Helix DNA Server FAQ

1. What are the top benefits of Helix DNA Server source code to product developers?
2. What is included in the Helix DNA Server source code?
3. What about MPEG-4 support?
4. For which operating systems is the Helix DNA Server source available?
5. What are the licensing options for the Helix DNA Server source code?
6. What does the Helix DNA Server source code cost to license?
7. What is the stream count cap on the Helix DNA Server?
8. What other restrictions exist in the RCSL for the DNA Server?
9. What codecs and/or file formats does the Helix DNA Server deliver?
10. Does the Helix DNA Server include RealAudio and RealVideo format support?
11. Does the Helix DNA Server obsolete the Helix SDK (formerly the RealSystem SDK?

1. What are the top benefits of Helix DNA Server source code to product developers?

1. You can create products that deliver every file format from within a single delivery engine.
2. You now have access to the source code of the industry's best media delivery engine to create the best RealAudio and RealVideo media delivery products.
3. You can port or optimize the industry's best delivery engine to their platforms/products for environments such as home, business, government, financial, mobile and medical networks to name a few.

2. What is included in the Helix DNA Server source code?

The Helix DNA Server is a fully functional media server. Click here for an overview

3. What about MPEG-4 support?

RealNetworks intends to add support for MPEG-4 after the MPEG-4 systems license terms have been released by the MPEG-4 licensing body, MPEG-LA. Developers can create extensions for other media types such as Windows Media and QuickTime, or they can license extensions from RealNetworks through the Helix community.

For further information regarding licensing extensions mentioned above, please send inquiries to licensing@helixcommunity.org.

4. For which operating systems is the Helix DNA Server source available?

The Helix DNA Server source code is available for computers running the AIX, HP-UX, Tru64, FreeBSD, Linux, Solaris, Windows NT and Windows 2000 operating systems. All Helix DNA source code is designed to be highly portable to new operating and computing environments enabling community developers to more easily engage porting initiatives to new and other operating system environments.

5. What are the licensing options for the Helix DNA Server source code?

Two options exist for source code licensees:

• RealNetworks Community Source License (RCSL) -- which is the community source code license for developers that want to keep their Helix DNA Server-based product's source code under their own proprietary license.

• RealNetworks Public Source License (RPSL) - the OSI certified no-cost open source license that requires the developer to make his/her entire work available under the RPSL or a combination of the RPSL and a compatible open source license.

6. What does the Helix DNA Server source code cost to license?

• The RPSL is a no-cost "copyleft" OSI-certified open source license.

• The RCSL license makes the follow distinctions:
  1. Research and Development - Free
  2. Commercial Use (including internal deployment/use or distribution to third parties) of a product that includes the Helix DNA and RealAudio/RealVideo - $500/CPU

7. What is the stream count cap on the Helix DNA Server?

There are no stream count caps on Helix DNA Server.

8. What other restrictions exist in the RCSL for the DNA Server?

Developers who want commercial use license rights must comply with the Commercial Use License requirements of Attachments D and F that specify branding, requirements and the requirement to include RealMedia delivery as part of the developer's product.

Attachment D and F are currently under review and unavailable. Feel free to send inquiries to licensing@helixcommunity.org.

9. What codecs and/or file formats does the Helix DNA Server deliver?

The Helix DNA Server contained file format output support for the following data types:

• RealAudio and RealVideo - in object code for R&D purposes

• MP3

Community members can add other media formats and capability through their own developments. Additional technology can be licensed from RealNetworks, which includes advanced network server capability, and additional media format support (e.g. Windows Media, QuickTime, Flash, and 50 other media types).

The "addition technology" mentioned above is currently under review and unavailable. Feel free to send inquiries to licensing@helixcommunity.org.

10. Does the Helix DNA Server include RealAudio and RealVideo format support?

RealAudio and RealVideo format support are supplied in binary code form for R&D Use only. Commercial Use license rights for the entire Helix DNA Server with RealAudio and RealVideo support are available via Attachments D & F for $500/CPU. If you need access to source code for the RealMedia file format support for commercial porting purposes, a no cost source code porting license is also available as Attachment G to the RCSL.

Attachment D, F, and G are currently under review and unavailable. Feel free to send inquiries to licensing@helixcommunity.org.

11. Does the Helix DNA Server obsolete the Helix Client and Server SDK (formerly the RealSystem SDK)?