The integrated Adobe® Flash® Media Server family of software enables efficient video encoding and rich interactive streaming functionality, along with robust content protection and rights management. Choose the product that's right for you.
By features
Compare editions of Flash Media Server
There are four ways to purchase Flash Media Server. Each product edition includes different features and protocol limits as listed below. .
Capacity
Flash Media Server is available in five different configurations with timed broadcast limits and concurrent connection limits for RTMFP.
| Flash Media Development Server 4.5 | Flash Media Streaming Server 4.5 | Flash Media Interactive Server 4.5 | Flash Media Enterprise Server 4.5 | Flash Media Server 4.0 on Amazon Web Services | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RTMP | 10 | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| HTTP streaming for Adobe Flash Player compatible and Apple iOS devices | 30 minutes | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| IP multicast | 30 minutes | Not available | Unlimited | Unlimited | Not available |
| RTMFP unicast | 50 | Not available | 500 | 15,000 | 100; 1,000; 15,000 |
| RTMFP P2P introductions | 50 | Not available | 500 | 15,000 | 100; 1,000; 15,000 |
| SIP Ports | 5 (Trial) | 5 (Trial) | 5 (Trial) | 25 | Not available |
Note: "Unlimited" means there is no technical or license limit to the concurrent connection count; however, limits may be imposed by configurations, server applications, and resources (such as CPU, disk, network).
Video streaming
All configurations support high-quality adaptive bitrate video streaming using both HTTP and RTMP.
| Flash Media Development Server 4.5 | Flash Media Streaming Server 4.5 | Flash Media Interactive Server 4.5 | Flash Media Enterprise Server 4.5 | Flash Media Server 4.0 on Amazon Web Services | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Multicast fusion for Flash Player compatible devices | 30 minutes | ||||
| Application-level multicast | 30 minutes | ||||
| Stream splitting | |||||
| Multicast ingest and recording |
Content protection
All configurations support protected RTMP streaming, access controls, and token authentication. Additional HTTP protection is available as follows.
| Flash Media Development Server 4.5 | Flash Media Streaming Server 4.5 | Flash Media Interactive Server 4.5 | Flash Media Enterprise Server 4.5 | Flash Media Server 4.0 on Amazon Web Services | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Protected HTTP Dynamic Streaming for Flash Player compatible devices New | 30 minutes | ||||
| Protected HTTP Live Streaming for Apple iOS devices New | 30 minutes | ||||
| Adobe Flash Access® DRM readiness New | |||||
| Real-time encryption for multicast and P2P |
Communications
Flash Media Server can be configured for real-time communications with high-quality video and audio experiences across devices.
| Flash Media Development Server 4.5 | Flash Media Streaming Server 4.5 | Flash Media Interactive Server 4.5 | Flash Media Enterprise Server 4.5 | Flash Media Server 4.0 on Amazon web Services | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High-quality audio/video capture support New | One-way broadcast only | ||||
| P2P introduction forwarding for RTMFP New | |||||
| Peer-assisted networking (P2P) | 50 | ||||
| Robust server programming | |||||
| Video recording |
Server management
All configurations are a full 64-bit platform with robust server monitoring tools and rich administration APIs that can be integrated into monitoring systems that support HTTP and XML.
| Flash Media Development Server 4.5 | Flash Media Streaming Server 4.5 | Flash Media Interactive Server 4.5 | Flash Media Enterprise Server 4.5 | Flash Media Server 4.0 on Amazon Web Services | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Programmable configuration | |||||
| Extensible plug-in architecture | |||||
| Edge caching for RTMP | 10 connections |
Fault-tolerant streaming
All configurations of Flash Media Server include support for advanced disk management for HTTP streaming, server redirection, and stream reconnection to reduce playback disruption.
By activities
Example use cases for the Adobe Flash Media Server family
Training
A new security screening process is being put in place at all federal buildings. With Flash Media Server, more secure, on-demand video training can be made available to all staff, allowing fast implementation across the country and saving the cost of in-person training. Encrypted streaming is achieved with Adobe Flash Media Interactive Server software, with videos delivered directly to employees in a browser-based player built on Open Source Media Framework. Videos are batch encoded into an Adobe Flash Player compatible format in Adobe Media Encoder.
- Develop: Adobe Flash Professional or Adobe Flash Builder®, with player built on Open Source Media Framework
- Encode: Adobe Media Encoder
- Stream and encrypt: Adobe Flash Media Interactive Server or Adobe Flash Media Enterprise Server
- Deliver: Adobe Flash Player in the browser
Company meeting
A technology company is about to be acquired by a larger corporation. Management convenes a virtual meeting to inform its staff prior to a public announcement. This meeting must be discreet and secure to avoid affecting the deal. Company executives stream encrypted video along with a slide presentation to all remote employees, saving the cost of travel and helping to retain key employees through open communication during the transition. The company needed to develop this player quickly, so it leveraged Open Source Media Framework to put together a custom video streaming application. Adobe Media Encoder allowed management to encode the announcement video in high-definition MPEG-4 format, and Flash Media Interactive Server or Adobe Flash Media Enterprise Server software provided stream encryption and SWF file verification, helping to ensure the security of the content.
