Network faults

Your network is an integral part of your streaming media system. If it is inadequate or improperly configured, you risk reduced performance or even complete failure. Apply the following considerations when configuring your network to stream digital media.

• Bandwidth is the most critical feature of a streaming network. Your network must be able to accommodate peak data loads as well as extended periods of heavy traffic.
• Multicast streaming can reduce the network workload, but the network must be specially configured to carry multicast data.

You can achieve network reliability by avoiding data restrictions where a single fault can cause the entire network to fail. Redundant use of hubs, switches, routers, and even cabling can reduce the danger of a single point of failure.

Related topics

• Understanding fault tolerance
• Performing load balancing and clustering
• Capacity planning