A Roundup of Streaming Media Servers
By Brian Wilson
It's easy to put media files onto any Web
server, where users can download them via Web browser and play them back. The problem with this approach is that the viewer has to wait for the entire file to transfer before playing the file. The solution is a streaming media server. A media server provides data feed for playback across a network at a fast enough pace that the feed can be played in real time by the client.
The media servers reviewed here support several different data formats and protocols. The corresponding media players try the best method of delivery first, then fall back on slower methods. (For related information, see the "Optimizing Stream" sidebar.)
The three most popular formats for streaming video are QuickTime, Real, and Windows Media. So this month, I'm looking at three streaming media servers that deliver these formats—Darwin Streaming Server, RealSystem Server Plus (Real Server), and the Windows Media Server.
Darwin
Streaming Server
Apple
Free (open source)
RealSystem Server Plus 8.0
|
|
