License delivered, screen stays black.

Question

I've a compiled the sample player, have a 'working' license server , packaging looks to be working as well, but playing scrambled content goes wrong.
1.       If using the policy made by CreatePolicyWithOutputProtection, I get “NoDigitalProtectionAvail” as error message in the client, tomcat says :
a.       2010-08-16 15:24:36.0300 INFO http-8080-1 com.adobe.flashaccess.refimpl.web.RefImplLicenseReqHandler.REQUESTS . Response: License Id:{30BA0F80-F885-3CBF-8546-1AB339E81834} Policy Id:{44FAE9D2-3170-3797-B290-93665F8C398F} Root License Id:{null} License Start Date:{null} License End Date:{null} License License Caching End Date:{null} License Type:{Leaf}
2.       If using a normal policy with authentication, the player stays black, returns the following and the server throws a PolicyEvaluationException: (Error Code: 306): Authentication required.  fails at : licenseReq.generateLicense(desiredLicenseType); where the type is leaf.
          3. Another strange this is that the documention referrers to the tenant-configuration setup, while the application still seems to use the oldfashioned flashaccess-refimpl.properties
Thanks,
Maarten

Answer 1

Hi Maarten,
1. If you are using a policy that contains output protection, please ensure you are using a Windows Vista or higher OS.  The OSX and Linux OS's currently do not expose mechanisms to enable Output Protection, so content packaged with that restriction will fail to play on those OS's to an external monitor.  If you are using a Windows machine, please make sure the external monitor you are using is HDCP compliant, and that your cable is also compliant.  Another test you can run to verify Output Protection is working is to use a laptop (or any other device with an internal screen) to play the content.  As the laptop screen isn't considered an "external screen", content with Output Protection turned on should still play.
2. If you use a policy with authentication turned on, your video player must first authenticate with the license server before acquiring a license.  You haven't authenticated yet, which is why you're seeing your error.  Authentication can be done via the DRMManager.authenticate() method.  You can find a coding sample by referring to the "Sample Video Players" directory on your Flash Access DVD (or your electronic copy, if you acquired Flash Access via ESD).  Of particular interest is the "TestVideoControl_WI.mxml" file - take a look at the method "loadVoucherFR()" for sample code.
3. There are 2 server implementations that ship with Flash Access.
a. Flash Access Server for Protected Streaming
b. Flash Access Reference Implementation
Solution "a" is a ready-to-deploy servlet that has minimal functionality and is geared towards the HTTP Protected Streaming use case.  No source code included.
Solution "b" is a complete reference implementation with almost all capabilities of the Flash Access SDK.  Source code is included for the customer to build and deploy their own server solution.
* You are reading the section of the documentation which describes the "Protected Streaming" servlet, which utilizes the concept of "tenants".  In section 9 of our documentation (http://help.adobe.com/en_US/flashaccess/2.0/protecting_content.pdf), you'll see a section for "License Server and Watched Folder Packager", which describes the Reference Implementation (the server you seem to currently be using).
cheers,
/Eric.