System Plug-ins
Much of the functionality of a Windows Media server is implemented by plug-ins. For example, you can use plug-ins to:
Translate client requests into commands that can be understood by the server.
Authenticate clients.
Grant access permissions to digital content.
Parse playlists.
Retrieve and respond to event notifications raised by the server.
Record server and client activity in a log file.
Retrieve content from a source.
Send digital content to clients.
The plug-ins provided by Windows Media Services are referred to as system plug-ins in this document. You can create your own plug-ins if the system plug-ins do not satisfy your requirements. For more information, see Programming Custom Plug-ins.
The following sections identify the system plug-ins included with Windows Media Services. Many of the plug-ins expose interfaces that enable you to configure their properties programmatically. These are identified where appropriate.