Problem with streaming media sites such as YouTube
July 18, 2011 • Customer Services
Synopsis
A common problem occurs with sites such as YouTube with streaming video. This is normally caused by a few factors, for example not having the correct MIME types set to "Allow" or the fact that YouTube streams the videos from a block of static IP addresses which will be blocked by default within Censornet.
Article
A common problem occurs with sites such as YouTube with streaming video. This is normally caused by a few factors, for example not having the correct MIME types set to "Allow" or the fact that YouTube streams the videos from a block of static IP addresses which will be blocked by default within Censornet.
The main symptoms are:
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Thumbnails don't display
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Video playback doesn't start
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Video playback does start, but it takes a long time to start
To work around this problem we suggest you take the following steps.
Step 1. Create a new Custom URL group for YouTube.
Open Filters -> Custom URL Module -> Categories.
In the Category box, give the new category a name such as "YouTube" and click "Add". This will then create a custom category that you can add YouTube? specific items to.
Step 2. Add the URL's to the Category.
Now that you've created the category, you need to add the YouTube URL's that you need to allow. To do this, open:
Filters -> Custom URL Module -> URL Manager.
In the top field (URL pattern to add) add ".youtube.com" (note the prefixed dot) and in the drop down box next to it, choose the new category you just created (eg. YouTube?).
Repeat the process for ".ytimg.com" and add this to the category too.
You also need to add the block of IP addresses. These blocks can vary depending on your location, however the most common block you need to add is 74.125.0.0/16. To add this, you add this as above:
74.125.*/
Also add this to your new YouTube Category. Note, if this block doesn't work for you, please check a report for an affected user to see the ip addresses that are getting blocked instead.
Step 3. Change the policy to allow these changes.
Now that you've made these changes, you need to update the policies to reflect this. To that end, go to Policies -> Manage Policies and open a policy for the users you wish to allow YouTube? access. Scroll down to the Custom URL Module and set the YouTube category to Allow.
NB This will allow the sites through, however, step 4 is vital to make the videos stream immediately.
Step 4. Allow the Mime Types.
Now that you've set the custom URL category to allow, you also have to allow the MIME type for flash movies. To do this, scroll further down the policy listing to the MIME type module. In here, scroll through the list until you find these MIME types:
video/flv
video/x-flv
Set these to allow, and hit the "Update Policy" button. When the cache next refreshes (usually in approx 5 minutes), your users will now be able to use YouTube the way its meant to be used.
If these MIME types don't appear (which may happen for older systems which have been upgraded) then you need to add them by hand. To do this, you go to:
Filters -> MIME type module
And add the MIME types exactly as they are above. Now repeat step 4, and you should be able to complete the process.
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