Chapter 3: Managing RealOne Enterprise Desktops

This chapter explains how to create RealOne Enterprise Desktop configuration files using RealNetworks Administrator. The configuration file for any given deployment determines the preferences used by RealOne Enterprise Desktops. After you create the configuration file, you can create an installer that references the configuration file. This enables you to deploy RealOne Enterprise Desktops that use the configuration file settings as the client preferences.

Note: The configuration files discussed in this chapter refer to files that contain preference settings for RealOne Enterprise Desktops. They are different from the configuration file used in the initial configuration of RealOne Desktop Manager (rdm.cfg).

Creating, Editing, and Deleting Configuration Files

Configuration files determine the settings selected in the Preferences window of RealOne Enterprise Desktop. In standard players, users select these settings themselves. In an enterprise deployment using RealOne Desktop Manager, the settings are determined by the configuration file that RealOne Enterprise Desktop reads when it starts.

Using the Web pages in RealNetworks Administrator, you create configuration files that determine the settings used by RealOne Enterprise Desktops deployed in your enterprise. You can create different configurations for different groups of users based on your company's requirements. RealOne Desktop Manager also makes it possible for you to remotely update configuration files after deployment.

Creating a RealOne Enterprise Desktop Configuration File

The instructions in this section explain how to create a configuration file. The creation of the configuration file is the first step in the deployment of RealOne Enterprise Desktops throughout a user group.

To create a configuration file:

Start RealNetworks Administrator. (See "Accessing RealNetworks Administrator".)

In RealNetworks Administrator, click Player Management>Player Setup.

In Player Setup, click Create a Preference Configuration. The following Web page, Player Creation: Preferences, appears:

Name the configuration file by entering a new name in the Configuration box in the upper left corner of the Web page.

Set the preferences for the settings in your users' RealOne Enterprise Desktops.
Note that the Preference setting options form a column to the left within the Player Creation: Preferences Web page. Click on the check box for each Preference heading to open or close a drop-down list of preference options. Click on an option to open the preference fields.
Each Preference setting can be locked (red lock icon) or unlocked (green lock icon). The default status is unlocked. You can set each lock setting individually, or choose to Lock/Unlock All General Settings. Each Preference setting also has a value field that can be set to either a numeric or a Yes/No value.
Work through the column of preferences, setting the configuration choices, until you have set the preferences you wish the deployed RealOne Enterprise Desktops to have. (For specific details on each preference option, see "Understanding the Configuration Options".)

When you are satisfied with the preferences for the configuration file, click Save Preferences. The Configuration Change Results Web page appears.

Click Close.

Note that you can modify the configuration file you have just created by clicking on Edit a Preference Configuration. This will return you to the Player Creation: Preferences Web page. You can also click on Copy a Preference Configuration to make a copy of any configuration file.

Set the Remote Management Options.

The URL where RealOne retrieves preference updates box displays the default location where the configuration file will be stored.
Select one of the following ways for RealOne Enterprise Desktop to retrieve preference updates:

Retrieval from the default location on the RealOne Desktop Manager computer:

To deliver the configuration file using HTTP port setting and prefs delivery path on the RealOne Desktop Manager computer, use the default location. RealOne Enterprise Desktop clients access the file on the RealOne Desktop Manager computer and use these configuration settings.

Note that RealOne Desktop Manager automatically creates a mount point, named /prefs/, that corresponds to the RealOne Desktop Manager\IntranetPlayer\prefs directory. All configuration files are saved automatically to this local directory. The corresponding HTTP Delivery path appears in the URL where RealOne retrieves preference updates box to permit Web access.

Retrieval from an alternate location on the local RealOne Desktop Manager computer or from a remote Web server:

Enter the location on the RealOne Desktop Manager computer or on a remote Web server, and then physically move the configuration file to this location.

