Streaming media

Questions about publishing audio, video and live events from an all2all hosting account.

Questions

• What are the current streaming options?
• Can I publish video or audio files on my website?
• Should I upload videos locally or use an external video platform?
• Can WordPress display videos?
• Can all2all host video files locally?
• Can all2all provide live streaming or video conferencing?

What are the current streaming options?

Streaming has not disappeared, but the technical landscape has changed. Older tools such as RealMedia Glossary note: Historical technology: RealMedia is obsolete. Today, use HTML5/HLS, Icecast, Owncast, PeerTube or a dedicated video platform depending on the project. , QuickTime streaming Glossary note: Historical streaming technology. It has been replaced on the web by HTML5 video, HLS and modern streaming services. servers, PLS playlists or Flash/Red5 are now mostly obsolete.

Today, three approaches coexist.

Self-hosted streaming

Self-hosted streaming gives the most control and keeps the infrastructure under your responsibility. Typical open solutions include Icecast Glossary note: Icecast is free streaming server software for publishing live or on-demand audio streams using open formats and standard web clients. for audio, Nginx with HLS Glossary note: HTTP Live Streaming: a web video streaming format. for video, Owncast Glossary note: Free software for self-hosted live video streaming. , and HTML5 Glossary note: HTML5 is the current family of web standards for structuring web pages and embedding audio or video directly in the browser without obsolete plugins. video playback from a website.

This fits projects that value independence, data control and direct website integration. It requires more preparation when many viewers are expected.

Federated services

PeerTube Glossary note: Federated video platform based on open standards. combines video publication, live streaming and ActivityPub Glossary note: An open protocol used by Fediverse services to exchange posts, comments and follows between independent servers. federation. It can be a useful compromise for projects that want wider visibility without relying entirely on large centralised platforms.

Centralised platforms

YouTube Live, Twitch, Vimeo and podcast Glossary note: A podcast is a digital media file, or a series of such files, that is distributed over the Internet. In other words, a podcast is a collection of audio or video files residing at a unique web feed address. People can… platforms offer fast setup and large audiences, but also dependency on proprietary rules, algorithms and data collection.

all2all generally favours self-hosted solutions, open standards and distributed architectures where appropriate. A hybrid approach is often practical: publish independently, then relay selected content elsewhere.

Can I publish video or audio files on my website?

Yes. Modern browsers can play common media formats directly from web pages.

For most sites, the simplest approach is embedding media in WordPress Glossary note: Content management system for websites and publishing. or linking to a media file from a page. Older metafile formats such as .ram, .m3u, .pls, .asx or .wax should only be kept for legacy archives.

Should I upload videos locally or use an external video platform?

It depends on file size, expected audience and project goals.

External platforms are easier when files are large, audience is high, automatic format conversion is needed or public discoverability matters.

Local hosting can make sense when files are limited, the project wants more control, the media is part of an archive, or the audience is moderate. For local video files, Recommended or Complete hosting is usually more appropriate than the smallest plan.

Can WordPress display videos?

Yes. Content management system for websites and publishing. can embed platform links, upload files to the media library, use video blocks or link directly to files stored on the hosting account.

For large libraries, do not upload everything into WordPress without planning storage, backup and performance. Contact support if local media hosting is central to the project.

Can all2all host video files locally?

Yes, within the limits of the selected hosting plan.

Video can consume significant disk space, bandwidth, backup capacity and browser loading time. Occasional videos or documentation material are usually fine; large public archives or high-traffic video publication should be reviewed before activation.

Can all2all provide live streaming or video conferencing?

Live events and video conferencing require preparation. Contact all2all before the event so we can evaluate the right setup.

For many small and medium projects, Nextcloud Talk Glossary note: Video-conference and chat application integrated with Nextcloud. is probably the simplest option to deploy and maintain. Larger systems such as BigBlueButton or Jitsi Meet Glossary note: Free software for video meetings. It can be self-hosted or used through a hosted service. are possible, but usually require a dedicated server or managed setup.

Depending on the needs, the solution may involve:

• Nextcloud Glossary note: Open-source platform for files, collaboration, calendars and Talk video calls. Talk
• BigBlueButton Glossary note: Open-source web conferencing system for online classes and meetings. or Jitsi Meet on dedicated infrastructure
• a dedicated streaming setup
• an external streaming platform
• a hybrid setup with recordings published later

Useful details are expected participants or viewers, whether the event is interactive or broadcast-only, duration, recording needs and privacy restrictions.

For important public events, do not wait until the day of the event. Live streaming requires testing.