Video Streaming ( OVH or FDC ) - 6 small servers or 1 big server (urgent help)

Hi guys,

Currently we are facing one issue, our site has become a hit now and now there's like 2500+ concurrent users, and we using 3 small ovh servers to stream the videos ( each comes with 500mbps bandwidth ). Our videos are mainly split into 3 servers, mainly Media A, media B, media C, from my understanding with 500mbps, it could serve about 400+ visitors, and i just noticed even when we split the video files into 3 servers, there could be chances of 800 users watching different videos (which is located at Media A), and 1000 users watching at Media B, while just 200+ users watch Media C, and the videos start to buffer very very long, even longer than openload now now our site is suffering 2500+ user will drop to 2200+ user in about 10 minutes due to long buffer, and jumped back to 2400 again.

we were thinking to buy 3 more small servers from OVH and split the files and it seems it is pointless, because there could be 800+ users watching at same media A again, and 500+ users watching at Media B, so the videos will still lag and buffer ages

We are using this small server from ovh :

Basic configuration
CPU: Intel Pentium G4400 - 2c/2t - 3.3GHz /GHz
RAM: 8GB DDR4 2133 MHz
Disks: SoftRaid 3x2TB

we only get like 3.5tb after choosing the raid level. each server comes with 500mbps, but it seems it doesn't get burst to 1gbps even though it state it will burst, so videos will still buffer very long only when we have 1000+ users online, the video doesn't buffer anymore (!!! just when 2500+ users online, every single media server will keep buffering for at least 30 seconds or more depending on the video length !

So we keep searching for solutions, we can't use a cdn because its very very expensive, we uses like 400tb per month in video streaming and ovh has unlimited, and i saw this server called FDC server which has like 10gbps port unmetered, but 300tb outbound, what does this 300tb outbound means ? does it mean 300tb traffic or ? if so, after 300tb, how much is per tb cost ? anyone uses their servers ?

Storage Server 1
Enterprise Storage

$ 556.9 $0 SETUP FEE
DELL - Storage / DR special
Dual Xeon 5520
32GB RAM
IPMI
2x120GB SSD + 10 x 8TB HDD
10Gbps unmetered- dedicated Inbound
300TB/month outbound
Location
Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, Seattle, Miami, NYC, Toronto, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London, Madrid,Paris,Vienna

so couple of questions

1) that server says 10x8tb hdd ( does this mean 80tb storage ???!!! ). or ?

2) this 300tb/month outbound - if we exceed 300tb bandwidth after like 3 weeks, how much is being charged per tb bandwidth ?

3) 10gbps unmetered - what does this mean ??? do we need pay more for this thing ? i don't understand what does this mean, but i do quite understand that 300tb, its 300tb outgoing bandwidth traffic ?

4) when i go to the order page, it says :
DELL - Storage / DR special, Dual Xeon 5520
Basic Fee: $306.90/Mo
Monthly Fee: $556.90
Setup Fee: $0.00
Grand Total: $556.90

YOUR ORDER SPECS
Preferred Location
- Chicago
Bandwidth Plan
- 10Gbps unmetered- dedicated In + 300TB/month out + 2x120GB SSD + 10x 8TB HDD
Monthly Fee: $250.00
Setup Fee: $0.00
OS Architecture
- 64 bit
Monthly Fee: $0.00
Setup Fee: $0.00
Backup Storage
- None
Monthly Fee: $0.00
Setup Fee: $0.00
Control Panel
- None
Monthly Fee: $0.00
Setup Fee: $0.00
RAM
- 32GB
Monthly Fee: $0.00
Setup Fee: $0.00

so how much do we pay monthly ??!!! do we pay $500+ monthly or $250 ?!!

5) what do you guys suggest ? to use this fdc server and pull all my videos files into here and use ? or buy 6 small ovh servers ? 500mbps each, added up i think its 3gbps, but chances are high 500+ more users will view on same location

Need urgent advice on the 5 questions, would be great if someone actually look at my 5 questions and answer accordingly. my main server is just server static pages, not video files, just the small servers. Thank you !!!

Hello,

We would be happy to answer all your questions.

But I have to mention that you should always contact the provider sales support to get assist, Sales agents got employed to do this for you as a client. Let's start



1) that server says 10x8tb HDD ( does this mean 80tb storage ???!!! ). or?

You already mentioned the specs up here and I noticed that they offer 2 Hard disks not one and it's weird to me ( 2x120GB SSD + 10 x 8TB HDD ) SSD hard disk + HDD Hard disk and (+) means that 2 Hard Disks included!, You have to ask them about that exotic specifications. I cant confirm is it 2 SSD hard disks with 120 GB for each one + 10 Hard Disks for 8 TB for each one! ( So weird mate ) You Should contact their support team.



2) this 300tb/month outbound - if we exceed 300tb bandwidth after like 3 weeks, how much is being charged per TB bandwidth?