Local retrieval from a configuration file distributed to each client:

Enter a local location (for example, C:\software\realplayer) where you plan to distribute the configuration file on each desktop. After you distribute the configuration file and installer, RealOne Enterprise Desktops will use this location to retrieve preferences. RealNetworks^® recommends using standard systems management software to distribute the configuration files before installing RealOne Enterprise Desktops on client desktop computers. This option reduces HTTP traffic on your network.

Warning! Distribute the file to the local desktops before installation. If you do not, RealOne Enterprise Desktop clients will not be able to find the configuration file and will use the default installation settings until the file is available.

Note: Use the local retrieval option only if you do not anticipate changing the RealOne Enterprise Desktop preferences after deployment.

Set the number of hours to wait before retrieving preference updates.
In the Update Interval box, enter the interval, in hours, at which you want RealOne Enterprise Desktop to check for preference updates. RealOne Enterprise Desktop polls the configuration file at startup and then at the interval set here, looking for any changes to the preference settings.

Set the Installation Options:

Specify the location on the users' hard drive where the RealOne Enterprise Desktop will be installed.

Under Player Installation Modes, select one of the three options:

Standard - the user must interact with the installer

Minimal user interaction - a graph shows the progress of the installation and the user can abort the installation.

Silent - the user cannot interact with the installation.

Choose whether you want a desktop shortcut to be added to the users' desktop.

Choose whether you want a link to real.com to be added to the users' browser.

Choose whether you want to add a RealOne Enterprise Desktop icon to the Toolbar.

Choose whether you want to add a RealOne Enterprise Desktop icon to the top of the Windows Start menu.

Click Apply to save the preferences you have chosen.

Click Generate Player. The Configuration Change Results Web page appears.

Click Close.

-or-

Click Reset at the bottom of the page to clear the page and start over.

The RealOne Enterprise Desktop that has been created will appear in a new subdirectory under C:\\Program Files\Real\RealOne Desktop Manager\IntranetPlayer\Installers

Editing an Existing Configuration File

After you have created a configuration file, you can modify the options, if necessary. If you have not yet built an installer and deployed, the modified options will be reflected in the new installers created with the updated configuration file.

After the initial deployment, the RealOne Enterprise Desktops will read the new configuration file the next time they start up and at each polling interval (as set with the Number of seconds to wait before retrieving prefs option). If you set a local retrieval option, you must regenerate a new installer and work with the users to reinstall RealOne Enterprise Desktops, or use your systems management software to deliver a copy of the configuration file to the local directory you specified.

To edit an existing configuration file:

Start RealNetworks Administrator. (See "Accessing RealNetworks Administrator".)

In RealNetworks Administrator, click Player Management>Player Setup.

In the Player Preferences box, highlight the configuration file that you wish to edit.

Click Edit a Preference Configuration.

In the left column, select the configuration settings that you wish to edit. The right side of the page now displays the selected configuration and its settings.

Change the Value and Status settings of the options that you wish to edit.

Click Save Preferences to save the changes to the file, or click Reset Preferences to discard the changes you made.

Click Restart Server to apply the changes you made.

Deleting a Configuration File

You can delete an obsolete configuration file. Before you do this, however, you should confirm that any RealOne Enterprise Desktops that previously referenced the file are now referencing a different file.

To delete a configuration file:

Select Player Setup>Player Setup.

In the Player Preferences box, highlight a configuration file that you wish to delete.

Click the "trash bin" icon to remove current configuration.

Understanding the Configuration Options

The options you select when you create the configuration file dictate the preferences available in deployed RealOne Enterprise Desktops that use this file. The Player Creation: Preferences page lists all of the available preferences. Each RealOne Enterprise Desktop that references this configuration file on startup will use the settings you specify on this page.

If you select the Lock Status beside the option, the option is saved to the configuration file, and users cannot modify it after installation. If you do not select the Lock Status, users will be able to modify the option after installation.

The following section discusses each option on the Player Creation: Preferences page.

