Live Streaming Server – How to Build One, and Should You Do It?
What is a Video Streaming Server?
A video streaming server is a web server with built-in RTSP functionality designed to provide live or on-demand video to internet-enabled devices.
With video streaming software, the video has to be encoded and converted into a data format. Then, the information must be sent as a data stream from your origin server to your viewer’s computer.
With cloud based server streaming, the viewer doesn’t need to store the video file on their computer on their hard drive. Instead, the cloud server delivers data as they can stream and watch the video while the file is in progress.
Who Needs a Video Streaming Server?
Anyone who wants to share videos online and allow end-users to watch those videos needs a streaming server. A streaming server is required for broadcasting live or on-demand videos over the internet.
You can make your own server for video streaming, use a third-party server, or work with a video hosting platform that provides access to servers and other tools. That said, the streaming server configuration would differ based on their purpose. A live streaming server would have different requirements than an on-demand one, for instance.
There are some drawbacks to creating and using your own live streaming server instead of using a server hosting through a professional streaming solution.
We’ll provide you with the technical know-how and basic information you need to build a live-streaming server. You need technical knowledge and troubleshooting skills to build and maintain your own server.
Creating your own video streaming server will require you to use other operating systems to fulfill your streaming needs. Making your own video server doesn’t free you from using other people’s programs; it does free you from specifically paying for video hosting.
Let’s quickly look at how you can build your own live server streaming video.