Remote Audio Output Protocol (RAOP) is an Internet streaming protocol based on RTSP / RTP authored by Apple Inc. It powers the AirPlay technology built into AirPort Express wireless (802.11b/g/n) access point as well as the Apple TV.
The major difference from RTSP is an initial asymmetric key verification made by iTunes to verify it is communicating with an AirPort Express or an Apple TV (as opposed to a simulation), and vice versa. The data channel is also encrypted by AES, with a random key protected by the asymmetric key mentioned above.
The RSA public key stored in iTunes was extracted by Jon Lech Johansen, enabling third-party software to stream music to an AirPort Express.
The RSA private key stored in the AirPort Express was extracted by James Laird, enabling simulation of an Airport Express.
The Shairport-sync application which emulates Airport Express hardware is available.
External links
- Technical note to describe the Remote Audio Access Protocol (RAOP) as used in Apple iTunes to stream music to the Airport Express (ApEx)
- RAOP-play an open source implementation of the protocol
References
"Unofficial AirPlay Protocol Specification". nto.github.io. Retrieved 20 October 2019. https://nto.github.io/AirPlay.html ↩
"Technical note to describe the Remote Audio Access Protocol (RAOP) as used in Apple iTunes to stream music to the Airport Express". XMMS2 organization wiki. xmms2. 7 October 2019. Retrieved 20 October 2019. https://github.com/xmms2/wiki/wiki/Technical-note-to-describe-the-Remote-Audio-Access-Protocol-(RAOP)-as-used-in-Apple-iTunes-to-stream-music-to-the-Airport-Express-(ApEx). ↩
"Technical note to describe the Remote Audio Access Protocol (RAOP) as used in Apple iTunes to stream music to the Airport Express". XMMS2 organization wiki. xmms2. 7 October 2019. Retrieved 20 October 2019. https://github.com/xmms2/wiki/wiki/Technical-note-to-describe-the-Remote-Audio-Access-Protocol-(RAOP)-as-used-in-Apple-iTunes-to-stream-music-to-the-Airport-Express-(ApEx). ↩
"[vlc-devel] commit: Comment for myself ( Rémi Denis-Courmont )". Mailman.videolan.org. 2008-01-02. Retrieved 2012-02-10. http://mailman.videolan.org/pipermail/vlc-devel/2008-December/054010.html ↩
"[vlc-devel] RAOP/Airtunes". Mailman.videolan.org. 8 April 2011. Retrieved 2012-02-10. http://mailman.videolan.org/pipermail/vlc-devel/2011-April/079148.html ↩
"shairport-sync". github.com. Retrieved 2016-09-16. https://github.com/mikebrady/shairport-sync ↩