All server editions communicate with Flash Player, AIR, and Flash Lite over Real-Time Messaging Protocol. RTMP is optimized to deliver high-impact streams in real time. An RTMP connection can multiplex any number of streams. Each stream contains synchronized audio, video, and data channels. Remote method invocation and shared object messages are carried in a data-only stream.

There are five types of RTMP connections supported by Flash Media Server 3:

RTMP 

This is the standard, unencrypted Real-Time Messaging Protocol. The default port is 1935; if a port is not specified, the client attempts to connect to ports in the following order: 1935, 443, 80 (RTMP), 80 (RTMPT).

RTMPT 

This protocol is RTMP tunneled over HTTP; the RTMP data is encapsulated as valid HTTP. The default port is 80.

RTMPS 

This protocol is RTMP over SSL. SSL is a protocol for enabling secure communications over TCP/IP. (Flash Media Server provides native support for both incoming and outgoing SSL connections.) The default port is 443.

RTMPE 

This protocol is an encrypted version of RTMP. RTMPE is faster than SSL, does not require certificate management, and is enabled in the server's Adaptor.xml file. If you specify RTMPE without explicitly specifying a port, the Flash Player scans ports just like it does with RTMP, in the following order: 1935 (RTMPE), 443 (RTMPE), 80 (RTMPE), and 80 (RTMPTE).

RTMPTE 

This protocol is RTMPE with an encrypted tunneling connection. The default port is 80.