Building RAM Files

To set up your file for streaming, you need a RAM file. This file is a pointer to the media file on your Web server (an .rm file - how to create an .rm file). But you have to know if your file will be using a streaming media server or streaming with HTTP.

Using a Streaming Server

If you know that your web server has streaming media support, then you can set up your RAM file using that server. The RAM file should have only a URL pointing to the .rm file where it would be located on the streaming server. However, instead of using http:// use the header rstp://

For example:

rtsp://media.about.com/htmlintro.rm

Save your RAM file as filename.ram Make sure that there is nothing in the file other than the link to your streaming media server. You can add multiple files to stream by separating each file on a new line and the files will stream sequentially.

rtsp://media.about.com/htmlintro.rm
rtsp://media.about.com/htmlintro2.rm

On your HTML page, link to the RAM file as you would to any other file on your server. When a reader clicks on the link, the file will begin streaming to their computer. e.g.

<a href="http://webdesign.about.com/htmlintro.ram">

Upload the HTML and the RAM file to your web server, and the .rm file to your streaming media server (or wherever your hosting provider indicates the files should be stored).

Streaming with HTTP

If you don't have access to a streaming media server, or you're not sure, you can use HTTP to serve your streaming files. This acts similar to a file download, so it can be slower than streaming from a streaming server. It also isn't a good idea to use a lot of streaming files through HTTP, because it can have a severe impact on the server performance.

Set up a RAM file to point to your streaming media file as above. But instead of pointing to the media server, point to your regular web hosting server. And use http:// rather than rtsp://. For example:

http://webdesign.about.com/htmlintro.rm

There should be nothing else in this file other than the reference to the .rm file. Name the file filename.ram.

On your HTML page, link to the RAM file as you would to any other file on your server. When a reader clicks on the link, the file will begin downloading to their computer and after a few moments, RealPlayer should begin playing the file.

<a href="http://webdesign.about.com/htmlintro.ram">

Upload all three files to your web server or hosting provider.

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