Need a decent piece of software (to stream media over internet from a server)

Hi all

I have set-up a VM on a server in lets say location A, location A has decent internet bandwidth (65mb down / 17.5mb up) unlimited


I am currently situated in location B, which has a not so great internet connection, although some streaming services such as youtube, netflix, some how manage to cope (after a bit of buffering)

The server in location A has a VPN server set-up (at the moment over PPTP microsoft) I will soon be switching this to a more secure method, and using OpenVPN.

My issue at the moment is when I connect to the VPN from location B to server in A, and open a file from fileshare in to VLC, it is playable, but I get quite a bit of freezing and sometimes pixelation during the playback, it is almost as if it is not buffering the content, but playing it live, IE you cant leave it for a bit and let the buffer increase.

I am not sure if this is lack of feature in VLC, or if there is anyway in VLC to lower the quality slightly to allow for playback, I dont quite understand how it works with Netflix with decent quality.

If I can't find a solution, is there any other software that is decent for streaming content? and allows you to build up a buffer?


Bonus points if anyone has a solution where I can stream directly from my server in Location A, over the internet to a Raspberri Pi running OpenElec

XBMC, Serviio to name but two.

So basically run XBMC (or an XBMC server) version on the VM in Location A, stream across the internet, and run it from XBMC software in Location B

or just install XBMC in Location B and point to the server share

Will give it ago, as long as I can some sort of buffering working

Will give them a go

Would be good if I can get VPN connectivity from the Pi to try this in OpenElec also, not sure how much VPN support they have though.

Apparently getting a lot of love for Plex also another one to test

I use Plex to stream from a home Windows PC to various devices, either locally or remotely. Works a treat, and for my needs, is free

Avoid the latest server version though unless you get a Plex Pass subscription (entitling you to early access to updates), as it has a bug that can cause freezing on videos after 10 minutes or so.

Nismo said:

I use Plex to stream from a home Windows PC to various devices, either locally or remotely. Works a treat, and for my needs, is free

Avoid the latest server version though unless you get a Plex Pass subscription (entitling you to early access to updates), as it has a bug that can cause freezing on videos after 10 minutes or so.

Click to expand...

Sounds good looks like its either this or XBMC as winners, but will test both.

Can you do me a favor and confirm the version you are using (I guess its the one before the latest

EDIT:
Version 0.9.9.7 (Mar 14, 2014)
Version 0.9.9.5 (Feb 26, 2014)

Looks like 0.9.9.5 (feb 26)

I believe that the paid version of Serviio (and maybe XBMC/Plex?) allows you to set up a web server front end for your media. Set it up and allow it through your firewall. After that all you need is a browser to watch your media. Kind of like your own private iPlayer.

DJMK4 said:

EDIT:
Version 0.9.9.7 (Mar 14, 2014)
Version 0.9.9.5 (Feb 26, 2014)

Looks like 0.9.9.5 (feb 26)

Click to expand...

No, it's a bit older - 0.9.8.6, you could probably go a bit newer, but that version was confirmed to be working fine so I fell back to that. If you are just testing Plex out to get a feel if it's right for you, that will be fine and has all but the most recent additions like camera-roll uploads which aren't really core to the streaming anyway.

covenantuk said:

I believe that the paid version of Serviio (and maybe XBMC/Plex?) allows you to set up a web server front end for your media. Set it up and allow it through your firewall. After that all you need is a browser to watch your media. Kind of like your own private iPlayer.

Click to expand...

Plex does web browser access for free, never used it myself personally though.

Cool, thanks for the info so far.

Looks like I am going to be reluctant to install any of the earlier versions, especially if I am going to allow this over an un-secured internet link, not so much if I am using a VPN to connect to the server.

Obviously the problem with opening up to the internet and creating NAT's or port mappings is that there seems to be a lack of security in earlier versions, apparently they have addressed that in the newer version (which I have installed)

Will have to see though.

Just a bit of a thread revival.

I going back to Plex, I have some slight issues with buffering sometimes, as mentioned our connection is unfortunatly only about 3mb download shared.

I have lowered the quality of the stream, I am trying to work out how services like Netflix etc can get good quality streaming over this connection with no hassle.

Does it have anything to do with transcoding etc before it is sent across the internet? when it streams, if I have say < 720p, the CPU on the machine sending it doesnt get that much load, over 720p it works a little more

Although I am not sure if its that, or generally our connection here thats poor.

The sending end gets 17mb/s

Would adding a low profile graphics card at the other end help with some trancoding before it goes over the internet?

How is netflix able to stream to be without much buffering at a much higher quality?