VBrick EtherneTV Portal Server ETV v4.
Copyright © 2007 VBrick Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. 12 Beaumont Road Wallingford, Connecticut 06492, USA www.VBrick.com This publication contains confidential, proprietary, and trade secret information. No part of this document may be copied, photocopied, reproduced, translated, or reduced to any machine-readable or electronic format without prior written permission from VBrick.
Contents Portal Server v4.1 Admin Guide Organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii Getting Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . viii Font Conventions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . viii Related Documents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Creating a VOD-D FTP Server. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Add/Modify Video On Demand Content Folders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 VBricks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Advanced Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Control Devices . .
1. Setup and Configure ETV Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 2. Choose an Authentication Method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 3. Create User Groups on the Portal Server . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 4. Create Resource Groups on the Portal Server . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 5. Create Users on the ETV Portal Server . . . . . . . . . .
Standalone NVR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 NVR Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101 Configuring a Standard NVR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101 Configuring a Standalone NVR. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102 Using an NVR . .
Portal Server v4.1 Admin Guide This Portal Server Admin Guide is written for anyone who will be using or evaluating the VBrick EtherneTV Portal Server. This includes system administrators, software developers, network technicians, and others. The ETV Portal Server is a web-based portal for accessing and managing video assets including both live or stored audio and video files. The ETV Portal Server is a key component in VBrick's EtherneTV Media Distribution System.
VBPresenter explains how to configure and launch rich media presentation from the Portal Server including those created with VBPresenter. Auto Content Ingestion explains auto content ingestion. This is the process whereby video content is automatically populated on the portal server. Database Backup explains how to backup the MySQL database when you transfer or remove VOD servers. Note that procedure backs up the database—not video content.
EtherneTV-STB Admin Guide EtherneTV-STB Quick Start Guide EtherneTV-NXG Server Quick Start Guide EtherneTV-VOD W Server Quick Start Guide EtherneTV-VOD WM Server Quick Start Guide VBPresenter User Guide Printer-Friendly Click on the following link to print a hard copy of the document. ETV Portal Server User Guide ETV Portal Server Admin Guide ETV Portal Server Release Notes T To save or print a PDF document: 1. 2. Click once to open the PDF document in Acrobat Reader.
x Preface
Chapter 1 Introduction Topics in this chapter Portal Server Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Portal Server Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Portal Server Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Portal Server Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
available media assets on your network. Upon accessing the main portal page, users can navigate or search for specific videos, select the video, and immediately begin viewing DVD quality video. For on-demand videos, users can Fast Forward/Rewind and Seek to specific points in the video. Standard access control functionality provides restriction of certain content to particular users, user groups, or set top boxes.
Introduction Macintosh PCs • • • • • Mac OS X with Safari 1.0 (or higher) Firefox for Mac 1.0.4 QuickTime Player 6.0 or higher. Internet Explorer is not supported. Intel-based Macintoshes play all streams except WM. Copyright Protection The Portal Server uses copyright restrictions and content expiration to protect the rights of content owners and to enforce rules against unauthorized usage or distribution. Copyright restrictions are specifically used to enforce license requirements.
MySQL EtherneTV Portal Server is shipped with MySQL as the database. The MySQL database is installed as part of the Portal Server installation package. If the hardware/software combination was purchased from VBrick, MySQL will already be installed on your machine; the default user name is root. To protect the integrity of the database, you should change the default password (vbrick_18) after initial installation and periodically thereafter as explained below.
Introduction • • • • • • • Set-Top Box users can use familiar Channel Up/Down keys and other hot keys on the IR remote control to navigate through video listings. Users can search through the list of Live or On-Demand videos by Title, Keyword , Description , or other custom fields defined by an ETV Portal Server administrator. Users can record and store videos on the EtherneTV-VOD Video-on-Demand server via ETV Portal Server.
• • • • • • • • Autoingestion to the EtherneTV-VOD server – content placed in autoingestion folders on the ETV Portal Server will be automatically transferred and ingested into the EtherneTV-VOD server. Customized global messages can display on the ETV Portal Server interface. Channel numbers can be assigned to live streams. Define a startup channel for STBs – the STB will automatically tune into this channel when users select the Live TV option.
Introduction Content added by users in the LAN zone will be ingested to all VOD servers for which they have permissions using the Add Video page. Users in the Internet zone have the Add Video page available only if they have permissions for at least one VOD server that is also in the Internet zone. Content added by LAN users is added to all configured servers that can handle the content (for example you cannot add MPEG content to a Windows Media server) and for which you have permission.
• Internet servers do not support ETV scheduling features. ETV Set Top Box EtherneTV-STBs access the ETV Portal Server through a web browser within the Set Top Box. Using the Set-Top Box remote control, users can navigate and search for specific ondemand content or live video streams, select a stream, and begin viewing television-quality video. Set-Top Box users can also record video directly on the ETV Portal Server using the remote control or the wireless keyboard.
Introduction Figure 3. Live Portal Server User Interface VB-PC Remote Controller The VB-PC Remote is a handheld infrared device you can use to control (stop/start/pause, etc.) any stream running on the Portal Server. The VB-PC Remote is compatible with Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher; it is not compatible with Firefox. The VB-PC Remote can be used for all Portal Server streams (MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, and WM) and has a line-of-sight range of approximately 40 feet.
WM IP Receiver VBrick's WM IP Receiver is similar to a conventional set top box but is significantly more stable, rugged, and reliable. It is designed for 24x7 operation, and built for enterprise networks that require a high degree of stability, security, and scalability. The WM IP Receiver is a robust, state-of-art device that meets the demanding requirements of VBrick's EtherneTV Media Distribution System. The WM IPR plays Windows Media streams from VBrick WM appliances and Windows Media servers.
