REALSERVER ADMINISTRATION GUIDE
`RealServer 7.0 Powered by RealSystem G2
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`NEULION 1005
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`Information in this document is subject to change without notice. Companies, names, and
`data used in examples herein are fictitious unless otherwise noted. No part of this document
`may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, for
`any purpose, without the express written permission of RealNetworks, Inc.
`© 1998-1999 RealNetworks, Inc.
`RealAudio, RealVideo, RealPlayer, and RealText are registered trademarks of RealNetworks,
`Inc.
`The Real logo, RealServer, RealPlayer Plus, RealPix, RealAudio Encoder, RealVideo Encoder,
`RealEncoder, RealPublisher, RealProducer, RealProducer Plus, RealProducer Pro, RealProxy,
`RealJukebox, SureStream, Real Broadcast Network, RBN, and RealSystem are trademarks of
`RealNetworks, Inc.
`Real G2 with Flash is a trademark of Macromedia and RealNetworks, Inc. Flash © 1997
`Macromedia, Inc. All rights reserved. Macromedia, the Macromedia logo, and Flash are
`registered trademarks of Macromedia, Inc.
`STiNG is a trademark of Iterated Systems, Inc.
`ACELP-NET codec used under license from Université de Sherbrooke. Sipro Lab Télécom,
`Inc. Copyright ©1994-1997. All rights reserved.
`DolbyNet is a trademark of Dolby Laboratories, Inc.
`Dolby Digital AC-3 audio system manufactured under license from Dolby Laboratories.
`Apple, Macintosh, and Power Macintosh are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc.
`Microsoft, MS-DOS, Windows, and Windows NT are registered trademarks and ActiveX is a
`trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
`Netscape and Netscape Navigator are registered trademarks of Netscape Communications
`Corporation.
`Pentium is a registered trademark and MMX and the Intel Optimizer Logo are trademarks of
`Intel Corporation.
`Sonic Foundry and Sound Forge are registered trademarks of Sonic Foundry, Inc.
`Other product and corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of other
`companies. They are used for explanation only, with no intent to infringe.
`
`RealNetworks, Inc.
`2601 Elliott Avenue, Suite 1000
`Seattle, WA 98121 USA
`
`http://www.realnetworks.com
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`CONTENTS
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`1
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`1
`INTRODUCTION
`Overview............................................................................... 1
`How This Manual Is Organized .............................................. 1
`Conventions in This Manual .................................................. 4
`Available Features ............................................................. 6
`Additional RealSystem Resources........................................... 6
`Technical Support................................................................. 7
`
`9
`QUICK START
`Overview............................................................................... 9
`Starting RealServer ...............................................................10
`Using RealSystem Administrator to Test Your RealServer ........10
`Playing Sample Files .............................................................11
`Creating and Streaming Your Own On-Demand Clips ............12
`Part 1: Create the Music Clip ...........................................12
`Part 2: Put the Music Clip in the Content Directory ...........14
`Part 3: Create a Link (Optional) .......................................14
`Part 4: Play the Sample Clip.............................................14
`Creating and Broadcasting Live Events ..................................15
`Part 1: Encode the Event..................................................15
`Part 2: Create a Link (Optional) .......................................17
`Part 3: Play the Clip.........................................................17
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`2 WHAT’S NEW IN REALSERVER G2?
