The 21st century is the streaming era. We need it to save space for work documents or family photos. Besides, the necessity of video storage is not only for vloggers but for some other reasons. How to build this network – learn from our article.

Store or not to store

The streaming is possible in various forms. Some channels choose the on-demand model when they share their collection, and their users choose the film or episode from this list. This way needs storage depending on its size plus backup for unnoticeable transition, e.g., a home notebook sending the files on the server and the server storage itself.

Another chooses the live-only or partly archived broadcasts. An archive can be public or private. Their combination is also possible. For example, when I watch planes flying to/from Lanzarote airport, I can see only 12 hours of the archived stream. But if this broadcast ends, nobody can see it in full. Maybe you’ll need to ask the moderators to find and send the fragment interested, but I didn’t check it. Some live CCTV cams are available from any point of the globe, but they provide live coverage but not archives. The user needs to send the message to its owner for the video fragment required.

The third type is the combination of the live and collection of films. This formula is for the OTT and online cinemas offering live TV/sports coverage and licensed movies. The TV archive is accessible between 7 and 14 days on dedicated streaming servers while the films are present on the other group connected to one network.

Do I need to buy or rent the server for streaming?

It depends on the purpose you want to gain. If you wish to public transmission with donates, extra options, etc., without exclusive content, you have two options: choose the services like Youtube or Twitch, or use the server. All you need to launch the broadcast on these platforms is available on the internet. It’s free, and you can use the platform’s monetizing services. The method’s advantage is using the company’s servers without paying for them.

The security or some specific content needs the rent of a particular server. Not all platforms have the required options, or you need to promote the goods on the markets where these platforms are banned or limited in use. The specialized configuration solves the problem. You’ll need a server with a powerful processor, graphic processor unit, and capable storage. Such companies as marketplaces, online media libraries, or private persons need these facilities, especially if these providers offer unmetered bandwidth.

Hard disk or something else

And now the final question. What to choose for storage of the extensive video archive? The answer is hard disk and SSD are eligible for this purpose equally but with different options. Hard disks are the best for “eternal” files. That means for on-demand movies, promoting materials, or learning classes. This requirement is connected to the hard disk erasing policy. The deleted video will remove from the operating system tables but remains on the disk cells till the new content replaces it. Thus, frequent rewriting accelerates the device’s lifecycle end.

If you need regular overwriting, choose the solid-state storage device. Its memory type is more persistent to overwriting. The memory controller checks the TRIM commands used to delete the file. Then it finds the cells connected with the file and erases them almost immediately. Such an approach stabilizes fast ssd storage server work. In the opposite case, it would reduce the work speed of those cells by 3 to 10 times.

Conclusion

So, streaming doesn’t require buying or renting a server for money. Consider broadcasting via popular platforms or social networks. If not, welcome the various ranking of hosting providers and choose the best offer. Hard disks are slower but still in use, especially for the permanent on-demand collection. SSDs are better for live coverages and limited-time content. Every 500 hours of HD video needs 1 TB of free space, so consider this. Besides, the handy performer can build the streaming server itself, but the instruction is the topic of a separate article.