Introduction users will also be required to install an additional plugin when they use Add Video for the first time (again, if they are configured with this privilege). Table 2. Supported Operating Systems and Browsers – Windows Operating System Browser Windows 2000 Internet Explorer 6.0†, Firefox 1.0† Windows XP Internet Explorer 6.0†, Firefox 1.
Linux PCs If configured with the appropriate components, Linux PCs running Fedora or Red Hat (on Firefox) can play MPEG-1, MPEG-2, and MPEG-4 streams. However, the Portal Server must download Linux components to each-end user desktop before any streams will play. This should only be performed by a system administrator. When you access the Portal Server for the first time, you will see a message in the embedded player window indicating that the appropriate plugins are not installed.
Introduction Table 5. Port Requirements† Zone Port(s) Protocol Description Internet > DMZ 80 TCP Web request from client to MCS. Internet > DMZ 9876/9878 UDP Management/RTSP SAP announce from VBrick to MCS. DMZ > Internet 21 TCP FTP from MCS to VOD Server (Darwin/Windows Media/ FTP). LAN > DMZ 80 TCP Web request from client to MCS. LAN > DMZ 9875/ 9876/ 9878 UDP Multicast/Management/RTSP SAP announce from VBrick to MCS.
Zone Port(s) Protocol Description DMZ > LAN 21 TCP FTP from MCS to VOD Server (Darwin/Windows Media/ FTP). LAN > DMZ 21 TCP FTP from VOD Server (NXG/VOD-W) to MCS. DMZ > LAN 135 TCP Management command from MCS to Windows Media (DCOM). DMZ > LAN 80 TCP Web service request from MCS to Network Video Recorder. DMZ > LAN 80 TCP Web service request from Network Video Recorder to MCS. DMZ > LAN 389 TCP LDAP lookup from MCS to LDAP Server (e.g. Active Directory).
Introduction Table 6. License Files License File Description License Errors Live Portal Server or Portal Server Either a standard ETV Portal Server license file or a Live Portal Server (see ETV Live Portal Server on page 8.) license file. If not installed, error page displayed at login. Player The embedded Windows Media Player has restrictions on the number of licensed users.
Figure 5. Logo Image Table 7 shows the images you can change on the Portal Server and the set top boxes. Do not modify or change any other images. You can replace any .jpg image but it must have the same dimensions in pixels (for example 1003x50) as the original image. It must also have the same security settings. To view the security settings, right-click on the image, then select Properties and go to the Security tab.
Introduction Note As a standard best practice, VBrick recommends changing the default administrator User Name and Password. Go to Global Settings > Global Assignments on the Admin Console. Admin Console Options Login to the ETV Portal Server Admin pages with a valid user name and password to display the following window. This window provides access to all admin configuration options.
Table 8. Admin Options Option Description Getting Started The ETV Portal Server splash page shown above. Global Settings Provides system-wide configuration parameters to connect to VBrick encoders and VOD servers as well as to customize the look of the ETV Portal Server pages. Modify VOD Content Provides the ability to Move, Rename, or Delete assets on the EtherneTV-VOD Video-on-Demand server. (Not supported on some legacy NXG servers.
Introduction Option Description Live Presentations Provides the ability to view and remove current live presentations from the Live Broadcasts page. Users† Used in conjunction with Access Control to limit access to the ETV Portal Server system to different users. User Groups† Used in conjunction with Access Control to limit access to the ETV Portal Server system to different groups of users.
20 © 2007 VBrick Systems, Inc.
Chapter 2 Global Settings Global Settings include configuration settings and parameters that apply to the entire system. Global Settings include all of the following. Topics in this chapter Global Assignments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Custom Fields . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Customize Streams. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Table 9. Global Assignments Item Description Assign a Global Message The global message will be displayed in the message area of the Portal Server user interface when there is no program information available. Enter the message text and click Submit. Example: There will be an all hands meeting today at 4:00 PM in the boardroom. Note that if you are running the Portal Server on a Set Top Box, the message area will not display more than 4 lines of text.
Global Settings Item Description Change Admin Password Change the default admin password of admin. Use any combination of alphanumeric and special characters except slashes, quotes, or commas. Define FTP User Name ETV Portal Server is defaulted for "anonymous" FTP access which is configured in Windows IIS Default FTP Site. If a more secure FTP access is desired, the User Name can be changed in IIS (see the Windows Server documentation for details). The same User Name should be entered here.
24 Item Description Assign LAN/Internet Address Range(s) Define the range(s) of IP addresses that define the LAN or the Internet domain. Any IP addresses outside the range are assumed to be from the domain you did not select. Check one option and, if necessary, use the text box to enter the range(s) separated by a comma, a semicolon, or a new line. For details, see ETV Internet-Based Servers on page 7. • All Users, Servers, and VBricks are in the LAN Domain (default).
Global Settings Item Description Assign Content Expiration Warning Recipient Enter the semicolon-separated e-mail address(es) of the person(s) responsible for renewing copyrighted or otherwise protected content. When you configure or change either the recipient or the mail server, the Portal Server will attempt to send a test message. Check that this message is successfully delivered. The Portal Server validates the e-mail address but cannot detect other mail delivery failures.
Item Description Delete Recorded Files After Used with scheduled recording and push button recording. Ingestion Specifies whether or not to delete the recorded file from the NVR after ingestion. Enabled by default.
