How to Get Started with a Live Broadcast

• Microsoft NetShow version 2.0

SUMMARY

The section below discusses how you get started with a live broadcast from a NetShow server.

MORE INFORMATION

If you look in the NetShow product documentation, you will find what you need to see example usage and configuration scenarios. You will want to look in the NetShow Administrator Getting Started page; click the option to learn about the many examples you can implement with NetShow. You can use the examples step-by-step guides and the wizards to set up NetShow.

If you are doing an Internet broadcast, you will probably not need to set up a channel or program. In the Internet example, you will need to set up the real time encoder and a Unicast Publishing Point (Alias) pulling the feed from the real Time Encoder using a fixed port.

If you are doing an intranet broadcast, you will want to set up a channel to do the multicast broadcast. Therefore, you must set up the routers and switches on the corporate network so that they support multicast and are enabled for multicast routing.

The following is the recommended Internet configuration using the Unicast Server.

• Setup Real Time Encoder (REX) to operate on a fixed port. You can use 5005; however, this is just one in a large valid range.
• Start this Encoder Session.
• On server, use Administration Page to add a stream to an URL-based media
• Use something similar to the following:

        Name   := Live
        Path   := msbd://EncoderNameorIP:Port
  
  

NOTE: Use a DOS/Windows-based text editor such as Notepad. In some cases if you use a UNIX editor, you will not get the LF/CR combination at the end of lines and will create a malformed ASX file.

Save the file in the WWWRoot directory as Livedemo.asx. [Reference] ref1=mms://NetShowServerNameOrIP/Live

Then you could use in the NetShow Player or link via HTML to the following paths:

NetShow Player (this will verify the feed coming from the server) mms://NetShowServerNameOrIP/Live

NetShow Player (for testing this will verify the feed coming from the Encoder) msbd://EncoderNameorIP:Port

In the Player or in HTML source or in a Web browser (this will verify the server and the ASX file) http: //WWWServerNameOrIP/LiveDemo.asx

This will create a feed appropriate for Internet distribution. If you need multicast or distribution capabilities, you will need and want to set up a channel and program. First, you will want to set up a channel using the Channel Wizard. Next, you will need to create a new program stream in the Manage Programs page.

From a new program, create a new stream (ASF stream) and for the URL use msbd://EncoderNameorIP:Port. Then you will need to announce the program by right-clicking the program and clicking Announce. Save this ASX file in the WWWROOT directory (http://WWWServerNameOrIP/AnnouncementFileName.asx).

NOTE You will want to make sure your program starts playing, and You have green arrows on both the program and at least one stream as you can add multiple streams to a program.