Sure, any media format can be streamed over Apache. The secret is the use of meta files. The "streaming" is a function accomplished by the client, not the server. All the so called streaming protocols out there are just glorified TCP/UDP data transfers with some bells and whistles thrown in. If you want something streamed into Media Player you just create a .asx metafile with it's contents pointing to the http location of the media. Media player automatically knows how to "pace" the download. Real Player works on the same principle.
An example asx file: <ASX VERSION ="3"> <ENTRY> <Title>Boss's Speach</Title> <Copyright>Copyright Blah</Copyright> <REF HREF ="http://wherever.com/something.avi";> </ENTRY> </ASX> You mentioned copyright issues. It is impossible to keep someone from stealing *any* streamed content if they're determined. It wouldn't take much for someone to take apart your asx file and copy the URL into their browser and simply download it. One thing you can do is configure Apache to only serve the content if the browser id string matches the known media player browser types. This would prevent anyone from accessing the file from Netscape or IE or whatever. You'ld have to check your access logs to see what kind of id string it sends. One other thing to consider is that I think, but am not sure, that media player will keep a temp file of content received over http in the system temp directory. You'll have to test it to make sure. I think you can also embed "copyrighted material" tags in the file itself to tell media player that it can't be saved off. But like I said before, it is flat out impossible to safeguard streamed media from a true hacker. :) So all you will really be doing is keeping away the casual thief. That goes for Real Player too. So how many in your audience are going to think to look in %temp% for a copy of this?? At 11:29 AM 3/18/02 +0100, Michal Novotny wrote: >Hello! > >Is there a chance to stream avi/wma file from Debian box? > >For now I'm using RealServer for Linux, but (for clients) I need to add >support for Windows Media Player (standard player in MS Windows) :-( >I cannot use download, but stream. Copyright issues... > >Could anyone help me? -- REMEMBER THE WORLD TRADE CENTER ---=< WTC 911 >=-- 00000100 -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
