Overview of NetCache support for live streams

Single connection to the streaming server per unique live stream

Rather than fetching streaming data from the streaming server for each client request (as discussed for the typical streaming client-server model), the streaming media cache connects to the streaming server only once for each unique live stream. Therefore, the number of connections that the streaming media cache makes to the streaming server for live streaming media presentations is significantly reduced.

Delivery of streams to clients

How NetCache returns live streams to clients depends on whether the delivery method is over unicast transport or multicast transport. NetCache supports unicast by default. When you plan your streaming media deployment, you need to determine whether you want your NetCache appliance to support multicast. However, even if you have configured a NetCache appliance for multicast, NetCache uses unicast transmission if a device or network to which it is to transmit cannot handle multicast.

Read the following sections to help determine whether setting up your NetCache appliance for unicast, multicast, or both is appropriate for your organization.