NAME

mmeserver − Multimedia Services server. 

SYNOPSIS

mmeserver [-config configuration_file] [-help]

DESCRIPTION

The mmeserver command starts the server process for Multimedia Services for Digital UNIX.  The mmeserver command supports the run-time loading and execution of Multimedia Services device driver libraries.  The command loads appropriate libraries to handle each separate device installed on the workstation or server.  You can use the config command-line option to use different libraries if necessary. 

The mmeserver uses shared memory to pass information and data buffers between the client application and the server.  All pointers are also passed as shared memory pointers. 

The server uses the configuration file (/var/mme/system.ini) to establish what types of devices are available and what drivers (shareable libraries located in /usr/shlib/mmeserver) should be loaded for each of those devices.  See the system.ini(4mms) man page for more details. 

STARTING THE SERVER

The server process, mmeserver, must be running before executing any application program that uses the Multimedia Services. The server process is located at /usr/bin/mmeserver.  It is recommended that the server process be started as root at boot time. 

To start the server process

Log in as a superuser (login name root) and enter the following command:

# /sbin/init.d/mmeserver start

To stop the server process, log in as superuser and enter the following command:

# /sbin/init.d/mmeserver stop

Stopping the server process is necessary before performing some system tasks, such as removing shared memory segments as described in the Programmer’s Reference Guide. 

The server may be delayed briefly, possibly up to two seconds, during the setup of a palette (or colormap) associated with the video capture and playback or video compression and decompression interfaces. Because starting video applications typically involves setting palettes, expect all applications to pause when a video application is started. 

OPTIONS

The mmeserver accepts the following command line options:

−config configuration_file
Use the file configuration_file as the configuration file for mmeserver startup.

−help Causes the usage message to be printed out. 

RESTRICTIONS

The server process can be only started by the superuser (login name root). 

If options not listed in this reference page are used, the server may fail. 

Currently, all pointers passed between a client application and the mmeserver are passed as shared memory pointers. Most systems are configured with a relatively small set of shared memory segments.  There are techniques you can use to reduce the number of shared memory segments used.  Refer to the Programmer’s Guide for more hints. 

EXAMPLES

The following tells the mmeserver to use a different configuration file. 

mmeserver -config /tmp/system.ini

EXTENSIBLE DEVICE DRIVERS

The mmeserver is a bootstrap program that loads drivers and calls and sends specific messages to them. 

When the mmeserver command is started, it uses the /var/mme/system.ini file or a file that is specified by the -config option. 

CONFIGURATION FILE SYNTAX

See the system.ini(4mms) man page for more information. 

DIAGNOSTICS

When starting the mmeserver, redirect the output to a file in order to gather error output. 

FILES

/var/mme/system.ini       Loadable MMS device drivers. 

SEE ALSO

mms(1mms), alphavcr(1mms), decsound(1mms), audiocontrol(1mms), system.ini(4mms), and Multimedia Services for Digital UNIX Programmer’s Guide.