`19
`New Features in RealServer Version 7.0..................................19
` RealServer G2 Version 6.0 Features.......................................20
`Compatibility With Previous Releases ....................................23
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`3
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`25
`OVERVIEW
`What Is RealServer?..............................................................25
`Components of RealServer................................................25
`What is RealSystem? ............................................................26
`How RealServer Works ........................................................27
`Channels and Protocols....................................................27
`Communication Between Encoder and RealServer .............28
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`Communication Between RealServer and RealPlayer ..........29
`Streaming Delivery Methods .................................................30
`Which Delivery Method Is Right for Me? ...........................31
`Linking to RealSystem Content .............................................34
`Working with Other Webcasting Professionals.......................34
`RealServer Features ..............................................................36
`Using RealServer Features Together...................................37
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`39
`SOURCES OF CONTENT
`Overview .............................................................................39
`Sources of Content ..............................................................39
`Delivery Methods .................................................................40
`Creating an On-Demand Source with RealProducer Plus ........41
`Part 1: Creating the Clip ..................................................41
`Part 2: Copying the Clip to RealServer ..............................42
`Part 3: Linking to the On-Demand Clip ............................42
`Creating a Live Source with RealProducer Plus .......................43
`Part 1: Starting the Live Encode with RealProducer Plus ....43
`Part 2: Linking to the Live Event .......................................45
`Virtual Paths....................................................................46
` Creating a Live Source with G2SLTA.....................................46
`When to Use G2SLTA.......................................................48
`G2SLTA and Other RealServer Features .............................48
`Setting Up and Running G2SLTA ......................................50
`Stopping G2SLTA ............................................................56
`Optional G2SLTA Features ...............................................56
`Using G2SLTA with Splitting and Multicasting...................58
`Files Required by G2SLTA.................................................60
`
`61
`UNDERSTANDING LINK FORMATS
`Overview .............................................................................61
`When to Skip this Chapter................................................61
`Parts of a Link......................................................................62
`Protocol ..........................................................................63
`Address ...........................................................................64
`Port.................................................................................64
`Mount Point....................................................................65
`Path ................................................................................67
`File..................................................................................68
`Sharing Information for Links ...........................................68
`Metafiles .............................................................................68
`Ram Files and Ramgen .....................................................69
`SMIL Files........................................................................71
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`7
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`8
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`Where to Put On-Demand Clips............................................72
`Where to Put Live Clips.........................................................78
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`81
`STARTING AND STOPPING REALSERVER
`Windows .............................................................................81
`Starting RealServer Under Windows 95 and Windows 98 ...81
`Starting RealServer Under Windows NT.............................82
`Stopping RealServer Under Windows and Windows NT .....85
`UNIX ...................................................................................86
`Starting RealServer Under UNIX ........................................86
`Stopping RealServer Under UNIX ......................................87
`License Information..............................................................88
`
`91
`CUSTOMIZING REALSERVER FEATURES
`Overview..............................................................................91
`Customizing RealServer Using RealSystem Administrator........91
`Starting RealSystem Administrator ....................................92
`Using RealSystem Administrator .......................................93
`Restricting Access to RealSystem Administrator .................93
`Configuration File ................................................................94
`Editing the Configuration File with a Text Editor ................94
`Common Settings ................................................................95
`Port Numbers ..................................................................95
`Mount Points...................................................................96
`MIME Types ...................................................................97
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`99
`ADVANCED FEATURES
`Displaying Source Code for SMIL Files and Media Clips .........99
`View Source and RealServer Features ...............................100
`Changing View Source Settings .......................................101
`Optional View Source Features .......................................101
`Browsing Your Content...................................................103
`RealServer Caching Features ...............................................104
`Caching and RealServer ..................................................105
`Changing Cache Settings ................................................106
`Optional Caching Features .............................................107
`Reserving IP Addresses for RealServer’s Use..........................108
`Running Web Servers and RealServer on the Same System ....109
`Features Specific to the Operating System ...........................110
`Windows NT-Only Features ............................................110
`UNIX-Only Features........................................................111
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`FIREWALLS AND REALSERVER
`Overview ...........................................................................113
`Who Should Read This Chapter......................................113
`Highlights of This Chapter..............................................114
`Firewalls and Their Interaction with RealServer Features ...115
`Protocols Used by RealServer ..............................................116
`Why Firewalls Can Affect the User Experience ......................117
`Potential Problems with Firewalls....................................118