Global Settings Item Description Set Cisco ACNS Manifest Options Check the box to enable generation of a Cisco ACNS Manifest File. (The Cisco ACNS server must be configured to point to this file.) Select the files (MPEG-4 and/or WM) to include in the file, and specify a Manifest Generation Interval (default = 10 minutes) that defines how often the file will be regenerated. Click Generate Now to create an "on demand" file.
2. 3. Enter a Field Name and a Field Type. If you select Dropdown , you can add items one at a time followed by Add Item . These items will populate a dropdown list box on the Customize Streams page. When done, click Add Custom Field . The field will be added to the panel at the top of the window; it will also be available as an option when you are customizing a stream. Add/Modify Custom Field This panel shows the existing custom fields that have previously been defined.
Global Settings 2. Choose an Available Live Stream (one that has not been customized), enter an optional number, and click Add Customization . This moves the customized stream to the panel on the right. Optionally, add a Description of the channel that will be displayed in the Messages area on the broadcast list page and on the Info page. You can also add Keywords and Links (see below) that are displayed on the Info pages associated with a stream. They make it easier to search for specific content.
Link Title The title actually displayed on the Info page, for example "Additional Information." Link Type • Web page URL – Enter a valid URL or copy and paste one from your web browser. • Uploaded File – Browse to select an upload file. This can be a PowerPoint, an image, or any file you want to make available to end users. The file is automatically uploaded to the Portal Server, and the Portal Server creates a URL for end users to access it.
Global Settings Live Stream Click on any live stream shown in the list to populate this field. Max. Concurrent Viewers Set the maximum number of concurrent viewers for this stream to unlimited or any number greater than zero. Viewing Period of Stream Recordings Set the length of the viewing period for a file recorded with this stream in hours, days, weeks, months, or years.
32 IP or Domain This is the primary IP address or Host Name of the VOD server for LAN users (see also Secondary Server Address below). The Server Name or IP address entered into the ETV Portal Server must be accessible by the ETV Portal Server. (If the network supports Windows 98 users, you must use the IP address.) Server Description This allows the administrator to define a descriptor such as location.
Global Settings FTP Password The FTP password the Portal Server uses when publishing content to the server. The default for NXG servers is vbrickuser ; the default for all others is anonymous. If the FTP Password is changed on the server, it must be changed here as well. Use any combination of alphanumeric and special characters. Publishing Local Path Maps the Publishing Directory to the physical location on the VOD server. Publishing Directory Used for Add Video, FTP, or Record.
User Name VOD-WM-Advanced only. The name of a valid user that has administration privileges on the VOD-WM server. If the VODWM Server is within a domain, the name entered here will be a domain user. That domain user must have administration privileges on the VOD-WM Server. If the VOD-WM Server is part of a workgroup, the name entered here will be a local user with administration privileges on the VOD-WM Server.
Global Settings This function is useful for VBrick VBStar appliances to easily transfer content from their hard drives to the VOD server. (It can also be helpful for users who acquire content outside of the ETV Portal Server, for example from StreamPlayer Plus.) When a folder is created, you must check a box in Add/Modify Folders on Selected Servers to associate the folder with a server for autoingestion. ETV Portal Server checks these folders every 5 minutes and ingests new content if present.
2. Type the new subfolder name in the text field, preceded by a forward slash, for example and click Submit when done. /Bill/temp, VBricks All VBricks must be configured in ETV Portal Server before they can be managed and used for scheduled events. (VBrick configuration is only required if you are using the Scheduling feature. Once configured, all VBricks in the system are shown on the following window.
Global Settings 3. 4. 5. In Select VBrick , select one or more existing VBricks for which a SAP has been received. If you select one VBrick, this populates the VBrick Configuration panel. (If you select multiple VBricks, it does not populate the panel; if you need to configure the VBricks, you must add them one at a time.) Complete or modify the fields in VBrick Configuration as necessary. Note that you must enter a User Name and Password and confirm that Password or the configuration will fail.
VBrick Model Select from dropdown. Advanced settings are enabled if you select an encoder or a VBStar. Advanced Settings Advanced settings are enabled if you select a VBrick encoder or a VBStar. Note that the Portal Server will attempt to retrieve and autofill the Multicast IP addresses and Port numbers. You can modify these fields as necessary. Note The following values are stored in the Portal Server database only.
Global Settings Control Devices Control devices let you configure a video source device so that it can be controlled by end users from the Portal Server user interface. (An example of a video source device is a DVD or VCR directly connected to a VBrick encoder.) Once configured, a special icon on the Live Broadcasts page indicates you can control the stream using a "virtual" remote control panel as shown in Figure 6 below.
Figure 7. Control Panel for Direct-Connect Devices (left) and VBIRs (right) Note The Amino set top box does not recognize "control devices." Any video source devices configured as Control Devices in the Portal Server will not display a "virtual" remote control panel on the Amino set top box. Adding Control Devices Use the following windows to define or modify control devices. As noted, these devices will be displayed on the Live Broadcasts page with a special icon for any users with access to that encoder.
Global Settings Name Enter a unique, descriptive name that will be displayed on the virtual remote. For example in Figure 6, "Sony DVD" is the configured name shown on the controller. No embedded spaces or special characters are allowed. Source Device Select a source DVD or VCR from the dropdown list. The list shows serial port direct-connect devices and VBIR (SpitFire) devices that are tested and supported by VBrick.
to http://innotechsystems.com/Spitfire/SpitFire III.pdf Be aware that the device codes at this link are not tested or supported by VBrick. If you can't find the code you need, or have trouble controlling a non-supported device, check the product documentation or contact the manufacturer. Note The VBIR (SpitFire III model only) can also "learn" (i.e. be programmed to use) IR commands much like a universal remote controller.
