The streaming media filter enables secure network address translation (Secure NAT) and ISA Firewall clients to use streaming media protocols to access media streaming resources on the internet. In this tutorial I will outline what is involved in making streaming media filter available to internal ISA clients. This process will help you create a system called live media streaming splitting. This means that when one ISA client streams media resources from a server then the media is streamed and stored locally on the internal network (WMT window media technologies Server) so that other clients accessing the same steaming media will benefit from local network bandwidth speeds. This method conservers bandwidth and has better streaming results giving client seamless integration with the client and fast media streaming access. Please Read my previous article Configuring live stream splitting for streaming application filters before continuing with this tutorial as configuring the Streaming filter is required for the system to work. Please note: When packet filtering is enabled on ISA Server, all packets sent to the external interface are dropped unless they are explicitly allowed, by using IP packet filters, or by using access policies or publishing rules. The following protocols are supported by ISA’s Media streaming splitting technologies.
This table will help you troubleshoot some of the problems you can encounter with Media streaming splitting technologies. Note: the URL starts with the protocol to be used, then the domain name is addressed and then the respective file where the media content resides will be addressed. This content normally resides on a streaming server on that domain, and has either a virtual directory or a link to the streaming sever by other means.
Configuring live stream splitting for streaming application filters |
Summary: When the stream splitting concept is fully understood it becomes a bandwidth saving tool. This tutorial has outlined the concepts and protocols making them clearer to you enabling you to understand the fundamentals behind the system.