Connection Behavior

[abahmer]

I work for a college and have set up some streaming videos for class use. Some of these require user authentication due to the nature of the content. We are currently using Windows Media Server on a Win 2003 Server system, within a DMZ & NAT network segment of our firewall. It seems that recently student access to video has been iffy -- certainly fraught with frustration. I'm not certain what the problem is, but am considering firewall issues. None of this is across SSL. Here's the client perspective when accessing an on-demand stream via rtsp:

1. Student visits web page with embedded video.
2. Click Play on the video
3. Enter username/password - OK
4. "Connecting to media" - for 90sec
5. Password box displays again, all filled in - OK
6. "Connecting to media" - for 90sec
7. Password box displays again, empty.
8. Enter login info again, OK Buffering...
9. Video plays within next few sec
   

This looks like some kind of connection timeout to me. This happens for me, on the LAN next to the DMZ. It happens to me at home. Students report that it never connects. I can only test IE as the Firefox implementation of the initial web page is within an environment that breaks the URI when rendered.

So, what could be preventing the initial connection once the correct authentication is entered?

Why does it finally work on the 3rd attempt?

Just hoping you will spot something obvious! Thanks.

[Dave]

As far as the 3rd attempt goes, protocol rollover perhaps ?
1) RTSP/U ... fail ->
2) RTSP/T ... fail ->
3) HTTP ... success

Try enabling only HTTP as a streaming protocol in WMP and see if it connects first time every time. Then try enabling only RTSP and see if it fails every time.

Dave

[abahmer]

Dave, thanks for this insight. I think I can confirm the firewall issues now.

~ Aaron

[lynn1221]

Всемирная галерея миниатюр. В основном - ГВшные. Но есть и Рипер, и Конфа, и Войд и много другого.
Лучшее место для поиска вдохновения. Увидив некоторые работы нельзя удержаться от желания сесть и начать красить. Всем рекомендую.