Global Settings Figure 8. Connecting Control Devices Table 10. Device Connectors Device Connector VCR DB-9 † DVD DB-15 † MPEG-1 Encoder DB-9 MPEG-2/4/WM Encoders RJ-45 † Typical device connector. Configuring Control Devices You also need to configure the baud rate and passthrough state of the VBrick associated with a control device. In IWS, go to the Configuration: Passthrough page and set these values as follows: Table 11.
Learning IR Commands The Portal Server VBIR also supports the SpitFIRE device internal library. This library is a database in flash memory of several thousand IR command sets accessed by a three-digit code. In the EtherneTV Portal Server Admin Console a three-digit internal library code is specified by selecting a SpitFire source device from the dropdown list during configuration.
Global Settings 2. Select Add STBs and click Submit . 3. In Select STB, select one or more existing STB for which a SAP has been received. This populates the STB Configuration panel. (If you select multiple STBs, it does not populate the panel; if you need to configure the STBs, you must add them one at a time.) Complete or modify the fields in STB Configuration as necessary and click Submit . This adds the new configuration to the list of configured STBs shown on the previous page. 4.
Note The only time you will manually complete the STB Configuration fields is when you are defining the configuration for an STB that will be added to the network at a later time. In this case, you will need to know the configuration data in advance. Host Name Required. Host name of STB. IP Address Required. IP address of STB. User Name Defaults to system-defined value if blank. User Password Defaults to system-defined value if blank. Confirm Password Defaults to system-defined value if blank.
Global Settings 2. Select Add Recorders and click Submit . 3. Complete the fields in Recorder Configuration window and click Submit . This adds the newly configured recorder to the previous window. If necessary see Synchronizing the Portal Server and the NVR below. Recorder Server ETV Portal Server Admin Guide IP address or host name of recorder server. Defaults to localhost if recorder server is on the same machine as ETV Portal Server.
Record Path Path and folder where all recording are stored. By default, recordings are stored on the D: drive. If you install ETV Portal Server on a system without a D: drive, you must change the path. Also, in order to record multiple streams, the Record Path must be under FTP root. For example, if root is C:\Inetpub\ftproot the Record Path must be C:\Inetpub\ftproot\ Max. Recording The default number of concurrent recording sessions allowed is 2.
Global Settings Note You can also write a script (launched from the Portal Server) that uses TCP/IP to communicate with any compatible device on the network. Contact VBrick Support Services for more information. 2. Select Add Script Devices and click Submit . 3. In Script Device Configuration , complete the following fields and click Submit . This adds the newly configured script device to the list of devices shown in the previous window.
Address Hard-coded device IP address. This is usually the address of the VBrick or the address of the VBrick to which a device is connected but it can be the address of any device. Port TCP/IP port number range = 1040 –65534 . If using serial port passthrough, use the VBrick's passthrough port number: 4439 for COM1, 4414 for COM2 Scripts Scripts work with previously defined script devices such as VBricks, STBs, or other devices attached to a VBrick.
Global Settings 2. Select Add Scripts and click Submit . 3. In Script Configuration , enter a Script Name and select a Device Type (MPEG1, MPEG2/MPEG4/WM, or Other) from the dropdown list—and wait a few seconds for ETV Portal Server to populate the panel with a list of devices. In Select Device , highlight one or more devices and use the arrow buttons to populate the right panel. Create the Script Content . 4. 5.
a. For VBrick devices, select a Parameter Name from the dropdown list , enter a and click Add . Repeat as many times as necessary and click Submit when done. Note that the order in which you add parameters is critical. This is the order in which the commands will be executed at runtime. (See Finding VBrick Parameters and Values for more information. For non-VBrick (Other ) devices, write the script in a native language compatible with the device (or copy and paste binary input) and click Submit when done.
Global Settings find the value associated with that parameter using a standard MIB browser or text editor. These brief procedures simply outline the basic steps which are typically performed by a programmer or a system administrator. Contact VBrick Customer Service or see the VBrick SDK User Guide for more information. T To locate a parameter name by viewing the source code: 1. 2. Find the Parameter Name in the Integrated Web Server (IWS) page.
http://myHost/file.asx http://www.myCompany.com/files/file.asx MP3 and WMA Files http://172.1.1.1/file.mp3 http://myHost/file.mp3 http://172.1.1.1/file.wma http://myHost/file.wma WMV Files http://www.myCompany.com/files/file.wmv mms://www.myCompany.com/files/file.wmv T To add a URL for a live video stream: 1. 2. Enter the URL or IP address in the URL field. Enter the Type and Title and click Add to add the URL to the list of streams shown. URL Enter a valid URL or IP address. See examples above.
Global Settings URL Enter a valid URL or IP address. For example: rtsp://ipaddress/programname mms://ipaddress/videoname.wmv Type Choose MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, MPEG-4 NXG, Document, WM, or Other. If you are creating a URL for stored video that points to www.yahoo.com , for example, select Document in this field—not Other. Title This is what will display to clients in the ETV Portal Server viewing pages Folder This is the folder on the VOD server in which the video will be displayed.
for PDFs or Word documents, or type Other for PowerPoint presentations, Flash demos, etc. Each content type has a different icon on the Video Library page. Document The URL must point to a web server or a local drive. The Portal Server server can act as the web server for this content, if the content is placed in the c:\program files\vbrick\mcs directory on the ETV Portal Server (or in any subdirectory you create, e.g. ... mcs\test_files\test.doc). A local path or network shared path also can be entered.
