bandwidth?

[Bodhidharmazen]

Hello guys, first time here. Im thinking about setting up a server to stream some videos, but Im worried about the bandwidth... I have seen, for example, that desync.com streams at 800kbps and right now they have 244 users connected. How can they achieve that?

A rough calculation says that they are streaming

650kbps x 244 = 158 Megabytes per second? What kind of server can do that?

[Smelter]

divided by 8 bits per byte.

[Bodhidharmazen]

thanks, that still gives around 20mbps... Im looking for hosts now, and the ones I have seen are only "cheap" with ports that work at 10mbps, unmetered... what does the people of desync use? do they post in the forum?

[Smelter]

maybe Fiberoptics I dont know, somebody round here uses two fibreoptic links on a server

[Bodhidharmazen]

with fiberoptics you mean a hosting provider? or the technology?

[Smelter]

fibre optic link to some 66mhz pci card.

[Bodhidharmazen]

I see, and where can I get that? How much does it cost?

[sankt]

Streamsolutions provides quality Shoutcast / NSV hosting.
www.streamsolutions.co.uk

The RadioToolBox website also maintains a listing of Shoutcast / NSV hosts. www.radiotoolbox.com/hosts/

[wildex999]

But you'll have to pay good ^^
It's cheaper to get a dedicated server with 10mbit link, and set up shoutcast yourself, usually. you also have those 100mbit to 1020$ as I have seen, but I'm not sure about the quality.

[Bodhidharmazen]

Thanks to all, Im considering Softlayer as my hosting provider, the specs sound right:

Core 2 Duo
2GB RAM
250GB HD (RAID 1)
2TB/monthly bandwidth
1000mbps port
100 dollars per additional monthly TB

[whatapath]

video streams are straight up bandwidth detroyers. my 100mbit server maxes its connection out around 280ish viewers, and we only stream at 300kbps (of course the actual bitrate fluctuates with the video)

i have 2 softlayer servers, and i can definitely recommend them to you. the server specs are great with the price, and you can work around the monthly limit if you play your airing time right (i only had to buy a second server to distribute viewers across for when we get 400+ people watching). also, the support is fantastic, and the network very solid.

protip: you can get 2 250gb hard drives if you use the promotion code HDD. when you're signing up click that you want 2 hard drives and enter the promotion code and it won't charge you for the second one (if the promotion is still in effect)

[wildex999]

Limited bandwidth is best for on demand streaming or limited airtime, as that will most likely not always max out.

[Bodhidharmazen]

Awesome whatapath, thanks for the tip.