Frequently Asked Questions
Q - Does Real Player cost anything to
download?
A - Real Player is free.
Q - What do I need, to view the programs?
A - In order to view the programs the free RealPlayer
software must be installed on your computer and you must
have access through any corporate firewalls that may
be in place between you and the Internet. The free RealPlayer
software can be downloaded from the Internet by visiting
the RealNetworks site here and
older versions can be obtained on their legacy
player page.
Q - Why Real Player and not Windows Media player
or the Quicktime player?
A - Real Player is a reliable application which offers
a version for most of the popular operating systems.
Real specializes in streaming and therefore offers some
important multimedia technologies that are not supported
as well in Windows Media Player. Real also offers better
backward compatibility with its own previous versions
than do the various versions of Windows Media Player.
Q - Can I change the size of the player screen?
A - The video for this program is actually "embedded" in
an html page which does not allow the video to be "stretched
out." The player is designed to fit in a screen
display set to 800 by 600 pixels or larger. If you would
like the player to take up as much space on the screen
as possible, set your screen display to 800 by 600. This
will not increase the actual resolution of the picture,
but it will seem "larger" on the screen.
Q - Where can I get additional information on
technical problems?
A - Troubleshooting information and technical assistance
can be accessed through RealPlayer's support pages here.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING REAL PLAYER
System Requirements
WINDOWS
System Requirements for RealOne Player
RealOne Player is Real's current player version.
Recommended system requirements:
- 300 MHz Intel Pentium III processor or greater
(supports simultaneous record/playback features)
- 128MB RAM
- 56Kbps modem, minimum, broadband connection strongly
recommended
- Full Duplex sound card and speakers
- 65,000-color video display card [set to display
at 800x600](video)
- Windows 98/ ME / 2000 /NT Service Pack 4 or later
/ XP
- Internet Explorer 5.0 or later, Netscape 6.2 or
later
System Requirements for RealPlayer 8
RealPlayer 8 is one player version older than RealOne
Player. It is generally more tolerant of older, slower
systems.
Recommended system requirements:
- 266 MHz Intel Pentium II processor or equivalent
- Windows 95/98, Windows ME (final release version
only), Windows NT 4.0 with Service Pack 4 or later,
Windows 2000, or Windows XP. Windows NT and Windows
2000 users must have Administrative rights to install
RealPlayer.
- 32 MB RAM
- 16-bit sound card and speakers
- 65,000-color video display card
- 56Kbps modem, minimum, broadband connection strongly
recommended
- Internet Explorer 5.0 or later, Netscape 6.2 or
later
MACINTOSH
OSX
RealOne player is now available for Mac OSX. It performs
well and is compatible with any Mac recognized as OSX
capable.
(Users of Mac OS 9.2 or lower will have to use RealPlayer
8.)
Recommended system requirements for Real Player
8:
- PowerPC G3 processor (233 MHz or faster)
- Mac OS 8.5 or later
- 64 MB RAM and 128 MB virtual memory for machines
with less than 233MHz G3 processor
- 56Kbps or faster modem
- Internet connection and web browser (Internet Explorer
5.0 later or Netscape 4.76 or later)
Minimum system requirements (unlikely to yield
a satisfactory video experience) for Real Player 8:
- PowerPC 604 processor (200 MHz or faster)
- Mac OS 8.1 or later
- 32 MB RAM and 64 MB virtual memory.
- 56Kbps modem
- Internet connection and web browser (Internet Explorer
5.0or later or Netscape 4.76 or later)
Dealing
with firewalls (For Firewall Administrators)
Application-level firewalls (proxy servers)
Network-level firewalls (packet filters)
Application-level Firewalls
Your firewall must be RealPlayer-aware. If it is
not, RealNetworks has a free RTSP proxy service which
includes source code and specifications for building
your own proxy. It's simple and easy to set up. To
get your copy, send an e-mail request to firewall@real.com.
You will get an immediate response telling you where
to download the proxy.
Most major firewall vendors support RealPlayer. If
your firewall vendor is not listed as supporting RealPlayer,
ask your firewall representative to contact us about
joining our firewall developers program.
Network-level Firewalls
Network-level firewalls, such as packet filters,
use access control lists to allow traffic destined
for some ports to pass from the Internet to the organization's
internal network and to block packets for other ports.