Global Settings 2. Select Add Template and click Submit to display the following window. 3. Enter a Template Name , select a Schedule Type, and click Next . (Duplicate template names are allowed but not recommended.
Note Advanced Settings are available to configure VBricks and STBs with exceptional configuration parameters. It is unlikely you will ever need to change these settings. In all cases you can safely ignore the Advanced Settings and use the defaults provided by ETV Portal Server. Template name Alphanumeric characters or spaces. No special characters. Schedule Type Live Broadcast • VBrick – Select a live stream by VBrick Name. Then select the destination VBricks or STBs.
Global Settings Schedule Start Options Enter values that describe the device state at schedule start. • Program Name – Program name selected above. • Template – MPEG only. Screen varies for MPEG-1, 2, or 4. • Destination – Destination 1, Destination 2, RTSP Server. • Destination Address – Enter value. • Video Port – Enter value. • Audio Port – Enter value. • Closed Captioning Port – Enter value. • Video – Enabled, Disabled, As Configured. • Audio – Enabled, Disabled, As Configured.
Broadcast Templates available to ETV Portal Server users from the Portal Server application. See the ETV Portal Server User Guide for more information. Program Names Program Names are used with live presentations. A Program Name is the title that will be displayed on the Live Broadcasts page during a live, rich media presentation—if users have Live Channel privileges.
Global Settings Access Logging Access logging tracks Portal Server usage. It creates logs that let you review who has watched what content, when, and for how long. Specifically, it logs access to live or VOD content, and to user-initiated recordings. There are two output logs; one is used for live/VOD content and the other is for recordings.
Enable Access Logging Sets access logging on or off. Log Cycle Time New log files can be created daily, weekly, or when the file reaches a certain size. Old files are never deleted or written over. Log File Directory Specifies where the log files are saved. This can be on the same machine as the Portal Server or on a different machine in the same network. Cycle Log File Click Cycle Now to close the existing log files and create new files. Extended Logging Properties See below.
Global Settings Viewing the Access Logs The log files are saved in Program Files\VBrick\MCS\Logs.You can view these file using a standard editor like Notepad or you can use the Excel spreadsheet template provided by VBrick. The MCSS Access Log.xlt template file makes to easy to view and sort log files. You can also use this template to build Pivot Tables to analyze the log data in greater detail. Pivot Tables are a powerful tool used to analyze multi-dimensional data.
Figure 9. Imported Access Log 64 © 2007 VBrick Systems, Inc.
Chapter 3 Server Administration Topics in this chapter Modify VOD Content . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 Diagnostics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 Status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 Expired Content Log . . . . . . . . . . .
Search box (All) Search for specific assets by selecting All, Keyword, Title, or Expiration Date. Then click Refresh. Filter Pattern Search for specific assets using a filter pattern. Type any text string and click Refresh. For example, type mp4 to search for assets with mp4 in the title. The filter does not recognize "wildcards" and is not case-sensitive. Name Video content name. Click on Refresh to re-paint the screen or Purge button to remove the artifacts of failed Delete operations.
Server Administration Diagnostics This window displays information about Scheduler events only. It displays system log messages by source and time and (generally) IP address. Use Clear All to empty the log. Status This window shows the status of videos being added or recorded. Use Refresh and Purge as necessary. Use the tree controls on the left to expand (or contract) individual entries. Click the Cancel icon to the left of each to cancel a recording or ingestion in progress.
Expired Content Log This window shows all expired content in chronological order with the oldest expiration date first. Click Purge All to delete all records in the log. See Modify VOD Content on page 65 and Stream Restrictions on page 30 for more information. 68 © 2007 VBrick Systems, Inc.
Server Administration Access Control Under the Access Control section, administrators have the ability to enable Authentication and Authorization which requires users to login and be authenticated. By default Enable Authentication and Authorization is unchecked which allows everyone to access all content and all functions (recording, publishing, etc.). When Access Control is enabled, User Groups,and Resource Groups are shown on the navigation bar.
authenticating against Microsoft's Active Directory, check the LDAP Server is Microsoft check box and enter the path to the LDAP server in the LDAP Path box. If authenticating against a directory other than Microsoft Active Directory, do not check LDAP Server is Microsoft Active Directory. LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) is a standardized method to access directories from multiple vendors. A complete discussion of LDAP is beyond the scope of this document.
Server Administration Username Prefix Used in non-Active Directory environments where the user name is prefixed with a specific string such as uid= or cn=. The following sample prefixes are widely used but refer to a specific LDAP schema: • uid= • cn= Master Username Required for single-sign-on. User name that has admin permission to browse the LDAP tree. Used to browse the LDAP tree to get user groups. Master Password Required for single-sign-on. Password for Master Username. Ind.
means http://yourserver/ is in the Local Intranet Zone while http:// (or http://199.88.7.11)) is in the Internet Zone. yourserver.yourcompany.com Configuring IIS for Single Sign-On Use the following steps to configure IIS for single sign-on. If you do not perform these steps, the login page will likely be blank when you launch the Portal Server. T To configure IIS for single sign-on: 1. 2. Go to Start > Administrative Tools > Computer Management .
Server Administration Using LDAP Servers with SSL Installing the Root Certificate If the LDAP server requires SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) for encryption and authentication, you will need to install the certificate locally on the ETV Portal Server as a Trusted Root Certificate Authority. T To install the root certificate locally on the ETV Portal Server as Trusted Root Certificate Authority: 1. 2. Open Internet Explorer.
