The Media Streaming capabilities provided by DuraCloud allow video and audio files to be streamed over RTMP. This feature in DuraCloud takes advantage of Amazon Cloudfront streaming, so files to be streamed must be within spaces on an Amazon provider. Amazon Cloudfront streaming uses the Flash Media Server to host streaming files over RTMP. File formats supported include MP3, MP4 and FLV among others. For a full listing of supported file types see the Flash Media Server documentation.
DuraCloud supports two different types of streaming, open and secure. Open streaming allows anyone with access to the URL for a streamed content item to stream the content. This works well for open access content which is intended to be shared and accessed widely. Secure streaming requires that a request be made to DuraCloud to retrieve a signed URL. That signed URL can then be used to stream the file. The request to retrieve a signed URL can specify how long the content will be available to stream (the default is 8 hours) as well as the IP address or IP address range where the streaming is allowed to take place. The purpose of secure streaming is to restrict the use of the stream. This is ideal for scenarios where streamed content is not free to use or must only be provided to a limited audience. Note that both types of streaming, open and secure, use the RTMP protocol, which protects the source file from being downloaded. The RTMP protocol requires that a flash-based streaming media player be used to play the streamed content.
Follow these steps to stream media files with DuraCloud
The Flash Media Server used by Amazon Cloudfront and media players like JWPlayer and Flowplayer require certain specific conventions for requesting streamed files. There are two primary variables, one being a prefix which may need to preceed the file name (example prefix values are "mp3:" and "mp4:"). The other variable is whether a file extension is allowed on the file name. Getting these combinations right is particularly important when using secure streaming, as the player cannot request the file with alternative file names to match its preferences. Not all file types use the same combination of prefix and file extension settings. For example, it is common for MP4 files to require a prefix and extension (example file name: "mp4:videofile.mp4") while MP3 files require a prefix but no extension (example file name: "mp3:audiofile"). The prefix value, when needed, should be added to the stream path by using the "resourcePrefix" parameter on the get-url or get-signed-url call made through the DuraCloud REST API. In most cases, the file extension will need to be part of the stored file name. Even if files are named with a file extension (which is typically the case), calls to retrieve a streaming URL can specify the file name with no extension. |
The following files are available as a bundle here.
They are intended as a starting point for integrating streaming media into your own website.
All of the above files are intended as examples only. Their purpose is give developers a starting point for embedding video streamed by DuraCloud on their own web pages.
If you add files to a space with streaming turned on, those files will automatically be made available for streaming as well. |