem Administrator?
          How do I look up my user name and password?
          I can't start RealSystem Administrator.
          I receive JavaScript errors.
    Troubleshooting On-Demand Streaming
          I can't stream any on-demand content.
    Troubleshooting Live Unicasting
          I can't find my live clips. Where are they?
          Live unicasting is not working...what should I do?
    Troubleshooting Live Archiving
    Troubleshooting G2SLTA
    Troubleshooting Splitting
          Transmitter-to-Receiver Connections
          Receiver-to-Client Connections
    Troubleshooting Multicasting
          Checking RealServer
          Special Issues with the Configuration File
          Connecting with the Client
    Troubleshooting Access Control
    Troubleshooting Authentication
          "Your account has been locked, contact your content provider for more information."
          "Your account has expired, contact your content provider for more information."
          "You must register your RealPlayer before viewing this content. Please contact your content provider for assistance."
          "This player doesn't support user authentication"
    Troubleshooting Monitoring
    Troubleshooting Ad Streaming
          Special Issues with the Configuration File
    Troubleshooting SMIL File Issues
          "GIF [or JPEG]: Bad URL-encoded bitrate."
          "GIF [or JPEG]: Bad URL-encoded url."
          "GIF: Bad URL-encoded background color."
          "GIF [or JPEG]: Bad URL-encoded target." or "GIF [or JPEG]: URL-encoded target must either be _player or _browser"
          "GIF [or JPEG]: Bad URL-encoded reliable flag."
          "GIF: Unknown player command in URL-encoded url attribute." or "JPEG: Unknown player command in url URL encoding."
          "GIF [or JPEG]: Illegal time formatting in URL-encoded seek time."
          "GIF [or JPEG]: Cannot target browser with a player command."
    Troubleshooting Other Issues
          I get a message saying "The Server has reached capacity"
          I get a message stating "License exceeded"
    Troubleshooting Problems in RealPlayer
          Users get the contents of Ram files, instead of launching the Ram files
          Users get "File not found" error message in browser
          Users get messages telling them their software is not the right version.
          Users get messages telling them they need RealPlayer Plus, not just RealPlayer.
          Users get messages about "insufficient bandwidth"
          Users get messages telling them that they shouldn't use PNA or PNM.
          This message appears: "You cannot receive this content. Either your network bandwidth is not fast enough to receive this data or your CPU is not powerful enough to decode it."
    Common Mistakes to Avoid
          Write links so that users download your clips, rather than stream them.
          If you are a firewall administrator, only allow HTTP traffic.
          Create compelling content, and incorrectly use PNA as the protocol.
          Spell clip names correctly, but change the capitalization.
          Serve poorly authored content.
    Contacting RealNetworks Technical Support
       Determining the Server Version

A Summary of Link Formats
       The Subject of a Link
       How Authenticated Content Is Different
       Multiple Mount Points in Links
       Port Numbers in Links

B Configuration File Syntax
    Configuration File Components
       XML Declaration Tag
       Comment Tags
       List Tags
       Variable Tags

C Configuration File Contents
    Editing the Configuration File
    RealSystem Administrator and the Configuration File
          Some Observations About Variables
    RealServer Features in the Configuration File
       Ad Streaming
       Access Control
       Allowance
       Authentication and Commerce
          Authentication Realms
          Commerce Rules List
          Player Authentication
          Databases List
          Secure Content
       Broadcast Redundancy
       Caching
       Encoders
       File Systems (FSMount)
          ShortName Variable
          Local File System
       HTTP Support
          HTTPDeliverable
          HTTPPostable
       ISP Hosting
          How RealServer Looks for Users' Content (Account-Based Hosting)
          How RealServer Looks for Users' Content (Dedicated Hosting)
       IP Binding
       Distributed Licensing
       Live Archiving
       Logging
       MIME Types
       Multicasting
          Back-Channel Multicasting
          Scalable Multicasting
       Passwords
       Paths
       Ports
       Ramgen
       RealSystem Administrator
       Splitting
          Transmitter Settings
          Receiver Settings
       UNIX-Only Settings
       View Source
    Features Available Only Through Direct Editing

Index