8. 9. Click Place all certificates in the following store. Click Browse. 10. 11. 12. 13. Check Show physical stores check box. Click the plus sign (+) next to Trusted Root Certificate Authorities. Select Local Computer and click OK . Click Next and Finish when done. Resolving Other Security Alerts If you are receiving any other Security Alerts you will need to identify the problem as either "out of date" or The name on the security certificate is invalid.
Server Administration T To determine the valid certificate name: 1. 2. Click View Certificate. The General tab shows who the Certificate is issued to; the address shown is the address that will need to be used in the browser address bar, as well as in the configuration of the LDAP Server. For example: if the information is edirldap.vb.loc then the address bar should read https:/ /edirldap.vb.loc:636 and the LDAP Path should read LDAP://edirldap.vb.
Help This command launches the ETV Portal Server online help system in a new window. This online help system provide fast full-text search and makes it easy to find the information you need. To navigate in the help window, use the tree controls on the left to expand a topic and the navigation buttons at the top to move to a different page. Go to About this Help > Using this Help for information about how to Print pages and use the full text Search feature.
Chapter 4 Users and User Groups Topics in this chapter Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 Configuring for Users and User Groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 Users . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 User Groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Authentication Authentication is the process of identifying an individual, usually based on a username and password. In security systems, authentication is distinct from authorization (see below), which is the process of providing individuals access to resources based on their identity. Authentication merely ensures that the individual is who he or she claims to be, but says nothing about the access rights of the individual.
Users and User Groups group Resources into Resource Groups. This allows the administrator to quickly and easily assign several resources at once to specific Users or User Groups. Configuring for Users and User Groups 1. Setup and Configure ETV Components The following products need to be setup and properly configured prior to configuring Access Control. 1. ETV Portal Server – The ETV Portal Server needs to be properly setup and configured on the network.
VBrick Database The native ETV Portal Server user database provides local authentication for users and administrators. LDAP Database Enables the ETV Portal Server to authenticate against, and retrieve user and group data from, an existing LDAP server. Both methods can be used simultaneously.
Users and User Groups 4. Create Resource Groups on the Portal Server In the Portal Server software, providing a user with Resources refers to providing them access to a particular functionality of the EtherneTV system. These include the ability to: • • • • • View Live Channels. View VOD content. Publish content to the VOD. Record content or schedule a recording. Launch an emergency broadcast. A unique feature of the Portal Server software is the ability to group Resources into Resource Groups.
permissions. For ease of implementation, VBrick recommends configuring User Groups and Resource Groups (see these sections below), prior to configuring users. However, if further individual permissions need to be assigned, administrators can add them as a user. Under the users section, administrators have the ability to add, modify and delete users. Submit may be pressed at anytime during the process or can be done when everything has been added/modified.
Users and User Groups Once all selections have been made, you can press Submit in the bottom right hand corner of the screen (or any of the other buttons shown above) to submit the information to the database. User privileges include the following options: Add/Modify User Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 Add/Modify User's Group Assignments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
STB Pin Optional. A PIN number can be assigned to a user that allows them to access their content from any STB, regardless of the STB's privilege level. This works well when an STB is going to be a shared resource. Note: STB PIN access is dependent on VBrick Database being enabled. First Name Optional. User first name. Last Name Optional. User last name. E-mail address Optional. User e-mail address. Location Optional. User location.
Users and User Groups Note The live streams shown in the Portal Server may also be restricted by a bit mask on a VBrick encoder. The Portal Server will parse the bitmask and send the live stream only to ETV clients with a IP address that matches the masked IP of the source VBrick. You can use this feature in addition to the Portal Server authorization features. See the Announce(SAP) parameter in the encoder appliance Admin Guide for more information.
Do Not Allow RTSP viewing This will limit users from viewing RTSP Unicast Streams from MPEG-4 Encoders and from accessing RTSP unicast streams from a Video-on-Demand server (MPEG-1, MPEG-2, or MPEG-4). This works well to maintain bandwidth utilization over a particular LAN or WAN port. Restrict RSTP viewing to Kbps This will limit users to only viewing RTSP streams that are a certain size or smaller. This works well to maintain bandwidth utilization over a particular LAN or WAN port.
Users and User Groups STB Access Administrators can allow a user the ability to access all STBs or only specific STBs when scheduling events. When scheduling an event, users will see only those STBs for which they have been granted access. Schedule Privileges Users may have full, partial, or no permission to schedule VBrick event. Users with full privileges can modify all configuration parameters in a schedule. Users with partial privileges cannot modify Advanced Settings.
Add/Modify Group Information If LDAP is being used for authentication, then the group name has to exactly match the group name in the LDAP directory. If LDAP is not being used, Group Names can be entered directly into the ETV Portal Server database. If Microsoft's Active Directory is used, to find the available list of active groups in Windows XP, browse to My Network Places and click on the left-hand menu Search Active Directory. A new window will open. Click Find now to see all available groups.
Users and User Groups Note The remaining options for User Groups (beginning with Add/Modify Live Channel Privileges ) are the same as those described earlier for individual Users on page 81. The only difference is that the descriptions will apply to groups of users rather than to individual users. Resource Groups In the ETV Portal Server software, providing a user with Resources refers to providing them access to a particular functionality of the EtherneTV system.
Add/Modify User 's Resource Assignments Users can be assigned to specific Resource Groups, and they will inherit the privileges of that Resource Group. If no Users appear, then none have been defined. Click on the Users section to add Users. Add/Modify Group 's Resource Assignments User Groups can be assigned to Resource Groups, and the User Group will inherit the privileges of that Resource Group. If no User Groups appear, then none have been defined.
