Welcome to RealProxy™, a proxy server that works with RealPlayer® and RealServer™ to reduce streaming media bandwidth and to improve the viewing experience.
This manual is aimed at information services administrator who will be setting up and maintaining RealProxy.
This manual contains the following chapters:
Begin here for step-by-step instructions on getting RealProxy started and running quickly.
This chapter gives the "big picture" of how RealProxy works.
This is a guide to starting and stopping RealProxy. Options for starting RealProxy automatically, on different platforms are discussed. License information is given here.
This chapter reviews RealSystem Administrator, the web-based console for fine-tuning RealProxy features.
There are just a few steps you need to take to set up clients to take full advantage of RealProxy. Or, you can set up RTSP redirection so that this happens automatically.
This chapter discusses differences between RealProxy on the different platforms, the assignment of IP addresses for RealProxy's use, and some differences between RealProxy 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.
RealProxy has several methods of managing the amount of bandwidth it uses. You can limit the amount of bandwidth in use at one time, and place a cap on the number of clients who can receive streaming media.
Learn how to limit which clients use your RealProxy, based on their IP addresses.
By employing several RealProxys at once, you can funnel all streaming media Internet traffic through a single point.
Take advantage of multicasting when streaming from RealProxy.
RealProxy authentication provides a way for you to control the sites visited by RealPlayer.
To provide highest quality service, you'll want to keep track of how many people are accessing your RealProxy.
RealProxy can report player behavior with a customizable degree of detail. Errors are reported in their own log, which can help you troubleshoot any problems that arise.
If something isn't working the way you expected, check here for ideas on finding out what's happening.
This appendix consists of a discussion of the XML syntax used by the configuration file.
This is a guide to the RealProxy configuration file, for those who prefer to edit it directly rather than using RealSystem Administrator.
Because this manual is aimed at the RealProxy administrator, the term "you" refers to the administrator.
RealSystem clients, such as RealPlayer, are referred to generically as "clients". Where information applies specifically to the RealNetworks® RealPlayer or RealPlayer Plus™, this is spelled out. Although most clients in use are RealNetworks' own RealPlayer, RealNetworks also makes a software development kit that enables other companies to develop their own players which can also receive streamed data types.
"Clips," "content," "media files," and "files" are used interchangeably to indicate the material that RealProxy streams.
The following table explains the typographic conventions used in this manual:
In addition to this manual, you may be interested in the following RealNetworks resources, available on the RealNetworks web site.
You can always read about RealProxy special offers at http://www.realnetworks.com/products/proxy.
The release notes have the very-latest information about RealProxy, at
http://service.real.com/help/library/guides/proxy/readme.htm
For a high-level look at how RealProxy can be used to best advantage on your network, review the white paper at:
http://service.real.com/help/library/whitepapers/proxy/proxy.html
The basic reference for the RealServer administrator, this manual explains how to set up, configure, and run RealServer to stream multimedia, available at http://service.real.com/help/library/index.html.
RealNetworks has developed a Software Development Kit (SDK) that lets you integrate applications with RealSystem or create new plug-ins for RealServer or RealPlayer. Knowledge of programming is required to use the SDK. Register for and download the SDK from
http://www.real.com/devzone/.
You'll find information on using our products with firewalls at
http://www.service.real.com/firewall/.