`Communicating with Other Software—For Server Administrators119
`Communicating with Clients Behind Firewalls .................119
`Communicating with Encoders Behind Firewalls ..............122
`Communicating with Splitters Behind Firewalls ...............123
`Communicating with RealProxys Behind Firewalls............124
`Firewall Security Configurations—For Firewall Administrators124
`Application-Level Proxy Firewall ......................................125
`Transparent Proxy Firewall..............................................125
`Packet Filter Firewall ......................................................125
`Stateful Packet Filtering Firewall......................................126
`SOCKS Firewall..............................................................126
`Network Address Translation Firewall .............................126
`Summary of Firewall Information....................................127
`Best Firewall Arrangements.............................................127
`Ports Used in Streaming and Unicasting ..........................128
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`133
`STREAMING ON-DEMAND PRESENTATIONS
`Overview ...........................................................................133
`When to Use Streaming..................................................133
`On-Demand Streaming and Other RealServer Features.....134
`Storing On-Demand Clips ..................................................135
`Streaming On-Demand Clips ..............................................135
`RealServer Settings .........................................................136
`Linking to On-Demand Clips ..........................................137
`Working with SureStream Clips...........................................137
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`139
`UNICASTING LIVE PRESENTATIONS
`Overview ...........................................................................139
`When to Use Live Unicasting ..........................................140
`Live Unicasting and Other RealServer Features.................140
`Unicasting Live Clips ..........................................................142
`Configuring RealServer for Live Unicasting.......................142
`Creating the Link to the Live Unicast ...............................144
`Optional Live Unicasting Features...................................145
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`Archiving Live Broadcasts ...................................................146
`When to Use Live Archiving.............................................147
`Live Archiving and Other RealServer Features ...................147
`Setting Up Live Archiving ....................................................148
`Optional Live Archiving Features .....................................149
`Disabling Live Archiving..................................................152
`Linking to Archived Files .................................................152
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`155
`SPLITTING LIVE PRESENTATIONS
`Overview............................................................................155
`When to Use Splitting.....................................................156
`Splitting Methods ..............................................................157
`Choosing Which Splitting Method to Use........................158
`Controlling Splitter Access to the Source RealServer ........158
`Using Splitters as Sources ...............................................159
`Splitting and Other RealServer Features...........................159
`Setting Up Both Types of Splitting.......................................161
`Setting Up Push Splitting ....................................................162
`Setting Up the Source for Push Splitting ..........................162
`Setting Up the Splitter for Push Splitting..........................165
`Linking to Push Split Content..........................................168
`Optional Push Splitting Features.....................................170
`Setting Up Pull Splitting......................................................174
`Setting Up the Source for Pull Splitting............................175
`Setting Up the Splitter for Pull Splitting ...........................175
`Linking to Pull Split Content ...........................................176
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`179
`MULTICASTING LIVE PRESENTATIONS
`Overview............................................................................179
`When to Use Multicasting ..............................................180
`RealServer Multicasting Methods ........................................180
`Back-Channel Multicasting.............................................180
`Scalable Multicasting .....................................................182
`Choosing the Method of Multicasting .............................183
`Multicasting and Other RealServer Features.....................184
`Additional Resources..........................................................188
`Setting Up Both Types of Multicasting.................................189
`Setting Up the Network for Multicasting..........................189
`Allocating Addresses and Ports in RealServer ...................189
`Publicizing Your Multicasts .............................................193
`Multicasting with Multiple Network Interface Cards.........194
`Setting Up Back-Channel Multicasting ................................194
`Configuring RealServer for Back-Channel Multicasting .....194
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`Linking to Back-Channel Multicasts ................................196
`Optional Back-Channel Multicasting Features .................197
`Setting Up Scalable Multicasting.........................................199
`Settings Used in Scalable Multicast .................................200
`Setting Up a Live Channel...............................................200
`Linking to Scalable Multicasts.........................................202
`Optional Scalable Multicast Features ..............................204
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`209
`LIMITING ACCESS TO REALSERVER
`Overview ...........................................................................209
`Controlling Access to HTTP Streams ...................................210
`Limiting Access by Number of Connections or Bandwidth....210
`Limiting Access by RealPlayer Version..................................211
`Limiting Access to Back-Channel Multicast Reception..........212
`Limiting Access Via IP Address ............................................212
`Overview .......................................................................213
`When to Use Access Control...........................................214
`Access Control and Other RealServer Features .................214
`Deciding What Rules to Create .......................................215
`Numbering the Rules......................................................216
`Setting Up IP Access Control ..........................................217
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`223
`AUTHENTICATING REALSERVER USERS
`Overview ...........................................................................223
`Example Applications of Content Authentication.............225
`When to Use Authentication...........................................225
`Authentication and Other RealServer Features.................225
`Authentication Components...............................................227
`Realms ..........................................................................228
