A streaming server setup in a nutshell by Chris Myers - 9/26/2006
Nutshell (If you do not already have the equipment):
A streaming setup is comprised of an audio input and a video input, a computer
to encode the input, a server to duplicate the stream and of course a network
between the encoding computer and the streaming server and the users. This
is the setup in a nutshell if you want to do video; for audio remove the
video input.
Setup:
While you can use a single computer to encode the inputs and serve as the
server to duplicate the streams to users, this is not recommended because the
results
will not be the best. Your set up can range from the cheap to the expensive.
Most affordable & professional set up (and ease of set up):
Purchase or find and use 2 Apple computers with OS X.
If you need to purchase the computers:
- 1 iMac $1,100.00 to install Darwin Streaming Server
(free QuickTime Streaming Server software). The only place you can
get a professional
streaming server for free. Someone will need to install it and configure
it, but it is painless for someone that knows computers. Darwin Streaming
Server
can be compiled and run on Mac OS X Server, Linux (Red Hat 8 or higher
recommended), Solaris 9, and Windows 2000/2003 Server. It is much easier
to install and
configure on a Mac, but if you have any of those other computers,
you can save money
and use what you have. - 1 MacBook Pro $1,100.00 to encode the stream.
- 1 Mini DV Cannon MiniDV Camera
$250-279 - 1 XLR cable to hook into the sound system. One converter to get
it into the computer audio in port (depends on the district audio system
and what it
outputs). - 1 Tri-Pod to set the camera on (the district should
have one of these). - Of course the power trees and extension cables as needed.
If you have any of the equipment above, it will bring down the price. You may
or may not have everything. If you want to purchase from scratch, then you
will spend around $2600 for a basic set up. You could get better computers
and camera if you want, but the setup above is the Ford Escort of a streaming;
it will get the job done for you and should serve what I would forecast to
be the number of users you can expect to watch the meeting over the Internet.
Hookup:
Encoding Computer: The encoding computer is hooked into sound system and
the video camera. The camera is hooked up using the Firewire port and the audio
by the audio in port. Audio should be hooked up to the sound system. You could
hook the sound from the camera if you want, but the board's comments
may not be clear. The encoding computer is hooked up to the network to send
the stream to the streaming sever. A 11 Mbps connection is fine either wireless
or wired, but of course 100 megabit per second or one gigabit would also be
better. You will download the Quicktime Broadcaster (free) and configure it
to also save a copy of the stream for posting after the meeting.
Server Computer: Server computer is hooked up to the network. It will receive
the stream and duplicate it and send it out again. The iMac has a gigabit Ethernet
port so it should be able to handle everything if hooked up to a gigabit network
connection. Being you can expect probably 40-70 people to view the first few
board meetings online you will need to be sure there is bandwidth on the network
to handle it. Putting it on a switch and network connection that can handle
it is important. 40 video streams at 100 kilobit per stream will equal 4 megabits
per second of bandwidth. While that is still below the 11 megabits max that
regular Ethernet can handle it would be good to have all the bandwidth as possible.
The server does not need to be in the board building. It could be in another
building with the bandwidth. Not only will this server act as the live streaming
server, it will also act as the repository for recorded meetings and stream
those on demand when requested.
Manpower:
You will need at least one person to monitor the encoding and stream for
any problems. The best setup would be to have two people: one to encode and
record
the meeting and the second to monitor the stream and the server. Of course
3 people would be even better (1 to encode, 1 to watch the stream, 1 to monitor
the server)
Expectations:
Initially there will be a bump in the number of people to listen
to the meeting live. Expect 1 person per 2000 people to listen to the meeting
live. Expect 100-200 downloads or views of each archived meeting.
Configuration:
It will probably take about 6 hrs of configuration to get the settings right.
Once everything is right, you just press the button on the software to start
the stream.
I would recommend starting off with audio to get the process and the server
settings down. Audio is less complex and less processor and bandwidth intensive.
Once you get everything down you can then do video. You still should have the
same setup minus the camera. But if you have enough time to plan, then go for
the video.
So why Apple? :
Because they offer the professional streaming software and
encoding software for free. You are just buying the equipment, if you need
that. An all Apple
solution will enable you to quickly set up the broadcaster (encoding software)
and the server. Using a different platform for the server will make server
setup and installation a little more difficult (but not impossible for the
people who know what they are doing).
You can get a Real server or a Windows
Media Server, but you will pay a ton for the software and per stream license.
Why do that when you can get the professional
server software for free? At a minimum you will need to get one Apple for the
encoding, but you can purchase other platforms that Darwin Streaming Server
can run on (see above). While the encoding software for the Real and Windows
server may be cheap or free, you will be paying a lot for the server software.
If you already have a Microsoft Windows Media server, Microsoft provides a
free encoding program for Windows media and you will need to search the Internet
for a Real Server encoding program.
Basic Equipment Recommendations:
iMac for duplicating the stream
$1,199.00
Ships: Within 24 hours
17-inch widescreen LCD
1440x900 resolution
2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
4MB shared L2 cache
1GB memory (2x512MB SO-DIMM)
160GB Serial ATA hard drive2
8x double-layer SuperDrive (DVD+R DL, DVD±RW, CD-RW)
ATI Radeon X1600 graphics with 128MB GDDR3 memory
Built-in AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth 2.0
Apple Remote
$1,049.00 MacBook for encoding the stream.
Ships: 2-4 business days
Free Shipping
13.3-inch widescreen display
1280 x 800 resolution
1.83GHz Intel Core Duo1
512MB memory (2x256MB SODIMMs)
60GB 5400-rpm Serial ATA hard drive2
Combo drive (DVD-ROM, CD-RW)
Canon - MiniDV Digital Camcorder with 2.7" Color LCD Monitor - Blue Mist
ZR 500 25x optical/800x digital zoom; compact design; night mode; image stabilization
$279 at Best Buy cheaper on-line.
Darwin Streaming Server FAQ
http://developer.apple.com/opensource/server/streaming/faq.html
Info:
http://www.apple.com/quicktime/streamingserver/ (info here is with the Server
software, but you get all of the same features with the Darwin Streaming Server
software)
Quicktime Broadcaster
http://www.apple.com/quicktime/broadcaster/
