Hi all,

I am looking for a dedicated server provider who can host a Win2000 server for me. The reason I need a win 2000 server is I need Windows Meida Sevices to do streaming media.

Transfer per month is around 50Gb to 100GB. The HD should be 80GB. The price should well under $299 or $399.

I have some lists to consider:

acsdatanet.com
ewsnl.com

Does anyone have more to suggest? The network must be fast and reliable because I will do streaming media on that server.

Is there a reason why you are going with a Win2k server?

I ask this question because a *nix server is not only more realiable, but also more powerful!?

Maybe you need to re-think then win2k server?

-------------------------------
JStalker
- I'm so hard, I'm the one the cops call in fo' backup!

Windows 2000 Server is actually a great platform for streaming. Windows Media Services has been reviewed well by many.

The only reason is because I need to stream wmv and asf file. They can only stream on Windows platform. If they can stream on Linux, I will sure go with Linux.

Try www.pwebtech.com they offer great service and the prices are one of the best (if not the best) I have seen around.

Other choices may be...

www.skynetweb.com
www.rackspace.com
www.dedicatedhosting.com

They are all more expensive but I have to say Pwebtech.com is one of the best out there.

Originally posted by maxbear
The only reason is because I need to stream wmv and asf file. They can only stream on Windows platform. If they can stream on Linux, I will sure go with Linux.

Hahaha :D ... Sorry but I just had to laugh. This is a very very common mistake that a lot of people make. The term "Streaming" should be replaced with the terms "Listening/Watching While Downloading." When you watch a streaming Real Media or Windows Media file, what is happening is that the player is playing the file while you are downloading it to your computer. The faster your connection, the faster you download, the better the quality. This is why the file "buffers". The "buffer" process is actually downloading enough of the file so that it can be played back to you while the rest of the file downloads.

So what exactly does all this mean? Simple, streaming can be accomplished with any media file WITHOUT the need for a Real Media/Windows Media server. Windows Media files can be streamed on ANY platform server without the need of any special server software. To accomplish streaming, you simply need to create a special text file that tells the player what to stream. For Real Media, you simply create a .ram text file (newer Real Media encoders allow for you to create your files with the auto-stream feature so that you do not have to create the .ram file). For Windows Media, you would create a .asx file which would accomplish the same thing. Yes, I have streamed Windows Media Audio and Video from *nix servers, as well as from RaQs.

So basically, if all you need the Windows Media Server for is to stream audio and video, you don't need the server. You can use any *nix server and can stream video and audio.

Just a little note, the only purpose for the Windows Media Server or the Real Media Server is for live broadcasts. If you are not broadcasting anything live, there is no need for the server.

Hi Reg,

Thanks for your reply.

Yes, you can stream any file on Linux. But the problem is if you stream on Linux, users can't do fast forward or backward( this realted to your file format, if you do it in Real Media, you can but if you do it in Windows Media format, like asf or wmv, you can't). They must wait until the file download at that point. But with windwos media server, you can watch the movie at any point without waiting to download the whole movie.

Another thing is, if you put the media files (asf or wmv) in Linux server, users can easily download the files. That's the thing I don't want to happen.

Tell the truth, if it's not Windwos Media Services, I will never use Windows platform. I got some servers which running on Linux as well.

Originally posted by maxbear
The only reason is because I need to stream wmv and asf file. They can only stream on Windows platform. If they can stream on Linux, I will sure go with Linux.

NO PROBLEM to support this files under linux !!

Regards
Peter

NO PROBLEM to support this files under linux !! Since when was Linux able to "stream" *.asf or *.wmv files?

Yes, I want to know too. From my knowledge, there is no server that can stream asf or wmv on Linux. Please correct me if I am wrong.

it is possible ti play them as normal .mpeg video format or you have to use real server for real stream formats under linux.

Peter

Hey Peter,

You may want to re-read the post. He is looking to "stream" *.asf or *.wmv files and not *.mp3 real files.

talking to our tech again, *.asf or *.wmv is MS solution and really only MS OS requird for "streams"

Peter

Yes, they are proprietary formats by MS and Windows is needed to "stream" them. Linux cannot "stream" these files.

As stated earlier, you do not need a Windows server to "stream" Windows Media. Here is the proof. The file below is a Windows Media Audio file that is located on my friends Linux server:

http://themewrestle.ngworld.net/therock.asx

PS, this is a wrestling theme song that I had on my PC which I uploaded. I'll get a video file, convert it to Windows Media Video, and post that link soon.

Now what happens if I want to start at the last 2/3 of the stream? You need MS Media Services to do this. This is what Maxbear wants the ability to do.

