Global Music Resource

Server Applications

• There are several different types of applications that can be operated on a Server (private networks and Internet): Directory Server: manages the resources of the network.
• Application Server: function as intermediaries between the client-based on-line request and back-end servers by processing, retrieving and storing data for the web server and routing information between applications and databases.
• File Server: maintains working copies of files in various formats for access by a work group.
• Print Server: distributes printing instructions to various printers connected to a network.
• Domain Name Server (DNS): responds to a domain name request typed into a browser and converts the written domain name to the corresponding IP address.
• HTTP Web Server: responds to a request for a particular file on a web site and transmits the contents of the file to the HTTP requesting web browser and execute the HTML, JavaScript and VBScript. This type of server application can also accept and receive input from a client (also in a secure manner)
• FTP Server: file repository and the downloading and uploading of files.
• Communications Server / E-mail Server (POP or Post Office Protocol): hosts e-mail or voicemail and PBX functions.
• Audio – Visual, Streaming Media / Multimedia Server: the downloading and streaming of various file formats containing audio, video, graphics or a combination of all.
• Caching: a network of repsository servers that stores identical data in a closer geographical proximity to an intended viewer, thus reducing access time for streaming content.
• Portal Server: functions as an interface to the World Wide Web by combining and presenting personal information and preferences of the client viewer.
• Proxy Server: will hold duplicate data on a separate server location.

Microsoft
SQL Server 2000 – Internet database query, support for XML (to be upgraded to 64-bit)
Exchange 2000 Server – Workgroup, instant messaging, teleconferencing
DNS Server – Manage and update host names and addresses
IIS (Internet Information) – Web server

iPlanet
Portal Server – Portals providing multiple content to various user profiles (B2B, B2C)
Directory Server
Messaging Server
Application Server
Calendar Server

ScreamingMedia
Actrellis Integration Server – Combine data from various sources and formats and deliver to various applications and platforms; support for XML, J2EE, XSLT

Apache
Apache 2.0.4 – Web server

Web Server

Web Server software is first designed to establish a connection with, and respond to, a request from a browser application (HTTP / Hyper Text Transfer Protocol), locate an HTML constructed file stored on its hard drive, parse the syntax of the HTML document (interpret the HTML language / Tags) and deliver the requested file (which is displayed as a web page in the requesting browser). Web Servers must also be able to run compiled program files or script files in response to an interactive link to the file(s) on a web page. An example of this is a CGI (Common Gateway Interface) script file that processes information entered into a form on a web page. This expanded capability also includes secure HTTP protocol (HTTPS) and Server Side Includes (SSI) protocol. The Web Server also has the option of setting up an FTP Server for the storage and transfer of files.

Web Server Applications:

Apache HTTP Server 1.3.26 and 2.0.4 is a open source HTTP server application originally developed by developers connected to the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (University of Illinois). The application is especially useful and very popular for operating HTTP web servers. Apache runs on a Unix, Mac OS X (Apache HTTP is pre-installed on Mac OS X and also provides PHP and PERL scripting support), Windows 9X/NT or Linux operating system. The core application that one downloads from the organization’s web site does not support SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) for secure e-commerce transactions (it must located from a third party add-on). Support for Microsoft ASP must also be provided by a third-party application. The application can also be configured to provide support for JSP and SQL. Apache is designed with a text-based interface for configuration and administration (the main configuration file is httpd:conf and text-based directives are entered into this file).

One may download a copy of Apache 2.0.4 or 1.3.26 for a specific operating system from the Apache Software Foundation web site: www.apache.org/dist/httpd/binaries/

Microsoft Internet Information Server (IIS) (versions 4.0, 5.0 and 6.0) runs on a Windows NT, Windows 2000 and Windows XP Professional operating system. The IIS standard provides support for ASP (Active Server Pages / ASP.net) and for the .NET web service protocols. There have been several security issues related to the application in the past. It is available as a free download but the file size is substantial. IIS is designed with a Windows-like graphical user interface (GUI) for configuration and administration.

iPlanet Web Server for Enterprise 6.0 developed by Sun Microsystems and Netscape, runs on the Solaris or Unix operating system.