To allow any version of RealAudio Player or RealPlayer
to play correctly, it is only necessary for the router
to allow packets to pass to the inner network that
are bound for the following range of ports:
- TCP port 7070 for connecting to pre-G2 RealServers
- TCP port 554 and 7070 for connecting to G2 RealServers
(used by OR-Live)
- UDP ports 6970 - 7170 (inclusive) for incoming
traffic only
The TCP port is used by RealPlayer to initiate a
conversation with an external RealServer, to authenticate
RealPlayer to the server, and to pass control messages
during playback (such as pausing or stopping the stream).
RealSystem G2 uses two TCP protocols for conversations
between Players and Servers.
For an even safer firewall, configure the router's
access control list to allow TCP connections on port
7070 and/or port 554 to be initiated from the inside
network exclusively. Incoming traffic, on the other
hand, should only be allowed if it is part of an ongoing
connection. This is assured by requiring incoming TCP
packets to have the ACK bit set in the TCP header carried
by every packet. The syntax for setting the ACK bit
varies with the kind of router you own. For Cisco routers
the flag "ESTABLISHED" can be put at the
end of the line in an access rule to specify that an
incoming packet must be part of an ongoing conversation.
The range of UDP ports, on the other hand, carries
the incoming stream. These ports begin to carry traffic
only after RealPlayer and RealServer have performed
the authentication routine, and should be enabled only
for incoming traffic.
You may also want to use a proxy server in conjunction
with a network-level firewall.
When RealPlayer versions G2, 7, or 8 are in use, do
one of the following:
- Open ports 6970 - 7170 in your firewall for UDP.
- Open ports 7070 - 7071 and 554 in your firewall
for TCP and instruct RealPlayers to use TCP for all
content. Playback quality will not be as good with
this option.
- Configure your firewall to receive UDP through
only one port and instruct Players to use UDP with
the port you chose.
- Tell users to configure RealPlayer to request that
RealServer send all media in HTTP format. This creates
more overhead on your network than any of the other
options.
When RealPlayer versions 4.0 or 5.0 are in use, do one
of the following:
- Open ports 6970 - 7170 in your firewall for UDP.
- Open ports 7070 - 7071 in your firewall for TCP
and instruct RealPlayers to use TCP for all content.
Playback quality will not be as good with this option.
- Configure your firewall to receive UDP through
only one port and instruct Players to use UDP with
the port you chose.
- Tell users to configure RealPlayer to request that
RealServer send all media in HTTP format. This creates
more overhead on your network than any of the other
options.
When RealAudio Player version 3.0 is in use, do one of
the following:
- Open ports 6770 - 7170 in your firewall for UDP.
- Open ports 7070 - 7071 in your firewall for TCP
and instruct RealPlayers to use TCP for all content.
Playback quality will not be as good with this option.
- Configure your firewall to receive UDP through
only one port and instruct RealPlayers to use UDPwith
the port you chose.
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Configuring Microsoft Proxy Server
2.0
Please Note: These configuration instructions assume
that you have correctly installed the Microsoft Proxy
Server 2.0 and the Microsoft Winsock Proxy Client.
Server Configuration:
- Open the Internet Service manager in IIS 3.0 and
the Management console in IIS 4.0.
- Right click on WinSock Proxy Service and select
Properties.
- Click on the Service tab.
- Select Client Configuration.
- In the Client Installation/Configuration window,
select Client connects to Microsoft WinSock Proxy
Server by Computer name, and ensure the NetBIOS name
of the machine appears in the block to the right.
- Put a check in the box "Automatically configure
Web browser during client setup." The Proxy
field should also contain the NetBIOS name of the
Proxy Server.
- Port should have the correct port number for the
Proxy Server (generally port 80).
- Put a check in the box "Configure Web browsers
to use Automatic Configuration."
- If you do not have a RealServer inside the Proxy
Firewall, proceed to step 8. If you have a RealServer
inside the Proxy Firewall, click the Properties button.This
brings up the Advanced Client Configuration page.
Check the box "Do not use proxy for the following
IP addresses." Then fill in the IP Address of
the RealServer(s) inside the Proxy Firewall. Click
OK.
- Click the Protocols tab.
- Click on the first RealAudio in the list and click
Edit. Initial connection should be on port 554, type
should be set to TCP out bound.
- Highlight and remove all entries in the "Port
ranges for subsequent connections."
- Click Add, then add UDP 6970-32000 inbound and
select OK.
- Clid Add, then add TCP 6970-32000 inbound and select
OK.
