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Streaming
Video
Server
Provides
Real-Time Video Content
A streaming video server is
a specialized application that runs on an Internet server, and
is sometimes known as “true streaming.”
True streaming as it relates to a video
streaming server has the following advantages:
- It has the ability to broadcast live events.
- It can detect user’s
connection speeds and supply the appropriate files automatically.
- It
can handle much larger traffic loads.
There
are primary means to access a streaming server. The first is to operate
your own server by buying or leasing. The second is to sign up for a
streaming server hosting plan with an Internet Service Provider.
Another way to look at it is, you can either purchase
a standalone
server machine or purchase a streaming server software
package to install on an existing web
server.
The streaming
software can be used for all common server platforms such as
Mac, Linux,
Windows etc.
Examples of
Streaming Media Software
- Macromedia Communication server specializing in
flash based video and
interactive multimedia
- Apple quicktime streaming server supporting
formats like 3GPP and MPEG-4
- Helix universal server supports many
formats like MPEG-4, Quicktime, Windows Media and RealMedia
Unless
you are quite familiar with streaming technology, a simpler approach
may be to sign on with a streaming server hosting provider who have the
expertise and support for the streaming video server technology.
Examples of
Streaming Video Server Hosting plans
- Macromedia
Communication Server host
- Apple Quicktime Streaming services
- Realnetworks managed application services
True video streaming can be very costly and the novice user
may not have a tremendous need for
it...they might be better off starting with the basic HTTP
streaming.
Common
Video Extensions and Formats
The more common video
extension file formats used for creating video
streams include:
Every format has its own
advantages and disadvantages and a personal preference is very
important. Most users have their own preferred
format.
Media
like video, audio and animations can be seen on the Internet
in two
common methods – downloading
and streaming.
When a file
is downloaded, the entire file is saved on the computer.
This can then
be opened and viewed whenever is appropriate.
The advantage
is that there is quick access to
different parts of the file.
The disadvantage is that the user has to
wait for a long time till the entire file is downloaded and only then
it can be viewed.
In case of small files, this procedure is not very
inconvenient.
However, for large files and long
presentations, this
procedure is very troublesome.
Streaming media through use of a streaming video server (or streaming
server in general) has a
different procedure.
As soon as the user begins downloading
the file,
he/she can start viewing the file.
The file is sent to the user in a
constant stream and the user views it as it arrives.
The advantage of
this method is that there is no waiting required.
The other advantage
is that live events can be broadcast. This is also called as netcast or
video webcasting.
For
additional streaming
server concepts, such as streaming
video server section here, please check
out the
related
topics; 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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