Delivering content as a unicast stream
Unicast streaming is the default method by which a Windows Media server delivers content. A unicast stream is a one-to-one connection between the server and a client, which means that each client receives a distinct stream and only those clients that request the stream receive it. You can deliver content as a unicast stream from either an on-demand or a broadcast publishing point.
Unicast streaming is managed by the WMS Unicast Data Writer plug-in, which is enabled by default.
Unicast streaming offers the benefits of interactivity between the player and server, easier setup, and multiple-bit-rate streaming capability. However, the number of users that are able to receive unicast streams is limited by the bitrate of the content and the speed of the server network. A large unicast audience can quickly overwhelm a network or server. Consider using unicast streaming if:
You want to take advantage of multiple-bit-rate encoding and intelligent streaming.
Your projected audience size and content bit rate is compatible with the capabilities of your network and server.
You require a detailed client log.
Your network is not multicast-enabled.
The following figure shows an example of delivering content as a unicast stream by using an on-demand publishing point.
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As shown in the figure, there is an on-demand publishing point named TV1 on the Windows Media server called Server1. This publishing point identifies the location of the content you want to stream. The content can be hosted on the local server or a network file system. You can source from a specific file, a playlist file, or a directory. In this example, the publishing point is sourcing from a playlist file that is stored locally on Server1. When you are ready for users to begin streaming, you can create an announcement to give users the URL to the content. Because the content is being delivered as a unicast stream, each player has a unique connection to Server1.
Note
Log files can take several different forms and represent a wide range of client data, depending on the nature of the streaming session. Overall, there are two main types of logs: client logs and server logs. Client logs are intended to gather information about player events, while server logs gather data about downstream servers. For more information, see Logging model for Windows Media Services.
See Also
Concepts
WMS Unicast Data Writer WMS Client Logging