VideoLAN as replacement for QT et WM server - Possible?

[WG]

Sorry for me being a little thick, but I've browsed through the FAQs and Documentations, and didn't manage to reach a conclusion...
I'm looking for a streaming server to replace Darwin Streaming Server (Apple, QT) and Windows Media Services (MS, WM). Something for serving QT6 and WM9 streaming content for several hundreds (or thousands) of visitors, over the WWW. Content to be read with the standard QT/WM players (or whatever else) people might have.

Is VideoLAN a solution for me, or not?

Thanks in advance

[The DJ]

No, VideoLAN is a LAN streamer, not a Internet streamer.

Compatibility with QT and WM is limited at the moment, though possible.
So VideoLAN is not an ideal replacement yet.

DSS is much more powerful, and WMP is the worst invention ever

[WG]

I see. That's what I suspected, but I wanted to have it confirmed. Thank you very much.

WMP is the worst invention ever

Yes, I know, I loathe it myself, but unfortunately we're living in a MS world, and my customers want WM.

Thanks a lot for your time.

[hans-jürgen]

Yes, I know, I loathe it myself, but unfortunately we're living in a MS world, and my customers want WM.

One main difference between QuickTime and WMP based streaming is that QT does not support the Microsoft ASF format, but WMP can use DirectShow filters that enable MP4 and even RTSP support, e.g. from mpegable (freeware), 3ivx (free demo, no RTSP) or Envivio (not free). So you could setup the Darwin Streaming Server (or another from Helix etc.), stream the MP4 format with MPEG-4 video and AAC audio and tell your customers to download and install one of these filters/plugins. By the way, the latest WMP9 also supports RTSP on its own, but not the MP4 file format, so the mpegable DS decoder is still the best alternative.

[The DJ]

One main difference between QuickTime and WMP based streaming is that QT does not support the Microsoft ASF format, but WMP can use DirectShow filters that enable MP4 and even RTSP support, e.g. from mpegable (freeware), 3ivx (free demo, no RTSP) or Envivio (not free).

QT is just as extensible if not more by the way. The problem is just that WMP video can only be decoded by WMP which is M$ fault. Since there can be no WMV decoding in QT, there is also little use for .asf demuxing.