soveryapt Posted June 28, 2010 Posted June 28, 2010 Howdo I've been asked to look into possible media server solutions for our school. Basically, it's like this, we have many DVDs in the school, but tracking them all down can be a nightmare, so the SMT want to have in place a media server where all the DVDs will be stored, either as images to load or as ripped movies (depending on the needs per disk). We need to be able to stream the information that is store through to any given computer in a school and it needs to be a relatively easy to use system so that the staff will take it on board and actually make use of it. The school backbone is a 10/100 network system (slowly upgrading to 10/100/1000) so whatever the solution is, it needs to cope with that. There are around 50 Desktops and around 20 laptops for curriculum use, plus staff laptops, but these are used more for planning. We have 2 existing servers, but would be looking to purchase a new server to run the media solution. What I'm basically wanting to know is: a) does anyone already run something like this and if so, what? b) does anyone know of any open source solutions as that would do such a thing? c) do any supporters wish to make contact to discuss this further and put a quote together? (PM me if you do). Cheers guys (and gals)
irsprint84 Posted June 28, 2010 Posted June 28, 2010 Just to check even teachers saying they can get round copyright you cant really rips dvd's you'd be treading water 1
sted Posted June 28, 2010 Posted June 28, 2010 if youre going to rip em why not just shove on a nas box / server share?
RabbieBurns Posted June 28, 2010 Posted June 28, 2010 ClickView - the digital video solution for schools Thats what we use.. even works over wireeless 2
Marci Posted June 28, 2010 Posted June 28, 2010 (edited) Technically, completely doable, and easy enough to do with an install of FFMPEG, PHP and Apache on a webserver. From a legal/licensing standpoint, not in the slightest. ERA & ERA+ licenses would be required, but this would only permit you to record / transcode stuff from very specific sources (eg: Recorded transmissions from UK sources - BBC network, ITV, C4 network, C5). It would not license you to transcode media from DVDs from any other organisations. For that you'd have to go to the rightsholders of each individual DVD etc and seek their permission. There is no blanket license that allows you to do as you will with any/all media owned by the school. eg: a PVS license covers you for showing cinematic release movies within school for non-commercial purposes, but does NOT cover transcoding from it's original source. Smaller independant UK producers are covered under the MPLC license, but again, this only covers the showing thereof, not transcoding into another form. As far as I can tell with ClickView solutions, you're covered for the use of their Video Libraries, and any provided by their subscription service, both of which are additional cost on top of the ClickView solution itself... but you still need your own licenses to cover any of your own media that you transfer on to it. Edited June 28, 2010 by Marci 3
special_k Posted June 28, 2010 Posted June 28, 2010 our old NAS box was ripped out due to copyright infringement (DVD rips) so if you wish to stay within the realms of legality I'd just avoid this one. 1
soveryapt Posted June 28, 2010 Author Posted June 28, 2010 Just to check even teachers saying they can get round copyright you cant really rips dvd's you'd be treading water Oh I realise, I should of said "legal issues aside as I'm looking into what we can and can't put on a server" but thanks for pointing it out ..
soveryapt Posted June 28, 2010 Author Posted June 28, 2010 I've just clarified, it is educational releases they are wanting on it (I wasn't even considering the latest Disney releases or anything) .. I'm looking into the license situation and seeing what we have already, what we would need .. thanks for responses so far ..
danbuntu Posted June 28, 2010 Posted June 28, 2010 phpmotion will do this PHPmotion :: Free Video Sharing Script - Free Youtube Clone - Free Youtube Script - free video sharing software - you tube clone - media sharing script - PHP Script - social networking scrript
SYNACK Posted June 29, 2010 Posted June 29, 2010 We also use Clickview, it does cost per year but is realitivly light weight and comes with a whole bunch of content and access to their online portal clickview exchange where people upload lots of captured educational videos and programs for other users to download. You can also easily add your own content to the library. The client application is small and distributable via MSI and allows you to have not only the videos but to attach any learning material you want to it as well like PDFs or docs of activities etc. The library content comes with this. You can also save videos to the 'school bag' which will download the required files to the documents folder for offline viewing in the case of a laptop. As it streams the content chapter by chapter is is not too heavy on the network and despite the pricetag seems like a good solution in our case at least.