- Click on the only remaining RealAudio in the list
and click Edit. Initial connection should be on Port
7070 outbound, Type should be set to TCP.
Highlight and remove all entries in the "Port
ranges for subsequent connections."
- Click Add, then add TCP 6970-7170 inbound and select
OK.
- Click Add again, then add UDP 6970-7170 inbound
and select OK.
This completes the configuration of the Proxy Server.
Client Configuration, RealPlayer G2:
- Open the control panel and double click on the
WSP icon, this will open up the Microsoft Winsock
Proxy Client configuration page.
- Ensure the server NetBIOS name is in the Server
Name field.
- Put a check in the "Enable WinSock Proxy
Client" block, and then choose Update Now.
- You should now reboot the client machine. When
the machine restarts, open the RealPlayer.
- In the RealPlayer, select Options then Preferences.
- Click the Proxy tab. Make sure the PNA Proxy and
RTSP Proxy options are Unchecked, and the No HTTP
Proxy radio button is selected.
- Click the Transport tab and select "Automatically
select the most efficient transport."
- Click on Auto Configure. Then select OK.
- Once auto configuration is complete Click OK at
the bottom of the Preferences window.
The client and RealPlayer G2 are now configured to
work with the Proxy Server.
Alternate Configuration Method for RealPlayer G2:
- Open the Control Panel and double click on the
WSP icon. This will open the Microsoft Winsock Proxy
Client configuration page.
- Ensure the server NetBIOS name is in the Server
Name field.
- Put a check in the "Enable WinSock Proxy Client" block,
and then choose Update Now.
- You should now reboot the client machine. When
the machine restarts, open RealPlayer G2.
- In RealPlayer G2, select Options then Preferences.
- Click the Proxy tab then select, "Manually
configure HTTP Proxy."
- Input the NetBIOS name of the Proxy Server in the
Proxy Server field.
- Input port 80 in the Port field.
- Click OK.
- The client and RealPlayer are now configured to
work with the Proxy Server.
Client Configuration, RealPlayer 5.0
- Open the Control Panel and double click on the
WSP icon. This will open the Microsoft Winsock Proxy
Client configuration page.
- Ensure the server NetBIOS name is in the Server
Name field.
- Put a check in the "Enable WinSock Proxy
Client" block, and then choose Update now.
- You should now reboot the client machine. When
the machine restarts, open RealPlayer 5.0.
- In the RealPlayer, select View then Preferences.
- Click the Proxy tab at the top. In the Proxy window,
make sure the Use Proxy box is NOT checked.
- Click the Transport tab and select "Automatically
select the most efficient transport."
- Click on Auto Configure then select OK.
- Once auto configuration is complete, click OK at
the bottom of the Preferences window.
- The client and RealPlayer are now configured to
work with the Proxy Server.
Installation
Issues (distilled from Real sources)
Windows XP Known Issue
If you are trying to download RealOne Player to a Windows
XP computer, the computer may show a blue screen and
stop responding. Normally, to resolve this you have to
restart the computer. If this has happened to you when
you try to download:
- Click the Windows Start button, point to Settings,
point to Control Panel, then click Display.
- On the Screen Saver tab, set Screen Saver to None.
- On the Screen Saver tab, click the Power button.
- On the Power Schemes tab, make sure System Standby
is set to Never.
Microsoft has documented a video driver incompatibility
issue that can cause a blue screen when the Operating
System becomes idle; for example, during a long download
using a modem. Additional solutions are contained in
the Microsoft documentation for this issue at: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q293078.
Manually configuration of Netscape Communicator 4
to work with RealOne Player
(Netscape Communicator 4.0-4.7)
When you install RealOne Player, it automatically configures
your Web browser to start RealOne Player when you click
a RealMedia link. If RealOne Player does not start when
you click a RealMedia link, you must manually configure
your Web browser:
- Start Netscape Communicator.
- Click the Edit menu and choose Preferences.
- Double-click Navigator to expand the list.
- Select Applications.
- If the RealONE Player File type is listed, select
it and click the Edit button. If the file type is
not listed, click the New Type button.
- Enter the following information in the appropriate
fields:
- Description of Type: RealAudio File
- Extension: .ra, .ram
- MIME Type: audio/x-pn-realaudio
- In the Application to use setting, type: C:\Program
Files\Real\RealONE Player\realplay.exe or C:\Program
Files\Real\RealPlayer\realplay.exe.
