Things to know for setting up high traffic video site?

[vitriol]

Hi,

I am planning of setting up a website, which would stream mostly videos to the users. In the third year of operations, we expect around 100,000 users visiting our website and maybe 150-200 concurrent users accessing video content. I have absolutely no idea of what to factor in, while setting up such a website.

I have a lot of questions that I am trying to find an answer to.

Any suggestions for a web host who are efficient at handling video streaming?

Some sites are very good at handling video, some others are not. What are the factors that a company like youtube takes into consideration while setting up a website like theirs. I am sure, it must not be just the servers and the bandwidth.

Is it possible for me to take a shared server to start with? Any webservers in sight?

Further any softwares that could be used to better manage the video content?

Further..
How much would a dedicated server cost, if we want to buy one.

Thanks in advance,

Chandan

[itispals]

When planing a site of this scale, there are plenty of factors that needs to be taken into account. Basically starting from the technology that has to be used to questions such as the server farms and the database design it requires.
One of the most important factor to look at here is Server and Bandwidth, because this is going to help you evaluate the cost involved in setting up such a project. The data transfer involved is surely going to cost you very much this is a very important aspect when calculating ROI.
Regarding Technology selection, you have either Microsoft or Apple Streaming Technology to choose from, may be tommorrow i can shed some more light on this.....
You can definitely start with a shared server to start with, a safe approach so as to say....
What are the features that you are going to provide?
Are you going to provide features similar to that of Youtube? or is just that one can view videos alone?
How are you going to handle Copyright Violations?
How are you going to handle Moderations?
These are some of the things that stuck to me immediately....
all the best....

[vitriol]

Thanks Itispals

To start with the video will be downloaded only. We will open up video uploads much later. We are making videos and uploading them for use by customers. Right now the videos are less, but we are hoping to make many more videos and upload them in the near future, on a much larger scale, once we are done with market testing.

First of all, the videos will be integrated with some software which will provide the users relevant information lets say, about the video.

Server farms is something that I have read in fascination when I was going through the details of how google operates. I am sure I will not be able to afford it currently. But then, if somebody offers it as a service, the information will certainly help, if and when I am able to afford it.

As far as database design or software design is concerned, we have not yet finalized on anyone yet. But the companies we have talked to, are either not aware of or not emphasizing on any special technologies related to streaming currently. They are just taking it as any other project where a software has to be made and video displayed. I guess I myself will have to find the technologies, and ask them to implement them. However I came to know that there are graphic servers which support this kind of load.

Do you know of any known shared servers which would support this kind of stuff?

We are not setting up another youtube. We are setting up an e-learning portal.

Thanks again.

Chandan

[itispals]

Just give me a day or two to give you details on servers. I am glad to learn that you too read with fascination about Google Server Farms. Infact in one of the recent article, Google itself feels it would take atleast a year or three to match its success in Video Technology...
Is it ok for you to share the nature of e-learning to be involved?
Is it going to be videos of lectures from staff members/professors? or is it going to be animated learning series using Flash?
So is it going to be kind of system that would enable the registered users to view these files?

[Jason Tor]

With that kind of traffic you definitely want to save both space and bandwidth.

You may want to consider converting your video to FLV format. There are several products that can do that, one being Flv Player.

As for youtube.com, they would be running there own servers with no limits. It doesn't sound like you would need such an elaborate set up.

A dedicated server is the way to go, internal if possible but a pre-set up package with full support would be better to start off with.

Jason Tor

[itispals]

Will you be in a position to share with me what would be your initial requirements,like what would be the storage capacity you would be looking at?
What would be the amount of data you think wouldbe transferred daily/monthly?
or What would be the number of videos to view in the first few months (Say 3 months) and what would be the commitment after the first 3 months?
As some one who had been involved in elearning projects as early as 2000, the above details can surely help me to give you the right answer.
Even Jason is right in a way, to set up your own internal server, have the components set up on them, buy the licenses and start your own streaming...but again if you can feel free to answer my earlier questions, it would be easy for me to answer...