`Databases .....................................................................232
`Protected Paths .............................................................234
`Encoder User Authentication ..............................................235
`RealSystem Administrator User Authentication....................236
`Content User Authentication ..............................................236
`Setting Up Authentication for On-Demand Content ........239
`Setting Up Authentication for Live Content .....................240
`Allowing Users to Self-Register........................................241
`Linking to Authenticated Content ...................................242
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`STORING AUTHENTICATION DATA
`Overview ...........................................................................245
`RealServer Data Storage .....................................................245
`Using Text Files ..............................................................245
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`Using a Database...........................................................250
` Setting Up Other Types of Data Storage .............................253
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`255
`ISP HOSTING
`Overview............................................................................255
`Links to Users’ Hosted Content.......................................255
`Account Information......................................................256
`ISP Hosting and Other RealServer Features ......................257
`Tracking Account Usage .................................................258
`Dedicating RealServer to ISP Hosting ..............................259
`Compatibility with Previous Versions of RealServer...........260
`Example ISP Hosting Scenario—Northwest ISP.................260
`Users’ Directory Structures..................................................261
`Directory Structures in Dedicated Hosting .......................261
`Setting Up ISP Hosting .......................................................262
`Step 1: Creating the User List .........................................262
`Step 2: Configuring RealServer .......................................267
`Step 3: Linking to ISP Content .......................................270
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`273
`MONITORING REALSERVER ACTIVITY
` Java Monitor .....................................................................273
`Java Monitor and Other RealServer Features ....................274
`Using Java Monitor ........................................................275
`Configuring Java Monitor Settings...................................275
`Optional Java Monitor Features ......................................276
`Using Windows NT Performance Monitor ...........................280
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`283
`REPORTING
`Access Log ........................................................................283
`Access Log Files and Other RealServer Features................283
`Reading an Access Log ...................................................287
`Customizing Information Reported by the Access Log ......297
` Using the GET Statement to Identify Delivery Method .....301
`Error Log ...........................................................................303
`Log File Rolling ..................................................................304
`Cached Requests Log .........................................................305
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`307
`STREAMING TARGETED ADS
`How Ad Streaming Works...................................................307
`Quick Start for Testing Ad Banner Insertion.....................308
`General Steps for Setting Up Ad Streaming ......................309
`Getting Ad URLs from an Ad Server.....................................310
`Understanding Ad Types.................................................310
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`Guidelines for Ads in Streaming Presentations .................311
`Integrating RealServer Directly with an Ad Server..............312
`Setting up a Target HTML Page on a Web Server .............313
`Requesting SMIL Files from an Ad Server .........................314
`Configuring RealServer to Stream Ads .................................315
`Understanding Ad Streaming Mount Points ....................316
`Creating Ad Streaming Mount Points..............................318
`Setting Up Rotating Banner Ads .....................................322
`Changing Timeouts Values .................................................324
`Overriding Mount Point Settings through SMIL ...................325
`Overriding the Target URL Location ................................326
`Overriding Banner Rotation Settings ...............................326
`Generating SMIL Files for Ads .............................................327
`Limitations on Automatic SMIL Generation.....................327
`Understanding SMIL Generation Mount Points ...............327
`Creating SMIL Generation Mount Points.........................329
`Setting SMIL Options.....................................................330
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`TROUBLESHOOTING
`Overview ...........................................................................335
`General Troubleshooting Steps ...........................................335
`Step 1: Make sure RealServer is running..........................335
`Step 2: Try different ways of connecting. ........................338
`Step 3: Check the Production Tools. ..............................339
`Step 4: Check the remaining areas..................................339
`Step 5: Work with your system or network administrator. 340
`Troubleshooting RealSystem Administrator.........................340
`Troubleshooting On-Demand Streaming.............................341
`Troubleshooting Live Unicasting .........................................342
`Troubleshooting Live Archiving ...........................................343
`Troubleshooting G2SLTA ...................................................343
`Troubleshooting Splitting ...................................................343
`Troubleshooting Multicasting.............................................345
`Troubleshooting Access Control .........................................347
`Troubleshooting Authentication .........................................347
`Troubleshooting Monitoring...............................................348
`Troubleshooting Ad Streaming ...........................................348
`Special Issues with the Configuration File ........................350
`Troubleshooting SMIL File Issues ........................................351
`Troubleshooting Other Issues .............................................352
`Troubleshooting Problems in the Client...............................353
`Common Mistakes to Avoid ...............................................356
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`Contacting RealNetworks Technical Support .......................357
`Determining the Server Version .......................................359
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`361
`SUMMARY OF LINK FORMATS
`The Subject of the Link ...................................................361
`Authenticated Content is Different..................................362
`Using Multiple Mount Points in a Link.............................362
`Port Numbers in Links ....................................................363
