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Revision as of 12:51, 21 December 2012 by Ankiria (talk | contribs)

Contents

Installation

Installing ACE Stream on Debian/Ubuntu from repository

Step 1

Add link on appropriate repository into /etc/apt/sources.list file.

Repository should be selected according to operating system.

Debian 6+: 

deb http://repo.acestream.org/debian/ squeeze main
or
deb http://repo.acestream.org/debian/ sid main

Note: packages in sid repository are assembled with dependencies that correspond to official sid-repositories of Debian. If you don't know, which repository to choose, use squeeze.

Ubuntu 11.10: 

deb http://repo.acestream.org/ubuntu/ oneiric main

Ubuntu 12.04: 

deb http://repo.acestream.org/ubuntu/ precise main

Ubuntu 12.10: 

deb http://repo.acestream.org/ubuntu/ quantal main

Step 2

Installing public key. To do this you have to run the following command:

Debian: 

wget -O - http://repo.acestream.org/keys/acestream.public.key | apt-key add -

Ubuntu: 

sudo wget -O - http://repo.acestream.org/keys/acestream.public.key | sudo apt-key add -

Step 3

Installing the right package. For example, for engine installation you have to install acestream-engine package.

Debian 

apt-get update
apt-get install acestream-engine

Ubuntu 

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install acestream-engine

The following packages are available in the repository for Ubuntu:

  • acestream-engine - engine
  • acestream-mozilla-plugin - plug-in for browser
  • acestream-player - desktop player
  • acestream-player-data - set of common libraries for the player and plug-in
  • acestream-full - full package, including all of the above

For Debian only the engine (acestream-engine) is available.

Installing ACE Stream package on Ubuntu from deb-package

You can install ACE Stream on Ubuntu without using repository. To do this you need to download the installation package by one of links below and install it using a package manager (for example, by double click on downloaded package).

Package for 32-bit versions of Ubuntu: 

http://dl.torrentstream.org/products/acestream-full/ubuntu/i368/latest

Package for 64-bit versions of Ubuntu: 

http://dl.torrentstream.org/products/acestream-full/ubuntu/amd64/latest

Supported versions of Ubuntu: 11.10, 12.04, 12.10

This intallation package is an analog of acestream-full package from repository. It includes the engine, player and plug-in for browsers.

Launching broadcast

Main terms

  • Source - program that accepts HTTP-stream of broadcast and provides broadcast viewing using ACE Stream software.
  • Support node - program allowing to scale broadcast using additional server equipment and Internet-channels.
  • Client - ACE Stream software, which is used to play broadcast.

Common work scheme

Broadcast organization starts from launching the source (command acestreamengine-stream). The source accepts HTTP-stream to input (at this moment HTTP-streams with MPEG-TS encapsulation are supported) with original broadcast and creates a file with acelive extension after the launch. This file is a unique identifier of broadcast and it is used for connection and playback by clients.

Syntax of acestreamengine-stream command

acestreamengine-stream command launches broadcast source.

required parameters

  • --name NAME - broadcast name (this name is used when creating acelive and other service files)
  • --source SOURCE - source (link to http-stream)
  • --bitrate BITRATE - average bitrate of stream in bytes per second

optional parameters

  • --title TITLE - "readable" broadcast name (this name is shown to clients). If it's not specified, it's taken from --name
  • --destdir DESTDIR - old parameter, it's better to use --cache-dir and --publish-dir
  • --cache-dir CACHE_DIR - directory for creating service files (broadcast cache and others)
  • --publish-dir PUBLISH_DIR - directory, in which acelive-file will be created
  • --piecesize PIECESIZE - piece size in bytes (if it's not specified, it's set automatically depending on bitrate)
  • --duration DURATION - size of broadcast cache in format HH:MM:SS (by default, one hour: 01:00:00)
  • --host HOST - set address of local tracker manually
  • --port PORT - port, where the engine works
  • --skip-internal-tracker - disable local tracker
  • --add-authorized-peers - add list of authorized peers to acelive file
  • --private-source - make the source private
  • --support-node SUPPORT_NODE - add support node (in format ip:port). This parameter may appear multiple times if several support nodes have to be added.
  • --tracker TRACKER - add tracker(announce url). This parameter may appear multiple times.
  • --trackers TRACKERS - old format for adding trackers (announce url list separated by commas)
  • --provider-key PROVIDER_KEY - provider's key (only for commercial broadcasts)
  • --maxclients MAXCLIENTS - maximum number of peers, on which data from the source are given simultaneously
  • --show-pieces - show in log numbers of pieces as they are created
  • --show-peers - periodically show in log list of connected peers
  • --debug DEBUG - set debug level

additional

  • -h, --help - show commands' description

Syntax of acestreamengine-node command

acestreamengine-node command launches support node.

