Windows Media Services

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Windows Media Services

Overview

The windows media services lets users stream videos to clients of choice over the network. Windows Server (version 2008 or above) is required to deploy the computer as a server and be able to provide video streaming to clients over the network.

Windows Media Server (Required for streaming to clients): It streams video as well as digital audio content to clients which can be other computers on the network or devices on that network. These clients need to have a media player preferably Windows Media player in order to be able to play back the content streamed. Clients can also be servers themselves which further redistribute the streamed content or can also be mere applications that have been built using Windows Media SDK.

Windows Media Services allows live streaming as well as prerecorded media content. However, for live streaming it is important to use an encoding software like Microsoft Expression Encoder for broadcasting live stream. [1]

Use cases for Windows Media Services would include:

Companies providing wireless broadband entertainment services

Radio, cable or television content providers

Distributors of film and music that needs secure distribution without network congestion.

Companies that host fast streaming videos to homes and offices.

Features

Proxy / Cache Management: The Windows Media Server can be configured in such a way that it serves as reverse proxy server or as a cache / proxy server. This will allow to provide proxy and caching support to other servers. One of the major advantages of having a server that provides proxy and caching support for the media content is that it reduces operational costs and better streaming for users by offsetting the load from the ori...

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Delivers content using Intelligent Streaming

Supports cache/proxy delivery scenarios

Supports rich client logging

Delivers content to cross-platform Silverlight clients

Delivers content to iOS devices (iPhone, iPad)

Delivers content referenced by server-controlled playlists

Provides advanced performance boundary limits properties

Supported on Server Core installations

References

Works Cited

[1] Microsoft. “Product Evaluation: Streaming Media Services”. Internet: http://technet.microsoft.com/library/cc753162, January 4, 2010.

[2, 3, 4] Neudesic, LLC. “Windows Media Services 2008”.Internet: http://www.iis.net/downloads/microsoft/windows-media-services, 2009.

[5] Microsoft. “IIS Media Services 3.0 Overview”. Internet: http://www.iis.net/learn/media/iis-media-services/iis-media-services-30-overview, September 7, 2010.

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