1. Set up a multicast relay on the QTSS. This relay will be configured
with the IP address of your broadcaster as the "Source Hostname or IP
Address:", the <broadcastMountPoint> specified below as the "Mount
Point:". Check "Wait for announced stream(s)". The "Hostname or IP
Address:" for the destination should be a valid multicast address.
Select "Relay via UDP" and set the base port to an even number (I
usually use something in the 9000-9996 range). The multicast TTL is the
number of router hops the multicast will work through. On a flat
network, this can be set to 0. Set this for the topology of the network
you are working on. The server must also be configured to accept an
announced broadcast. This can now be done from QTSS Web Admin General
Settings by clicking on "Change Movie Broadcast Password..."
2. Set up QTBroadcaster to send an "Automatic Unicast (Announce)" to
the server. The "File:" you specify in broadcaster should include the
".sdp" extension - for example "webcast.sdp". After you start the
broadcast, test accessing it from the server by accessing the url
rtsp://<serverIP>/<broadcastMountPoint> from QT Player. You will be
tuning in on a Unicast relay of the stream.
3. To tune in on the multicast relay, you have to make a copy and edit
the .sdp file that is created by the announced broadcast. After you
complete step 2, you should see a file with the name you specified in
your streaming server's movie directory. Copy this file (see step
number 4 below for options on where you might want to place the copy).
Edit the copy of the file. Look for the line beginning with "c=IN IP4"
(at the top of the file). Change the IP address to the multicast IP
address specified in step 1 above. Next look for the first line
beginning with "m=". Usually this is m=audio. Change the 0 to the base
port you specified in 1 above (i.e. 9000). Look for the next line
beginning with m=. Usually this is m=video. Change the 0 to the base
port + 2 (i.e. 9002).
4. The multicast sdp file can be accessed via ftp, http, from a file
server, or e-mailed to clients. It cannot be accessed directly from the
QTSS process. Save the file where it can be accessed via http or ftp,
from a file server, or e-mail it to clients. I usually put it on a web
server (see note below on mime types). If you place the file on a http
or ftp server, you can access the multicast from QuickTime Player by
using the url:
http://<webServerIP>/<pathAndFileNameOfsdpFile>
or
ftp://<ftpServerIP>/<pathAndFileNameOfsdpFile>
If you put the multicast sdp file on a web server, or e-mail it to
clients, they can just open up the sdp file with QuickTime Player. Note
that sdp files are often associated with Real Player - you might have
to drag and drop the file or use File-Open from QT Player.
Alternatively you can open up the sdp file or URL with QT Player Pro,
save the file as a self-contained .mov file, send this to clients,
embed in a web page, etc.
Notes:
If you keep the name of the broadcast sdp file the same, you can stop
and start new broadcasts using the same name. However, you will always
have to do steps 3 and 4 above for each new broadcast (or automate
those steps with a cgi or other script).
If you place the multicast sdp file on a web server, the mime type
needs to be configured properly on the web server:
mime type extension
application/sdp sdp