required parameters

  • --url URL> - link to acelive file of broadcast

optional parameters

  • --port PORT - port(by default: 8621)
  • --state-dir STATE_DIR - directory for temporary files (it's deleted after support node installation)
  • --source-node SOURCE_NODE - address of broadcast source (ip:port)
  • --support-node SUPPORT_NODE - add address of another support node (ip:port). This parameter may appear multiple times.
  • --allow-source-download - allow receiving data from the source
  • --allow-support-download - allow receiving data from other support nodes
  • --allow-peers-download - allow receiving data from ordinary peers
  • --max-incoming-connects MAX_INCOMING_CONNECTS - maximum number of incoming connections (from other peers) (by default: 1000)
  • --max-outgoing-connects MAX_OUTGOING_CONNECTS - maximum number of outgoing connections (to other peers) (by default: 50)
  • --max-upload-slots MAX_UPLOAD_SLOTS - maximum number of peers, on which data from support node are given simultaneously (by default: 7)
  • --max-download-speed MAX_DOWNLOAD_SPEED - maximum download speed (byte/s). By default: 0 (no restrictions).
  • --max-upload-speed MAX_UPLOAD_SPEED - maximum upload speed (byte/s). By default: 0 (no restrictions).
  • --show-pieces -show in log numbers of pieces as they are created
  • --show-peers - periodically show in log list of connected peers
  • --stats-report-interval STATS_REPORT_INTERVAL - set interval in seconds to show in log information about download/upload speep. By default: 0 (do not show).
  • --debug DEBUG - set debug level

additional

  • -h, --help - show commands' description

Embedded tracker

Embedded tracker is a tracker embedded into broadcast source. If it's not disabled by --skip-internal-tracker option, its address will be added to acelive-file automatically.

When organizing broadcast with many users, we recommend to disable embedded tracker and replace it with external tracker with a good productivity (for example, XBT Tracker).

Authorized nodes

Client have to establish connection with at least two other nodes or an authorized node, to be connected to broadcast and start playback. Authorized node is a node, which was marked by broadcast's creator as a "trustworthy". Usually it's a broadcast source and/or support nodes.

The latest versions of ACE Stream software support using list of authorized nodes in acelive-file. For this --add-authorized-peers option is set when creating broadcast, after this the list of authorized nodes is created and added to acelive-file. Broadcast source (if it's not private) and all specified support nodes are in the list of authorized nodes. Clients that received this acelive-file use the list to determine whether a node is authorized.

If the list of authorized nodes was not added to acelive-file or an old version of ACE Stream, which doesn't understand this list, is installed, then authorized node is a node, IP address of which matches address of the first tracker from trackers' list. If embedded tracker is enabled on the source, it will be the first one on the list and clients will consider the source as authorized node. If embedded tracker is disabled, to support other clients we recommend to put on the first place tracker, located on the same server as broadcast source (so addresses of the first tracker and the source matched) or use at least one support node (so clients, when starting broadcast, could connect to two peers simultaneously, even if nobody watches broadcast).

Examples

For examples let's assume that there is a local network with three servers:

  • 192.168.1.1 - server for the source
  • 192.168.1.2 - server for support node
  • 192.168.1.3 - server for support node
  • 192.168.1.100 - server that gives original broadcast's stream (HTTP MPEG-TS) at http://192.168.1.100/stream (average bitrate of stream - 300 000 byte/s)

It's assumed that on server 192.168.1.1 there is a web-server with a core directory /home/www and two other directories:

  • /home/www/streams - for keeping acelive-files, which will be available for downloading by a link like http://192.168.1.1/streams/test.acelive
  • /tmp/streams - for keeping cache and service files of broadcast

Source with embedded tracker

This is the easiest way to launch broadcast that does not require launching support nodes and installing additional trackers. This method is suitable for broadcasts with a small number of users.

We launch the source on server 192.168.1.1: 

acestreamengine-stream \
--name "test" \
--title "Test broadcast" \
--source "http://192.168.1.100/stream" \
--bitrate 300000 \
--publish-dir "/home/www/streams" \
--cache-dir "/tmp/streams" \
--add-authorized-peers \
> /tmp/test-source.log 2>&1

The last line is used to write logs into file /tmp/test-source.log. acestreamengine-stream shows all debug information in console in STDERR.

--add-authorized-peers option adds the list of authorized nodes to acelive-file (in this case, it's the source: 192.168.1.1).

After broadcast's launch a file test.acelive will be created in directory /home/www/streams, in directory /tmp/streams such files will be created:

  • test - broadcast cache. This file's size is approximately equal to stream_duration_in_seconds (--duration option, by default: 1 hour) * bitrate byte
  • test.restart - information for correct restart of broadcast is kept here
  • test.sauth - key for a broadcast's digital signature

To watch broadcasts clients can download broadcast file at http://192.168.1.1/streams/test.acelive and start it in ACE Stream player or use other ways (Ways to watch broadcasts).

Источник с внешним трекером

Если трансляция предполагает большое количество пользователей, то желательно использовать внешний трекер и отключить встроенный (для снижения нагрузки на источник).

