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A
Anonymous
October 25, 2007
Question

Questions before I buy Flash Media Server 2

  • October 25, 2007
  • 1 reply
  • 370 views
Hi! I'm considering buying Macromedia Flash Media Server 2. This software would be a large investment for me, so I'd really appreciate any answers or advice that anyone could provide. I just have a couple questions:

1) Can FMS2 be installed on the same server that runs my Web sites? I have a Linux server that runs a few sites, and it would be ideal to run this software and the sites on the same server. I'm also wondering what port it would run on? I've used RealNetworks' Helix Server, which requires you to run it on a separate server because of port issues. I want to use Flash instead.

2) Does this software also come with a Flash video player that would work with my sites? I want to be able to stream .flv videos from my Web sites and have a Flash player launch whenever a user selects one of my videos (kind of like how RealPlayer launches when you click a RM file). This way, the player wouldn't always be embedded in the page. Is that possible? I'm worried about the player failing to launch, or people needing to download a special player to view my videos.

Thanks very much!
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    1 reply

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    DanielKozimor
    Known Participant
    October 26, 2007
    1) Yes you can run it on the same box as your web server. You can specify any port you wish for FMS to listen on (default is 1935)

    2) I'm not quite sure I understand. In order to view your videos a client will have to have a flash browser plugin installed - which should not be a problem as flash browser penetration is somewhere in the high 90th percentile (if Adobe is to believed). In addition, your flash application will need to make a connection to FMS before it can stream videos, so its not quite as simple as clicking on a .flv link. Your flash app will have to be embedded in a page (think youtube - although youtube does not use FMS).

    If you're not sure if FMS is right for you (and you sound like you're not sure), why don't you download the Developer edition and test it out? Its free and has all the features of the "full" version, but only gives you a license for 10 users.
    A
    Anonymous
    October 26, 2007
    Thank you for replying. I had been wondering whether the player absolutely *had to* be embedded in the web page, and apparently it must be. This may require me to redesign some pages to always include room for a player.

    To fit into my design, I would need a little Flash music and video player that would show a JPG image of a CD cover on screen by default. So I would need the ability to choose an image. Music or video files would be selected from a drop-down menu and would run in the player. The user would be able to view the video at full-screen size, but this full screen would open in a separate window (so it wouldn't disturb the rest of my design).

    Do you know of a good player that would do that? Otherwise I may have to make significant design changes that I really don't want to go through. My current design is great and I'd hate to change it. Thanks very much!
    D
    DanielKozimor
    Known Participant
    October 26, 2007
    >I had been wondering whether the player absolutely *had to* be embedded in the web page, and apparently it must be. This may require me to redesign some pages to always include room for a player.

    You can get around this by launching a pop-up with the flash player from a static link.
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