Getting Started with Wowza Streaming Engine Manager

Welcome! If you're new to Wowza Streaming Engine, this guide will help you understand the basics of its administrator tool, Wowza Streaming Engine Manager.

What is Wowza Streaming Engine Manager?

Think of Wowza Streaming Engine Manager as your control panel for Wowza Streaming Engine. It's a web-based tool that lets you easily set up, manage, and keep an eye on your video streams. You can access it using a web browser on your computer, tablet, or even your phone.

This tool makes managing the powerful Wowza Streaming Engine much simpler, even if you're not a tech wizard. It provides a user-friendly interface on top of the more complex command-line options, giving you more control and confidence when you're streaming video.

Your First Login and Managing Credentials

When you first start the Manager, you'll need to log in using the username and password you created when installing Wowza Streaming Engine. Remember, these are case-sensitive.

This initial account has administrator rights, but it doesn't automatically give you access to all the advanced settings found under tabs like Properties, Modules, and Server Listeners. Don't worry, you can easily enable these advanced settings after your first login. You can also create accounts for other users.

Important Note: Some advanced configurations might still require you to edit specific files (like XML files) directly, outside of the Manager interface. Also, for newer versions (4.8.5 and later), you'll need system administrator or root permissions to edit certain Wowza files, especially those containing scripts.

Enabling Advanced Settings for Your Admin Account

1. Go to the 'Server' tab.
2. Click 'Users' in the side panel.
3. Find your administrator username and click the 'Edit' icon next to it.
4. Check the box that says 'Allow access to advanced properties and features'.
5. Click 'Save'.
6. You'll be logged out automatically. Just log back in to access the advanced features.

Creating New User Accounts

You can create additional user accounts with either full 'Administrator' access or limited 'Read-Only' access.

1. Go to the 'Server' tab and click 'Users'.
2. Click 'Add User'.
3. Fill in a 'User Name', 'Password' (enter it twice for confirmation - remember it's case-sensitive!), and choose an 'Access Level' ('Administrator' or 'Read-Only').
4. If you want the user to access or view advanced settings, check the 'Allow access to advanced properties and settings' box. This lets Administrators edit advanced settings and Read-Only users view them.
5. Click 'Add'.

Security Tip: Wowza recommends using strong password encoding like bcrypt or digest. You can manage this using a command-line tool.

Setting Up Your First Application

To start streaming, you need to create an 'application' within Wowza Streaming Engine. There are different types for live streaming and video on demand (VOD):

Live Applications:

• Live Single server or origin: Sends live streams directly to viewers or to other Wowza servers to handle more viewers.
• Live Edge: Takes streams from an origin server and delivers them to viewers.
• Live HTTP Origin: Delivers live streams to special caching systems using common web protocols.

VOD Applications:

• VOD Single server: Streams pre-recorded video files directly to viewers.
• VOD Edge: Gets video files from a central storage (Media Cache) and streams them.
• VOD HTTP Origin: Delivers VOD files to caching systems using web protocols.

How to Create an Application (Example: VOD Single Server):

1. Click the 'Applications' tab.
2. Click 'Add Application'.
3. Select the type of application you need (e.g., 'VOD Single server').
4. Give your application a unique name in the pop-up box and click 'Add'.
5. Review the settings on the next page and click 'Save'.

Fine-Tuning with Properties

Properties allow you to tweak the default behavior of your applications or the server itself. You can find them under the 'Properties' tab within an application's or server feature's settings page. You'll need advanced administrator permissions to access this tab.

Enabling Default Properties:

1. Select the application or feature you want to configure.
2. Go to its 'Properties' tab.
3. Use the 'Quick Links' to jump to a specific section or scroll down.
4. Click 'Edit' for the section you want to change.
5. Find the property, check its 'Enabled' box, and set its value (either 'True' or a specific value).
6. Click 'Save' and restart the application or server for changes to take effect.

