The VideoLAN Forums

Hi,

I would like to know if it is possible to stream video from the middle of a file. For instance, I have a 10-minute video. I would like the client to request streaming from the 4th minute. Then the server would begin the streaming from that time, not from the beginning of the file. Also, I would lik the client to be able to go back in time, for example to the 2nd minute, and be able to see the stream from there.
Is it possible ? I have searched the docs but did not find a solution.

Many thanks for any advice/solution.

I have made some more homework
Isn't it possible with RTSP / RTP protocol ? Is it what the "seek" command on the client side is for ?

Thank you for any suggestion.

Hi there

You san start media playing from a certain time using --start-time on the command line. But, I'm sure there are better solutions (but I don't know then either ;-)

As for RTP / RTSP, if I remember the RTP support is "patchy" at best.

You might also want to try the web interface, http://wiki.videolan.org/index.php/HTTP_Interface

I hope this is helpful, while you wait for a better answer... :-)

h2g2bob

Disregard that bit about the http interface - I think that just controls it, and it plays on the server only (?)

Hi,

Thanks for the suggestion. But does --start-time concerns the server side ? I want to avoid downloading the file from start, but that the server begins streaming from that starting point; in other words I need random access on the server side. Also, I want to be able to go backwards the start time point.

I'll try this then, thanks.