Zeus Web Server by Zeus Technology runs on the Linux operating system

IBM Corp.’s HTTP Server (based on Apache 1.3) runs on the Linux operating system

C2Net (Red Hat) Stronghold Server (based on Apache 1.3) runs on the Linux operating system

Roxen Web Server by Roxen Internet Software runs on the Linux operating system

Web Applications

• Web Applications Server Platforms: run business and e-commerce applications on the server side, create web pages based on client selections, manage business transactions based on client selection. IBM WebSphere
• BEA Systems WebLogic
• Microsoft Commerce Server and .NET Enterprise Server Suite is designed and envisaged as a technology that will deliver programs to clients over the internet rather than installing an individual program on an individual computer.
• Sun Microsystems iPlanet

Databases are either relational (rows, columns and tables), mainframe or objected oriented. While this type of programming is not part of sound or music production, this situation does comes into play if one maintains a web-based catalog (inventory) of recordings for sale or download. If one enters a search into a dialog box on a web site, say an artist similar to another artist or a similar musical genre, then a database must be accessed and queried for a correct response. Or If you purchase from a web site then a record of personal information, transaction purchase, service, prices and payment is created and stored on a database server. Relational databases are accessed primarily with SQL (Structured Query Language; there are different versions by IBM, Microsoft and Oracle). SQL is not really a programming language but rather locates and delivers data into an executable program. On the other hand, object oriented database management comes into play with the actual retrieval of sounds from an on-screen graphical user interface.

Database Server Platforms: IBM, Oracle, Microsoft SQL, Sybase, MySQL, Informix.

Web services, a broad term for combining applications and databases to provide a platform for seamless internet transactions, is dominated by the Sun Microsystem’s java-based Sun ONE (Open Net Environment) architecture and Microsoft’s .NET architecture. IBM also promotes products under the name WebSphere.

Digital Audio Hosting / Distribution Server Applications:

Microsoft Windows Media and Real Audio support a streaming protocol known as Real Time Streaming while QuickTime will support Real Time and a second protocol known as Progressive Streaming. Realtime Streaming delivers content from a dedicated server which synchronizes with the bandwidth of the connection to the computer that requested the data. The dedicated server uses Realtime Transfer Streaming Protocol (RTSP). Progressive Streaming delivers content without adjusting bandwidth and in a set sequence of files only. Progressive is delivered by Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP) servers or File Transfer Protocol (FTP) servers.

Once a digital audio file has been encoded by one of the major streaming media codecs, the file must be stored on a corresponding Server that will support the codec:

• Liquid Audio – (Liquid Audio Server)
• Microsoft Media – (Microsoft Netshow Server; Windows Media Services 9 Series / Windows . NET Server)
• QuickTime – (QuickTime Streaming Server)
• Real Audio – (Helix Universal Sever, formerly Real Server Basic / Plus)
• Philips WebCine – (WebCine Server 1.1)
• Sun Microsystems Enterprise – (Sun StorEdge Media Central Streaming Server)

RealServer is supported by the Windows NT and 2000, UNIX and Linux server operating system. Thus, a Real Server is just a specially configured server with the specific application installed and is capable of supporting many streaming files at once. The entire application is sometimes referred to as RealSystem G2 and Real Server is one component of the whole suite (with Real Producer and Real Player). One can download the G2 Basic server application from the Real.com web site. The RealServer Plus application is also available. This is the higher quality version and the price is dependent upon the options included in the package that you select. One must fill out the License Agreement and set up an account with the company.

One must also provide the PNA Port, RTSP Port, HTTP Port and Admin Port identification for the RealServer configuration. When requesting this data, the dialog box will enter default port identification which are the standard defaults (for instance, 8080 for the HTTP port) unless you have configured the Server differently.

Once the port identification is provided one clicks on Finish and the application is installed to your hard drive. The set up will create its own directory and icon on the screen desktop.

Double click the icon to open the application.

One must then open a web browser and then log on to the server application as the Administrator.

Any .ra or .rm file that you wish to stream must also be saved in the same directory as the RealServer application.

The link on the web page that a client will click on to initiate the stream will serve as a metafile to redirect the client browser to a file that actually holds the .rm file. This meta file will have a .ram file extension.

To create the metafile please see How To Stream with RealAudio.

RealServer utilizes two different internet protocols for connecting the server with the client: PNM (pre-G2 standard) and RTSP (G2 standard). The protocol that is utilized is dependent upon what version of RealPlayer the client has installed as a plug-in to their web browser.

