Event ID 341 — Windows Media Server-side Playlist Delivery

Applies To: Windows Server 2008 R2

When you use a server-side playlist, you can stream multiple pieces of digital media content as you would with a playlist created by using Windows Media Player (called a client-side playlist). However, in a server-side playlist, you can use additional attributes to further control the behavior of the content. Server-side playlists that are created by content producers, server administrators, or Web page scripts are saved as Windows Media metafiles with a .wsx file name extension.

Windows Media Services includes the Windows Media Playlist Editor, which can be used to create and edit server-side playlists. For more information, see Creating and editing playlists.

Event Details

Resolve

Add content specified by media elements in the nested playlist

Make sure that the server-side playlist is not opened by another program, such as Windows Media Playlist Editor. If the file is not being used by another program, add the missing media source into the location referenced by the media element, and then verify that the Network Service account has Read permissions for the folder that contains the media source.

Add missing content specified by media elements in a nested playlist

To perform this procedure, you must have membership in the local Administrators group, or you must have been delegated the appropriate authority.

To add missing content specified by media elements in a nested playlist:

1. On the Windows Media server, open Windows Media Services. To open Windows Media Services, click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Windows Media Services.

2. In the console tree, click the publishing point that sources from the server-side playlist file.

3. In the details pane, click the Source tab.

4. In Content source, note the path of the playlist file (for example, C:\WMPub\WMRoot\playlist.wsx).

5. In Windows Explorer, open the playlist file in a text editor such as Notepad.

6. Find the location of nested playlist files specified by the src attribute. For example, the following sample playlist shows that the nested playlist file WMA_playlist.wsx is stored in C:\WMA\:

   <?wsx version='1.0'?>

   <smil>

       <media src="title.jpg" dur="10s"/>

       <media src="C:\WMA\wma_playlist.wsx"/>

   </smil>

7. In Windows Explorer, open the nested playlist file in a text editor.

8. Verify that the content source files in the playlist are in the locations specified by the src attribute. For example, the following sample playlist shows that the files Audio1.wma and Audio2.wma are stored in the folder that has the playlist file:

   <?wsx version='1.0'?>

   <smil>

       <media src="audio1.wma"/>

       <media src="audio2.wma"/>

   </smil>

9. Add any missing content source files referenced by the src attributes in the playlist to their specified locations.

Specify Network Service account permissions for content sources

The src attribute can identify the content source of a media element by using a URL, Universal Naming Convention (UNC) path, or an absolute path. If the specified content source does not reside in %systemdrive%\WMPub or in one of its subdirectories, you must specify Read permissions for the alternate content source for the Network Service account.

To perform this procedure, you must have membership in the local Administrators group, or you must have been delegated the appropriate authority.

To specify Network Service account permissions for content sources:

1. In Windows Explorer, right-click the folder that contains the content source specified by the src attribute in the playlist, and then click Properties. For example, the following sample playlist shows that the files title.jpg and audio.wma are stored in C:\WMA:

   <?wsx version='1.0'?>

   <smil>

       <media src="C:\WMA\title.jpg" dur="10s"/>

       <media src="C:\WMA\audio.wma"/>

   </smil>

2. On the Security tab, click Edit.

3. In the Permissions for <Object name> dialog box, click Add.

4. In the Select Users, Computers, or Groups dialog box, in Enter the object names to select, type Network Service, and then click OK.

5. In the Permissions for <Object name> dialog box, in the Group or user names area, click NETWORK SERVICE.

6. In the Permissions for NETWORK SERVICE area, click the Allow check box for the following permissions: Read.

7. Click OK to save the changes.

Verify

To verify that the server-side playlist can be delivered to clients, test the stream by using Windows Media Player:

1. If you want to test the stream by using Windows Media Player on the computer that is running Windows Media Services, you must install Desktop Experience. For more information, see Installing Desktop Experience.
2. On the Windows Media server, open Windows Media Services. To open Windows Media Services, click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Windows Media Services.
3. In the console tree, click the publishing point that hosts the stream you want to test.
4. In the details pane, click the Announce tab, and then, in Connect to a unicast stream, note the value of the URL that a client can use to access the content.
5. Start Windows Media Player on a computer that can access the stream, and enter the URL that you noted in the previous step.
6. Using the Player controls, test the control functionality of the content stream. Broadcast streams can use the Start and Stop commands. On-demand streams can use the Start, Stop, and Pause commands, and the Seek bar.

Note: If some members of your expected audience will access the stream from outside your network firewall, your testing scenario should include that condition. For more information about the firewall configuration for Windows Media Services, see Firewall Information for Windows Media Services.

Related Management Information

Windows Media Server-side Playlist Delivery

Streaming Media Services