ICT_GUY Posted June 29, 2010 Posted June 29, 2010 ClickView - the digital video solution for schools Thats what we use.. even works over wireeless Now thats a very costly way of doing things.
daveyboy Posted June 29, 2010 Posted June 29, 2010 Old ex workstations (more then 5 years old) with 2x 1tb sata drives, P4, 2 gig RAM, ubuntu server, samba shares, and Daemon Tools. Works a treat........ 2
soveryapt Posted June 29, 2010 Author Posted June 29, 2010 Old ex workstations (more then 5 years old) with 2x 1tb sata drives, P4, 2 gig RAM, ubuntu server, samba shares, and Daemon Tools. Works a treat........ Pretty much what I'm looking at at the moment, but with only REALLY old machines spare at the moment, it's not the best .. lol ..
daveyboy Posted June 29, 2010 Posted June 29, 2010 How old is old? we are using Intel D865GLC's If you need any help, just shout........
sidewinder Posted June 29, 2010 Posted June 29, 2010 How old is old? we are using Intel D865GLC's Great boards those, have performed well for all sorts of non essential servers. I'd still trust one now for something like FreeNAS
Iosoma Posted June 29, 2010 Posted June 29, 2010 We setup windows media streaming services which streams wmv's from a file share to a video cms site (Absolute Video Channel clicky) which didnt cost much. You could use any other cms e.g. drupal. It has worked out great, currently serve 1170ish videos using minimal bandwidth and its available at home. And the streams can be embeded any where (media element) so its good for your VLE. There is a free version of expresion encoder, which makes batch conversion really easy. Hope that helps!
K.C.Leblanc Posted June 30, 2010 Posted June 30, 2010 Now thats a very costly way of doing things. It could be worse, we've just bought a clipbank. It cost about £7000, you can't even upload your own stuff to it. That did however include an 'engineer' to unbox it and set the IP address.
soveryapt Posted July 1, 2010 Author Posted July 1, 2010 It could be worse, we've just bought a clipbank. It cost about £7000, you can't even upload your own stuff to it. That did however include an 'engineer' to unbox it and set the IP address. I want that job .. £7k to unbox and set an IP address .. lol .. Oh no, wait, I bet he was lucky to see £70 of that, including travel costs .. lol .. WOWSERS .. £7k is a bit TOO expensive for us sadly .. @all Thanks for all your helpful responses. It's been good to see how others do it and I'm going to look into the various options you have given. Apparently there are new functions in Windows 7 and Server 2008 that make media sharing a bit easier that one of my suppliers is letting me know about .. if (hopefully when) we get something in place, I'll feedback as to how I've done it .. but do keep posting your ideas in the meantime!
localzuk Posted July 1, 2010 Posted July 1, 2010 It could be worse, we've just bought a clipbank. It cost about £7000, you can't even upload your own stuff to it. That did however include an 'engineer' to unbox it and set the IP address. You're paying for the content there, not really the equipment.
soveryapt Posted July 1, 2010 Author Posted July 1, 2010 How old is old? we are using Intel D865GLC's If you need any help, just shout........ Old is Fujistu Siemens (which is a crap place to start in the first place .. lol) X101 with around 256mb of RAM .. which is all I have to play with for now .. We are about to buy a shed load of new machines to get the school back on it's rolling programme that had fallen by the wayside, so I'm planning on taking two of the FS P2510 and making them into something a bit more powerful (they each have either 1GB or 2GB in them at the moment, depending when I bought the memory .. lol) but to be honest, the media solution we're looking at, we'll probably get a new server to host it and I'll use the old machines for running reception displays etc ..
Marci Posted July 1, 2010 Posted July 1, 2010 There's a PDF that skims briefly over all the legal licensing stuff here: http://www.cla.co.uk/data/pdfs/schools/copyright_licensing_in_schools_jan10.pdf But recommend you contact each licensing body individually for full details. 3
ICT_GUY Posted July 1, 2010 Posted July 1, 2010 It could be worse, we've just bought a clipbank. It cost about £7000, you can't even upload your own stuff to it. That did however include an 'engineer' to unbox it and set the IP address. EEEEEEKKKKKK!
australiana Posted July 5, 2010 Posted July 5, 2010 Not quite what you are asking for but a legal way to stream DVDs around the school: Clickview live: ClickView - the digital video solution for schools 1
soveryapt Posted July 5, 2010 Author Posted July 5, 2010 Not quite what you are asking for but a legal way to stream DVDs around the school: Clickview live: ClickView - the digital video solution for schools That's just what we're looking for, only with the ability to browse more than a single DVD player stream, as in they want access to all the school DVDs. However, I'm beginning to think that the licensing might prevent most of this now. Might sit down with the SLT and put the various things to them, including licensing issues, and see what they say.
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