Building a video streaming system with stable performance, smooth experience, and safe and reliable security is not as simple as simply renting a Hong Kong server to upload video files. What needs to be supported behind it is a complete set of system architecture and multiple core technologies working together. From server bandwidth to codec, from protocol selection to content distribution, from transcoding processing to player compatibility, it constitutes a complete video streaming chain.
Network and resource foundation of Hong Kong server
Before all technical deployments, the first thing is the selection of servers and network resource preparation. The choice of Hong Kong server directly affects the stability, latency, and concurrent carrying capacity of subsequent video services.
Streaming media services are high-bandwidth, long-connection, and high-concurrency services. The bandwidth of ordinary servers of 5Mbps~10Mbps is far from meeting the needs. It is recommended to choose a Hong Kong server with at least 100Mbps starting, support peak bandwidth bursts, and optimization back to the mainland (such as CN2 or BGP multi-line).
At the same time, focus on network stability (packet loss rate, latency fluctuation), routing optimization (whether the mainland access is fast or not), whether the bandwidth is exclusive or shared, and hardware resource configuration.
Video processing involves a lot of CPU resources for transcoding, memory for caching, and storage for file storage. Therefore, it is recommended that the server has a multi-core CPU (8 cores or more), large-capacity memory (16GB or more), SSD or NVMe storage disk (to ensure reading speed), and large-capacity hard disk (for storing original video and cache slices).
Video encoding and transcoding technology
Video encoding technology determines the size, clarity and transmission efficiency of video files. Common encoding standards include:
H.264 (AVC): The most widely supported encoding format, with good compatibility, suitable for most browsers and devices.
H.265 (HEVC): Higher compression efficiency, can reduce file size by about 50% at the same image quality, but the playback end has higher requirements.
VP9/AV1: Video encoding standard supported by Google, with higher compression rate on the Web side, suitable for Web streaming media.
When building the platform, multi-bitrate adaptation must be considered, that is, different definition versions 1080P (mainstream HD), 720P (medium-speed connection), 480P (low-speed network), 240P (mobile terminal to save traffic) should be output for different bandwidths and terminals.
These different definition versions need to be implemented through a real-time transcoding system, or pre-transcoded and stored.
Selection of video streaming protocols
The transmission of video streams needs to comply with specific protocols. The current mainstream video streaming protocols include:
RTMP: low latency, suitable for live broadcast
Disadvantages: abandoned by Adobe, no longer updated, poor browser support
HLS: based on HTTP, supports CDN cache, strong compatibility
Disadvantages: high latency (5~30 seconds), not suitable for low-latency live broadcast scenarios
DASH: similar to HLS, but more flexible, supports smoother multi-bitrate switching
Disadvantages: less compatible than HLS (Safari does not support by default)
WebRTC: ultra-low latency, suitable for highly interactive applications such as microphones and conferences
Disadvantages: high deployment difficulty, not suitable for massive concurrent viewing scenarios
In actual deployment, RTMP is usually used to push the stream to the server, and then the server transcodes it into HLS or DASH for front-end playback. That is, streaming end (RTMP) → media server (Nginx+RTMP module or Wowza/Red5) → playback end (HLS)
Streaming media server construction and component integration
Building a streaming media platform on a Hong Kong server generally includes the following key components:
Streaming server: It is recommended to use Nginx + RTMP module, or professional solutions such as Wowza, Red5 Pro, SRS
Transcoding service: Implement functions such as video format conversion, resolution re-encoding, bit rate adjustment, etc., and deploy FFmpeg transcoding queues or clusters to cooperate with task scheduling.
Slicing and packaging: Cut the video stream into several small segments (.ts/.m4s, etc.), generate m3u8 playlists, support multi-bit rate versions, and facilitate dynamic switching of players.
Playback server: Use Nginx or Apache as the HLS playback distribution server, and cooperate with CDN cache to relieve the pressure on the source station.
CDN integration: For a large number of users accessing concurrently, it is necessary to connect to the global or regional CDN network to accelerate video loading.
Player integration: Web-side Video.js, JWPlayer, hls.js, Shaka Player; mobile-side needs to develop native players or use WebView embedding
Video storage and content management
The streaming media platform needs to support massive video upload and storage. The following technical points should be considered:
1. Video upload and format compatibility, support for multiple video formats, server-side transcoding to ensure unified playback format
2. Distributed storage or object storage, using local disk is suitable for initial deployment, using distributed file system can be horizontally expanded, docking OSS is easier to manage
3. Database and video metadata management, use MySQL/PostgreSQL to store video ID, name, clarity, tags, etc., and use Elasticsearch to achieve search and screening.
Security and access control technology
Video content is an intellectual property asset, and must be prevented from hotlinking, downloading, and unauthorized playback. Common security technologies include:
1. Anti-hotlink and Token verification, set the validity period of the access link, URL signature or Token encryption mechanism to prevent CDN from being illegally called
2. HTTPS transmission, all video resources must enable SSL certificates to ensure transmission security
3. Watermark and video fingerprint, add visible/hidden watermarks to track the source of the leak, and use encoded information to embed the identification code
4. Access control, video classification is public/private/paid, combined with JWT, OAuth and other authorization mechanisms
5. Anti-piracy technology, HTML5 player encryption logic, right-click restriction, with obfuscated scripts, developer tool debugging restriction
Building a complete video streaming system on a Hong Kong server is not as simple as uploading a few videos or opening a live broadcast room. What is needed behind it is a complete closed-loop technology system from streaming, transcoding, slicing, transmission, security to playback. Among them, any technical shortcomings in any link will affect the end-user's viewing experience and even lead to a decline in the platform's trust.
Mastering these core technologies and designing a modular architecture based on your own business needs will not only allow you to calmly deal with initial trial operations, but also enable smooth expansion when traffic explodes, truly achieving sustainable operation and maintenance.
