Introduction This basic guide to RealServer is general in nature. For specific information about Real Audio products including the RealServer and Real Audio Player please refer to: http://www.real.com.

The Online Academy began with a requirement that media presentations would be streamed to promote more efficient use of bandwidth and a higher quality experience for the end user. Experts from the Online Academy researched many different streaming media solutions prior to the selection of the RealServer. These included both Windows Media Server and Apple QuickTime. Ultimately, RealServer was chosen because of its availability for several processor types, numerous operating systems, its media quality, and its widespread implementation.

Please refer to: http://www.real.com. for specific and most current specifications for their products. There are several RealServer versions in existence. At the time of the writing of this file, these include versions, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, G2, 7.0 and 8.0. Online Academy streaming media components are based upon the features in versions G2 and later and therefore require the use of a RealServer G2 or greater to work.

Currently Real Server G2 is available for several operating systems including Windows, and several varieties of UNIX including Linux. It is expected that many institutions have already purchased RealServers in one of many available simultaneous stream capacities and that those may be used to support Online Academy modules. Otherwise it is advisable for institutions to evaluate the RealServer capabilities by installing the basic RealServer which currently is provided at no cost. The basic version of the RealServer will support 25 simultaneous users which is sufficient to meet the needs of several classes using Online Academy modules.

Please refer to: http://www.real.com for specific and most current specifications for their products. According to documentation provided by Real, a server equipped with a modest 120 MHZ Pentium processor and 10 MB of free memory is capable of serving 100 streams simultaneously.

Online Academy modules have been Tested with NT 4.0 servers equipped with Pentium processors from 400 to 700 MHZ, Linux servers equipped with Pentium processors from 200 MHZ to 600 MHZ and Digital UNIX servers equipped with Alpha processors from 166 MHZ to 600 MHZ, all with satisfactory results.

Assuming sufficient processor and memory resources are present the server will need adequate storage capacity to serve the streaming media components of Online Academy modules. Each module's media component varies in size depending on the length and number of presentations. As an example the "Technology In Education" module 2 has approximately 32MB of content that is stored on and served from the RealServer with approximately 10MB more that needs to be stored on and served from an web server.

In testing Online Academy modules it has been observed that lack of bandwidth is often the most problematic issue involved with delivering streamed media to users. Attempt to ensure that the server is not placed on a saturated network segment. If modules are primarily intended to be used in labs it may be best to place the streaming server on the same subnet as the lab. If modem connections are anticipated to be the norm, place the server as close to the primary Internet access point for your network as possible to ensure the best performance.

Specific Recommendations for Streaming Media Server Supporting Online Academy Module Use:

1. Dedicated Linux or NT server equipped with a 400MHZ processor as a minimum. Provide additional processor speed if the server will be hosting other content, other services such as web hosting, or serving more than 100 anticipated simultaneous streams.
2. Equip the server with a minimum of 128MB of RAM. Provide an additional 128MB of RAM for every 100 anticipated simultaneous streams or if other services are to be provided by the same machine.
3. Ensure a minimum of 30MB of free disk space per Online Academy module to be installed. Increase this to 45MB if the same server is expected to serve the HTTP served components of the modules in addition to the streamed media components.
4. Place the server as close to the anticipated end users as possible on a network segment with unused/available bandwidth.

The Online Academy does not provide support for the RealServer software. This file offers some basic information that may assist system administrators in installing or configuring a RealServer based on the experiences of the Online Academy. Fortunately the RealServer has proven to be stable, reliable, and not too difficult to install or use. Please refer to http://www.real.com or http://service.real.com/ for information about or support for the RealServer.

This section provides information about the download and installation process for Windows NT/2000 and Linux.

During the download procedure for RealServer, you are required to fill in two forms. Make certain that the information you provide, especially the email field, is valid, because Real will email you a license file that you must have to install the RealServer.

NT/2000
Installation of the RealServer is fairly straightforward and automated under NT or Windows 2000. The following are tips and observations that may be useful.

• Unless you have a special system setup,use the default ports that the installation procedure suggests.
• When prompted during the installation procedure select yes to the option of installing RealServer as a service. This ensures that the RealServer will be started on system startup.
• Be sure to write down the random port number assigned to the administration site. This port number is required to access the webpage that allows you to administrate your Real Server from a web browser. To access the administration page of your real server go to http://[name of computer]:[admin port number] using a web browser.
• The installation process places two icons on the desktop. One is a link to the server. Double clicking this icon starts the server which is not necessary if the install as service suggestion is accepted. The other icon is a link to the web based administration page as detailed above.

Linux 2.2.x
Many questions that are beyond the scope of this document are answered by Real's Online documentation. Be sure to refer to this documentation in the event of problems with installing or using RealServer software.

• Make sure you have permission to write to whatever directory you are installing. This is best achieved by logging in with a root level password.
• If the install binary doesn't have executable permissions, use chmod or type 'sh [name of install binary]` to correct this.
• We suggest installing the RealServer in /usr/local/RealServer
• If you get an error when the install utility asks for the path to the license file, ensure that you must have the license file on your computer, and enter the full path, AND the name of the file. As an example:
  
  /home/bob/[lots of numbers and dashes].lic

Always refer to http://www.real.com or http://service.real.com/ for information about or support for the RealServer.

Firewalls present unique challenges for system administrators. Real has provided detailed information about using RealServer in conjunction with firewalls on their support site. Please refer to: http://service.real.com/firewall/index.html for this information.