Unicasting ASF Streams Using a Channel

Use the following steps when creating a program that unicasts a series of ASF streams. The program can contain both live streams from the Real-Time Encoder and streams stored as files on your server.

The illustration shows the Real-Time Encoder and NetShow Server on separate computers. While all software can run on a single computer, in most cases you should run the system as shown. Because the Real-Time Encoder places heavy demands on the processor, dedicating a computer to run it can ensure performance.

1. Set up the sources for streams:
   • If you want to include live streams in the program, set up the Real-Time Encoder to process the streams. You can either use one of the default stream formats, or create one.

     For more information, see the NetShow Tools Guide.

   • If you want to include stored streams in the program, create your .asf files and store them in the publishing point used for NetShow content files.
2. On NetShow Server, start NetShow Administrator, connect to the server you want to manage, and then use Configure Channels to create a channel for the stream.

   To create a unicast channel, specify a name for the channel and click the Distribution box.

   For more information, see Creating a Channel.

3. In NetShow Administrator, use Set Publishing Points (under Unicasts) to create a publishing point that references the NetShow server and the channel you created. Specify the path using the MSBD protocol:
   msbd://servername/channelname

   For more information, see Creating a Publishing Point.

4. In NetShow Administrator, use Manage Programs to create a program.

   Add streams to the program by specifying the channel you created and the source for each stream.

   • For live streams, specify the stream source using either a URL to point to the computer running the Real-Time Encoder, or the alias you created when defining the stream format using the Real-Time Encoder.
   • For stored .asf content, specify the source URL using the MMS protocol to point to NetShow Server and the .asf file:
     mms://servername/filename.asf

   For more information, see Creating a Program and Adding Active Streaming Media to a Program.

5. To start the unicast, start the program. If your program includes live streams, start the Real-Time Encoder as well.

   For more information, see Starting and Stopping a Program.

6. Clients can now connect to the server using the stand-alone or embedded NetShow player. To connect using the stand-alone player, specify the URL for the server and publishing point using the MMS protocol:
   mms://servername/pubpointalias

   To set up the embedded player to receive the multicast, specify the URL in either the object information or the scripting code for the control.

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