The VideoLAN Forums

I have a network of 35 computers with the following specifications,

- The OS of the computers is win 2000 pro
- The OS of the server is windows server 2003
- Switch used is 3com 48 ports (100Mbps) + 2 ports (1GB)

I need to run VLC on all the computers in order to be able to watch movies and for streaming as well.

Please advice.

Thanks

It all depends on what you're trying to do. You can stream a movie from the Server, UDP on a multicast address, and the clients can all connect to the multicast -- it doesn't use any additional server power for 35 to see a multicast than it does for one.

You can make it available via something else, a point-to-point protocol like mmsh, then the individual computers connect to the server's IP address and designated port. This will open up separate, dedicated, socket connections from the server to each client listening to a given movie.

If you want to transmit multiple movies simultaneously, create different copies of the top-level vlc.exe file, vlc1.exe, vlc2.exe,... launch the copies on the server, set each of them to streaming a different movie (just use different ports or different multicast addresses).

If the clients are on different network subnets, increase the TTL value for the server VLC -- it's accessible in Settings -- Preferences, else you can set the default by editing the vlcrc initialization file. If the clients are not just on different subnets, but are reached via routers or high-end network switches, if you do a UDP multicast you will need to make sure the routers have been programmed to enable multicast (not tough, but necessary to do).

thanks for that mate, ill have a look and see wat can be done...thanks again