Media Server Guide: Download PDF

Our latest Media Server Guide now includes comprehensive notes to help you choose the correct specification, the most suitable configuration and an implementation to suit you.

What is a Media server?

A media server is simply a file server optimised for use with rich media DATA.
e.g. digital video & audio files

What are the benefits of a Media server?

• Secure centralised DATA storage and back-up with guaranteed performance
• Hot Desking (the ability for users to log-in at any computer)
• Advanced user & DATA management

Configuration

What makes our Media Server configuration unique is that users can log-in to any workstation, work locally on an audio project and across the network on a video project all in the same log-in with no need to think about where their files are located.

User Management

We can implement a Media Server within a stand-alone network or integrate with your existing infrastructure. Apple use a management platform called Open Directory and Windows uses Active Directory, similar but with some important differences. Our guide explains the various integration options and relative pros and cons.

Specification

We always recommend that students' data is stored on drives in a RAID configuration (normally RAID5) because this offers reliability. It actually provides redundancy so that if a drive fails, the data is still available. Although we always consult with you regarding your specific requirements, there are two popular server specifications dependent on how many simultaneous users you have and how much data you require per user/student. Our Media Server Guide also includes media file sizes, hardware performance listings and diagrams that explain how we calculate specifications.

We always prefer to consult with our customers face-to-face before specifying a server to suit your individual requirements.

Please contact your regional Education Advisor on 0844 8751 610 for more information.

Download our comprehensive Media server guide PDF: HERE