The Wowza Video™ service allows you to secure HLS streams using the external method of AES-128 encryption. This article describes how to test AES encryption by playing a media segment (.ts) file from an encrypted stream in VLC media player. If AES encryption is working correctly, VLC won't be able to play the media segment.
Note: For instructions on configuring AES-128 encryption, see Secure HLS streams with AES-128 external encryption in Wowza Video.
- In Wowza Video, start a live stream or transcoder that has AES-128 encryption enabled.
Important: After starting the live stream or transcoder, be sure to start your video source as well.
- Copy the playback URL and paste it in the web browser address bar.
- For live streams, the playback URL is located on the Overview tab of the live stream detail page.
- For transcoders, the playback URL is located on the Setup tab or Playback URLs tab (Fastly stream targets) of the stream target associated with the transcoder.
- Save the playlist file to your computer.
- Open the playlist file in a text editor. The contents of the file will be similar to the following:
#EXTM3U
#EXT-X-VERSION:3
#EXT-X-STREAM-INF:BANDWIDTH=2778110,CODECS="avc1.100.31,mp4a.40.2",RESOLUTION=1280x720 ../lvqf41pb/2728/chunklist.m3u8 #EXT-X-STREAM-INF:BANDWIDTH=1900046,CODECS="avc1.77.40,mp4a.40.2",RESOLUTION=854x480 ../pldjp4q7/1728/chunklist.m3u8 - Copy the file path for one of the chunklists and append it to the base playback URL. For example:
https://[wowzasubdomain].wowza.com/1/RjhJRS9ZaUprOFli/QThWMWRK/hls/live/../lvqf41pb/2728/chunklist.m3u8 - Save the chunklist file to your computer.
- Open the chunklist file in a text editor, copy one of the media segment (.ts) file paths, and append it to the chunklist path. For example:
https://[wowzasubdomain].wowza.com/1/RjhJRS9ZaUprOFli/QThWMWRK/hls/live/../lvqf41pb/2728/0002hkn3/media_2.ts - Save the media segment file to your computer.
- Open the media segment file in VLC media player. If the file is encrypted correctly, VLC won't be able to play it.
