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Streaming
Server
Delivery
Getting Your Streaming Media Out
A
streaming server is one that delivers streaming media content over the
web to users across the globe.
There are two major
methods of delivering streaming audio and video content over the Web.
- The
first method uses a standard Web server to deliver the audio and video
data to a media player.
- The second method uses a separate
streaming media server specialized to the audio/video streaming task.
Some
experts will tell you that, while Web server streaming can be an
effective interim solution, a streaming media server is more
efficient and
flexible...and provides a better user experience.
Until
recently, audio and video on the Web was primarily a download-and-play
technology. You had to first download an entire media file before it
could play.
But because media files are usually very
large and take a long time to download, the only content found on the
Web was short 30-second clips...often even shorter. Even
these
files could take 20 minutes or longer to download.
Using streaming server
software, streaming media files begin playing almost
immediately, while the data is being sent, without having to wait for
the whole file to download.
Other than a few seconds
of delay before the file starts to play, you don't have to wait to
start watching, no matter if the file lasts 30 seconds or 30 minutes.
As
audio and video streaming over the Internet has become more popular
and two primary
methods for streaming content have emerged.
- The
first method is the Web server approach, in which a standard Web server
is used to supply data to the client.
- The second method is the
streaming media server approach, in which a specialized media
server delivers the data to the client.
Posting
and Streaming Server Hosting
- In the streaming server
hosting approach, the initial steps are similar to the Web
server approach,
except that the compressed media file is produced and copied to a
specialized streaming media server.
- Then a Web page with a
reference to the media file is placed on a Web server.
- Windows
Media
hosting services and the Web server may run on the same
computer and share
similar streaming server software.
Data Delivery
- The
rest of the streaming media server delivery process differs
significantly from the Web server approach.
- In contrast to the
passive burst methodology employed in Web streaming media
server,
the data is actively and intelligently sent to the client, meaning that
it delivers the content at the exact data rate associated with the
compressed audio and video streams.
- The streaming media server and
the client stay in close touch during the delivery process, and the
streaming media server can respond to any feedback from the client.
Streaming
Media Server Advantages
Although
each streaming media server is different and has there own strengths
and weaknesses, the ones that separate themselves apart have the
following attributes:
- Designed
specifically for the task of delivering live or on-demand streaming
media rather than many small HTML and image files
- More
Efficient Network Throughput
- Better Audio and Video Quality
to the User
- Support for Advanced Features
- Cost
Effective Scalability to Large Number of Users
- Protection of Content Copyright
- Multiple
Delivery Options
The Windows Media streaming server
for example will automatically switch to the appropriate protocol so no
client-side
configuration is necessary.
The streaming media server
will initially attempt to transmit files using the optimal UDP or
Multicast protocols. If unable, the server will then attempt to send
first via the raw TCP protocol, then via TCP with HTTP-based control.
For
additional streaming server concepts, please check out the
related
sections; streaming
video server, windows
media server, streaming
audio
servers, video
web server, streaming
server hosting and streaming
server software.
If
you are looking for a little more
hands-on
type information, take a peek at the streaming media player,
video teleconference, video webcasting, how to stream video
and
how to
stream audio.
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