- Develop: Flash Professional or Flash Builder, with player built on Open Source Media Framework
- Encode: Adobe Media Encoder
- Stream and encrypt: Flash Media Interactive Server or Flash Media Enterprise Server
- Deliver: Flash Player in the browser
Course curriculum
An online university offers its entire catalog of courses on a remote access platform. With the interactive and video streaming features of Flash Media Server, the school can provide a learning experience that closely resembles a live classroom. Live video, audio, and chat — with more secure testing — enables the university to offer affordable classes and scale to almost any number of students. Open Source Media Framework gives the school a solid foundation for its video player, so it can spend more time optimizing the user experience, and Flash Media Server provides stream encryption and SWF file verification.
- Develop: Flash Professional or Flash Builder, with player built on Open Source Media Framework
- Encode: Adobe Media Encoder (VOD)
- Broadcast: Adobe Flash Media Live Encoder (live)
- Stream, interact, and encrypt: Flash Media Interactive Server
- Deliver: Flash Player in the browser
Live event broadcast
A major recording artist is planning a benefit concert for her favorite cause. The number of viewers is expected to be huge. Tickets to attend the show itself will be sold at a premium, with proceeds benefiting the charity. The web broadcast will be free, with donations being accepted through a link on the site. A robust, feature-rich video player with analytics, advertising, social media, and DVR functionality is built rapidly with the plug-in architecture of Open Source Media Framework. There will also be banners alongside the player, along with interactive preroll and postroll ads, generating additional revenue. Adobe Flash Media Live Encoder software provides high-definition live broadcasting, and Flash Media Interactive Server provides reliable, scalable streaming to the broadest audience via Flash Player.
- Develop: Flash Professional or Flash Builder, with player built on Open Source Media Framework
- Encode: Flash Media Live Encoder
- Stream and scale: Flash Media Interactive Server
- Deliver: Flash Player in the browser
Advertising hotspot
A high-end fashion designer is introducing a new collection. To promote it, the designer hires a creative agency to produce a short film featuring the various pieces. Using Flash authoring software, the agency creates hotspots over these items as they appear in the film, providing additional details and live links to purchase each item from the online catalog. For playback, it develops a video player widget that can be shared and embedded on other websites, enhancing the viral appeal of the film and increasing sales of the new items. Video files are encoded into a Flash Player compatible format, and hotspot information is added as cue points in Adobe Media Encoder. Flash Media Interactive Server delivers the streams and logs user interaction.
- Develop: Flash Professional or Flash Builder, with player built on Open Source Media Framework
- Encode: Adobe Media Encoder
- Stream: Flash Media Interactive Server
- Deliver: Flash Player in the browser
User-generated video
An outdoor gear company wants to increase awareness about its newest product and demonstrate that it is professional grade. It commissions top athletes in the sport to shoot short videos of themselves using the product in extreme conditions or locations. The company then creates a website that allows amateurs who use the product to do the same and then enable website visitors to vote on the best videos. This gives the company free advertising content and generates additional buzz around the new product.
- Develop: Flash Professional or Flash Builder, with player built on Open Source Media Framework
- Encode: Flash ecosystem of partners
- Stream: Flash Media Interactive Server or Flash Media Enterprise Server
- Deliver: Flash Player in the browser
By industry
Enterprise
Engage your employees and facilitate collaboration — across the hall or around the globe — with scalable, stable, and protected streaming solutions such as live training, HR briefs, and custom audio/video communication applications.
Ideal for:
- Training
- Corporate communications
- Marketing
- Human resources briefs
- Quarterly updates
- Support
Government
Easily connect with and inform citizens, businesses, and other agencies, even while budgets are tightening. Whether it's through real-time training, live event broadcasts, or simple video streaming, Adobe can help you enrich the business of government.
Ideal for:
- Town hall meetings
- Training
- eLearning
- Live events
- Press conferences
- Secure media players
Education
Deliver a smooth streaming experience on your campus with Flash Media Server. Easy out-of-the-box implementation and the ubiquity of the Adobe Flash Player runtime provide a seamless solution for school communications — from journalism classes to teacher training, and from sports to student government.
Ideal for:
- Journalism
- Remote guest speakers
- Course curriculums
- Live sporting events
- Student government communications
- Rights-managed video downloads
Broadcast and entertainment
Build new revenue models — from large screens to very small screens — with innovative, high-quality streaming applications.
Ideal for:
- Live event broadcasts
- Streaming TV broadcasts
- Rights-managed video downloads
- In-stream viewer comments
- Dynamic playlists
- Branded desktop media players
Social media
Build innovative, profitable social media applications with Flash Media Server. Enhanced features like chat, bugs, and VoIP make your service interactive and engaging without requiring downloads of additional software.
Ideal for:
- Live text and webcam chat rooms
- Customer support
- User-generated video
- VoIP services
- Video rating and live commenting
- Multiplayer games
Interactive advertising
Create and deliver innovative, effective ads with improved click-through rates and high brand recognition with Flash Media Server.
Ideal for:
- HD video banners
- Interactive hotspots
- Promotional games
- Dynamic ad insertion
- Product demos
- Branded rich Internet applications
NEXT STEPS
- Help me choose
- Buy Flash Media Streaming Server 4.5
- Upgrade to Flash Media Streaming Server 4.5
- Buy Flash Media Interactive Server 4.5
- Upgrade to Flash Media Interactive Server 4.5
- Step up to Flash Media Enterprise Server 4.5
- Have Adobe contact me
- Download free Adobe Flash Media Development Server 4.5