Media Server Types and Podcasting

by Norman A. Garrett
Eastern Illinois University

 

Server Type Client Capture Personal Media Device Client Instant Play Notes
         
Streaming Media NO NO YES File size is not an issue for the client connecting to this type of server since media is streaming and can be played as soon as an adequate amount of buffer data is downloaded.  Designed for synchronous listening/viewing.  Also works with live content.
Web Server YES YES NO
File size should be kept small, since the entire file must be downloaded before play can begin.  This server type is preferred for true podcast distribution, since it can be captured and moved to portable devices for listening.  Best used for asynchronous content and does not work with live content.

 

Notes:

  1. For use with podcasting on RSS feeds, the web server is the preferred method, since content is captured by the client and then can, in turn, be synchronized with a portable device.
  2. If portable devices are not in the mix, either platform will work for delivery to the client.
  3. From an infrastructure point of view, the streaming media server has a more controlled environment, with bandwidth configuration.  Also, since content is not captured, it can be updated without worrying about having to replace or update the content that has already been downloaded.
  4. Copyright issues can be quite different between streaming and web server methods.  Since streaming servers don't allow for the capture of the stream, copyright restrictions might be less stringent.  In any case, copyright restrictions vary greatly and must be examined individually before placing copyrighted content on either type of server.
  5. In a mixed access environment (some broadband, some dialup), streaming is the preferred method since most streaming servers can automatically sense and adjust for bandwidth restrictions and deliver content appropriately.  In an educational environment, this means that the use of a streaming server can help narrow the broadband gap among students.
  6. In an enviroment where file sizes are large (particularly with heavy video use), streaming servers are preferred because web servers require that the entire file be downloaded before it can be played.  This can be a slow process with large files, however this difference is being reduced over time as broadband coverage expands.
  7. The best way to target a portable device audience (true podcasting) is to keep file sizes relatively small and place the content on a web server as part of an RSS feed.
  8. Almost all educational environments have web servers available for instruction, however not all environments will have streaming servers available.  There is greatest flexibility if both are available, however the most common scenario is to have only web servers available to faculty.  If both are available, duplicate content could be placed on both servers, allowing the advantages of both types to come into play.