Open Source Systems for Libraries

Real Server is probably used mostly because of the ubiquity of the 
player.  There is a player for almost every platform (unlike, say, 
Windows Media or Quicktime -- neither of which are ported to Linux, for 
example) and it also encompasses streaming video, which Ice Cast does 
not, therefore requiring yet another player.

Basically, the goal is to trying to keep the patrons from having to 
download anything they don't have to.

I think.
-Ross.

Jeff Beaird wrote:

> We are in the process of evaluating technologies for streaming audio 
> reserves to our student patrons.
>
> From our brief web research, it looks like most folks are using Real 
> Server for this.
>
> Does anyone know of a reason why something like icecast or Artekopia 
> Netjuke wouldn't work?
>
> Thanks!
>
> References:
> icecast: http://www.icecast.org
> netjuke: http://www.netjuke.org

Actually, I just thought of another reason that people (namely, us) are 
using Real Server and that is the fact that a RealMedia file can be 
encoded at multiple bitrates to ensure that patrons can view the file 
whether they are using a modem or have a larger pipe leading to their box.

-Ross.



Jeff Beaird wrote:

> We are in the process of evaluating technologies for streaming audio 
> reserves to our student patrons.
>
> From our brief web research, it looks like most folks are using Real 
> Server for this.
>
> Does anyone know of a reason why something like icecast or Artekopia 
> Netjuke wouldn't work?
>
> Thanks!
>
> References:
> icecast: http://www.icecast.org
> netjuke: http://www.netjuke.org

we're going live with our pilot project next semester, and we're simply
using streaming mp3s thru apache....we're integrating it into our current
electronic reserves system, with a flag in our db to decide which header
to send out before the file is pushed....

i think Real does allow for multiple bitrates, which is nice, but we're
sticking to 128, with lots of notices on our pages that if you're using a
dial-up, your mileage may vary....

rob casson
electronic information services librarian
miami university
oxford, oh

> We are in the process of evaluating technologies for streaming audio 
> reserves to our student patrons.
> 
>  From our brief web research, it looks like most folks are using Real 
> Server for this.
> 
> Does anyone know of a reason why something like icecast or Artekopia 
> Netjuke wouldn't work?