RealSystem G2 also includes SureStream, which eliminates the client from selecting the bit rate for the streaming session and instead monitors internet congestion and available bandwidth to deliver the file content with variable bit rates for efficient, uninteruppted delivery.

Real Networks now promotes the Helix Initiative in order to develop a cross-platform, open source software interface for digital multimedia delivery. The company has revised the name of the suite of products it offers to the Helix Platform, which includes Helix Universal Server (there is also a free Basic version) and Helix Producer Plus. The new platform is still to be used for Real Audio 8 (along with with Real Video 8, Flash Animation, images, slides and text). The Basic Server is licensed free for one year. Some of the support partners include Sun Microsystems, Cisco Systems, Intel and Hewlett-Packard. The Helix Universal Server will also support several other digital audio formats, including RealAudio, WMA, QuickTime, Ogg Vorbis, MPEG-2 and MPEG-4.

Windows Media Services 9 Series / Windows . NET Serveris the new streaming media server application utilized for streaming the recent WMA 9.0 and WMA 9.0 Professional (5.1 Surround Sound, 24-bit/96kHz audio). When connected to a broadband client the server does not require file buffering. The Windows Explorer-like interface allows one to create server-side playlists and make real time program change adjustments such as revising the order of digital audio files or insert / delete a file, without any interruption to the client. Playlists can even be personalized to a specific client (individual or group). The server can be managed through the Microsoft Managment Console (MMC), a web browser or MS Windows Media Services 9.0 is backward compatible to earlier versions of the client-side MS Windows Media Player.

Please see How To Stream with Windows Media Audio.

QuickTime Streaming Server incorporates several proprietary protocols and includes RTSP (RealServer).

There is an open source version of the QuickTime Streaming Server known as the Darwin Streaming Server. It will function on the Mac OS X, Linux, Solaris, FreeBSD and WindowsNT/2000 operating systems. The server application will stream QuickTime files and live broadcasts and supports the RTP/RTSP (Real Time Streaming Protocol) protocols.

Please see How To Stream with QuickTime

WebCine Server 1.1 platform operates on a Pentium 4 architecture, running Linux operating system, 512MB RAM and 40GB hard drive storage. The Server also supports Real Audio encoding and RTSP (Real Time Streaming Protocol).

Sun StorEdge Media Central Streaming Server platform is capable of streaming content from either an existing file or a live broadcast in bit rates from 28kbps up to 1.5Mbps. The Server is actually the Sun Microsystems Ultra Enterprise or Netra models running the Solaris operating system.

Content Delivery Network

Live music is presently streamed over the Web. However, without a high speed broadband connection on the client side the sound (and video) quality is very poor, if the connection itself can actually be maintained. The downloading and streaming of Web media content also requires sufficient bandwidth on the Server side of the Internet. If the Server does not have sufficient bandwidth then the response time to end user client browser requests is reduced noticeably.

If you have a really large-scale music project or live broadcast of only streaming media (audio and video) that requires a large quantity of bandwidth, one can contract with a Content Delivery Network (CDN) to host the stream on a dedicated Server configured for delivering Web media content. Some of these networks are (in alphabetical order):

• Activate
• Akamai
• Cache Flow
• Cisco Systems
• Digital Island
• E-Media
• Global Crossing (under bankruptcy protection as of February 2002)
• Globix (Earth Cache is used by the Clear Channel Interactive Group radio stations)
• I-Beam
• Inktomi
• Mirror Image
• Network Appliance
• Real Broadcast
• Yahoo Broadcast

These services will provide the additional bandwidth and secure streaming of digital audio. These companies accomplish this by either locating a local server (cache server) in the same location as the local ISP (edge network) (thousands of servers physically located all around the world) or by maintaining a private broadband network with various ISPs (private peer network) avoiding public access networks as much as possible. The edge network requires that the data be transferred to the edge Server. By locating (caching) additional copies of the content on the edge of the network the amount of WAN router movements are reduced, and digital data can be delivered quickly to the consumers of content (based on their location in the network).

There are also a group of start-up operations that are developing peer-to-peer (P2P) applications that can also be utilized for content distribution. This is accomplished by the first client computers functioning as cache servers for successive computers requesting the content, and so on for successive clients.