Streaming Solutions

[Shawn Jones]

Hello all-

Looking in to an Enterprise solution for streaming, and storing of live AV content, and wondering what you are utilizing, and what is working for you. I am looking for the ability to stream live events to up to 5000 people. As a note, for whatever reason, our network folks have turned multi-casting off on the network. I have mixed Tandberg endpoints, all of which are H.323 capable, some Classic 6000's, and a bunch of 6000 MXP's with and without HD Cameras.

I am in the process of speaking to my TB representative about the Content Server solution, and was wondering if anyone is using it in an Enterprise capacity, the documentation says nothing about capacity for streaming to a number of clients.

What other options do I have?

Thanks

[MDTV]

I'm using the Tandberg Content Server. I like some things about it (mulitiple output options/formats, nice interface for users) and other things, not so much (content editor VERY limited, "clunky", no ability to choose your format/bandwidth for streaming as it is done automatically.) As far as I know, you are only limited by your own bandwidth for simultaneous connections.

I've also used the Codian IP VCR, which is pretty great. I really liked the ability to stream to PC's as well as dial in via an H.323 endpoint to view a recording. Also, it will allow you to set up a H.323 prefix to use when dialing another endpoint so that your call is recorded. Typical great Codian interface and usability.

No multicast for you? Yikes....5000 unicast connections doesn't sound fun to me!

[Shawn Jones]

So now, I have a conundrum. Do I get a Content server, or a Codian Bridge with Streaming capabilities, and an IPVCR?

The network team has perked up a bit, the CEO of the Enterprise wants to stream his meeting to the entire enterprise next year, and has asked how much it will cost, and it will be done by next year...now I have to formulate an answer when asked what do I want to do. :banana:

[Sean Lessman]

...as well as dial in via an H.323 endpoint to view a recording.

Believe it or not we have looked into supporting H.323 dial in on TCS, but what we find is once you get more than a handful of content, it becomes very difficult to navigate and find what content you want to watch with a VTC remote control.

Do you have lots of content? If so, do you find this problem? Any suggestions on what would make it easier for a user to find content if they had 100's or 1000's of hours of content?

Sean

[MDTV]

We don't have all that much content (yet.) I found that with the Codian, as long as you have your content in a well-organized folder structure, it's not too difficult to navigate. Beyond that, most users accessed the most popular/critical recordings directly by dialing an assigned alias.

Maybe the ability to choose which recordings are available via H.323 would reduce the clutter and make the most used recordings (HR training videos, in our case) accessible, while leaving other content streaming only.

[robertk]

Maybe the ability to choose which recordings are available via H.323 would reduce the clutter and make the most used recordings (HR training videos, in our case) accessible, while leaving other content streaming only.

I would say the same, a method to select one or a limited set of movies that can be accessed just by dialing a e164 number would be great.

I see the use where someone want to share information to other video-endpoints. Sort of like an answering machine! (Hmmm maybe that is the video portal product :)

//Robert