4.2. Stream a file with VLS


% vls -vv -d udp:192.168.0.42 file:video1.xyz --ttl 12

where :

When you want to stop VLS, use the key combination Ctrl-c.

If you want to stream the file continuously, add the --loop option .

Note

VLS can stream MPEG files that meet two critera :

  • the file must be MPEG PS (Program Stream) or MPEG TS (Transport Stream), that contain video and audio multiplexed. VLS cannot stream MPEG ES (Elementary Stream), i.e. a file with only audio or video .

    In order to know if an MPEG file is MPEG PS, MPEG TS or MPEG ES, read the file with VLC and look at the messages (select in the menu View / Messages, or use the command line vlc -vvv) .

    • If you see a line :

      
[00000107] main module debug: using demux module "ts_dvbpsi"
      

      it means the file is MPEG TS .

    • If you see a line :

      
[00000109] main module debug: using demux module "ps"
      

      it means the file is MPEG PS .

    • If you see a line :

      
[00000109] main module debug: using demux module "es"
      

      it means the file is MPEG ES, VLS can't stream it. .

  • the sequence header of the video must repeat itself regularly, which is often the case with MPEG-2, but very rare with MPEG-1. There is no easy way to know if the sequence header is repeated regularly. Files with a .vob extension are normally MPEG-2 files and files with .mpg or .mpeg extension or usually MPEG-1 files .

You can download this streamable MPEG-2 PS file for your tests : presentation_short.vob .