[Live-devel] How to know if server died

[Ross Finlayson]

>What is the best way to check from a RTSP/RTP client using live 
>libraries that the server has dropped the connection, or if one or 
>more of the RTP streams have died?

If a server *voluntarily* closes a connection, it will send a RTCP 
"BYE" packet, which the client can handle (note, for example, the 
call to "setByeHandler()" in the "openRTSP" code).

If, however, a stream dies *involuntarily* (e.g., because the server 
crashes), then the only way to detect this is either to
1/ Detect the closing of the RTSP TCP connection (see 
<http://lists.live555.com/pipermail/live-devel/2009-February/010174.html>), 
and/or
2/ Notice that no more RTP packets have arrived (in the last few seconds.
-- 

Ross Finlayson
Live Networks, Inc.
http://www.live555.com/