ePresence Interactive Media 4.0 System Installation Guide

ePresence offers pre-configured hardware packages optimized for the ePresence Interactive Media System.

For details on available hardware solutions,  visit our order page.

1. ePresence Interactive Media System Overview

ePresence Interactive Media is a content capturing, archiving, webcasting and web conferencing system that delivers multimedia presentations over the internet in multiple streaming media formats.

ePresence Interactive Media is designed to support online meetings, seminars, lectures, demonstrations, and conferences by making them available live or on-demand to remote audiences over the Internet.

The ePresence system is developed at the Knowledge Media Design Institute at the University of Toronto. Along with original components the ePresence system utilizes several 3rd party software applications and libraries.

The webcasting functions of ePresence Interactive Media are based on two primary components, ePresence Server and ePresence Producer. These two components must be run on separate computers, the ePresence Server PC and the ePresence Media Station PC. ePresence Web Conferencing relies only on a server, and therefore a Media Station PC is not required to run ePresence conferencing software.

See the table below for a description of the functions and software requirements of each computer:

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1.1 Recommended System Requirements

The following table describes the recommended system requirements for both a server and client machine.

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Media Station 100 Cart	Media Station 200 Cart

1.2 System Installation Worksheet

The following table describes placeholder names that we will be using in this guide to refer to the host names and IP addresses of various components of the system. To facilitate installation, you should fill out the table with the hostnames of the computers you will be using for your installation. If a DNS hostname is not available for your computer, you can use the IP address instead.

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2. Installing ePresence server on Linux

1. Install MONO 1.2.4 or better from  the mono project download page.
2. Install MySQL from  here, or from your distribution's packages.
3. Install a version of ePresence Server. The RPM will install to /opt/ePresenceServer-4.0/.
4. If you installed the tarball, run config from the server's root to properly install against the MySQL database.
5. If there is an error with the MySQL installation you need to manually run the MySQL script in Server/res/MySQL/epresence.mysql.
6. If your MySQL setup is not a default installation, you need to modify connection strings in Server/web.config
7. If you have MySQL 5.0 or higher, you need to create a user with an old password hash. See also:  http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.0/en/old-client.html
8. Now you must startup the webserver. You can configure either Apace with modmono or use Mono's XSP server. To use XSP enter the following (Note: you can add the command ‚--nonstop for XSP to ensure the server will not be terminated when the terminal closes. You can also use Apache instead of XSP. Please visit the  Mono project website for details on Mono+ Apache configuration):

      xsp --root <The root of the epresence server>/Server --port <Choose your port here>
   

9. Login to http://EpAddress/ccc/ using password 111, click System Parameters and enter the valid ePresence server URL http://EpAddress/ into the Home Full URL field. Click the Update system settings button.
10. You also need to enter the Media Configuration for your community. To do so, click the Edit button for your community, and navigate to Media Configuration. Enter your personalized options. The "pp" tags are for your publishing points and the live tags are for your live media pointers. Below is an example what a typical configuration may look like:
    

    <?xml version="1.0">
    <publishingPoints>
    <pp type="FL" download="No" url="rtmpt://MyStreamingServer:FLPort/">/Red5/webapps/epresenceconference/streams/</pp>
    <pp type="RM" download="No" url="rtsp://MyStreamingServer:RMPort/">/Streaming/</pp>
    <pp type="QT" download="No" url="rtsp://MyStreamingServer:QTPort/">/Streaming/</pp>
    <live title="My RM Profile" url="rtsp://MyStreamingServer:RMPort/broadcast/myPublishingPoint.rm"
     address="MyStreamingServer" pushport="8081" ppname="myPublishingPoint.rm"  username="StreamingUserName"
     pwd="StreamingUserNamePassword" />
    <conference url="rtmp://MyRed5Server:Red5Port" />
    </publishingPoints>
    

3. Installing ePresence Server and Third Party Server Software on Windows Server 2003

For a detailed video walk-through of the installation process please visit  this screencast tutorial.

3.1 Enabling Internet Information Services

Internet Information Services (IIS) is a standard component of Windows 2003 Server. However, it might be not installed by default.

To install IIS do the following:

1. Select Control Panel → Add or Remove Programs → Add/Remove? Windows Components.
2. Ensure the following components are enabled: Windows Media Services, ASP.Net, and IIS.

ePresence supports screen captures in the Flash media format. The .flv format is not included in the ISS MIME list by default. To add the .flv format perform the following steps:

1. Select Start → Administrative Tools → Internet Information Services (ISS) Manager
2. Click File → Properties
3. Click the MIME Type button
4. Click the New button
5. In the Extension field enter .flv In the '''MIME Type''' field enter application/video-flash`
6. Click OK.
7. Restart IIS

NEW! ePresence Server 4.0.4 uses the SDP media pointer for QuickTime?/MP4 streaming format. The .SDP extension also has to be registered as MIME type. Repeat steps 1-7 for .sdp extension. Use application/quicktime as MIME type for .sdp extension.

