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Posted by Neil Smith [MVP Digital Media] on 07/04/06 20:17
On Tue, 4 Jul 2006 09:02:16 -0700, "Richard Crowley"
<rcrowley@xpr7t.net> wrote:
>"Bill" wrote ...
>> As I'm describing this, I'm beginning to realize that, actually,
>> "streaming" video is likely always going to be a proprietary
>> codec; the other codecs are aimed at downloaders. Point taken.
>
>However, since you said that you are already using IIS server,
>take a look at Windows Media since the encoder is free (even
>for streaming as I have heard.)
"These aren't the droids you're looking for" ;-)
IIS is a web server - as such it's only capable of providing long-term
downloads of files masquerading as "streaming" (but isn't, because you
have no random access within the file). If the user decides to rewind
the player to 1 minute in, they get to download (buffer) the entire 1
minute again before the content plays**
To run windows media services 9 you need at least windows server 2003
standard (enterprise for advanced playlist support and other goodies).
The web version of WS2003 *is not* capable of doing WMS delivery. WMS
v4.1 used to be provided with windows server 2000, you might still be
able to eBay that.
Windows media encoder can support up to 50 streams with a registry
mod, but there's no service quality management available - i.e. the
end to end connection can drop off or become patchy under stress.
In this case you're actually re-encoding the video for broadcast,
rather than just 'reflecting' the stream - unless the profile used to
encode the original content matches the profile to deliver from the
encoder (then, no re-encoding takes place).
Personally I wouldn't run WME on a web server box, so you then have to
host it on a PC on your network. Do you have enough outgoing bandwidth
for 50 simultaneous connections @ 200kbps == 10mbps outgoing ?
You'd have to open your firewall on (often port 8080, can be changed
though) and possibly configure your NAT to forward those requests.
** Unless it's been cached completely end to end by the browser
>I have read some interesting arguments that Macromedia Flash
>is likely the most "widespread" format out there today. More
>PCs and Macs came with Flash player already installed than
>any other technology.
That's probably true, but to "stream" flash you need to consider the
flash video server unless it's short form video - again, otherwise
it's a long term download. One alternative to handing adobe several
$'000 is to use Red5 to deliver the FLV content - check out
http://www.osflash.org/red5
HTH
Cheers - Neil
------------------------------------------------
Digital Media MVP : 2004-2006
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/mvpfaqs
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