• Audio Servers
• Audio Streaming Servers
• Entertainment Servers
• Home Servers
• Media Centers
• Media Servers
• Network Video Servers
• Netzwerk Audio Servers
• Streaming Servers
• Video Servers
• Video Streaming Servers

• How do I operate a media center?
• How do media centers work?
• What are playback zones?
• What is a Storage Area Network?
• Media Centers - Advantages
• Media Center - Disadvantages

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What is an Entertainment Server?

There exists an abundance of different types of entertainment media, and there are times when the use of all the media together is complicated. Music, for example, is played back on a stereo system while films are watched using a DVD player and a television set.

In order to simplify the use of all the devices, the entertainment server was developed. Basically, this is a system which coordinates the use of many entertainment devices using one device. Among other features, the entertainment server can also connect to the Internet.

An entertainment server can be used with a television set as well as with a stereo system, allowing the user to experience the devices’ picture and sound in impressive quality for a fantastic audio experience. Operating the server has been made as easy as possible to ensure maximum enjoyment during media playback. This way, even those who are less experienced with computers can use it.
This is reflected in the meticulous design of the server’s applications, which are easy to use on both the television and on the remote control.

Additionally, every user of one of these servers also benefits from the fact that all applications are already installed on the system. There is no need to get up anymore to use your equipment - everything can be done from the comfort of your couch. While using the entertainment server, the background noise is so minimal that an enjoyable sound experience is guaranteed.

Usually, these servers are equipped with hard drives that for all intents and purposes can have a capacity of 2000 gigabytes.

Since there will continue to be new advances in technology, newly developed applications for the entertainment server will always be just around the corner. The recent integration of Blu-ray technology is one good example of this, but there are a plethora of diverse possibilities with entertainment servers.

What is an audio server?

It is becoming more and more common for people to have home networks that connect two or more computers together. An audio server, which is also for data storage, is found on one of these computers. This data storage unit, often a hard drive, can hold a vast amount of music. A storage device like this can have more than 100 gigabytes of storage capacity, so a vast amount of songs can be stored on the hard drive.

Aside from the usual digital audio signals, there are also analog signals, which the audio server then digitalizes.

While the music files are saved in the server’s archive, audio codecs facilitate maximum optimization of space on the hard drive. This is possible because the music file is converted to take up less space.

The audio server’s music library was deliberately designed so that it is easy to search and find any desired music file. In this way, any song can be played within seconds.

There are two ways to connect an audio server to the home network: either with a Wi-Fi connection or via Ethernet plug-in. This enables the user to connect to streaming music clients.

What is a video server?

A video server is a computer or similar EDP system. These servers are often connected to local area networks so that they are able to integrate outside data. For storage purposes, the video servers are equipped with large hard drives that are able to hold a large amount of data. The video server has special hardware in order to cope with the extensive amount of tasks the server has.

The software has also been specially adapted to meet these needs. No matter the actual amount of files, it is wise to save them in an organized system so that they can be found again quickly. The server can also change analog signals into digital signals. These are just two of the tasks that a video server performs.

The interaction between the hardware, the software and the firmware as been designed so that the user can change sizes without a problem. However, these are just a few of the diverse possibilities a user has with a video server.

Home Servers

A home server is characterized by having an easy user interface which can store not only music and videos but also documents and even photos. These servers often have a storage capacity of several 100 gigabytes. The home server can be set up so that several people can access all of the files.

Media Servers

A media server is a central station on which the user can organize music, picture and video files. The media server is capable of running devices located at different places in the house to play back or open files.
A media server might be one single device or a combination of several devices.

Movie Servers

A movie server’s high storage capacity allows for several hundred DVDs to be stored on its hard drive. Various different categories can be used when saving a movie on the server. It is also possible to save DVD covers as well as to include databanks with information about movie actors. A movie server is also characterized by being very user friendly.

Film Servers

A central film server can control film playing devices located at different places in the home in order to view films. The film server can also be connected to the internet so that film information can be continuously added to the film collection. It is very easy to use and makes it possible to organize the most diverse film collections.