Outbound always refer to outgoing traffic and this question - I don't know why they are using that accent - can be answered by their sales team too.



- Regarding 10( Gbps) We always use Giga Bite Per second with the connection speed.

* It's your business, always ask your provider so that you can do well.


Regards..

You should ask the server provider questions about his offer. You should see where the clients are located and get your servers close to them. Setup your budget that you could afford and then place an offer request here in the forum

Sounds like you could really use Gbps+ connection for your servers. Clearly you are bottle-necking with the 500Mbps connections.

It seems you are looking at the FDCServers storage boxes, which does have bandwidth limitations of 300TB, and if you exceed that you will be charged extra.
Their standard servers with either the 1Gbps or 10Gbps dedicated ports are unmetered, which means you can max them and not worry about excess fees. So if you are going to need more than 300TB bandwidth, definitely go with one of their dedicated port servers.

I see you are needing high hard disc capacity. One thing you could do is, ask them for a custom quote on the same spec as the storage box, but on either a 1Gbps or 10Gbps dedicated unmetered port. This way you wont have to worry about over usage.

Answers to Qs:
1: yes, that will be 80GB.
2: In terms of pricing for overage usage, ask their sales department. As mentioned previously, if you choose thier dedicated ports then you wont need to worry about going over. But this will be more expensive.
3. the 10Gbps unmetered is for inbound traffic. 300TB is for outbound traffic. Unless you choose dedicated port, in which case it will be unmetered both ways.
4. you can either pay $306.9/month + $1000 setup fee, or $556.9/month with no setup fee
5. id advice a server with larger port capacity to allow for the multiple users.

Good luck mate

I just received this custom quote from fdc :

Dual Xeon 5520
32GB RAM
4x 10TB HDD
10Gbps unmetered (3Gbps out + 10Gbps in during 6am-6pm CST and 10Gbps in and out between 6pm-6am CST)
$599/month

unlimited bandwidth, however 3gbps out during that time is 7pm to 7am our time in Asia, this is where our peak hour (2500+ concurrent users viewing videos), 10gbps unlimited 6pm-6am ( 7am to 7pm ), we got low traffic during this timing can 3gbps handle 2500 users ?

And the salesman added on : You will be allowed to use 3Gbps in the peak hours (6am-6pm CST) with no restrictions, however, we do not and cannot guarantee that you are going to get full 3Gbps from anywhere in the world. There are a lot of factors involved. Distance, routers, hops, latency, software configuration.

From what i am told by the salesman :

i asked some questions

1) is the 3gbps guaranteed outbound ? always 3gbps ?
>> You will be allowed to use 3Gbps in the peak hours (6am-6pm CST) with no restrictions, however, we do not and cannot guarantee that you are going to get full 3Gbps from anywhere in the world. There are a lot of factors involved. Distance, routers, hops, latency, software configuration.


2) if 3gbps is guaranteed, does it burst to 10gbps ?
>> The 3Gbps limitation in peak times is with no burst possibility. It is 3Gbps flat.

the way he answer i don't quite understasnd, 3gbps limitation in peak times is with no burst possiblity, it is 3gbps flat, and he said again, we cannot guarantee you are going to get full 3gbps, what does this mean ? on OVH free 500mbps, we max out almost every hour, with no chance of going lower, so for this 3gbps, will it max out too ? How does this 3gbps port works ? And how does it actually max out to 3gbps ? the more users, it will max out or ?

(custom quote)
Dual Xeon 5520
32GB RAM
4x 10TB HDD
10Gbps unmetered (3Gbps out + 10Gbps in during 6am-6pm CST and 10Gbps in and out between 6pm-6am CST)(unlimited bandwidth)
$599/month

(From the main page of the website)
DELL - Storage / DR special
Dual Xeon 5520
32GB RAM
IPMI
2x120GB SSD + 10 x 8TB HDD ( these two are together,was told together 12 drives in total )
10Gbps unmetered- dedicated Inbound ( 24/7 10gbps port, with no restriction unlike the $599 server )
300TB/month outbound traffic only - ($5/tb after 300tb)

i was thinking to also just buy 7 more small ovh servers (500mbps) each, then distribute the video files 1-1 in each server for load balancing. And make my conversion server to distribute 1-1 to 10 small servers. But now ovh is out of stock already is this 10 small 500mbps server a good option ? or which of the two above ? Each of the small server maximum only 3.5tb storage. so adding up 35tb storage only, but cost only $50 each small one.

Our current server uses no more than 350tb last month. But this month i think will exceed 300tb or 400tb.

Tough decision what is everyone choice ?

I have to make a decision on Mon/Tuesday, because once i buy it, i need stick to it for a long time

***ovh servers indicated burst 1gbps, but it has never ever burst to 1gbps bandwidth lol.