Content area
Full Text
infrastructure
Darwin Streaming Server
Apple
www.publicsource.apple.com/projects/streaming
Free (open source)
RealSystem Server Plus 8.0
RealNetworks
www.real networks.com
$1995 for 60 streams
Windows Media Services
Microsoft
www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia
Free
A Roundup of Streaming Media Servers
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 Streams" 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.
I tested by using several systems: Darwin on Linux 2.4, Real Server on Windows NT 4, Windows Media Server on Windows NT 4 and XP. The servers had 50OMHz processors and 128MB to 512MB of RAM. All three vendors suggest 128MB as the minimum. With memory prices as low as they've been lately, I'd suggest using at least 512MB. I didn't...