About the default publishing points
When you install Windows Media Services, a default on-demand publishing point named <Default> (on-demand) and a sample broadcast publishing point named Sample_Broadcast are added to the server automatically. You can manage the default publishing points in the same way you would manage any other publishing point on your server. For example, you can choose a different source of content, enable and disable plug-ins, and create announcement files for them.
To prevent unauthorized access to the publishing points immediately after installation, two security measures are added: the default on-demand publishing point is set to deny all connections, and the Start publishing point when first client connects property of the default broadcast publishing point is disabled. For more information about allowing unicast connections to the default publishing points, see Controlling access to content.
The benefit of using the default publishing points is that it allows users to access content on your server through a simplified URL. When streaming from the default on-demand publishing point, the corresponding URL to receive the stream consists of the connection protocol, the Windows Media server name, and the file name (for example, mms://server/file). The publishing point does not need to be specified in the URL. If you are streaming from the default broadcast publishing point, you also do not need to include the file name in your URL; for example, mms://server.
The default publishing points are not necessary to the operation of the Windows Media server. To remove a default assignment from a publishing point, you only need to rename it. After it has been renamed, you can assign a different publishing point as the default.
Note
If you do not change the access properties of these publishing points and try to test a stream by clicking the Test button on the Source tab, you will receive a warning message that access is denied on a publishing point and you will be asked if you want to change the setting. Clicking Yes will automatically change the setting and the test will begin.