Server requirements for streaming video

...advised that the site should use THREE servers!

[kapow]

I am developing a site with streaming video. The site is for a charity (so low budget). Usually I wouldn't advise having streaming video but it is appropriate in this case. The company doing the filming and video encoding have advised that the site should use THREE servers!

1. Web server (for the website).
2. Streaming server (for Real video).
3. Streaming server (for Windows video).

Is this true?

I want to provide both Real and Windows versions of the video (so visitors may choose - according to the player they have installed).

I have heard that Real video will stream from a suitably configured web server. Is there a problem streaming both types of video from the same server?

[Brett_Tabke]

Yes, that is the best approach. If you get hammered on the video, at least the website lives. It's not uncommon for streaming video servers to get saturated and fill all available bandwidth. Using different servers is a cheap and cost effective form of load sharing.

[tigger]

kapow

I'm thinking about including streaming video within a new site I'm working on and after reading your post could you perhaps share some more information on setting this up.

Please feel free to be as basic as you wish :)

[kapow]

Thanks Brett
I need to figure out what I can get away with, i.e. is separate servers a must or a 'nice to have'?

I hear that the number of simulaneous streams is a deciding factor (i.e. what the server is capable of delivering). I doubt that the site will have more than 20 simiultaneous streams

A host that I am considering provides: 150gb delivery per month for $99 per month.

I am wondering if I can start with the video and site on the same server and transfer if it doesn't work?

Tigger: I'm new to video streaming too. With a bit of luck this thread will get some more experienced WMW help such as Brett's comment.

[tigger]

I don't know if you tried using the site search on WebmasterWorld, but I've now got some reading to do, see you in 2 weeks :(

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[kapow]

> Thanks Tigger - I've read them.

The company doing the filming and encoding for me want to format the video for 'inteligent streaming' so that it detects and provides video for what ever connection a visitor has i.e. from 28k to 512k.

- Does this work?
- Is it the best way?