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RealServer 5.0 and Basic Server Plus 5.0 Release Notes
This document contains the following topics:
New Features
- New media types: RealServer and Basic Server Plus now
stream RealFlash animation in addition to RealAudio and RealVideo.
- Ad Insertion: RealServer now allows you to insert advertisements
anywhere in a content clip with no buffering delay. Includes full
bandwidth negotiation, full imagemap support, and content rotation.
- Authentication: RealServer now offers the capability
to make some content available to only select Internet and intranet
users. Now includes support for protected databases, support for
multiple users who have the same name and password. A new default
text file and directory structure contain user Authentication
information and allow insight into the Access permission structure.
You can also use your own customized database.
- Web-based Administration Page: Administer the RealServer
remotely over the Internet or your intranet using advanced server
management features. The RealServer includes the Java Performance
Monitor, which enables you to configure any server via a Web browser.
- Fault Tolerance System: RealServer and Basic Server
Plus keep going in the event of problems, and logs problems such
as faulty streams, memory corruption, and product incompatibilities
without shutting down the server.
- New Live File Archiving: Now when RealServer or
Basic Server Plus archives live
files, it renames any existing files in the target directory.
It no longer overwrites existing content of the same name as the
live file.
Notes
- When you start the RealServer or Basic Server Plus it asks
you to register online. The server will not start unless you register.
If you are using the server on UNIX, you can start the server
with the following command to bypass the registration request:
pnserver -x server.cfg
- It is possible but not likely that the Real Networks registration
server may be down when you attempt to send your electronic registration
data. In UNIX versions of the RealServer, this will cause the
server to stop at the "...connecting to Real Networks..."
message and prevent the server from starting. Should this happen,
simply stop the server, restart it, and then cancel the electronic
registration process. This will allow the RealServer to start.
This is a known problem with the electronic registration program
and will be addressed in future versions.
- The permissions on ppvdemo.cgi must be set for read/write/execute
by whatever UID the CGI runs as.
- Some UNIX flavors include a TAR utility that works differently
from other UNIX flavors. For instance, the following command is
necessary to uncompress and unarchive the download server archive:
gunzip -c <filename>.tar.gz | tar xfv -
However, on some UNIX flavors, the -v switch works differently.
As such, simply remove the -v switch from the above command to
uncompress and unarchive the download server archive:
gunzip -c ./<filename>.tgz | tar xf -
- The Commerce Server setup file(s) refernce the 'rmmerge' utility.
This tool can be downloaded from:
http://www.real.com/products/tools/encoder/index.html
- If an IPBinding list is specified in the server's .cfg file
AND you would like to utilize the live file archiving RealServer
feature, you must add the following IP Address to the IPBinding
list:
127.0.0.1
If no IPBinding list is specified in the .cfg file, live file
archiving will work normally.
- RealServer and Basic Server Plus 5.0 will not stream RealAudio
(.RA) files that were encoded with the RealAudio 3.0 encoder record
bit set to On.
- Notes on customizing Authentication registration are available
from the RealServer Technical SupportWeb
site.
Getting Started
- Install RealServer or Basic Server Plus
- Start the RealServer or Basic Server Plus
- Start the Adminstration Page with the following command in
a Web browser:
http://<myserver>:<port>/
- The user name is "Admin" and the password is defined
in the MonitorPassword setting in the server.cfg file.
- Play a test clip by clicking the Sample Content link on the
Administration Page. Once the sample clip plays successfully, you're up and running!
Corrections to Manuals
Updated versions of both the RealServer manual and the Basic Server
Plus manual, containing the changes listed below as well as additional
information, are available as Adobe Acrobat files included with
your installation. Updated versions may be available on the RealNetworks
Web site. Information below reflects changes to the printed manuals.
RealServer Manual
Chapter 2, pages 15 and 24:
Replace the text that says:
Note: Setup asks you to register online. If you don't register
during Setup, it will prompt you each time you start the Basic
Server Plus until you register.
with:
When you start the Basic Server Plus it asks you to register online.
Basic Server Plus will not start unless you register.
Chapter 3, page 41:
The paragraph referring to the Connections window should say:
The Connections window indicates how many clients are connected
to your site simultaneously.
Chapter 3, page 46:
The "-I" switch should be lowercase: "-i".
Chapter 4, page 75:
IPBindingList syntax is incorrect. It should say:
IPBindingList [{<IPAddress1>}, {<IPAddress2>}, {<IPAddress3>},...]
