High Bandwidth Streaming Server Quote

davezeking · 29th November 2004

Hi,

I'm collecting quotes for a dedicated hosting solution that is primarily to be used for streaming MP3 audio & MP4 (or WMV video). It looks like Windows 2003 is an option for this as it includes a streaming server (though I don't know yet if using this entails any further costs?). I would like to offer MP4 streaming rather than WMV so my clients can use the Quicktime software to view content but I've heard Apples Open Source Darwin server does not allow for commercial use.

The nature of my project will require large amounts of storage which I have specified below. I have also put together a simple hardware profile from as a guide to I may need. If you feel anything more powerful/specialist is required, bearing in mind the servers purpose, then I'm open to suggestions.

RAID 5 (Striped and Mirrored) is important as is the ability for someone at the server location to rotate a set of 3 USB disk drives weekly for backups (actual backup to be handled by myself) storing the remaining 2 disks securely while not in use.

I calculate that to support 100 users viewing video at 200kbps (kilobits) would require a 20 Mbit line and I think this should be sufficient amount of concurrent users to start with though options for increasing this bandwidth further to say 500 users (100Mbit) will be useful (and potentially further than this).

Here are my configurations:

Standard Hardware Profile
=============================================
Dell Rackmount Chassis
Dual Intel Xeon 3.2ghz, with HyperThreading
2048mb DDR ECC RAM
100% power SLA
99.95% network SLA
24x7x365 4 hour response hardware warranty

Configuration 1
=============================================
300 Gb Server Storage
1000 Gigabytes (Not GigaBit) Transfer Bandwidth per month

Configuration 2
=============================================
500 Gb Server Storage
1000 Gigabytes (Not GigaBit) Transfer Bandwidth per month

Configuration 3
=============================================
300 Gb Server Storage
2000 Gigabytes (Not GigaBit) Transfer Bandwidth per month

Configuration 4
=============================================
500 Gb Server Storage
2000 Gigabytes (Not GigaBit) Transfer Bandwidth per month

Option(s) for each Configuration
=============================================
Cost for Linux
Cost for Windows 2003 Server

=============================================

If you can quote me the prices for bandwidth & hardware seperately as I maybe interested in building my own server (let me know if their are any extra costs for this).

You should be able to email me via my profile if you want to quote me privately,

I have already had a great quote from Ed @ 49Pence

Many Thanks,

Dave King.

edb49 · 29th November 2004

Dave, hope we compare favourably to the other quotes you get. Let me know if you need any further revisions etc.

efunc · 2nd January 2005

i wonder if you've considered an Apple G4 Xserve? I'm looking for a high capacity web server for music and the Xserve struck me as being pretty good with 4 hotswap SATA bays and quicktime in OSX. The newer G5 only has 3 drive bays so it's not so great for RAID5. I'm undecided at this point though.

neilrbowen · 2nd January 2005

Hi Dave,

Dual AMD Opterons are acctually far more powerful than Dual Xeons, and we can provide these cheaper than dual Xeons.

Dual AMD Opteron 244 System (aprox equivilent of a dual Xeon 3.8 GHz).
2 Gb Registered ECC Ram
4x 300 GByte Disks,, stripped and mirrored Raid.

100% Network SLA
100% Power SLA

Sitting on a network that uses Level(3) as a primary feed and peers. With KPN and telecomplete as backups for when Level(3) do maintanence.

30 Mbps of bandwidth, capped or 95%ile, your choice.

Setup £395
Monthly £750

We are happy to give you your first month free on a 12 month contract.

Unlike any companies out there, we use real routers, Cisco GSR and Juniper M5 that can cope with huge traffic volumes without hassle, and we use large amounts of traffic.

Our SLA will credit back 1 day for every hour down over the SLA, however i do not expect this will happen.

We operate spare Dual Opteron machines, so if hardware problems arise, we simply have to swap the disks into a new chassis. On-site staff 24 hours a day are capable of this.

You will have Direct access to the onsite staff for reboots and disk swaps if they are needed.

You can get me on info@tsnglobal.net or by calling 08712 777 977 if you would like to discuss this further.

markcastle · 2nd January 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by neilrbowen

Unlike any companies out there, we use real routers, Cisco GSR and Juniper M5 that can cope with huge traffic volumes without hassle, and we use large amounts of traffic.

So you don't use any PC based routers then Neil?

neilrbowen · 3rd January 2005

Not for any location or circuit using more than 20 Mbps no.

In London and Amsterdam we only keep them for emergencies, they do not get used.