  Minerva Video Network Evaluation Kit
ReadMe File 

This Readme contains information on the following topics:

* Overview of Evaluation Kit
* Installation
* Support
* Trouble Shooting
* MPEG Files
* Licensing Information

Overview

The purpose of this software is to show you how to build a broadcast quality video network.  The streaming video software provided free for 30 day evaluation allows you to quickly add the ability to stream MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 broadcast quality video to multiple PCs on your IP network.  The software has two main components, the Stream Pump and the Client, and two additional utilities, a capture utility and SAP monitor.  The Pump is used to unicast or multicast MPEG files onto the network, and the Client is used to play them back.  Both the Pump and the Client run on Windows 95, 98, and NT, although the client requires at least a 266 mhz CPU in order to decode the video.

The Client

The Client player comes in three forms, a java bean embedded in a java application, an ActiveX control with a sample application, and a plug-in.  All three can be used as is, but were really designed as sample applications for customers that want to create web based solutions that incorporate MPEG video playback. 

After evaluation, customers can purchase Minerva's Video Network Development Kit which contains all the source code and engineering support to develop distance learning, training, and other video network applications.

The client can playback live MPEG multicast from any source, as long as it is RAW UDP.  The client can playback MPEG files from any Windows workstation on the network, and the client can be used to capture live streams to disk.  The client contains two primary components, the player and the application.

The player is embedded in the application as a java bean, but is also available as an ActiveX control and a Netscape Plug-in. It is DirectShow compliant and works with most DirectShow compatible decoders, such as Sigma Designs Netstream II, and the MPEG-1 software decoder bundled with Windows. The VDK does not include the Source Code for the player, only the applications. 

The application is composed of all the Java based components built on top of the player.  Such things as channel changing, capturing, and listing stored files.  The Source Code for the application is included on the purchased VDK, as well as documentation on all the Java classes.

The Stream Pump

The Stream Pump allows users to unicast or multicast stored MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 files.  For customers interested in buying Minerva's VNP to stream live video, the Pump is the perfect tool to simulate streaming from VNP, without having to first buy the encoder.  The Stream Pump supports two simultaneous streams, or either MPEG-1 or MPEG-2.  If you purchase the Stream Pump it comes with a remote control API.

Other Utilities

Capture Utility 

This utility is used to capture MPEG streams being unicast or multicast on the network.  The utility can be used to capture any RAW UDP MPEG stream to file, test if multicast packets are arriving at the workstation, or to capture streams to disk to test if players are working properly. The utility has an active-x API, but no remote control capability.

SAP Monitor 

This utility is used to listen and collect SAP (session announcement protocol) information.  Users can input a number of multicast addresses and ports to listen to, and the SAP information will be collected and displayed.  The utility will let you know if SAP information is being received by the target workstation, and if all the necessary information is arriving. 

Installation

There are two EXE or executables files in the zip file (FreeClient.exe, FreePump.exe).  FreePump.exe will be installed on the PC you will be streaming from.  FreeClient.exe get installed on every PC that will be receiving video from the Stream Pump.  You must also install Microsoft DirectXMedia Runtime 6.x on the client, this can be obtained from the Microsoft web site, www.microsoft.com.

StreamPump

Just copy the file streampump.exe to the target PC and double click the icon.  More detailed instructions on installation and operation can be found in the manual found in the zip file in pdf format..

Client

Copy the two files freeclient.exe and dxmedia.exe to the target PC.  First install dxmedia then install the freeclient, and then reboot. More detailed instructions on installation and operation can be found in the manual.


Support

Users have three types of support;

1. Call the VDK support line Monday ñ Friday 9am to 5pm

Jason Kidd	phone 650-404-1265

2. Send email 24 hours a day, you will receive a response within 24 hours Monday - Friday

vnpsupport@minervasys.com

3.    Web

The latest developer tips and question/answers are listed on the Minerva web site in the VDK section at www.minervasys.com/vdk.htm.


Trouble Shooting


Q - You get an error message that a MFC DLL is missing.

A-  These can be obtained from the Microsoft or SIMTEL (ftp://ftp.simtel.net/pub/simtelnet/win95/dll/)
sites.  There are two DLLs MFC42.DLL and MSVCRT.DLL runtimes.  Typically these are installed with Windows, but some older versions of Windows may not contain them.

Q - When the client application is started the video window is blank, gray, or the browser icon appears indicating that an image failed to load.

A - This means that the activeX control did not load.  Either directXmedia runtime was not installed, Winsock is not installed (Windows 95 only), or there was some conflict with another control.  Please check to see if directXmedia runtime and winsock2 are installed.  If yes, then try to manually install the activeX control.  Open the run dialog box, start, run, and type regsvr32 mnsflt.dll then enter, and regsvr32 mnaxc1.ocx and then enter.  If either fails to register then you need to remove other related programs (video apps, decoders, etc.), until it is successful and email the results to vnpsupport so we can fix the problem.

Q - Get error messages when installing on a Windows 95 machine.

A - You must first install the winsock 2.0 upgrade for Windows 95.  This exe can be obtained from the Microsoft web site.

Q - Data detected image appears, but video never plays.  This can mean many things;

A - Data is being lost in the network - please check network performance.

A - MPEG-1 file is not sending a system header frequently - please check the source of the file and ask if the encoding contains this information.

Q - Video window says waiting for data and does not change. 

A - Data is likely not arriving at the PC for some reason, typically in the network or network settings.  Open the capture utility, input settings, and confirm that data is arriving at the PC.

Please check the client manual for other trouble shooting tips.

MPEG Files

These can be downloaded from the Minerva web site.

Licensing Information

If you want to purchase the client or stream pump there are two options.

One is to buy the Minerva VDK, or Video Network Development Kit. 

The VDK includes a limited number of Stream Pump and Client Player licenses, additional licenses can be purchased from Minerva or a Minerva authorized reseller;

20 Client Player Licenses, These licenses are used by installing the complete VDK client application, or by using the Active-x control or plug-in in another application. 

2 Stream Pump Licenses, The Stream Pump application can be used on two machines.

The capture utility, multicast monitor, and auto-discovery application are unlimited licenses when the VDK is purchased.

The second is to purchase individual or site licenses, please contact Minerva or an authorized reseller.

www.minervasys.com
650-404-1234
