flv streaming with lighttpd 13

Posted by jan Thu, 09 Mar 2006 01:57:00 GMT

1.4.11 got a new module for streaming Flash movie files called mod_flv_streaming. This module allows you to seek in FLV files using the high performance infrastructure of lighttpd.

The idea is simple and explained and implemented on ‘Streaming’ flv video via PHP, take two at http://www.flashcomguru.com/

But instead of streaming the file through PHP we do it in the webserver. The module expects a request for the URL which matches flv-streaming.extensions and can handle a ’?start=’ as part of the request.

The information to pass into the ‘start’ parameter is extractly by the flash-player from the meta-data of the flv-files. The meta-data can be setup with flvtool2

Now I leave it to you to combine this with mod_secdownload to create a flv-streaming server for free with deep/hot linking protected movies.

server.modules = ( 
  ...,
  "mod_secdownload", ## optional
  "mod_flv_streaming",
  ...
)
flv-streaming.extensions = ( ".flv" )

Take the flash-player from flashcomguru and adjust the URL in the player and try yourself.

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  1. A. Fri, 10 Mar 2006 00:16:09 GMT
    I don't understand the need for this. Doesn't flash support HTTP Range requests?
  2. matthias Sat, 11 Mar 2006 20:44:21 GMT
    Hi, you wrote ...adjust the URL in the player... Does this mean, I've to compile the flv player with a new url? Do you know a player that supports php streaming and can be configure with object params?
  3. Cedric Mon, 13 Mar 2006 14:33:39 GMT
    I'm really interested in testing it and I'm wondering if there are any showcase with this technology ? I'm ready to help you to set up a server and test it. Please contact me if your wish cfontaine [at] spidmail.net
  4. Valid Sat, 18 Mar 2006 20:13:50 GMT
    "(configfile.c.802) configfile parser failed: flv-streaming.extensions" What's the problem?
  5. Anonymous Coward Sun, 19 Mar 2006 13:10:34 GMT
    I don't see the need for all these annoying flash players lately in the web. For years it was perfectly fine to embed the video files into the html source. Why use crappy flash solutions now?
  6. neri Tue, 21 Mar 2006 08:41:16 GMT
    Simple argument. The Flash codec comes with the player, so Flash ist the only plugin that the user must have installed. There is no need that the user is bothered with installing additional Codecs and stuff.
  7. DD Sat, 25 Mar 2006 02:31:55 GMT
    This is awesome. I just installed it, fixed the flash player and its working.

    For matthias: The flash player (more like a proof of concept) that comes with flashcomguru.com project has the url hard-coded in it. You need to fix it to point to the lighttpd server.

    So basically, on line 97, use: ns.play( _phpURL + _vidName + "?start=" + positions[i]);
  8. Jan Kneschke Sat, 25 Mar 2006 17:42:20 GMT
    At http://jan.kneschke.de/projects/flv-streaming/ I have summarized the steps to patch the scrubber.swf without any flash tools. It also has pointers to the forum where you learn how to turn a regular movie into a flv file and prepare it for streaming.
  9. wantmedia@mac.com Sat, 01 Apr 2006 16:28:39 GMT
    flv streaming
  10. http://tar.net Mon, 03 Apr 2006 06:36:23 GMT
    I'd like to know how to accomplish a manual patch, meaning using Flash tools I'd like to adjust the proof of concept file to work with lighttpd for flv-streaming. I have used the patch that Jan provided successfully. However, I'd like to make a custom player and I don't know precisely what needs to be modified to make this work. BTW: I am working from the source files posted by Flashcomguru that were updated rather than the original scrubber.swf.
  11. Gute Ideen Verschenker Sun, 28 May 2006 01:16:30 GMT
    Yeah, a great module! next step would be a way to RECEIVE Flash-Streams generated by clients and have an API or any configuration method to do something with the incoming streams... chat, video-mailbox, send to cellphone, whatever. my brain constructs connections to asterisk here - let the ideas flow... you know, what I mean. Interesting? contact: hippiesoul@gmx.de
  12. Trackback Spam Sun, 28 May 2006 01:17:53 GMT
    Trackback Spam seems to be the next time-eater...
  13. Fabian Sun, 11 Jun 2006 21:15:05 GMT
    It works great for videos with 320x180px (16:9), is there a chance for a 320x240px (4:3) version? I tried to find absolute positions inside the flm-file, but they seem to be disassembled as relative ones :(
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