Do you want to run multiple screens with digital signage players at one location? The Garlic — Digital Signage Proxy allows you to use your internet connection in an efficient and resource-saving way. Read here how it works. You can also download the software and try it out.
A proxy server acts as a network cache and accepts requests from a web browser. The proxy software checks if the request had already been made in the past. If it has, the proxy responds to it itself. Otherwise, it forwards the request to the web server, receives the result and stores it. Internet providers often use their proxies to save traffic. In addition, proxy servers increase security because they hide the Internet addresses of the requestors from the receiving web server.
In November 2018, we received a request with the following requirement profile: The inquiring company planned to operate dozens of media players in consumer electronics retailer and supermarkets with a weak internet connection. The devices should play identical as well as different content. As a solution, the Open-Source-Software Garlic-Proxy arose.
The principle is relatively simple. The media players do not connect to the digital signage CMS on the Internet as usual, but instead to the proxy server on the intranet. The Garlic proxy connects to the CMS on a time-controlled basis and retrieves the necessary content. Once downloaded, the intranet players update themselves based on what the proxy prepares for them.
By the way, this procedure is called reverse proxy. There is no difference for device and content management.
The Garlic proxy is compatible with all current SMIL players (as of December 2021).
As soon as a media player logs in to the Garlic proxy, it is automatically included. In this case, you connect the players using the proxy's address as the content URL. The devices update by default depending on the set time. The registration to the CMS as well as the downloads from the Internet are handled by the proxy software.
Since the Garlic proxy works transparently, the CMS does not register any differences. You use the internal inaccessible players normally in your device and content management. Just as if they were directly connected. Our software acts as an intermediate interface to your intranet.
You decide at what times, and how often, your digital signage content updates. Would you prefer to update at night, in the evening, at noon, or at multiple times of the day? Furthermore, downloads from the Internet take place centrally in one place. This simplifies control and administration with firewalls, port forwarding and packet filters.
Are you using the same files with different names for logistical or security reasons? With our SmilControl-CMS or other compatible CMS ,this is no problem. The software recognizes the files reliably and downloads them only once. A standard proxy can't differentiate in this case — the Garlic-Proxy can! This helps to save massive bandwidth and resources.
Do you want to refresh a screen immediately without waiting for the automatism? The Garlic proxy has a web GUI that lets you request the operation manually.
Here is a link to get more information about Garlic-Proxy and how to download. All you need to operate it is a web server that executes PHP scripts. You do not even need a database.
Since the hardware requirements are low, even an inexpensive mini-computer like the Raspberry Pi serves dozens of SMIL-player. If you need further information or professional support, contact us.
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