Test a stream using the Test Stream utility

To test a stream using the Test Stream utility

  1. Confirm that Desktop Experience is installed.

  2. In the console tree, click the publishing point that is associated with the stream you want to test.

  3. In the details pane, click the Source tab, and then click the Test stream button.

    The Test Stream utility opens, and the publishing point starts if it has not already started.

  4. In Client and protocol, verify that the URL of the content is correct.

  5. Verify that Windows Media Player starts and the content stream starts playing.

  6. Using the Player controls, test the control functionality of the content stream.

    Broadcast streams can make use of the Start and Stop commands. On-demand streams may make use of the Start, Stop, and Pause commands, as well as the Seek bar.

  7. Test all of the available streaming protocols.

    The Test Stream utility typically opens unicast streams using the RTSP protocol. In Client and protocol, click a different protocol, and then click OK. The HTTP protocol will not be active unless the WMS HTTP Server Control Protocol plug-in is enabled.

  8. Allow the stream to play for a representative period of time and check the stream statistics for excessive numbers of skipped frames and lost packets.

  9. Click Exit to close the Test Stream utility.

Note

This procedure only applies to the Windows Media Services snap-in.

See Also

Concepts

Installing Desktop Experience
WMS HTTP Server Control Protocol