VBrick Systems V4.4.3 manual Locked-Down Windows PCs, Macintosh PCs, Operating System Browser

Introduction

Note The component download setting will not affect previously-installed components. For example if you have StreamPlayer installed, you will be able to play MPEG-2 streams regardless of what components you specify for download.

With Firefox, users will also be prompted to install additional components the first time they launch a stream—if they are configured to receive these download components. Links for the appropriate stream types (MPEG, WM, or H.264) will be displayed in the area where the embedded player is normally displayed. These additional plugins must be installed. Firefox users will also be required to install an additional plugin when they use Add Video for the first time (again, if they are configured with this privilege).

Table 3. Supported Operating Systems and Browsers – Windows

Operating System	Browser
Windows 2000	Internet Explorer 6.0 †, Firefox 2.0 †
Windows XP	Internet Explorer 6.0 †, Firefox 2.0 †
Windows Vista	Internet Explorer 6.0 †, Firefox 2.0 †
† or higher

Locked-Down Windows PCs

As described above, the Portal Server automatically downloads components to client PCs depending on the Global Assignment setting. This download can be an issue in environments that have restrictions on client software installation. For playback of WM files, Portal Server uses the existing Windows Media Player components on the client PC and there is no need for the extra components to be downloaded. This means that Portal Server and WM can be used in some but not all restrictive or "locked-down" environments.

Even if downloads are configured, a client PC will still refuse to accept the component download if the Internet Explorer security feature Download signed ActiveX controls is disabled. When using Portal Server 4.0 exclusively with WM streams and a WM VOD, the client PC can refuse to accept the downloaded components and all Portal Server features except Add Video will work. In this case you should uncheck the Add Video Utility in Global Assignments.

Some sites also require that their PCs be configured with certain Internet Explorer security settings. The Portal Server will not work on clients with Internet Explorer security set to High. The Portal Server will work at any level at or below Medium. If you start at High, the client will still work with Portal Server if you enable Run ActiveX controls and plug-ins, Script

ActiveX controls marked safe for scripting, and Active scripting.

Since firewalls on LAN client PCs can also cause problems with Portal Server, it is recommended that firewalls be disabled on LAN clients. (In Windows XP with Service Pack 2, the firewall is enabled by default.) Portal Server's support for Internet clients is designed to work through firewalls. If you have Internet clients with firewalls see the description of LAN/Internet address ranges in Global Assignments on page 21.

Macintosh PCs

If configured with the appropriate components, Macintosh PCs (with Safari or Firefox) can play all stream types including MPEG, Windows Media, and H.264. In a Macintosh environment, if downloads are configured in Global Assignments, when you launch the ETV Portal Server for the first time, the Home page (see Figure 2) displays a link prompting you to

ETV Portal Server Admin Guide 11