`On-Demand Content .........................................................364
`On-Demand Content .....................................................364
`ISP-Hosted On-Demand Content....................................365
`Ad Streaming.................................................................367
`Live Content ......................................................................369
`Split Content .................................................................373
`Multicast Content..........................................................375
`Metafiles............................................................................377
`Ram Files.......................................................................377
`SMIL Files ......................................................................378
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`CONFIGURATION FILE SYNTAX
`Configuration File Components ..........................................379
`XML Declaration Tag .....................................................379
`Comment Tags ..............................................................379
`List Tags ........................................................................380
`Variable Tags .................................................................380
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`CONFIGURATION FILE CONTENTS
`Editing the Configuration File .............................................383
`RealSystem Administrator and the Configuration File...........384
`Elements of the Configuration File ......................................385
`Ad Streaming.................................................................385
`Access Control...............................................................385
`Allowance......................................................................386
`Authentication and Commerce .......................................387
`Caching.........................................................................395
`Encoders .......................................................................396
`File Systems (FSMount) ..................................................398
`HTTP Support ...............................................................399
`ISP Hosting....................................................................401
`IP Binding......................................................................406
`Live Archiving.................................................................407
`Logging .........................................................................409
`MIME Types ..................................................................411
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`Multicasting ..................................................................411
`Passwords .....................................................................416
`Paths.............................................................................416
`Ports .............................................................................418
`Ramgen.........................................................................418
`RealSystem Administrator ..............................................419
`Splitting ........................................................................422
`UNIX-Only Settings ........................................................427
`View Source...................................................................427
`Features Only Available Via Direct Editing ...........................430
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`CONFIGURATION FILE EQUIVALENTS
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`INDEX
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`INTRODUCTION
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`Overview
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`Welcome to RealServer™, the most powerful server for streaming
`media files across an intranet or the Internet. This manual will help
`you use and optimize RealServer for real-time delivery of
`multimedia files.
`
`This guide is intended for the technical system administrator who will manage
`RealServer and its activities, but not necessarily create the material to be
`streamed. Information on creating content is available in a companion book,
`RealSystem G2 Production Guide.
`IS professionals, server administrators, Web masters and others providing Web
`pages for the Internet and intranet may also find this document useful.
`RealServer Administration Guide is also available online at
`http://service.real.com/help/library/index.html.
`
`How This Manual Is Organized
`This manual contains the following chapters:
`
`Chapter 1, “Quick Start”
`This chapter gives step-by-step instructions on getting RealServer started and
`running quickly.
`
`Chapter 2, “What’s New in RealServer G2?”
`If you're familiar with previous versions of RealSystem™, this chapter will give
`you a quick update on the new features in RealServer version 7.0.
`
`Chapter 3, “Overview”
`This chapter gives the “big picture” of how RealServer works with a Web server
`to stream media to client software such as RealPlayer©.
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` Introduction
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`RealServer Administration Guide
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`Chapter 4, “Sources of Content”
`In order to serve clips to users, you first need to get the content. This chapter
`describes two methods (RealProducer Plus™ and G2SLTA) for creating
`content.
`
`Chapter 5, “Understanding Link Formats”
`This chapter describes how to construct the links to your content.
`
`Chapter 6, “Starting and Stopping RealServer”
`This is a guide to starting and stopping RealServer. Depending on which
`platform your RealServer runs on, different automatic options are available.
`The license structure is discussed.
`
`Chapter 7, “Customizing RealServer Features”
`Modifying RealServer by changing settings in the configuration file is the key
`to fine tuning RealServer features. Whether you use the RealSystem
`Administrator or edit the configuration file directly, this chapter describes
`how to make changes to RealServer.
`
`Chapter 8, “Advanced Features”
`This chapter discusses differences between RealServer on the different
`platforms, media caches, firewalls, and the assignment of IP addresses for
`RealServer’s use.
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`Chapter 9, “Firewalls and RealServer”
`If you are delivering content to users on the Internet, you’ll want to know how
`RealServer and other RealSystem products interact with firewalls.
`
`Chapter 10, “Streaming On-Demand Presentations”
`In this chapter, instructions are given for delivering pre-recorded or prepared
`clips.
`
`Chapter 11, “Unicasting Live Presentations”
`Live clips are streamed much like static clips, with a few differences. Learn how
`to make broadcasting work well.
`
`Chapter 12, “Splitting Live Presentations”
`Splitting can help you make the best use of bandwidth and can provide
`highest-quality reception.
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`RealServer Administration Guide
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` Introduction
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`Chapter 13, “Multicasting Live Presentations”
`Multicasting is a way of sending a single live stream to multiple clients, rather
`than sending a stream to every single client. Clients connect to the stream,
`rather than to the RealServer.
`
`Chapter 14, “Limiting Access to RealServer”
`You can limit