F4M document contains errors - URL missing from Media tag

Question

I feel like I'm getting close to finally get a live stream to work correctly in 4.5
I can see the streams being recorded in the following directories
     C:\FMSHOME\applications\livepkgr\streams\_definst_\liveevent1
     C:\FMSHOME\applications\livepkgr\streams\_definst_\liveevent2
     C:\FMSHOME\applications\livepkgr\streams\_definst_\liveevent3
Each directory contains five files: bootstrap ,control, meta, f4f, and f4x.
I have a single file called Event.xml in the directory: C:\FMSHOME\applications\livepkgr\events\_definst_\liveevent
<Event><EventID>liveevent</EventID>
<Recording>
<FragmentDuration>4000</FragmentDuration>
<SegmentDuration>16000</SegmentDuration>
<DiskManagementDuration>3</DiskManagementDuration>
</Recording>
</Event>
However the client player receives the exception F4M document contains errors - URL missing from Media tag.
If this file is dynamically generated on the fly by the server what do I need to change to resolve this issue?
<object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000"
            codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab##version=10,0,0,0"
            width="600"
            height="409">
            <param name="movie" value="StrobeMediaPlayback.swf"></param>
            <param name="FlashVars" value="src=http://myserver/hds-live/livepkgr/_definst_/liveevent.f4m"></param>
            <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param>
            <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param>
            <embed src="StrobeMediaPlayback.swf"
                   type="application/x-shockwave-flash"
                   allowscriptaccess="always"
                   allowfullscreen="true"
                   width="600"
                   height="409"
                   FlashVars="src=http://myserver/hds-live/livepkgr/_definst_/liveevent.f4m">
            </embed>
</object>
Thanks Again!
Dave

Answer 1

I will suggest you to go through this doc for complete implementation details. It is pretty comprehendable and would help you understand http live streaming better.
http://help.adobe.com/en_US/flashmediaserver/devguide/WSeb6b7485f9649bf23d103e5512e08f3a33 8-8000.html#WSd391de4d9c7bd609a95b3f112a373a7115-7ff6.
As per your questions -
1. "I try to access the stream using the local player at http://localhost/hds-live/livepkgr/_definst_/liveevent/livestream.f4m" - This should be http://localhost/hds-live/livepkgr/_definst_/liveevent/liveevent.f4m.
     The name of the f4m is the name of the event you are referring to. In your case, the live event - liveevent is associated with all your three livestreams- namely livestream1, livestream2. livestream3.
2. "Do I need to create BOTH a 'manifest.xml' and a 'event.xml'? And do both of these files need to be in the event directory like below?" - Yes. If you are using mbr you need both these files at the exact place you mnetioned.
For simple single bitrate streams, mainfest.xml file is optional.
3. "If I need to manually create a manifest.xml file would this file and directory be correct?" - Yes, you are right on track. Create the file Manifest.xml and place it inside events directory at the place you mentioned.
4. "Do I need to use a absolute url in the streamid field in manifest.xml to resolve the error msg 'The F4M document contains errors URL missing from Media tag'?" - No. This is not needed. StreamId is not the content path, that is taken care of by the url path in the output manifest. You streamIds will be - livestream1, livestream2, livestream3.
After all this, I would suggest you to check one more thing. If you are publishing the way you mentioned above, there would be '.stream' files (For eg - 'MTYxMjAzMzAzMg=.stream' ) created in your events folder - "C:\FMSHOME\applications\livepkgr\events\_definst_\liveevent\". You should check that there are 3 and only three files formed. It somehow happens that when you publish and republish again without deleting these files, FMS creates multiple copies and tries to map each one to the actual content written at - C:\FMSHOME\applications\livepkgr\streams\_definst_\livestream1\ etc.. So there should be three files and each one should point to one of the streams directory. If there are more, please delete these files, delete your hds streaming content (if possible) and republish again the same way.
This should solve your problem. If still you are facing some issues, do let us know.
Thanks,
Apoorva.