Directly in the shadow of the increased processor capabilities comes the distribution of the media-data stored on the servers. Compute-centric servers have moved beyond straight data storage and processing devices. Today, the enterprise servers are becoming specialized and adaptive storing moving media, Web based interactive material, transaction related and application sensitive information. Specialty networking and distributed server capabilities as well as network-centric storage now all have a part in the distribution of data (media or otherwise) at local and wide area levels.

The video/media server of tomorrow needs to handle a variety of files in an equal variety of bit rates and structures. How the user selects the application for the servers will depend upon their own operational needs and distribution medium.

Distribution from the server for the various delivery channels will become an integral part of the interfaces on the video server. The expectation is that modern video servers will be capable of delivering streaming video, IP based media, baseband and bit stream interfaces potentially all on the same chassis.