Also, MS Media Services can do intelligent streaming to give you the best quality for your network connection. This is so you can offer high quality streams to broadband customers, while being able to offer the same streams at lower resolutions to dial-up customers so they don't sit there buffering for 20 minutes.

There is a big difference between "streaming" and http downloading.

Yes I know that.... The last post was to just point out that Windows Media can be "streamed" from Linux. Like I said earlier, we use the term "streaming" in sort of a weird way. As for what Maxbear wants to do, yes he would need the Windows Media Services addon to accomplish this. BUT, let me point out that this is Microsoft's way of making people use Windows Servers. See, to accomplish what you would want to do, all that is required is that you simply move the scroll bar at the bottom to whatever desired spot. Unfortunately, Microsoft has their software fixed so this can't be done without any special addon (or crack for that matter).

Hey Reg,

I see your point and agree, but there is a big difference between "streaming" and http downloading. Again, I think Maxbear wants to "stream".

Hi RackMy.com, right. There is a big differences between streaming and downloading. What I want is streaming not downloading.

To get back to the subject...

We spent a long time looking at Win2k dedicated servers and narrowed down to rackmy.com and ecui.com

RackMy are really helpful and I would have liked to go with them. I have the feeling they would be very good with support, beyond the exact letter of the support agreement (like Ventures Online our Linux supplier -- who are utterly superb but don't do Windows!).

Ecui are quite a lot cheaper and they bundle a lot of software in to the price. The support is very good but tends to be strictly limited to exactly what is their responsibility is.

Most of the other people we looked at were just selling bare servers, with the win2k OS installed and nothing more (to run shared hosting you need email, graphical stats, some ASP components that the users expect... all extra money with most companies, but not Ecui). Also most were clearly not Win2k specialists, which from a support perspective is worrying as Mr Gates sure makes complicated buggy software...

Good luck!

Thanks wallaby.

Compare between acsdatanet.com and ecui.com, which host get a faster speed more reliable network? Because this is important to me cos I do streaming media.

Comparing -- probably best to ask some specific (searching :) )questions of the "shortlisted" contenders.

As far as I can see, acsdatanet have one OC3 line, Ecui have several lines with different suppliers, so theoretically better reliability. But I'd suggest talking to them -- it's a good opportunity to get an idea of how responsive they are.

I thought the real server could be installed on linux! Am I missing something here?

David

He was looking for Windows Media Services solutions, not Real :)

Some servers softwere can be installed on *nix to support multible formats ... including Real , media...

I think CNN is using this now a days .... but the softwere is quite expinsive :angry:

But if - wasn't wrong - it might suport live broadcasting only.

Good Luck,

HYM

Another thread rises from the grave :D

Regards

One of the advantages of using Windows Media Server is
that you can encode the stream into one data file that
supports multiple bandwidth choices for playback.

This is more efficient and easier than keeping "n" versions of
the file on disk - each at a different bandwidth.

This can only be done if the file is streamed from a Windows
Media Server.

Simple single-bandwidth-per-file encoded files can be
streamed from any file server -- this is usually referred to
as "http streaming" and this may be the source of the
confusion here.


Originally posted by Reg


Hahaha :D ... Sorry but I just had to laugh. This is a very very common mistake that a lot of people make. The term "Streaming" should be replaced with the terms "Listening/Watching While Downloading." When you watch a streaming Real Media or Windows Media file, what is happening is that the player is playing the file while you are downloading it to your computer. The faster your connection, the faster you download, the better the quality. This is why the file "buffers". The "buffer" process is actually downloading enough of the file so that it can be played back to you while the rest of the file downloads.

So what exactly does all this mean? Simple, streaming can be accomplished with any media file WITHOUT the need for a Real Media/Windows Media server. Windows Media files can be streamed on ANY platform server without the need of any special server software. To accomplish streaming, you simply need to create a special text file that tells the player what to stream. For Real Media, you simply create a .ram text file (newer Real Media encoders allow for you to create your files with the auto-stream feature so that you do not have to create the .ram file). For Windows Media, you would create a .asx file which would accomplish the same thing. Yes, I have streamed Windows Media Audio and Video from *nix servers, as well as from RaQs.

So basically, if all you need the Windows Media Server for is to stream audio and video, you don't need the server. You can use any *nix server and can stream video and audio.

Just a little note, the only purpose for the Windows Media Server or the Real Media Server is for live broadcasts. If you are not broadcasting anything live, there is no need for the server.

He was asking which compnay to choose for a ded one..and now the whole issue is changed ...
Where is this thread planning to go :rolleyes: :confused: :eek: