Book excerpt: The definitive reference for planning and deploying Windows Media technologies on the Microsoft Windows® .NET Server family—straight from the source. This official Microsoft RESOURCE KIT provides in-depth technical guidance plus must-have tools for IT professionals who need to implement streaming media solutions for corporate communications, training and education, e-commerce, commercial broadcast, and other uses. The book provides a detailed deployment road map that covers all related Windows Media components, including Windows Media Encoder, Windows Media Services, Windows Media Player, and Microsoft Producer, as well as cache/proxy servers, routers, and other third-party networking software and hardware. In addition to providing expert installation advice, the authors—members of Microsoft’s Windows Media team—share their insights on how to build custom streaming solutions using samples from the Windows Media software development kit (SDK). They’ve also packed the RESOURCE KIT CD-ROM with essential tools, including Windows Media products such as the encoder and a load simulator; test content including audio and video files; SDK code samples; and scenario-based topologies, plans, and checklists. A Note Regarding the CD or DVD The print version of this book ships with a CD or DVD. For those customers purchasing one of the digital formats in which this book is available, we are pleased to offer the CD/DVD content as a free download via O'Reilly Media's Digital Distribution services. To download this content, please visit O'Reilly's web site, search for the title of this book to find its catalog page, and click on the link below the cover image (Examples, Companion Content, or Practice Files). Note that while we provide as much of the media content as we are able via free download, we are sometimes limited by licensing restrictions. Please direct any questions or concerns to [email protected].