Chapter 4, page 79:
Statsmask setting is incomplete; it should say
0 No additional statistics
1 Statistics type 1 only
2 Statistics type 2 only
3 Both statistics types 1 and 2
4 Statistics type 3 only
5 Both statistics types 1 and 3
6 Both statistics types 2 and 3
7 All statistics (types 1, 2, and 3)
Chapter 4, page 79:
AdCfgList values 3 and 4 are reversed. They should read
3 Play both lead and end ads
4 Play in-line ads only (pre-defined content markers must be defined
in a .rad file)
Chapter 4, page 105
The default values are incorrect: they should say "logs\pnad.log"
or "logs/pnad".
Chapter 4, page 112:
Replace "slta" with "rvslta".
Chapter 4, page 107:
Default value for AuthPath should be "/nonexistent";
example value should be "Authpath \secure".
Chapter 4:
New variable SplitterMaxResendPPS: Maximum packets per second
(PPS) that a splitter source will output in response to a negative
acknowledgement from a splitter.
Chapter 6:
Add a sentence:
It is recommended that the same RealEncoder version or RealPublisher
version be used to create both ads and content, to ensure consistency
in these settings
Chapter 7, page 161:
Strike the following paragraph:
Using the simulated live transfer agent program (rvslta),
this playlist of content clips can be set up as a simulated live
stream that plays in a continuous playback loop. Type "rvslta"
at a command prompt to review the syntax of this command. For
information on using the rvslta program, see Chapter 7,
"Delivering Live Content."
Chapter 7, page 167:
Server behavior is now different when archiving live content.
Replace the text that says:
RealServer automatically archives the live broadcast to a series
of files named Live0.rm, Live1.rm, Live2.rm, and so on, in the
/usr/Archive directory. Each file contains one hour of audio data
encoded in the RealVideo 28.8 format.
with the following text:
While the RealEncoder or RealPublisher
is still connected, RealServer automatically archives the live
broadcast to a series of files named Live0.rm, Live1.rm, Live2.rm,
and so on, in the /usr/Archive directory. Each file contains one
hour of audio data encoded in the RealVideo 28.8 format. If it
is restarted, and it encounters files with the same names, it
will append a number based on a timestamp to the pre-existing
file.
Chapter 7:
Add the following note:
Warning: If you are using Authentication to control access
to secured content, note that when using ISP account hosting,
the path specified in the UserList configuration setting
must NOT be under the directory specified by the BasePath
setting; if the path specified in UserList does lie under
the BasePath directory, files in the UserList directory
will not be secure.
Chapter 8, page 193:
SetControlsString was missing two items from its description:
StatusPanel and ImageWindow.
SetConsoleName was missing the Boolean value:
SetConsoleName(String ConsoleName Boolean True)
Chapter 8, page 203:
Syntax for .txt file is incorrect. It should say:
u 10:00:45.00 &&media&&test2.html
Chapter 9:
Add the following text:
If StatsMask is configured to gather statistics type 3, note that
the Access Log file size will grow rapidly. If you configure StatsMask
to collect this information, be sure to review the log file frequently,
as described in "Log File Maintenance."
Chapter 9, page 206:
"access.log" should say "pnaccess.log".
Chapter 9, page 211:
Sentence beginning "Moreover…" should say:
Moreover, these fields are only requested by the RealServer when
the StatsMask configuration setting is set to 4, 5, 6, or 7.
Chapter 9:
If the RealServer is running on a UNIX platform, the Error Log
also includes information about extreme errors such as faulty
streams, memory corruption, and product incompatibilities. See
the updated manual included with your installation for more information.
Appendix B, pages :
The values for both Reglog.txt and the Register_log table are
changed:
Status
0 = Success
1 = Failed (playerID not readable)
2 = Failed (playerID not unique-already registered under different
username)
3 = Failed (3.0 Player or older)
Basic Server Plus Manual
Chapter 2, pages 14 and 22:
Replace the text that says:
Note: Setup asks you to register online. If you don't register
during Setup, it will prompt you each time you start the Basic
Server Plus until you register.
with:
When you start the Basic Server Plus it asks you to register online.
Basic Server Plus will not start unless you register.
Chapter 2, page 14:
New plugins are missing from Windows Plugins directory:
ppvf3250.dll Administration page
stat3250.dll Status page
tstfs3250.dll Test sample content page
Chapter 2, page 14:
New plugins are missing from UNIX plugins directory:
ppvfs.so.5.0 Administration page
statfs.so.5.0 Status page
tstfs.so.5.0 Test sample content page
Chapter 3, page 37:
The "-I" switch should be lowercase: "-i".
