The VideoLAN Forums

It seems like Videolan has a way to stream video over the internet, but I have not had any success doing this with videolan. I can do it with RealServer - but that only works well with real media player installed.

Ideally, I would either like to host the movie on my own hard drive OR on an FTP server --- and then have another computer have access to it over the internet.

One problem I have had with Realserver is that the movie is constantly playing and whent he remote computer accesses it.. it is always getting the movie in progress instead of from the beginning.

If you have some tips for me to do this with Videolan or something else.. let me know!

Take a look at the Streaming Howto to get yourself started.
As far as I know, VLC will give you the same trouble with the stream running while nobody is watching, however, it has provisions for remote control. You have a few options to stream with, for what you're describing there is HTTP and MMS (windows media).

See the Stream Output module and RC interface documentation if you want to get more technical.

Check out VLM (VideoLAN Manager) as well, which may be the kind of solution you're looking for with on-demand video.

And of course, consult the FAQ or these forums; alot of people have done streaming and many answers to questions are already in here.



streaming howto:
http://www.videolan.org/doc/streaming-h ... to-en.html


Stream Output module documentation:
http://tldp.org/REF/VLC-User-Guide/x1110.html

Remote control (RC) interface (and others):
http://www.videolan.org/doc/play-howto/ ... l#id293757

VLM
http://www.videolan.org/doc/streaming-h ... /ch05.html

VideoLAN FAQ
http://www.videolan.org/doc/faq/en/videolan-faq-en.html

If you don't want your video always playing, your only choices are:
a) video on demand
b) leave the stream stopped, and start it when you want to view. This is awkward because you have to start the stream then connect to it - guaranteeing you'll miss the first few seconds of your video.
c) don't stream your video

With the tips given in the previous messages, I got the streaming to work with an AVI file. The problem is that the bandwidth isn't sufficient to get good video.
I don't think VideoLan can play RM files. I think that would solve the problem. WMV files are very similar in size to RM files.. I think Videolan might play them.