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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.

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.

Content protection

All configurations support protected RTMP streaming, access controls, and token authentication. Additional HTTP protection is available as follows.

Communications

Flash Media Server can be configured for real-time communications with high-quality video and audio experiences across devices.

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.

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.

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