Windows Media protocol reference

Applies To: Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2

The following table identifies which streaming protocols can be used to deliver digital media content, depending upon the version of Windows Media Player and the version of Windows Media Services that you are using.

  Windows Media Services 2008 Windows Media Services 9 Series Windows Media Services 4.1

Windows Media Player 12

RTSP

HTTP 1.0/1.1

Multicast

RTSP

HTTP 1.0/1.1

Multicast

HTTP 1.0

Multicast

Windows Media Player 11

RTSP

HTTP 1.0/1.1

Multicast

RTSP

HTTP 1.0/1.1

Multicast

HTTP 1.0

Multicast

Windows Media Player 10

RTSP

HTTP 1.0/1.1

Multicast

RTSP

HTTP 1.0/1.1

Multicast

MMS

HTTP 1.0

Multicast

Windows Media Player 9 Series

RTSP

HTTP 1.0/1.1

Multicast

RTSP

HTTP 1.0/1.1

Multicast

MMS

HTTP 1.0

Multicast

Windows Media Player for Windows XP or earlier

HTTP 1.0

Multicast

MMS

HTTP 1.0

Multicast

MMS

HTTP 1.0

Multicast

Windows Media Player Mobile (included as part of Windows Phone)

HTTP 1.0

Multicast

MMS

HTTP 1.0

Multicast

MMS

HTTP 1.0

Multicast

Windows Media Components for QuickTime

RTSP

HTTP 1.0

Multicast

RTSP

HTTP 1.0

Multicast

MMS

HTTP 1.0

Multicast

Note

The MMS streaming protocol was deprecated beginning in Windows Media Services 9 Series so that support for MMS streaming is restricted to Windows Media Player for Windows XP or earlier. Support for the MMS streaming protocol was removed beginning with Windows Media Services 2008.
To support the widest range of streaming Players, you should use the MMS URL moniker (mms://) in the connection URL to your streaming content (for example, mms:// ServerName/FileName.wma). The MMS URL moniker allows all connecting Players to use protocol rollover to stream the content using the optimal streaming protocol.

See Also

Concepts

About protocol rollover