Multimedia Servers
Tips & Advice to help you make your decision on Multimedia Servers
Advances in modern technology means traditional stereo, television and video formats are being replaced with computer multimedia servers. This means business owners have a large amount of choice when it comes to purchasing and installing multimedia hardware. All the big name computer manufacturers have multimedia servers on offer. As well as increased choice of multimedia servers, they are becoming much easier for the average person to install. With the wealth of options available to you, it is important you take some time researching those available. Virtually any computer will be able to function as a multimedia server, but you do have the option of purchasing server solutions specific to your needs.
Before looking for a multimedia server, you will need to be clear on what your business needs from it. While basic servers will store music, videos and photographs, specific multimedia server hardware will provide media streaming and an optimal service. The Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) is the place to go for information on multimedia servers. The DLNA even award certificates to the best ones, details of which can be found on the official DLNA website.
When researching multimedia server hardware, make a note of the type of media you will be sharing and whether it needs to be streamed or stored. Visit Business.com for more information on multimedia servers.
Multimedia Servers
Learn the best hardware and software options when building a computer multimedia serverBy Danny Manson With new multimedia products, services and solutions being released at a rapid pace, the traditional television, video and stereo formats are slowly being replaced by all-in-one computer based multimedia servers. As a result, home and small business consumers are finding themselves with a wealth of new options when it comes to buying and setting up multimedia server hardware. Just about every major computer manufacturer has home multimedia servers on the market, and multimedia servers are becoming increasingly easy to set up.
With the wide variety of options available today, it's important to fully research your options. Just about any computer can function as a network multimedia server, but there are many multimedia server solutions that are created specifically for the job. When choosing what option works best for you, it is important to:
1. Determine which multimedia server features are most important to you.
2. Find the best multimedia server hardware to match your needs.
3. Find software that will compliment your network multimedia server.
Figure out what type of multimedia server works best for you
The first step in looking for a multimedia server is to figure out exactly what you want to get out of it. Almost any computer can act as a server, storing photos, music, and video to be distributed across your network, but dedicated multimedia server hardware will provide the optimal setup, streaming your media effortlessly. The Digital Living Network Alliance, or DLNA, has become the authority on multimedia servers, and provides certification to the best models.
Try:
Robert Green's Blog outlines the criteria for DLNA certification, and gives tips on choosing the best DLNA-certified computer multimedia server. The DLNA website provides a search engine for finding DLNA-certified servers.
Find the best multimedia server for you
Once you know what you are looking for, it's time to figure out which multimedia server hardware works best for you. Home multimedia servers are widely available, and they are easy to setup, effortlessly networking with your televisions as well as other computers on your network. Despite the title, home multimedia servers work well for businesses as well, providing an easy and affordable way to network media, as well as stream it online.
Try:
Your first look should be AppleTV. This standalone device integrates with your Macintosh network, streaming your computer's content onto any television screen. The device also functions independently, allowing you to rent movies from Apple's online store, as well as access audio and video Podcasts. If you are looking for a Windows multimedia server, try the Buffalo Technology TeraStation from Dell. This is one of the fastest and most reliable multimedia servers on the market, and it is extremely affordable as well.
Look for additional software to optimize your computer multimedia server
Depending on which model server you buy, you may need some additional software to optimize your experience. Standalone products like the AppleTV tend to give you everything you need right out of the box, allowing you to simply plug the device in, find your media, and get going. More traditional servers might simply give you the software you need to store and share your media files, so additional features like streaming your media content online will require some extra software.
Try:
If you're looking to stream your media online and your device does not come with the software to do so out of the box, check out VLC. This software is available for all operating systems, including Linux, and provides the tools and protocols to easily stream your media.
- To get the best experience from your network multimedia server, know what types of media you will be sharing, whether it needs to be stored on the server or not, and whether or not you need to stream it online. Once you have this information, finding the right solution will be a simple task.
Try the Leader in Video Hosting. Special Offer $5/Video. Free Trial!
Stunning Quality and Experience. See Our Customer Testimonials.
High Performance Shared Video Storage Network. Learn More Today!