Determining the streaming media configuration requirements

In this chapter, you will determine the following:

Requirements for implementing transparent or nontransparent client access to NetCache
Whether to use unicast or multicast transmission
Port requirements for configuring NetCache, firewalls, and associated network devices for streaming media
Implications of blocking streaming media ports on your firewall
How to ensure that client logs are sent to streaming servers
If you need to set up proxy authentication for streaming media
Whether to enable HTTP service for streaming media
How to
- Limit the client request volume
- Reduce redundant fetching
- Implement nontransparent redirection for MMS
- Prefill streaming media content
- Use URLs to direct streaming media requests to the cache
- Understand streaming media connection statistics
- Manage streaming media objects

Before continuing with NetCache configuration, ensure that you do the following:

Obtain the Microsoft® Media Server (MMS), RealNetworks® RealSystem®, or Apple® QuickTime^TM license codes required for streaming.
Identify the port settings for the streaming media protocols you want to stream.
If you are setting up nontransparent client access, record the IP address of the streaming media cache.
Record the list of ports currently allowed on your firewall.
Check the routers and switches in your network to ensure that they can handle the high-bandwidth demands of streaming media.