Chapter 1
Tasks of the Oracle Video Server Administrator

This chapter discusses tasks specific to administering the Oracle Video Server (OVS).

This chapter introduces the following topics:

System Planning

OVS administrators are responsible for creating a real-time video system that meets their organization's needs. This includes creating a system that can deliver the required number of concurrent video streams, creating additional Oracle Media Data Store (MDS) volumes as the organization's multimedia library grows, and scaling the system appropriately as multimedia content and demand increases.

For information on system planning, refer to the Chapter 2, "System Planning for the Oracle Video Server."

Encoding Video Content

Depending on the organization, the OVS administrator may need to either encode video content with an in-house encoding system, or work with an appropriate post-production facility that provides video encoding services.

For information on encoding video content, refer to Chapter 4, "Preparing and Loading Content."

Preparing and Loading Multimedia Content

The OVS provides command-line utilities for managing multimedia content. Typical content management tasks include:

loading content files
creating tag files for each content file
backing up the content

Loading Content

Digitized video files must be loaded into the Oracle Media Data Store (MDS) either from a tape containing a tar archive, from a CD-ROM or removable disk drive, or from a host filesystem. The OVS includes the mdstar utility for both extracting and creating tar archives to an MDS volume, and the mdscopy utility for copying files from either a host computer or removable media such
as CD-ROM.

Creating Tag Files

In addition to loading the content file, you must create a tag file with the vstag utility. Tag files include information such as the file's name or title, the encoded bit rate of the file, and the file's position within the MDS volume.

Performing Backups

Performing backups is especially important for digital video files. Video files tend to be large, and so take considerable time to load and tag. The OVS includes the mdstar utility for creating tar archives to a tape device.

For information on loading and preparing OVS content, refer to Chapter 4, "Preparing and Loading Content."

Maintaining the Oracle Media Data Store

The MDS is a disk system that provides real-time access to multimedia data. As your video library grows, you will need to add additional volumes to the MDS, rename volumes, and, on occasion, replace failed disk drives.

For information on performing these and other tasks on the MDS , refer to Chapter 5, "Oracle Media Data Store Tasks and Procedures."