Preference Set

This is the file name for the configuration file. By default, this name is set as config1, config2, and so on. RealSystem Administrator saves the preferences to a file with this name when you click Save Preferences.

Save Preferences

Click this button to save all the current preferences to the configuration file. A Configuration Change Results Web page appears that records the success or failure of each of your preference choices.

Reset Preferences

Click this button to return the preferences to the most recently saved version of the configuration file.

Close

Click this button to close the current Web page and return to RealNetworks Administrator. The preference settings will reflect the current status of the Preferences page; that is, preferences will be saved only if you have already clicked the Save Preferences button.

Apply Defaults to General Settings

Click this text to return the values of the preference settings to their original status, before you set any preferences.

Revert to Saved General Settings

Click this text to return the values of the preference settings to the most recently saved version.

Lock All General Settings

Click this text to prevent users from changing any of the preferences set in the configuration file.

Unlock All General Settings

Click this text to enable users to specify all of the available preferences.

General

Recent Clips

Sets the number of recently viewed clips that will display in the File menu. After a RealOne Enterprise Desktop has been used, at least one clip will always display in the menu; the maximum that can display is eight.

Clip Cache

Sets the cache size, in megabytes, for temporarily stored, frequently accessed files.

Internet Settings

Select Yes or No for each of the following options to set the option for the users' internet settings:

Send connection quality data to RealServers

Send RealOne GUID to RealServers

Send configuration info when connecting to technical support

Enable cookies

Allow operating system identification requests

Allow system CPU identification requests

Connections

Bandwidth: Specify the normal bandwidth for accessing presentations.

The normal bandwidth sets the lower limit at which RealOne Enterprise Desktop receives digital media transmissions.

Bandwidth: Specify the maximum bandwidth for accessing presentations.

The maximum bandwidth sets the upper limit at which RealOne Enterprise Desktop receives digital media transmissions. RealOne Enterprise Desktop uses this limit when it increases the bandwidth it uses for SureStream.

Network time-out

Specifies the amount of time RealOne waits before reporting an error connecting to the server.

Specifies the amount of time RealOne waits before reporting an error when receiving data from the server.

Online status

From the drop-down list, choose whether the RealOne Enterprise Desktop should "Automatically detect online status" or should "Assume the user is online."

Advanced Connection

RTSP Transport

Click Yes to configure RealOne Enterprise Desktop to attempt to receive RTSP content through multicasting. RealOne Enterprise Desktop attempts to use multicasting for live content.

Click Yes to configure RealOne Enterprise Desktop to use UDP for static content and live content not available through multicasting.

Click Yes to configure RealOne Enterprise Desktop to use TCP for RTSP content, if multicasting or UDP have failed.

Click Yes to configure RealOne Enterprise Desktop to use HTTP for RTSP content.

If your network uses HTTP only, uncheck the other options.

PNA Transport

Click Yes to configure RealOne Enterprise Desktop to use multicasting to view PNA content.

Click Yes to configure RealOne Enterprise Desktop to use UDP for static content and live content not available through multicasting.

Click Yes to configure RealOne Enterprise Desktop to use TCP for PNA content.

Click Yes to configure RealOne Enterprise Desktopt to use HTTP for PNA content.

If your network uses HTTP only, uncheck the other options.

Network Timeouts

These settings specify the amount of time, in milliseconds, that RealOne Enterprise Desktop will wait for data before attempting the next transport. The timeouts apply to both RTSP and PNA content.

UDP Port

Some networks have limited port settings available for Internet applications. Setting this option enables you to specify which ports are available for RealOne Enterprise Desktop applications.

Proxy

Proxy Options

Specify this option if you want RealOne Enterprise Desktop to use a Progressive Networks Audio (PNA) proxy server to connect to content. In the Host box, enter the appropriate host name or the IP address of the server you want RealOne Enterprise Desktop to communicate with using a PNA proxy server. In the Port box, enter the port number you want RealOne Enterprise Desktop to use to communicate with the PNA proxy server.

