The VideoLAN Forums

Hey guys,

I am unsure about the terminology for what I am trying to accomplish, so I'll describe what I want to do:

I already set up a vlc broadcast on server A using: So, I can basically access this stream from any computer I like.

Since server A has bandwidth limitations, I would like to use server B (for discussions sake with unlimited bandwidth) to grab the stream from server A and relay it to the enduser WHEN somebody accesses server B in order to watch the stream. Alternatively, server A could stream whenever I feel to stream something, to server B, which just would not provide a stream to the enduser, if stream A->B is not active at the time.

Any pointers on how to realize such setup, or on the terminology I should search for ?

ok, I'll try to clear some things up:

A ---(1)--- B ---(2)--- C

A is the pc using VLC to do the transcoding mentioned in my post above.
(1) is a low bandwidth connection
B is the root server where VLC shall grab the http stream once (!) from A and then provide multiple streams via (2), the unlimited bandwidth connection, to the endusers C.

This is not possible with the current architecture, unless you have no more than one client at a time.

Is this technically impossible or does VLC just not support it ? Could I use some other software on server B (debian) to accomplish this ?

It is technically possible but VLC does not currently support it.

ok, could you tell me about the terminology I have to look for here ? Is connection (1) an unicast and are connection(s) (2) broadcasts (or are they multicasts) ? If so, doesn't vlc support broadcasting ? I have a feeling you got me wrong or I explained myself not well enough.

I succeeded with what I was trying to accomplish. My home computer now streams over my DSL connection once, whereas my rootserver streams to as many clients as I like. I used vlc for this. So it is seemingly possible after all... it's funny how many times I read some dev in these forum stating that things are not possible, just to get rid of somebody.

You asked to, I quote : "to grab the stream from server A and relay it to the enduser WHEN somebody accesses server B"
That is not what you accomplished... Or you request was not clear.

Well, Server A is in fact my home computer, transcoding and streaming the source material. Server B is my rootserver, which grabs the stream from A and relays it to multiple endpoints. Sorry if I was not clear on that.

What was not clear is : do you want to stream from A to B only when at least one user is asking the stream on B.
That is not currently possible with vlc.

I asked for true VOD OR:

Alternatively, server A could stream whenever I feel to stream something, to server B, which just would not provide a stream to the enduser, if stream A->B is not active at the time.

hello level20peon
thanks for your fast reply
i dont want to use http .. i have to use udp/rtp
can i dont specify the destination address when i use rtp or udp ?

I don't know the specifics on how to setup utp/rtp, please refer to the manual for that.