Users and User Groups Authentication by PIN When an end user accesses the ETV Portal Server via a STB, the Portal Server takes the following steps to authorize users. 1. It determines if there is Authentication/Authorization information associated with the Host Name of the STB. If so, based on the STB Host Name, the ETV Portal Server will present the STB with the information appropriate to its privileges.
92 © 2007 VBrick Systems, Inc.
Chapter 5 Configuring for SSL Overview Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) provides endpoint authentication and communications privacy over the Internet using cryptography. Whenever there is a concern regarding confidentially and integrity of management data being sent between ETV Portal Server and external clients, the ETV Portal Server user login page and all admin pages should be configured with a digital X.509 certificate to enable SSL encryption.
7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. Select Create a New Certificate and then select Next . (If Create a New Certificate is unavailable, the certificate has probably been installed already. If that is the case, skip the rest of the steps, and go to Step 4. Configure ETV Resources for SSL. If you want to create new certificate for ETV Portal Server, select Remove the current certificate to remove the certificate first, and then restart the procedure.
Configuring for SSL 7. 8. Enter the path and file name of the file that contains the response from the CA, and then click Next. Examine the certificate overview, click Next , and then click Finish . A certificate is now installed on the ETV Portal Server. 4. Configure ETV Resources for SSL After installing the certificate on the ETV Portal Server, the ETV Portal Server can now be configured for SSL.
bypassQueryParamName="BypassSecurityWarning"> Example 2 – Uncomment httpModules PAGE 107Configuring for SSL ETV Portal Server Admin Guide 97
98 © 2007 VBrick Systems, Inc.
Chapter 6 Network Video Recording Topics in this chapter NVR Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99 NVR Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101 Using an NVR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Figure 10. Standard and Standalone NVR Examples Note The NVR 40 lets you record any combination of up to 40 MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, and WM streams at a time. There are however performance limitations when recording multiple, simultaneous, high-rate MPEG-2 or WM streams. At MPEG-2 rates up to 5.5MBps or WM rates up to 1.2MBps 40 simultaneous recordings are supported. At higher rates however the full licensing capacity cannot be used. For example, when using the Best Quality WM template at 4.
Network Video Recording installation, a subset of the Portal Server application is installed on one machine and the NVR application is installed on the same machine. If you need to add recording capacity, you can add multiple Standard NVRs necessary. You use the subset of the Portal Server application to configure the NVR (see Configuring a Standalone NVR). A standalone NVR has these characteristics: • • • • • • • supports record only. records 10 or 40 concurrent streams depending on license.
Configuring a Standalone NVR T To configure a standard NVR in a Standalone NVR Installation: 1. Login to the Standalone NVR Admin Console using the host name or IP address of the Standalone NVR machine. For example: http://myserveraddress/admin Define a Record server. a. Set record Path if necessary. Set to local hard drive on NVR or to a network drive. b. Set Max. Recording. 2. 3. Define VOD and FTP Servers (go to Global Settings > Servers ). a. Record only – VOD server not required. b.
Network Video Recording Note To use a standard NVR, the Portal Server and the NVR must be installed and running. To use a standalone NVR, only the NVR application must be running. Figure 11. Portal Server "Schedule Record" Page NVR Hardware The NVR is comprised of both hardware and software. Each platform (standard or standalone) comes fully loaded with NVR software. The following table shows the hardware configuration relative to the number of purchased licenses.
104 NVR – 10 Record Licenses NVR – 40 Record Licenses Chassis 2U 2U Power supply Redundant Redundant Operating System Windows Server 2003 Web Edition or Standard Edition Windows Server 2003 Web Edition or Standard Edition © 2007 VBrick Systems, Inc.
Chapter 7 VBPresenter Topics in this chapter Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105 Configuring MCS for VBPresenter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106 Overview Rich media presentations include those with audio, video, graphics, animation and other multimedia features like synchronized PowerPoint slides.
Working with Presentations If you will be working with VBPresenter presentations, be aware that they have the following unique characteristics and limitations. • • • • They launch in a new browser window in their native user interface—not in the Portal Server. They can only be uploaded from VBPresenter—they cannot be added directly or autoingested to the Portal Server. They do not work with the Portal Server Scheduler and cannot be scheduled to play in advance.
VBPresenter Configuring for Live Presentations You must perform the following steps to configure the Portal Server for each live presentation. T To configure the Portal Server for a live presentation: 1. Go to Global Settings > Program Names and add a program name (for example Live Then use this same name in the MCS Program Name field in VBPresenter. This is the title that will be displayed on the Live Broadcasts page during a live presentation.
2. 3. If you also want to record the presentation from VBPresenter, click Record Start to begin and Record Stop to end. When finished recording, click Publish Recorded Presentation on the VBPresenter toolbar. This will FTP the recorded presentation to the Portal Server (with a unique name) and make it available to authorized users on the Video Library page. This may take a few minutes.
VBPresenter Launching a Stored Presentation T To launch a stored presentation: 1. 2. Open the Portal Server user interface. On the Video Library page, navigate to the video name published from VBPresenter and click once to launch it in a browser. Mouse over the presentation name to display the Info button to the right. Use this popup window to enter Keyword and Description "metadata" that will make the presentation easy to find in a search. 3.
110 © 2007 VBrick Systems, Inc.
