Chapter 12. QuickTime Streaming Server

Apple has always been at the forefront when dealing with audio and video, so it should come as no surprise that the tool used to deploy audio and video in Mac OS X Server is capable of some neat tricks. Although it's part of Mac OS X Server, the QuickTime Streaming Server (QTSS) is a separate package that can be installed on Mac OS X Client. It comes with a different nameDarwin Streaming Serverbut it's exactly the same underneath. It can also be installed on other operating systems.

QTSS is an audio and video deployment tool capable of streaming bits and bytes of your favorite home movie or child's recorded class recital over the Internet for all to hear. Some see QTSS as a distraction from the real business of Mac OS X Server, but others see it as an opportunity to provide training, information, and other verbal and visual assistance to thousands of users across the globe. Businesses utilize QTSS to stream safety videos to employee desktop computers, saving time and reducing the cost of employee training.

Couple QTSS with QuickTime Broadcaster (QTB), and you have a live streaming solution for your business. And whereas lesser streaming solutions from other companies make you pay licensing fees, Apple's Darwin Streaming Server is free to install on Mac OS X Client; whether you use that or QTSS on Mac OS X Server, you pay no licensing fees of any kind no matter how many users watch and/or listen to your content.

The last piece of this trio is the QTSS Publisher (Apple even shortened the name of this tool), which permits you to manage your playlists, MP3 files, and the like.

These are possibly the finest hidden gems in Mac OS X Server. They're relatively easy to configure, there are no license fees to worry about (always read the license agreement when you install, to make sure Apple hasn't changed its mind), and even when used for business meetings, they're fun! With these three tools properly configured, you can sit back and concentrate on creating the best content, as opposed to figuring out how to get streaming to work.