Specify this option if you want RealOne Enterprise Desktop to use the RealTime Streaming Protocol (RTSP) proxy server to connect to content. In the Host box, enter the appropriate host name of or IP address of the proxy server you want RealOne Enterprise Desktop to use to communicate with the server through RTSP. In the Port box, enter the port number you want RealOne Enterprise Desktop to use to communicate with the RTSP proxy server.

HTTP Proxy

Select this option if you want RealOne Enterprise Desktop to use the HTTP proxy server to connect to content. Note that you can select more than one proxy server for RealOne Enterprise Desktops to use to connect to content. In the Host box, enter the appropriate host name or IP address of the HTTP proxy server. In the Port box, enter the port number you want RealOne Enterprise Desktop to use to communicate with the HTTP proxy server.

You can also set proxy host exceptions, and exclude certain local hosts (names or IP addresses) with which you do not need to communicate through the proxy server. Enter these hosts in this field. Use a comma as a delimiter.

Advanced Proxy

Proxy Auto-configuration

RealOne Enterprise Desktops have the ability to utilize Proxy Auto- configuration files that have already been created for your network. If you choose "automatically detect proxy settings", RealOne will use the WPAD protocol rules to search for the PAC files on your network. If you do not want RealOne to search for the files, you can enter the specific file location or locations.

Trusted Subnets

For any internal subnets entered here, RealOne will determine the optimal transport settings and remember them for future connections.
Playback Settings

Buffered Play

Specifies the amount of time, in seconds, that you want RealOne Enterprise Desktop to buffer data before playing a clip. Increase this amount to improve playback quality over slower connections.

Instant playback

Enables instant playback instead of downloading whenever possible.

Content

Language and Country

By default, RealNetworks displays text components in the language of the version you installed. If you prefer another language to be displayed or played by content that provides more than one language, select the language in the drop-down list in the Value column.

Specifies preference for an overdub track or subtitles when offered.

Accessibility

Specifies that RealOne Enterprise Desktop will use supplemental text captioning when available.

Specifies that RealOne Enterprise Desktop will use descriptive audio when available.

Hardware

Playback Performance

Sets the amount of CPU usage. This will affect playback quality.

Sound card compatibility

If set to Yes, disables 16-bit sound if clips sound scratchy or distorted.

If set to Yes, disables custom sampling rates if clips play at the wrong speed or sound distorted.

Video card compatibility

If set to Yes, disables optimized video if video displays erratically on older video cards.

Unavailable Options in RealOne Enterprise Desktop

Because RealOne Desktop Manager is designed to enable system administrators to create productivity applications, it offers a smaller set of the options available in a standard RealOne Enterprise Desktop. The options listed in the following table are not available in RealOne Enterprise Desktop.

Unavailable Options in RealOne Enterprise Desktop Clients
Option	Description
Channels	RealOne Enterprise Desktop's ability to automatically update channels and multimedia links to content is disabled.
Real.com News and Entertainment Flashes	Delivery of Real.com news and entertainment clips is disabled.
RealNetworks AutoUpdate	The ability of RealOne Enterprise Desktop to contact RealNetworks for updated plug-ins is disabled. This function is centralized; any updates are delivered by RealOne Desktop Manager.
Real.com Media Bar	The search engine, access to Real.com Guide, and the ability to find radio and television stations are disabled.
Equalizer	The ability to customize audio attributes is disabled.
Radio menu	The Radio menu and its associated options are disabled.
Channel menu	The Channel menu and its associated options are disabled.
Video controls	The ability to adjust brightness, contrast, color levels, and other video attributes is disabled.

Configuration File Format

Intranet configuration files are assigned an .icf extension by default. The files conform to a very specific format.

RealNetworks recommends making changes to configuration files solely through RealOne Desktop Manager.