Adding Custom Properties:

1. Go to the 'Properties' tab of the desired application or feature.
2. Click 'Custom' in the 'Quick Links' or scroll to the 'Custom' section.
3. Click 'Edit', then 'Add Custom Property'.
4. Define the property's 'Path', 'Name', 'Type', and 'Value'.
5. Click 'Add', then 'Save', and restart the application or server.

Adding Functionality with Modules

Modules are like plugins; they are bits of Java code that add extra features to your applications. Wowza comes with several built-in modules, and more are available for download. You can even develop your own custom modules.

You manage modules on the 'Modules' tab of an application's page. (Again, you need advanced admin rights for this). Modules load in the order they appear on the list.

Adding a Custom Module:

1. Select the application.
2. Go to the 'Modules' tab.
3. Click 'Edit', then 'Add Module'.
4. Provide a unique 'Name', an optional 'Description', and the 'Fully Qualified Class Name' (this points to the Java code, usually in a .jar file).
5. Click 'Add', then 'Save', and restart the application.

Using Server Listeners for Events

Server Listeners are also Java classes, but they react to events happening at the server or virtual host level (like server startup). They can extend how the server works based on these events.

You manage these on the 'Server Listeners' tab under 'Server Setup'. (Requires advanced admin rights). Like modules, they execute in the order listed.

Adding a Custom Server Listener:

1. Go to the 'Server' tab, then 'Server Setup'.
2. Click the 'Server Listeners' tab.
3. Click 'Edit', then 'Add Server Listener'.
4. Specify the 'Base Class' (pointing to the Java code) and click 'Add'.
5. Click 'Save' and restart the server.

Configuring Network Ports

Wowza Streaming Engine uses specific network ports for different tasks (like streaming, administration). Common defaults include TCP 1935 for standard streaming, TCP 80/443 for web-based streaming, and TCP 8086-8088 for administration.

Important Considerations:

• Wowza needs exclusive use of its ports; no other program can use the same ones.
• Ensure these ports are open on your firewall. You might need help from a network administrator, especially in corporate environments.
• For home/small office networks, you might need to set up 'port forwarding' on your router. Check your router's documentation.

Adding More Ports (if needed):

1. Go to the 'Server' tab, then 'Virtual Host Setup'.
2. Click 'Edit'.
3. Scroll to 'Host Ports' and click the 'Edit' icon for 'Default Streaming'.
4. Add your desired port numbers to the comma-separated list in 'Port(s)' and click 'Apply'.
5. Click 'Save' and restart the server.

Managing License Keys

Your main Wowza Streaming Engine license key is entered during installation and shown in the Manager. You can update or add keys directly in the Manager without reinstalling. This is where you'd add keys for extra features like Transcoder, nDVR, or DRM if they weren't included in your main license or if you change your license type. All keys are stored in a file named Server.license in your Wowza installation directory.

Adding/Updating License Keys:

1. Go to the 'Server' tab, then 'Server Setup'.
2. Click 'Edit'.
3. In the 'License Keys' box, enter your key(s). Put each key on a new line.
4. Click 'Save'.
5. When prompted, click 'Restart Now' at the top of the page. The new keys activate after the restart. (The Manager will only show parts of the keys afterwards for security).

Understanding License Types:

• Subscription: Good for changing needs. Use the same key (starts with ENGM4) on multiple installations, includes Transcoder, nDVR, DRM.
• Perpetual: Best for consistent, long-term use. Keys bought after Dec 22, 2015 (start with EPBP4) are for one server instance and include Transcoder, nDVR, DRM. Older perpetual licenses might have different prefixes and included features; sometimes DRM was a separate key. Contact Wowza sales for licenses bought before 2015.
• Trial: When your trial expires, replace the trial key with your new paid key in the Manager. You don't need to reinstall. Your trial key details are in the email you received from Wowza.

This covers the fundamental administrative tasks in Wowza Streaming Engine Manager. Happy streaming!