В качестве внешнего трекера мы советуем использовать XBT Tracker

В данном примере предполагаем, что XBT Tracker установлен и запущен на сервере 192.168.1.1. Запуск трансляции теперь будет выглядеть таким образом: 

acestreamengine-stream \
--name "test" \
--title "Тестовая трансляция" \
--source "http://192.168.1.100/stream" \
--bitrate 300000 \
--publish-dir "/home/www/streams" \
--cache-dir "/tmp/streams" \
--add-authorized-peers \
--skip-internal-tracker \
--tracker "udp://192.168.1.1:2710/announce" \
> /tmp/test-source.log 2>&1

Опция --skip-internal-tracker отключает встроенный трекер, опция --tracker подключает внешний трекер.

Источник с двумя узлами поддержки

В случае, если на источнике не хватает пропускной способности исходящего канала для нормальной работы трансляции, можно использовать узлы поддержки. Чаще всего узел поддержки представляет собой узел, который принимает данные от источника и отдает клиентам (хотя узел поддержки также может принимать данные от других узлов поддержки и даже от клиентов, в зависимости от его настроек). Узел поддержки имеет смысл ставить на отдельном сервере с хорошей шириной исходящего канала.

Для максимально эффективной работы схемы с узлами поддержки источнику необходимо сообщить адреса этих узлов с помощью опции --support-node: 

acestreamengine-stream \
--name "test" \
--title "Тестовая трансляция" \
--source "http://192.168.1.100/stream" \
--bitrate 300000 \
--port 7764 \
--publish-dir "/home/www/streams" \
--cache-dir "/tmp/streams" \
--add-authorized-peers \
--skip-internal-tracker \
--tracker "udp://192.168.1.1:2710/announce" \
--support-node "192.168.1.2:8621" \
--support-node "192.168.1.3:8621" \
> /tmp/test-source.log 2>&1

Запускаем узлы поддержки на серверах 192.168.1.2 и 192.168.1.3 (команды для запуска одинаковые): 

acestreamengine-node \
--url "http://192.168.1.1/streams/test.acelive" \
--state-dir "/tmp" \
--source-node "192.168.1.1:7764" \
--allow-source-download \
> /tmp/test-node.log 2>&1

Опция --source-node задает адрес источника.

Опция --allow-source-download разрешает узлу поддержки скачивать данные с источника (скачивание с других узлов поддержки и клиентов в данном случае запрещено).

Если необходимо разрешить узлам поддержки скачивать данные с других узлов поддержки, то следует задать список других узлов опцией --support-node и разрешить скачивание опцией --allow-support-download.

На сервере 192.168.1.2 это будет выглядеть так: 

acestreamengine-node \
--url "http://192.168.1.1/streams/test.acelive" \
--state-dir "/tmp" \
--source-node "192.168.1.1:7764" \
--allow-source-download \
--support-node "192.168.1.3:8621" \
--allow-support-download \
> /tmp/test-node.log 2>&1

На сервере 192.168.1.3: 

acestreamengine-node \
--url "http://192.168.1.1/streams/test.acelive" \
--state-dir "/tmp" \
--source-node "192.168.1.1:7764" \
--allow-source-download \
--support-node "192.168.1.2:8621" \
--allow-support-download \
> /tmp/test-node.log 2>&1

Приватный источник с двумя узлами поддержки

Иногда может возникнуть необходимость запретить клиентам напрямую обращаться к источнику трансляции. Например, источник может быть физически расположен на сервере в защищенной зоне без доступа из внешнего мира. В этом случае трансляцию можно организовать по следующей схеме:

  • источник делается приватным (получать от него данные смогут только узлы поддержки, указанные явным образом)
  • узлы поддержки получают данные от источника и отдают клиентам
  • клиенты получают данные от узлов поддержки

Для того, чтобы сделать источник приватным, следует указать опцию --private-source: 

acestreamengine-stream \
--name "test" \
--title "Тестовая трансляция" \
--source "http://192.168.1.100/stream" \
--bitrate 300000 \
--port 7764 \
--publish-dir "/home/www/streams" \
--cache-dir "/tmp/streams" \
--add-authorized-peers \
--skip-internal-tracker \
--tracker "udp://192.168.1.2:2710/announce" \
--support-node "192.168.1.2:8621" \
--support-node "192.168.1.3:8621" \
--private-source \
> /tmp/test-source.log 2>&1

Следует обратить внимание на то, что в данной конфигурации адрес трекера изменен на udp://192.168.1.2:2710/announce. Это сделано для поддержки старых версий клиентов, которые не обрабатывают список авторизованных пиров (подробнее здесь Авторизованные узлы).

Узлы поддержки на серверах 192.168.1.2 и 192.168.1.3 запускаем как обычно: 

acestreamengine-node \
--url "http://192.168.1.1/streams/test.acelive" \
--state-dir "/tmp" \
--source-node "192.168.1.1:7764" \
--allow-source-download \
> /tmp/test-node.log 2>&1
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