Where to Host?

Will you be streaming to a lot (more than 50) concurrent users? If so, don't do this locally. Typical broadband home and office connections are shared by other ISP subscribers and are subject to wild bandwidth fluctuations, especially on Friday night. In addition, purchasing a more reliable network connection, such as a T1, is prohibitively expensive for a simple network. Co-location and content delivery network (CDN) companies offer a reliable solution for securing the necessary bandwidth. Co-location means leasing physical space and bandwidth at an ISP and placing your own server computer on their network. A CDN is a third-party service that charges to host live and on-demand audio streams as well as other content.

Are you streaming on-demand files only? If so, you have the option of using HTTP/Progressive on-demand streaming with a simple Web server instead of real-time streaming. You might already be paying for a limited amount of disk space and Web bandwidth as part of your existing Internet access. Check with your ISP to find out how much space and bandwidth you have available. As noted in Chapter 1, "Introduction to Streaming Audio", there are a few limitations when streaming with HTTP/Progressive, but it's a less expensive solution.

How much money do you want to spend? Perhaps you're creating a Web site for your band and can't afford additional hosting fees for your streaming audio. In this case it makes more sense to handle your own server needs. Worry not: Hosting and serving your streaming audio is a lot simpler than it was five years ago, and it's becoming more straightforward all the time. In the end, running a local server is more work, but it's potentially a lot cheaper and also provides that fabulous, hands-on educational experience.

If you're still considering serving locally or at a co-location facility, look at whether you might enjoy configuring and maintaining server computers and related networks. Choose a CDN if you don't want to be responsible for those issues.

You must be aware of another basic physical limitation if you've decided to run your own local server. Those who are lucky enough to attract more listeners to their server than the server can handle will find that their popularity actually brings their streams to a screeching halt by democratically cutting off everyone. Those lucky people should reconsider hiring a CDN or co-location facility that can guarantee bandwidth flexibility.

With all these issues in mind, add the time required for installing and maintaining your own server and balance that with the price of leasing outside services. Remember to temper this balanced equation with your expected return for providing streaming audio. Follow this somewhat convoluted equation for happy streaming.

Running Your Own Server

If you've decided to do the hosting yourself, either locally or remotely with a co-location facility, you'll need to install, configure, and maintain your own streaming server computer.

Co-location facilities have a tremendous amount of bandwidth and aisles of grounded metal racks on which to place your server computer, which is then plugged into their network. The facilities handle all the connectivity and secure backup electrical power in case of outages. At co-location facilities (unlike CDNs), you provide your own server hardware and software, remotely administering and maintaining that hardware and software through an online connection. Co-location facilities provide a much more reliable form of connectivity and that improves the quality of your stream.

If, however, you've decided to run your own streaming server on your own local network, make sure you have enough bandwidth. An absolute minimum of 128Kbps ISDN is recommended (128Kbps ISDN guarantees the same data rate for upload and download). 128Kbps allows you to author a live 32Kbps stream to three concurrent users using 56Kbps dial-up modems and still have the bandwidth necessary for a little headroom. If you have a DSL connection, find out exactly what your upload speed is. Typical DSL connections are actually asynchronous digital subscriber line (aDSL) and have greater download (data from others to you) than upload (data from you to others) capability. That means you'd have plenty of bandwidth to download from the Internet, but you would have considerably less available to stream outward.

Remote Hosting

If you've decided to rent a server from another provider, you have several options. Unless you're lucky enough to borrow server space from a friend, expect to pay a modest fee. This fee should relate to actual use based on the number of maximum concurrent users over a specific time period and overall bandwidth used, and it typically includes a flat startup fee and base monthly fee.

Your ISP might offer a real-time streaming server to host your live and on-demand streams. Most ISPs also provide standard Web site hosting accounts that support HTTP/Progressive streaming for on-demand files only. Don't be dismayed if the customer support people at your ISP have no idea what you're talking about. You're now officially on the cutting edge of streaming audio. If your ISP doesn't provide streaming service, ask if they know who might.

If you've decided to host with a CDN and aren't sure where to start, take a look at the short list in the Appendix, "Tools and Resources." Shop around and go with one that has employees you can talk to and who take the time to answer questions to your satisfaction. Find out if they are available 24/7. If your live stream needs attention at 3 a.m., it's important that your CDN's customer support team is available. With the global reach of the Internet, 3 a.m. in your city is the middle of the afternoon on the other side of the earth. You can also search online by adding the word Hosting to the streaming format of your choice. For example, search on Windows Media Hosting.

Hosting your stream on someone else's server can be a breeze. You don't have to download, install, or set up anything. Your provider will give you all the information necessary to upload your on-demand content and connect your live stream. When working with on-demand files, all you have to do is plug in the provided configuration information into your file transfer program and then upload your files. If you're authoring a live stream, it's a simple matter of plugging in the provided configuration information into your live encoder and starting your broadcast. After that, all you have to do is create your metafiles and link to them from your Web site.

CDNs typically provide additional tools to help deliver an efficient stream. For example, your stream's URL might first connect to a specialized server that decides which streaming server to connect a listener, based on the listener's geographical location. Each CDN has its own unique technological approach to supplying high-quality and reliable streams to your listeners.

Streaming audio is a complex problem a balancing act in some ways and a simple solution or industry standard doesn't yet exist. But, like anything else, never settle for poor service. The industry is highly competitive and still small enough that quality of service is important.