E.5 Improving Online Video Performance

Playing video online requires considerable computer resources compared to other computer applications. This section informs you about resources, and alerts you to measures you can take to improve performance and conserve system resources. To find out about each topic, go to:

• "E.5.1 Video Files and Your System Resources"

• "E.5.2 Improving File Loading Time"

• "E.5.3 Configuring Web Browsers Not to Use Proxies for the AnswerBook2 Server"

• "E.5.4 Quitting the Video Player"

• "E.5.5 Adjusting the Brightness of ShowMe TV Files"

• "E.5.6 Playing the Movies From the AnswerBook2 CD"

E.5.1 Video Files and Your System Resources

On Sun systems, the video files are loaded into your AnswerBook2 server's directory. Each video file in this AnswerBook2 document can be as large as 60 Mbytes. The size of the video file is displayed next to its video icon in the AnswerBook2 documentation.

When you click on the video icon, AnswerBook2 downloads the file to your local system's /tmp or /swap directory, and then launches the video player for which your browser is configured.

On Sun systems, usually the system administrator often configures the /tmp or /swap directory to be about twice the capacity of the system memory. On the Sun system where you will be viewing these videos, make sure that the system administrator configures the system /tmp or /swap directory to support playing video files as large as 60 Mbytes.

When you quit the video player, the /tmp or /swap space is released. If you do not quit the player, then it is possible for your /tmp or /swap directory to become full. We recommend that you quit the player after watching each video.

E.5.2 Improving File Loading Time

Downloading video files can take a few minutes, depending on the size of the file and the amount of network traffic. Because load time is so dependent on your network environment, it is impossible to be more specific. The status bar at the bottom of your browser window will generally provide real-time reports on what percentage of the file has been downloaded.

To improve access times to the videos, you can store the AnswerBook2 collection on your local disk. Keep in mind that the size of this AnswerBook2 collection can be as large as 300 Mbytes. If storing the AnswerBook2 locally is not an option, load times will be improved by having the AnswerBook2 stored on the same subnetwork as your own system. If you find the load times of videos are unacceptable, speak to your administrator about storing the AnswerBook2 collection on your subnetwork.

E.5.3 Configuring Web Browsers Not to Use Proxies for the AnswerBook2 Server

Some web browsers are configured to use proxies. These proxies can slow down viewing of the AnswerBook2 videos. The following procedures describe how to configure the web browsers not to use proxies when viewing AnswerBook2 documents.

E.5.3.1 To Configure HotJava Browser 1.0 or 1.1

1. Log in to the client as a user:

   hostname console login: username password: password

2. Start the HotJava browser.

3. From the Edit menu, choose Preferences ä Proxies...

   The Proxies window opens.

4. In the large Don't Proxy field, type the hostname of the AnswerBook2 server.

5. Click Apply and then click the Back button once.

E.5.3.2 To Configure Netscape Navigator 3.x or 4.x

1. Log in to the client as a user:

   hostname console login: username password: password

2. Start the Navigator browser.

3. For Navigator 4.x, go to Step 4. For Navigator 3.x, perform the following steps:

   1. From the Options menu, choose Network Preferences...

      The Network Preferences window opens.

   2. Click on the Proxies tab.

      The Proxy Configuration window is displayed.

   3. Go to Step 5.

4. For Navigator 4.x, perform the following steps:

   1. From the Edit menu, choose Preferences...

      The Netscape: Preferences window opens.

   2. Click on the triangle next to Advanced, and then click on Proxies.

      The Proxies window is displayed.

5. If Manual proxy configuration has been selected, click on the View button. Otherwise, go to Step 7.

   The Netscape: View Manual Proxy Configuration window is displayed.

6. In the No Proxy for field, type the hostname of the AnswerBook2 server and click OK. Then go to Step 8.

7. If the Automatic proxy setting is in use, obtain and enter a different server name that will bypass the AnswerBook2 server proxy.

8. Click OK to complete the task.

E.5.3.3 To Configure Microsoft Internet Explorer

1. Log in to the client as a user.

2. Start the Internet Explorer browser.

3. From the View menu, choose Options.

   The Options window opens.

4. Click on the Connection tab.

   The Proxy Server window is displayed.

5. If Connect Through Proxy Server is checked, click on the Settings button. Otherwise, click OK to complete the task.

   The Proxy Settings window opens.

6. In the field of the Exception window, type the hostname of the AnswerBook2 server and click OK on the window, and click OK to complete the task.

E.5.4 Quitting the Video Player

Although AnswerBook2 and your browser software will launch the video player for you, it will not quit the player for you. The software has no way to determine when you have finished watching the video, or whether you intend to use it for watching other videos that are not part of the AnswerBook2 collection. Quitting the player is up to you. If you are using the ShowMe TV player on a Sun server, you should configure it to quit after playing the video file. Otherwise, it will play the file continuously until you stop it. For instructions, see "E.4.1 Configuring Web Browsers to Use ShowMe TV".

Here are some reasons to make sure you quit the video player when you have finished viewing a video:

• If you stop or pause a video player, the large video file remains in your /swap space. You should quit your video player when it is not in use to free /swap space.

• On a Sun server the ShowMe TV video player will appropriate the audio device on your system, so if you try to play a second video, or use another application that requires audio, the second application will not be able to deliver its audio portion. You should quit the video player to keep the audio device available for other videos or other applications.

• If you are using ActiveMovie on a PC, quitting the movie player is still advisable but less critical. ActiveMovie does not loop the video file, nor does it capture the audio device exclusively. But ActiveMovie will remain on your desktop until you exit the application, and the file you are playing remains in your swap space.

E.5.5 Adjusting the Brightness of ShowMe TV Files

The settings on your monitor partly determine how bright or dark the video appears on your screen. The AnswerBook2 videos are digitized to look their best on an "average" monitor setting. If your monitor or video card does not fit this average profile, the video may seem too light or dark. First try adjusting your monitor brightness setting.

When using the ShowMe TV player, on some systems you can adjust the brightness of the video file you are playing by selecting the Properties option under the TV pull-down menu. The Properties control sheet has a Brightness slider bar that will make the video lighter or darker.

There is no Brightness control available for ActiveMovie.

E.5.6 Playing the Movies From the AnswerBook2 CD

The AnswerBook2 installation instructions also include a method for viewing the AnswerBook2 contents (including the movies) directly from the AnswerBook2 CD. This viewing method may offer better performance than other online methods. See "Viewing the Collection From the CD" in the appropriate Sun Enterprise Server Documentation Installation Guide.