Hosting Clips on a Web Server

It's easy to host RealAudio or RealVideo clips on a Web server. RealProducer encoding tools have wizards for creating clips and Web pages, as well as for uploading files to your Web server. This technical blueprint gives you information about putting RealAudio or RealVideo clips on a Web server in case the wizards do not meet your needs, or you prefer a "hands on" method for managing your clips.

Additional Information
You can download and purchase RealProducer tools at http://www.realnetworks.com/products/index.html.

	Additional Information
You can download and purchase RealProducer tools at http://www.realnetworks.com/products/index.html.

Note
You should be familiar with HTML authoring and Web server URLs before following the instructions in this technical blueprint. This blueprint does not cover how to embed clips in a Web page.

	Note
You should be familiar with HTML authoring and Web server URLs before following the instructions in this technical blueprint. This blueprint does not cover how to embed clips in a Web page.

Limitations on Web Server Playback

Although RealServer has better streaming capabilities, Web server playback provides a reasonable method for delivering clips to a small number of users. It is not recommended for lengthy or complicated presentations, however, or for clips viewed simultaneously by large numbers of people. Also note the following limitations when hosting clips on a Web server.

No SureStream Clips

When encoding a RealAudio or RealVideo clip, create a single-rate clip rather than a SureStream clip. A SureStream clip contains multiple encodings for different bandwidths. It can have, for example, encodings for 28 Kbps modems, 56 Kbps modems, and ISDN connections. Only RealServer can stream SureStream clips, however. When delivered by a Web server, each clip must be encoded for just one bandwidth.

Additional Information
To support multiple bandwidths through a single hypertext link, you can encode multiple versions of the clip and use a SMIL file to list the bandwidth choices. See "Setting Bandwidth Choices through SMIL".

	Additional Information
To support multiple bandwidths through a single hypertext link, you can encode multiple versions of the clip and use a SMIL file to list the bandwidth choices. See "Setting Bandwidth Choices through SMIL".

No RealPlayer Seeking

Because a Web server cannot jump to a new position in a clip timeline, the RealPlayer position slider cannot fast-forward the clip. If the user moves the slider forward, playback pauses as the clip continues to download at its normal rate. RealPlayer resumes playback once the clip data reaches the requested timeline position.

Configuring Web Server MIME Types

To download RealSystem clips to RealPlayer, a Web server must be configured with the following MIME types. Ask the Web server administrator to configure the MIME types listed in the following table.

Web Server MIME Types for RealSystem Clips and Files
File Type	Extension	MIME Type
Ram	`.ram`	`audio/x-pn-realaudio`
Embedded Ram	`.rpm`	`audio/x-pn-realaudio-plugin`
SMIL	`.smil` and `.smi`	`application/smil`
RealAudio	`.ra`	`audio/x-pn-realaudio`
RealVideo	`.rm`	`application/x-pn-realmedia`
RealPix	`.rp`	`image/vnd.rn-realpix`
RealText	`.rt`	`text/vnd.rn-realtext`

Note
This technical blueprint does not include information on RealPix or RealText. RealPix Authoring Guide and RealText Authoring Guide explain how to create these clips.