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Streaming Media Servers

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 data to a media player. The second method uses a separate streaming media server specialized to the audio and video streaming task. A streaming server is more efficient and flexible and provides a much better user experience.

Unlike a Web server that delivers HTML and image files, a streaming media server offers many advantages, such as:

• The ability to handle much larger traffic loads.
• Better audio and video quality to the user.
• The ability to broadcast live events.
• Support for advanced features, such as VCR controls (seek, fast-forward, rewind), live video delivery and delivery of multiple streams.
• Supports large numbers of simultaneous users.
• Multiple delivery options.
• Content copyright protection - users can only stream data and are prevented from downloading the file directly to their hard drive.

TLT supports two streaming servers:

1. Windows Streaming Server
2. Helix Streaming Server

A Flash server is not available at this time.

All faculty have accounts on the streaming servers with a folder limit of 2 GB on each server. However, access to the Helix server must be requested by sending e-mail to itap@purdue.edu.

To use the streaming servers, media files are uploaded to the streaming server and then accessed via a link that you provide on your web site.

Only streaming media files are stored on the streaming servers. The servers are scanned regularly and any non-media files are automatically deleted without warning.

Need help?
If you have questions or problems using the streaming media servers, please contact the ITaP Customer Service Center at 494-4000 or by sending email to itap@purdue.edu.