Overview

Determining what type of video server to place into a facility can be a challenging task. Deciding how the server fits into the enterprise is another element in this task. These are two of the many questions that should be answered before choosing one server over another. Even after selecting a particular manufacturer or server, you must review many options and combinations that make up the inner workings and the system integration.

Relying solely on the server manufacturer to provide all the answers or the total solution may not be in the best interest of the facility. Many potential purchasers aren't sure what kind of compression format they should use. Most don't truly understand how much or how little storage will be required. The question of redundancy keeps coming up, mainly out of a lack of understanding about how a server functions and what to do if it fails. The uncertainty of operational changes and media management add to the confusion over which manufacturer can provide the type of server best suited for an operation.