3.2 Configuring Windows Media On-demand Publishing Points

1. Create a new folder on the C:\ drive called Streaming. This is the folder where all your streaming media files will be uploaded. Set permissions on this folder so the ePresence Server can write files to it.
2. Select Start → Administrative Tools → Windows Media Services
3. In the Windows Media Services Control Console select the default connection under Publishing Points, and click the Allow New Connections button.
4. Click the Source tab. Click the Change button.
5. Click the Browse button, and navigate to the Streaming folder you created in step 1.
   
   

3.3 Configuring the Windows Media Control Protocols

1. Click Start → Control Panel → Administrative Tools → Windows Media Services
2. Click the Properties tab
3. Select Control Protocol
4. Right click on the WMS HTTP Server Console and select Properties. The WMS HTTP Server Protocol Properties dialog box opens
5. Click the Use Other Port radio box, and enter 8080 in the field below. Click OK
6. Right click on the WMS HTTP Server Console and select Enable
7. Close the Windows Media Services Control Console
   
   

4 Installing Helix DNA Server

1.  Download Helix DNA Server from Real Networks
2. Run the Installation utility
3. Select Start → Control Panel → Administrative Tools → Services
4. Locate the server from the list of Services
5. Run the server to ensure it works

4.1 Configuring Helix DNA Server

1. Open the helix configuration file (hlxserverplus.cfg)
2. In the hlxserverplus.cfg scroll down, locate the line "DELETE THIS LINE", and delete the line. Locate the line "...AND THIS LINE TO UNCOMMENT THE "ANYONE" RECEIVER -->" and delete the line.
   
   
3. In the line <Var Password="password"/> enter your new password.
   
   
4. Next you must change the on-demand mount point by locating the line <var BasePath = "C:\Program Files.Helix\Helix Server\Content"\> and change the path to C:\Streaming
5. Save your changes.
6. Select Start &rarr; Control Panel &rarr; Administrative Tools &rarr; Services
7. Locate the Helix DNA Server and restart it.

5 Installing Darwin Streaming Server

1.  Download Darwin Streaming Server from Apple
2. Run the installation script

5.1 Configuring Darwin Streaming Server

1. Open the Darwin Streaming Server application directory
2. Open the Darwin Server Configuration file streamingserver.xml
3. In the file streamingserver.xml, change the port numbers so there is no conflicts with the other streaming servers you have installed.

4. Locate the Movie folder parameter folder and change the path to <PREF NAME ="movie_folder">c:\Streaming\</PREF>

5. Save your changes
6. Select Start &rarr; Control Panel &rarr; Administrative Tools &rarr; Services
7. Locate the Darwin Streaming Server in the list of Services and run the server

6 Installing Red 5 Open Source Flash Server

In order to support Flash based screen captures and the ePresence Flash based conferencing application you must install the Red 5 Open Source Flash Server.

1.  Download Java SE Development Kit 6 and complete installation.
2.  Download Red 5 ePresence Edition and complete installation.
3. In the Red 5 ePresence Edition Setup box enter your Red5 Server IP Address, and click OK.

4. Important! New in version 4.0.4! Open the Red5 application directory, locate the ePresence web application and make sure its streams directory is writable for everyone. It is usually ">c:\Program Files\UofT\Red5*\webapps\epresenceconference\streams\

6.1 Configuring Red 5 Open Source Flash Server

1. Select Start &rarr; Control Panel &rarr; Administrative Tools &rarr; Services
2. Locate the Red 5 Server from the list of services
3. Start the Server
4. Close the Services console

7 Installing ePresence Server

1.  Download ePresence Server for Windows
2. Run the ePresenceServerWin40x.msi installation file, and follow the instructions. Leave the Virtual Directory field empty if you are installing the server software into the website root directory.
3. In the ePresence Server Configuration Wizard specify the public URL for your server (e.g. http://MyDomain.com/ePresence). Enter the administrator's password. Click Next.
4. In the On-demand Streaming menu, Select all the media formats and ensure they are all running on different ports. Click Next.
5. In the Live Streaming publishing Point Configuration select Windows Media Services and enter the username and password for the user with privileges to push content through Windows Media Services.
6. Select Helix Server. Click Next.
7. Ensure all the parameters for Red 5 are correct
8. Click the Finish button.

Your ePresence Server and all 3rd party server software is now installed and ready to use!

8 ePresence Media Station

ePresence offers pre-configured ePresence Media Stations specially designed for on-demand and live webcasting. For more information on our available hardware solutions please visit  our order page.

For a detailed video walk-through of the ePresence Media Station configuration process please visit:

•  ePresence Media Station Installation screencast tutorial, and
•  Setting up ePresence Producer 4.0 for live webcasting screencast tutorial.