The path you choose to type depends on where the
program was installed to. Click the Browse button
to locate realplay.exe if you are unsure.
- Click OK. Repeat the steps above for each of these
file types:
- Description of Type: RealAudio File
- Extension: .ra, .ram
- MIME Type: audio/vnd.rn-realaudio
- Description of Type: RealVideo File
- Extension: .rv
- MIME Type: video/vnd.rn-realvideo
- Description of Type: RealMedia File
- Extension: .rm
- MIME Type: application/vnd.rn-realmedia
- Test the changes by clicking on media links at
http://realguide.real.com
Connection
Errors
"Cannot Connect" error messages
with RealOne Player.
"Cannot connect" errors generally mean that
RealOne Player did not connect to the computer that
serves the media content (the server); they may also
mean that the link you clicked is out-of-date. Common "cannot
connect to server" errors include:
- Cannot connect to server.
- Unable to connect to server.
- Unable to establish connection to server.
- Check network transport settings (or run auto-configure.)
- RealOne Player not able to successfully connect
to a server for playback.
- Cannot connect to server, the link you requested
may be inaccurate or out of date.
Connection errors that occur on specific sites or
that only occur once in a while are not usually a cause
for concern. Occasional errors are usually caused by
high traffic on the Internet or the site hosting the
files being down or the files having been moved.
Connection errors that occur at all sites on a recurring
basis may indicate a problem with RealOne Player or
your Internet connection. You may need to reconfigure
RealOne Player or your Internet Service Provider's
(ISP) connection software to allow RealPlayer to connect.
Solution 1: Play clips from
the RealNetworks Technical Support Samples Page.
You will receive "link out of date" errors
if you play a file that has been moved. These errors
occur if the Web site hosting the files has not been
updated since the file changed.
To verify the problem is caused by out of date links,
play sample clips from the RealNetworks sample page:
- Open http://service.real.com/test/ in your Web
browser.
- Click the links there that match the connection
speed of your Internet connection (for example, 56K).
If the links from this site play correctly, RealOne
Player is not the cause of the error you are receiving
from the other site. The links at the other site are
either written incorrectly or need to be updated.
Solution 2: Play files during "off-peak
hours."
You may receive connection errors when playing files
or downloading updates for RealOne Player if the Internet
or your Internet Service Provider is experiencing high
traffic.
This problem typically occurs during "peak hours" when
network traffic is highest. Playing files or updating
at an alternate time during the day can usually correct
connection problems caused by high traffic.
Solution 3: Manually configure
RealOne Player to use HTTP only.
On some networks it may be necessary to configure RealOne
Player to use the HTTP Only option to connect to the
Internet. This option allows a player operating behind
strict firewalls to access programming. However, quality
may not be as good as other connection options.
- To configure RealOne to receive content via HTTP
only:
- On the Tools Menu, click Preferences.
- In the Categories pane, double-click Connection
and then click Network Transports.
- Click the Manually configure connections settings
check box.
- Click the RTSP Settings button.
- Click to clear all boxes except Use HTTP, then
click OK.
- Click the PNA Settings button.
- Click to clear all boxes except Use HTTP, then
click OK.
Solution 4: Update your Internet
Service Provider's software.
If your Internet Service Provider (America Online,
Earthlink, or others) uses custom software to connect
to the Internet, updating that software may resolve
these issues. Contact your Internet Service Provider
to verify that you are using the latest version of
their software available, and to verify that their
software uses a 32-bit compatible Winsock driver.
Solution 5: Reconnect if AOL's
Idle Timer disconnects you or adjust AOL's Parental
Control settings.
AOL has an idle timer feature that automatically disconnects
your computer from AOL if your computer has been inactive
for a predetermined amount of time. You will receive
a "Cannot connect to server" error if AOL
has terminated your connection and you try to access
the Internet with RealOne Player.
If this occurs, reconnect to AOL. Once you have reconnected
to AOL, you will be able to access content with RealOne
Player.
If the AOL screen name you are using has restricted
access levels (Parental Controls), the AOL access level
specified may prohibit RealOne from connecting to content
for playback. To correct this problem, change the access
restrictions for that AOL screen name.
The Parental Controls feature allows the user to create
specific levels of access for each screen name or edit
existing settings on AOL. For more information on parental
controls in AOL, visit http://www.aol.com/info/parentcontrol.html.
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