Chapter 4, page 64:
IPBindingList syntax is incorrect. It should say:
IPBindingList [{<IPAddress1>}, {<IPAddress2>}, {<IPAddress3>},...]
Chapter 4, page 68:
Statsmask setting is incomplete; it should say
0 No additional statistics
1 Statistics type 1 only
2 Statistics type 2 only
3 Both statistics types 1 and 2
4 Statistics type 3 only
5 Both statistics types 1 and 3
6 Both statistics types 2 and 3
7 All statistics (types 1, 2, and 3)
Chapter 4, page 78:
Replace "slta" with "rvslta".
Chapter 4, page 74:
The following paragraph should be deleted:
If you purchased an intranet license for Basic Server Plus, you
must specify both these settings to enable splitters on your intranet
to access your Basic Server Plus.
Chapter 6, page 116:
SetControlsString was missing two items from its description:
StatusPanel and ImageWindow.
SetConsoleName was missing the Boolean value:
SetConsoleName(String ConsoleName Boolean True)
Chapter 6, page 126:
Syntax for .txt file is incorrect. It should say:
u 10:00:45.00 &&media&&test2.html
Chapter 4, pages 74, 75-76:
References to SplitterControlList should be removed.
Chapter 6, page 94:
Server behavior is now different when archiving live content.
Replace the text that says:
RealServer automatically archives the live broadcast to a series
of files named Live0.rm, Live1.rm, Live2.rm, and so on, in the
/usr/Archive directory. Each file contains one hour of audio data
encoded in the RealVideo 28.8 format.
with the following text:
While the RealEncoder or RealPublisher
is still connected, RealServer automatically archives the live
broadcast to a series of files named Live0.rm, Live1.rm, Live2.rm,
and so on, in the /usr/Archive directory. Each file contains one
hour of audio data encoded in the RealVideo 28.8 format. If it
is restarted, and it encounters files with the same names, it
will append a number based on a timestamp to the pre-existing
file.
Chapter 7, page 134:
Sentence beginning "Moreover…" should say:
Moreover, these fields are only requested by the RealServer when
the StatsMask configuration setting is set to 4, 5, 6, or 7.
Chapter 7, page 128:
"access.log" should say "pnaccess.log".
Chapter 7:
If the RealServer is running on a UNIX platform, the Error Log
also includes information about extreme errors such as faulty
streams, memory corruption, and product incompatibilities. See
the updated manual included with your installation for more information.
Add the following text:
If StatsMask is configured to gather statistics type 3, note that
the Access Log file size will grow rapidly. If you configure StatsMask
to collect this information, be sure to review the log file frequently,
as described in "Log File Maintenance."
Appendix B, page 243:
In the permissions table, the value for the "expires"
field should say "if permission_type=1". For the "debitted_time"
field, the value should say "if permission_type=2".
Also, the values for "url_type" are reversed. The correct
values are 0 = clip, 1 = directory.
Known Problems with RealServer and
Basic Server Plus
- Clips created with old encoders may have poor transitions.
To avoid this problem, use the new encoders, and use the same
encoder to create both content and ads.
- In rare cases, the first video frame of an ad is displayed
before the last bit of audio from the content has finished playing,
although the audio/video for the ad are still in synch.
- Warning: If you are using Authentication to control
access to secured content, note that when using account
hosting, the absolute paths specified in the UserList configuration
setting must not reside in the directory specified by the
BasePath setting; if any directory specified in UserList
does reside in the BasePath directory, media files in that
UserList directory will not be secure.
- Ad Insertion is not compatible with the UserList configuration
setting (relative paths). to use Ad Insertion with multiple users,
each user must have a separate absolute directory under the BasePath.
- Electronic registration starts automatically the first time
you start the server. Under Windows NT and Windows 95, if you
bring other windows to the foreground before the electronic registration
dialog box appears, the registration box may seem to be hidden,
when it is actually behind all other windows.
- With certain browsers, when a Web page points to a local .ram
file that in turn points to a local clip, the Player displays
the following error message: "The requested URL is not valid."
Some versions of some browsers require that ram files include
an absolute path when pointing to local files.
- If you attempt to play the test content from the HTML administrative
page and your server experiences difficulty trying to resolve
your host name, add your IP address into the IPBindingList
configuration settting. For instance, if your IP address is 172.16.2.219,
then add the following line to your server.cfg file:
IPBindingList [{172.16.2.219}]
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