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Where to Start?

Answered Where to Start?

  • Friday, November 02, 2012 1:53 PM
     
     
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    I have been tasked with finding options for hosting videos for a website that we are hosting for a government client. I’ve started looking at 3<sup>rd</sup> party hosting services but also need to find out what it would take for us to set it up internally. I haven’t had the “pleasure” of working with Windows Media Services but if it could work for us I’d be happy to jump into it. I just have a few questions –

    1. For Windows 2008 R2 we would need to download the WMS software?
    2. Would IIS Media Services be a better option, I’m not clear on the difference between the IIS and Windows 2008 R2 media services (the videos will be more of an “On Demand” no live streaming)?
    3. I know this question might require a new forum but what about the licensing options for the media services, are there licensing requirements for the users who would be viewing the videos?

    Thanks!

     

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  • Friday, November 02, 2012 8:18 PM
     
     
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    There is no question about it.  For Windows 2008 R2 (as opposed to Windows 2008), you must separately download Windows Media Services and install from the MSU file.  See http://support.microsoft.com/kb/963697.

    Windows Media Services has been deprecated in Windows 2012 Server.   Apparently the functionality is now bundled with IIS 8.0 which comes with Windows 2012.

    Instructions on how to do anything with streaming is as scarce as hen's teeth.

    MARK D ROCKMAN

     
  • Friday, November 02, 2012 8:22 PM
     
     
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    Thanks for the reply - so I guess we should be looking at the IIS Media option or is it even worth it? We will need to be able to provide content for players and devices other than windows I'm sure, do you know if the IIS Media Services would include that or would we need to have some sort of encoder?

    Thanks again

     
  • Saturday, November 03, 2012 1:24 AM
     
     
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    A semi-official Microsoft source recommends using Windows 2008 R2 while we wait for instructions to be written to guide us along with Windows 2012 and IIS 8.0.

    Microsoft Expression Encoder 4 seems to be required no matter what.

    MARK D ROCKMAN

     
  • Wednesday, November 14, 2012 3:48 PM
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    To answer the original questions:

    1) If you want to use Windows Media Services 2008 R2 on Windows Server 2008 R2 you must download it from the link that F7H2fw mentioned.  This is also true for the non-R2 version of Windows Server 2008.

    2) Probably given the improved streaming experience with Smooth Streaming.  I'd encourage you to read through Alex Zambelli's blog on the Birth of Smooth Streaming at http://alexzambelli.com/blog/2009/02/04/the-birth-of-smooth-streaming/ to better understand the differences between traditional streaming with Windows Media Services and Smooth Streaming.

    3) Licensing - There are no additional licensing requirements for either Windows Media Services or IIS Media Services beyond the base license for the server operating system.  If you need a more official statement, please email wmla@microsoft.com.

    FYI, there's a lot of information on Smooth Streaming linked to on the right hand side of the Readme page:
    http://www.iis.net/learn/media/iis-media-services/iis-media-services-readme

     
  • Wednesday, November 14, 2012 9:16 PM
     
     
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    Thanks again for your assistance. I'll take a lool at the smooth streaming. A lot of options out there!