The following sections contain instructions to install and configure ePresence Interactive Media on your Media Station PC yourself.

8.1 Installing 3-rd party software

We strongly recommend using the Osprey 210 or 230 capture card with Simulstream support (see  the osprey website for details) or equivalent video capture hardware if you plan to have multiple ePresence applications webcast video and/or record simultaneously.

The following applications must be installed before you install ePresence Producer:

•  Windows Media Player 9 or 10
•  Real Player 10+
•  Quicktime Player 7+
•  Windows Media Encoder 9
•  3iVX Mpeg-4 codec
•  Microsoft PowerPoint XP, 2003 or 2007

8.2 Media Station Hardware Configuration

8.2.1 Specifying the Default Audio Source

To specify the default audio source do the following steps:

1. Select Start &rarr; Control Panel &rarr; Sound and Audio Devices.
2. Click the Audio tab.
3. Select the audio source device you are using in the Sound Recording box. If you plugged your audio cables into the Osprey card, select the Osprey device from the list. If you are using an external audio device (e.g. Edirol UA-25), select it from the list.
4. Click OK.

8.2.2 Configuring the Osprey Capture Card

If you are using the Osprey 210/230 capture card perform the following steps to configure the card for webcasting.

1. Run the Osprey Video Control Panel application
2. Select View &rarr; Capture Properties
3. Click the Size and Crop tab
4. In the Pin Select menu click the Add button. The Add Pin dialog box opens. Pins are virtual capture devices used for webcasting.
5. In the Add Pin dialog box add a pin by assigning a new pin number. Click OK. Repeat this process twice until you have three pins. close the Add Pin dialog box
6. Select each individual pin from the Select Pin combo box. Click the Get Data button. In the default Output size menu click the 1/2x radio box and ensure that the resolution is set to 320x240 for each pin. Click the apply button.
7. Click OK
8. Close the Osprey Video Control Panel

8.3 ePresence Interactive Media Installation

8.3.1 Installing ePresence Producer

ePresence Producer is used for capturing, editing, and publishing multimedia archives to the web.

1.  Download the ePresence Producer zip file
2. Navigate to the directory where you downloaded ePresence Producer
3. Double click Setup.exe to start the installation process.
4. Follow the installation utility's instructions
5. Close the installation utility.

8.3.2 Configuring ePresence Producer for On-Demand Webcasting

1. Launch ePresence Producer.
2. Specify the correct ePresence URL.
3. Click the Set button.
4. Enter the ePresence Administrative password. Click OK.
5. The New Session Wizard opens. Check that the producer is installed properly by publishing a test webcast. Create a new event by entering Title, Presenter and Date/time information in the New Event box. Select the default template. Click the Create button.
6. The ePresence Capture dialog opens. Click the Start Recording button and capture a short clip. Click the Stop Recording button. Click the Exit button
7. ePresence Producer asks you if you want to publish your archive. Click OK. ePresence Producer will encode all supported media formats and publish the archive automatically. Wait for the encoding process to complete
8. After the encoding process is complete ePresence Producer automatically opens your web browser and navigates to your ePresence server with your published archive. Select one of the media formats and preview your media archive to ensure the video plays properly.

8.3.3 Configuring ePresence Producer for Live Webcasting

1. Launch ePresence Producer
2. Click Tools &rarr; Options The Setup dialog box opens
3. In the Setup dialog box click the ePresence Live tab
4. In the streaming profiles window select Profile#1 WM from the Windows Media Profile combo box, and Profile#1 RM from the Real Media Profile combo box.
5. In the Live Encoder Remote Control window click the Enabled check box.
6. Click the OK button
7. Click the Capture icon. The Capture dialog opens
8. In the Capture dialog click the Start Recording to start capturing.
9. Click the Start Live button to begin live encoding. When you click the Start Live button your webcast automatically becomes available for login on your ePresence Server. It becomes unavailable once you click the Stop Live button.
10. To test your live stream open your web browser and navigate to your ePresence Server.
11. Click on the Live events tab.
12. Enter your username and password, and select one of the supported players. Ensure the live user interface is rendered in the browser. If the test was successful your Media Station is ready for live webcasting!
13. Click the Stop Live button.
14. Click the Exit button

8.3.4 Installing ePresence Presenter

ePresence Presenter is an all-in-one presentation application, which provides tools for webcasting Power Point slides, live software demonstrations, website content, and screen captures. It is usually installed on the presenter's computer.

Your ePresence Media Station and the presenter's computer must be connected to the internet in order to communicate.

1.  Download the ePresence Presenter
2. Open the ePresence Presenter msi file.
3. Follow the installation utility's instructions
4. Close the installation utility.

8.3.5 Installing ePresence Player

1.  Download the ePresence player
2. Open the ePresence Player msi file
3. Follow the installation utility's instructions
4. Close the installation utility.