RealProxy uses several methods for managing bandwidth. Whether you implement just one method, or you use several in conjunction, you have the ability to control the amount of streaming media traffic on your network.
When you install RealProxy, the values for each of these settings is configured to use the maximum available number.
Techniques for managing the bandwidth you use include:
The default value for each technique is 0, which means RealProxy will use the maximum amount permitted by your license.
If you establish values for all these features, RealProxy will limit access when the lower threshold is reached. If a client tries to make a request after a limit has been reached, the client receives an error message.
In addition, you can require that the only certain client versions can connect to your RealProxy.
For information on restricting which clients can connect to RealProxy based on their IP addresses, see Chapter 9, "Limiting Access to RealProxy".
By using the Maximum Client Connections setting, you can limit the number of clients who connect simultaneously. Once this limit is reached, clients that attempt to connect receive an error message, and will not be able to connect until other clients disconnect.
This number can be from 1 to 32767, as long as it is less than or equal to the number of streams permitted by your license. If it is 0 or blank, RealProxy uses the number of streams specified by your license. The default value is 0.
The Maximum Proxy Bandwidth setting limits the amount of bandwidth RealProxy consumes, in kilobits per second (Kbps).
For example, if you set this number to 100, two clients each play 50 Kbps clips, or one can play a 40 Kbps clip and another can play a 60 Kbps clip.
If the first client requested an 80 Kbps clip, a second client can also receive an 80 Kbps clip, even though RealProxy is now using more than 100 Kbps. However, no new clients will be permitted to connect, as the maximum bandwidth use has been reached.
For example, to limit the bandwidth to one megabyte, specify maximum bandwidth usage by setting Maximum Proxy Bandwidth to 1024.
You may want to limit the amount of bandwidth RealProxy acquires, whether from another RealProxy, RealServer, or the Internet.
Limiting gateway bandwidth limits the following RealProxy functions:
The number in Maximum Gateway Bandwidth is given in kilobits per second (Kbps). RealProxy will make no new upstream connections once the gateway threshold has been crossed.
For example, if you set this to 2048, and RealProxy made one connection that used 1024 Kbps, it can still make a connection of 1600 Kbps (even though the total Kbps in use is now 2624), but no new connections can be made after that.
For example, to limit the bandwidth to two megabytes, specify maximum bandwidth usage by setting Maximum Gateway Bandwidth to 2048.
By setting Delivery Only to Yes in the multicast list, you can require that clients within a certain range of IP addresses connect only in multicast mode. When this option is set to Yes, clients that are not able to connect in multicast mode receive an error message. If this option is No, clients that cannot connect in multicast mode can use unicast mode to receive the presentation.
This feature is described in Chapter 11, "Multicasting Live Streams".