UWE Streaming server
The streaming server allows for the storage and online broadcast of large media files (audio and video). Each UWE faculty has an allocated area of 20GB in the server. Files placed in the server are not password protected, they are accessible from anywhere on the Internet. However, the contents of the server are invisible to search engines, so users need to know the URL (Internet address) of a file in order to be able to play/download it.
- How to upload files to the streaming server (thick client)
- How to upload files to the streaming server (thin client or via XA)
- How to link to files that have been uploaded to the streaming server
- How to link to a file on the Streaming Media Server from your Blackboard course
How to upload files to the streaming server (thick client)
You can only upload files from a thick-client PC connected to the UWE network or via the XA External Access System (to connect to the streamer server).
The files you upload will be accessible from anywhere on the Internet. To upload your media files through your thick-client PC:
- Click Start/Run (or press Windows+R on the keyboard) and type \\idmz-uwe02\faculty$ (replace "faculty" with your faculty or service acronym: amd, bbs, cem, fas, fbe, edu, hart, hlss, hsc, its, law, lib). E.g. If your faculty is the Bristol Business School you will need to type \\idmz-uwe02\bbs$
- Click OK (or press Enter on the keyboard).
- You will now see a window that shows you all the files already uploaded to your faculty/service area in the streaming server. You can create folders and subfolders for your files. You can simply drag and drop (or copy and paste) in that window (or in any folders that you have created there) any media files that you want to upload to the server. After dropping a file in the window you will briefly see a transfer progress window indicating that the file is being transferred to the server.
Please note that the data on this server is backed-up in case of hardware failure etc. However this back-up service does not include the recovery of files that the user may have deleted by accident.
How to upload files to the streaming server (thin client or via XA)
If you wish to access the streaming media server via a thin-client or via the XA (UWE External Access System) then you will need to create a shortcut to it and access it that way.
To create a shortcut:
- Right-click the desktop.
- Select New > Shortcut.
- Enter the path , eg \\idmz-uwe02\edu$ and then select Next.
- Enter a name (or use the name suggested).
How to link to files that have been uploaded to the streaming server
Once you have uploaded a file to the streaming server, this file will be accessible from anywhere on the Internet. You can create links in your Blackboard courses, website, Sharepoint site, etc., and you can also send the URL (Internet address) of the file via e-mail to whoever you want to access the file. The URL will be different depending on the type of file, which media player do you want to specify to play it and whether the link is for streaming (live broadcast of the file) or for downloading. Here is a list of all the possible options:
Windows Media files (.wma -Audio, .wmv - Video) [click to view/close]
Broadcast
The URL for a Windows Media file that will be played with Windows Media Player will follow this convention:
Video file: http://wms.uwe.ac.uk/faculty/folder/file.wmv
Audio file: http://wms.uwe.ac.uk/faculty/folder/file.wma
You will have to replace "faculty" with your faculty or service acronym, "folder" with the name of the folder where you put the file, and "file" with the name of the media file that you have uploaded. E.g. If you have uploaded a video file called "spanishnews.wmv" to a folder called "news" and your faculty is HLSS, then the URL will be:
http://wms.uwe.ac.uk/hlss/news/spanishnews.wmv
Download
In order to download a file users will have to right-click on a download link that you have created and select "Save Target As..." from the menu that will didplay on their screen. They will then be able to select where do they want to save the file.
The URL for a Windows Media file that the user will be able to download to their PC will follow this convention:
Video file: http://real.uwe.ac.uk/download/faculty/folder/file.wmv
Audio file: http://real.uwe.ac.uk/download/faculty/folder/file.wma
You will have to replace "faculty" with your faculty or service acronym, "folder" with the name of the folder where you put the file, and "file" with the name of the media file that you have uploaded. E.g. If you have uploaded an audio file called "ruling.wma" to a folder called "courts" and your faculty is LAW, then the URL will be:
http://real.uwe.ac.uk/download/law/courts/ruling.wma
Real Media files (.rm)[click to view/close]
Broadcast
The URL for a Real Media file that will be played with Real Media Player will follow this convention:
http://real.uwe.ac.uk/ramgen/faculty/folder/file.rm
You will have to replace "faculty" with your faculty or service acronym, "folder" with the name of the folder where you put the file, and "file" with the name of the media file that you have uploaded. E.g. If you have uploaded a video file called "spanishnews.rm" to a folder called "news" and your faculty is HLSS, then the URL will be:
http://real.uwe.ac.uk/ramgen/hlss/news/spanishnews.rm
Download
In order to download a file users will have to right-click on a download link that you have created and select "Save Target As..." from the menu that will didplay on their screen. They will then be able to select where do they want to save the file.
The URL for a Real Media file that the user will be able to download to their PC will follow this convention:
http://real.uwe.ac.uk/download/faculty/folder/file.rm
You will have to replace "faculty" with your faculty or service acronym, "folder" with the name of the folder where you put the file, and "file" with the name of the media file that you have uploaded. E.g. If you have uploaded an audio file called "ruling.rm" to a folder called "courts" and your faculty is LAW, then the URL will be:
http://real.uwe.ac.uk/download/law/courts/ruling.rm
MP3 files (.mp3)[click to view/close]
Broadcast
The URL for a MP3 file that will be played with a media player will follow this convention:
Windows Media Player http://wms.uwe.ac.uk/faculty/folder/file.mp3
Real Media Player http://real.uwe.ac.uk/ramgen/faculty/folder/file.mp3
You will have to replace "faculty" with your faculty or service acronym, "folder" with the name of the folder where you put the file, and "file" with the name of the media file that you have uploaded. E.g. If you have uploaded an audio file called "spanishnews.mp3" to a folder called "news" and your faculty is HLSS, then the possible URLs will be:
http://wms.uwe.ac.uk/hlss/news/spanishnews.mp3
http://real.uwe.ac.uk/ramgen/hlss/news/spanishnews.mp3
Download
In order to download a file users will have to right-click on a download link that you have created and select "Save Target As..." from the menu that will didplay on their screen. They will then be able to select where do they want to save the file. Please note that a left-click on an MP3 download link will neither play the file nor download it.
The URL for a MP3 file that the user will be able to download to their PC will follow this convention:
http://real.uwe.ac.uk/download/faculty/folder/file.mp3
You will have to replace "faculty" with your faculty or service acronym, "folder" with the name of the folder where you put the file, and "file" with the name of the media file that you have uploaded. E.g. If you have uploaded an audio file called "ruling.mp3" to a folder called "courts" and your faculty is LAW, then the URL will be:
http://real.uwe.ac.uk/download/law/courts/ruling.mp3
How to link to a file on the Streaming Media Server from your Blackboard course
- In your Blackboard course, enter the content area where you want the link to appear.
- Select 'Build Content' and then 'URL' from the drop down list. The 'Create URL' page will be displayed.
- Enter a ‘Name’ for the link.
- Enter the 'URL' including the http:// (see instructions above on identifying the URL)
- If required, enter any instructions to students in the 'Text' area.
- Set 'Options' as required. We would recommend that the link is set to 'Open in New Window'
- Select 'Submit'
Page last updated 2 April 2012