Placing .asf files on a Web server

If you have a Web server that you want to use to stream ASF content, you can place the .asf files in a Web directory, link to them from your Web page, and then use HTTP to stream the content to your users. In this scenario, the streaming is managed by the Web server, and the installation of Windows Media Services or Windows NT is not required. When streaming .asf files from a Web server, be aware of the following limitations:

• Web servers cannot use multiple bit rate video and intelligent streaming to negotiate the bandwidth available to the user.
• Content must be encoded using single stream video configuration, such as the Web server template stream formats or a custom configuration.
• Content streamed via HTTP does not have the same ability to correct streaming errors. If you use this method, the same stream will be lower in quality than if you stream it using Windows Media Services.
• Content published by a Web directory can be directly downloaded by the user instead of streamed.

Related Topics

• Placing .asf files on a Windows Media server
• Multiple bit rate video
• Custom configuration
• About template stream formats