Microsoft KB Archive/289755

= Multicasting Multi-Bitrate Only Transmits Highest Bitrate =

Article ID: 289755

Article Last Modified on 11/3/2003

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows Media Services 4.0
 * Microsoft Windows Media Services 4.1

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This article was previously published under Q289755



SYMPTOMS
When you broadcast a Multicast stream with Windows Media Services, only the highest bitrate stream within the multi-bitrate stream is broadcast.



STATUS
This behavior is by design.



MORE INFORMATION
Multi-bitrate (MBR) streams can contain one audio track and several video tracks to allow clients with different connection speeds to best use the bandwidth available to them. The Windows Media Player client negotiates the best connection rate with the Windows Media server, and then streams the MBR bandwith that best fits this rate.

Because Multicast is a broadcast architecture and normally only sends data to a client without receiving any from a client, there is no way for the player and server to negotiate bandwith. Therefore, the server only transmits the highest bitrate stream from the MBR stream.

Additional query words: netshow mbr multicast multibit rate multi bitrate bit

Keywords: kbprb kbpending KB289755

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