Microsoft KB Archive/181161

= Active Channel Server Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) =

Article ID: 181161

Article Last Modified on 7/17/1999

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Site Server 3.0 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q181161



Q: What is Active Channel Server? Is it related to Microsoft Content Replication System (CRS) in Microsoft Commercial Internet System (MCIS) or Site Server?

A: Active Channel Server is not related to CRS, though it is part of the Microsoft Internet Server products. Active Channel Server delivers information by providing users with channels that deliver specific content. A user subscribes to a channel of interest. The user's browser then periodically requests updates from a Web server, and the information is pushed or delivered to the browser on the user's desktop. For many users, locating and filtering information is a time-consuming and cost- prohibitive process. You can use the Active Channel Server feature of Site Server Knowledge, in conjunction with Microsoft Internet Explorer version 4.0, to automate the process of information delivery.

Q: What is Channel Definition Format (CDF)?

A: CDF contains URL addresses to channels and their content items, as well as tags that define scheduling and display options. For more information about CDF technology, please visit the following Web sites:

http://www.microsoft.com/standardshttp://www.microsoft.com/iehttp://www.w3.org.

Q: How can I create this .CDF file?

A: The .CDF file is created automatically by the Active Channel Server after you create the project and at least one channel within the project.

Q: How do I initiate the delivery of the channel information?

A: You can create a link to the CDF on a main Web page or through the Microsoft Internet Explorer version 4.x Channel Guide. You can also create a link in an e-mail message or through a link to the Objgetcdf.asp file for the project for personalized channels.

Q: Why and when should I use multicasting?

A: Multicasting saves the network bandwidth by sending the same information once to multiple users. The multicasting is appropriate for an intranet, where you try to minimize the network traffic. The Internet Explorer must have the Multicasting Delivery Agent (MDA) installed in order to enable the reception of multicast transmission.

Q: How do I provide the MDA installation for the client browser?

A: You can create a simple page or a share point that exposes the MDASETUP.EXE file. This allows clients to install MDA.

Q: I have set up the channel properly, but my Internet Explorer 3.0 still cannot accept the Channel. Why?

A: You must use browsers that can accept Channel Definition Format (CDF) technology. Internet Explorer 4.x provides full support of CDF technology; Internet Explorer 3.0 does not.

Q: What is Agent?

A: An Active Channel Agent is basically a script that retrieves content items from a specified source. Each channel in an active channel project can use a different channel agent. When Automated Refresh is enabled for a project, the channel agents run automatically, updating each channel's content items according to the refresh schedule specified for the project. The agent can retrieve from different type of sources:


 * Any file directory in your network
 * Any ODBC-enabled database
 * Microsoft Index Server
 * Commerce databases
 * Search catalog

Q: Give me an example of how the Agent works.

A: For example, you can use Site Server Search to crawl the Internet and then have Active Channel Server push the search-based content to the client using the Search agent. The content will be based on the query you specify in the Search agent.

Q: When I create my own branded icons, the image does not seem to display. Why?

A: The icons must follow the exact size and appropriate style. Please consult the documentation for more information. The fastest way to find this information is to search the online documentation with the words "designing branded icons".

Additional query words: push prodsitesrv3

Keywords: kbinfo KB181161

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