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The Hive Streaming solution is comprised of four general components:

1. Browser-based software (the Hive

1. VX Web Client)

2. Hive Cloud Services

3. Hive Web Applications

4. Installable, endpoint-based software (the Hive VX Agent)

Browser-based Software

Hive Streaming extends the capabilities of partner video platforms via self-contained components commonly referred to as "Video Player Plugins" or simply the "Hive Player Plugin".

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Hive Player Plugins are delivered as JavaScript libraries that are then included inside the partner's application.  

The Hive Player Plugin is loaded by the web browser when a viewer loads the video event webpage.  

The Hive Player Plugin acts as bridge between the partner video application and the Hive Streaming video distribution solution.  Functions of the HIVE Player Plugin Include: 

• Communicating with an installed Hive Agent

• Collecting player statistics and user behavior observed through the web browser

For Hive WebRTC (browser-based) video distribution, a HIVE Agent is not required.  In this case, the Hive Player Plugin performs additional performs several functions, including:

• Resolve Authenticate the Hive Ticket viewers with the Hive Cloud Services (authenticating the viewer)

• Download video fragments from the partner's video CDN (as a leader)

• Share downloaded video fragments with other Hive WebRTC-enabled endpoints watching the video

• Collecting player statistics and user behavior observed through the web browser

• Post playback metric snapshots and network telemetries to Hive Cloud Services

Hive Cloud Services

Hive Cloud Services are a collection of web services supporting various application functions, including statistics collection, discovery of other Hive endpoints and peer connection setup.

Hive video platform partners must authenticate with a unique security token when connecting to HIVE Hive Cloud Services.

Hive-supported endpoints (both Hive WebRTC and Hive VX Agent-based) must present a valid Hive Ticket or Client Certificate when connecting to a Hive Cloud Service.

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Key Hive Cloud Services:

• Hive Ticketing Service: Hive’s video platform partners invoke the Hive Ticketing Service to notify Hive of a video requiring Hive Analytics or Optimization; afterwards, Hive endpoints (both Hive WebRTC and Hive VX Agent-based) must authenticate against the Ticketing Service before streaming video

• Hive Tracker Service: maintains a registry of Hive-supported enabled endpoints authorized to view a video, facilitating quick connection setup between nearby peers

• Hive Snapshot Service: Hive-supported endpoints report viewer statistics playback and network telemetries to the Snapshot Service regularly during video streaming

Other Hive Cloud services automate customer account provisioning, facilitate Silent Testing and support Agent AutoUpdate functionality.

Hive Cloud services are hosted in Microsoft Azure and do not host or have access to customer video content.

Hive Cloud Services respond only to secure HTTPS requests.

Hive Web Applications

Hive Web Applications deliver video experience reporting and provide management functionality of the overall solution.  

Hive Web Applications are hosted in Microsoft Azure and do not host or have access to customer video content.  All  All Hive Web Applications support SSO via Microsoft Azure AD.  

An optional “local” login may be configured if the customer does not utilize Azure AD.

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Alternatively, customers can opt for Okta SSO or local account.

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Hive Portal

Hive Portal is the main control panel interface for Hive Streaming , supportingwhere you can access all of Hive Streaming’s products and tools, including:  

• Browsing Hive usage reporting for live and video-on-demand content from connected video platforms. Links to Hive Insights to better understand video experience.

• Managing a Hive VX Agent deployment, including hosting of downloadable Hive VX Agent installer packages and Hive VX Agent remote configurations

• Maintain Site Information in Hive Portal and/or with Hive Site Information REST API, to maximize reporting and optimization capabilities

• Auxiliary functionality, including user management , audit logs and links to Hive Support and the Hive Knowledge Base (HKB)

Installable, Endpoint-based Software

The Hive Agent is Hive’s most mature and robust distribution technology. In addition to high performance video distribution for enterprise networks, the Hive Agent also VX Agent supports advanced features such as Silent Testing and site-specific configurations, persistent logging and fast peer discovery.

The Hive Agent acts as a proxy between the video platform partner’s web-based player and the video content hosted on a Content Delivery Network (CDN). VX Agent can also be used for optimization in some specific case, in this scenario the plugin will intercept the messages from the player and handover the logic to the Agent.

No user interaction is required. In fact, users are not typically aware the Hive VX Agent is present on their devices.

The Hive VX Agent is provided as a downloadable installation package. An MSI file is provided for Windows, a PKG file for macOS. The Agent can be deployed and managed using standard software distribution methods, including Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) . Major releases of the Hive Agent occur 2-3 times per year. Hotfixes are released if significant bugs or security issues are discovered. This is rare. Customers are not required to accept all releases, but are encouraged to accept one major release per yearor Intune.

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Hive VX Agents can be upgraded in two ways:

• Redeploying the new installer package

• Using the Hive VX Agent’s built-in AutoUpdate feature (the Hive VX Agent Application is downloaded from the Hive Cloud Services and distributed efficiently through peer-to-peer)

Customers are not required to accept all releases, but are encouraged to accept one major release per year.