Flash Media server does not require Windows Media server and it can be installed on 32 or 64 bit OS both.

FMS service runs in the background and the streaming is done using rtmp protocol. Which means that you need to connect to FMS using RTMP connection to get the streams.


you can stream video or audio files in flv format. To play the streams you will require a flash player application or some player which supports rtmp stream playback

for more information on installation and using FMS for streaming see this link

http://www.adobe.com/devnet/flashmediaserver/articles/beginner_vod_fm3.html

Thanks! Very helpful! I have one more question. Basically, I'm setting up an online TV channel that I want to stream live, as if it were a broadcast station. Not interested in VOD at the moment, but am focusing on this. Can you point me to instructions to set this up with FMS? I know there's GOT to be a way to create an automated daily playlist using Flash, but all the tutorials I see assume I want VOD.

Thanks!

Roger

Roger I think this article will help you , it describes using FMS for commercial live steaming.

http://help.adobe.com/en_US/FlashMediaServer/3.5_TechOverview/WS5b3ccc516d4fbf351e63e3d119ed944915-7fff.html#WS5b3ccc516d4fbf351e63e3d119ed944915-7fe2

you can publish a live stream in FMS using your camera live feed or using a flv file on server.

For camera based application one client application can act as publisher and any other user can connect to that application as viewer.

For file based streaming, you need to write code in your main.asc file which is to be placed in application folder on server. And also you need to initialize the application using admin panel or accessing it single time as viewer.In main.asc file this code can start streaming the your flv

//in main.asc
var myStream;
application.onAppStart = function(){
     myStream = Stream.get("myliveStream");
     myStream.onStatus = function(info){
     trace("Stream status:"+ info.code);
     }
     //here "myVideo" is your myVideo.flv file to be streamed, no extension required
     myStream.play("myVideo",0,-1,true);
}
 
//in client side flash application the stream can be played using 
ns.play("myliveStream",-1,-1,true);