Chapter 8 Auto Content Ingestion Topics in this chapter AutoIngest Content . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111 AutoIngest Content via XML . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113 Removing MPEG-4 Closed Captions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Go to Global Settings > Servers > Add/Modify Video On-Demand Content Folders. Here an existing or new folder can be associated with selected VOD servers for auto-ingestion. The folders are listed on the left with the path relative to auto-ingest root. The VOD servers are listed on the right inside the Add/Modify Folders on Selected Servers box. Select the desired folder and then select the target VOD servers to ingest content. Press Submit .
Auto Content Ingestion AutoIngest Content via XML This feature lets you FTP an XML file and a target video file to the AutoIngestXML folder on the Portal Server. It also lets you associate metadata with the video such as maximum number of viewers for copyright protection, keywords for searching, etc. The Portal Server monitors this folder for XML command files and auto-ingests any files at five-minute intervals.
ingest /VODFolder/Spiderman Returns Ingest001 My ingested Video 20060430-1130 Ingest002.wmv -1 PAGE 125Auto Content Ingestion an error message if you try to add such files. VBrick provides a utility to remove the closed captions track from an MPEG-4 file if necessary. It is installed with ETV Portal Server in c:\program files\vbrick\utils T To remove the closed captions track from MPEG-4 files: 1. 2. Go to c:\program files\vbrick\utils and double-click CCTrackRemover.exe Enter an MPEG-4 File Name and click Remove CC Track . Depending on the size of the file it may take a few moments to complete.
116 © 2007 VBrick Systems, Inc.
Chapter 9 Database Backup Introduction The EtherneTV Portal Server uses MySQL to manage the database of users and groups, and also the video information related to content on the VOD Servers. Note that this procedure backs up information in the MySQL database only. It does not back up any video content you may have stored on attached VOD servers. (To back up video content, you will likely need a backup strategy and a robust storage capability.
Database Restore To ensure a successful database restore, it is critical that you follow the exact sequence of steps shown below. Also, since this process will interrupt any streaming video, you may want to schedule this procedure at night or during non-business hours. Note The database cannot be restored from a different version number of ETV Portal Server or from the same version number after additional features (e.g. ETV Scheduler) have been installed.
Chapter 10 Amino Set Top Box Topics in this chapter Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119 Connecting the Amino . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119 Configuring the Amino . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120 Configuring the Remote Control for a TV . . . . . . . . . .
a. b. 4. Connect one end of the Amino A/V lead to the composite connector on the Amino. Connect the other end to either the S-Video connector on the TV or to the red, white, and yellow audio and video connectors. Connect the power supply and install three AAA batteries in the remote control. Configuring the Amino The Amino STB is shipped with a handheld IR remote control and an optional wireless keyboard. You must use the Amino wireless keyboard to configure the set top box.
Amino Set Top Box 11. Click on Watch live broadcasts, for example, to display the Live Broadcasts page (Figure 14). You can use this page to select any available MPEG-2 stream. Figure 14. Live Broadcasts Page Changing the IP Address Once the Amino is initially configured as explained above, you can change the IP address as necessary using the wireless keyboard. T To change the IP address: 1. 2. 3. Go to the Amino MCS home page (Figure 13) and press Ctrl on the keyboard.
2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Press Alt-p to get to Preferences. On the Preferences menu select TV system and Audio Settings. Change the TV Display Format to Widescreen TV. Save changes, exit Preferences, and power cycle the STB. Be sure to set the widescreen TV monitor to Full mode. T To configure for widescreen using the remote control: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Select the Menu button on the Remote Control to get to Preferences. On the Preferences menu select TV system and Audio Settings.
Chapter 11 ACNS Configuration Topics in this chapter Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123 ACNS Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123 Verify Installation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Windows Media and Darwin servers require no additional configuration.) Use the following steps to configure a VOD-W server to work with ACNS. T To configure a VOD-W server to work with ACNS: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Login the VOD-W server. Go to Start > Windows Explorer. Expand the tree in the left pane under the drive labeled (C:) . Expand Program Files under C: and then expand InfoValue under that. Click on QuickVideo OnDemand Server. Double-click on the file QvcsSetup.ini .
ACNS Configuration When a Portal Server is configured to integrate with an ACNS network, content playback is redirected to stream from ACNS nodes only if RTSP is used for video transmission. To use RTSP, verify that the Portal Server option to always use TCP is unchecked (this is the default). T 1. To verify that TCP is off: Go to Global Settings > Global Assignments > Assign LAN/Internet Address Range(s) . 2.
4. 5. 126 Launch a stored MPEG-4 or WM video from the Portal Server user interface. The MPEG-4 or WM content should run and play successfully to conclusion. If you run a packet sniffer on the MCS client, a trace will show that the client was redirected to play the content from a Cisco node and not from a VBrick VOD server. © 2007 VBrick Systems, Inc.
Index Numerics 1. Generate a Certificate Request 93 1. Setup and Configure the EtherneTV System 79 2. Choose an Authentication Method 79 2. Submit a Certificate Request 94 3. Install the Certificate 94 4. Configure ETV Resources for SSL 95 4. Create Resource Groups on the Portal Server 81 5.
M Macintosh and Linux PCs 11 Managing Rich Media Presentations 105 Modify VOD Content 65 MySQL 4 O Overview 1, 77 P Port Requirements 12 Portal Server Components 6 Portal Server Installation 10 Program Names 60 R Recorders 46 Removing a Live Presentation 108 Resolving Other Security Alerts 74 Resource Groups 75 Resources and Resource Groups 78 S Schedule Privileges 87 Script Devices 48 Scripts 50 Securing the Portal Server User Pages 95 Server Requirements 2 Servers 31 Set Top Boxes 44 Status 67 STB Acc
VBrick Systems, Inc.
