9 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
9 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

Hosting Downloadable videos on Amazon s3 ? or my server?

by entry
7 replies
I have some videos hosted on amazon s3, with the embedded Camtasia video player. I send these video pages to my email list, so is for them.
(These vids are hosted on amazon s3)


I also want a Download link on them pages, so the visitors have the chance to download the videos. Should I give them the link to the Amazon s3 hosted mp4 file?

or should I Host these videos on my server, so they can get them from the server?

www.MydomainHere.com/video1.mp4?
www.MydomainHere.com/video2.mp4?
 www.MydomainHere.com/video3.mp4?

This will mean I have to upload the videos on my server too, which I don't mind.
#amazon #downloadable #hosting #server #videos
  • Profile picture of the author KEY
    depends on the number of people that you feel
    that you can get!

    see the issue would be your hosting. while you
    may technically be able to utilize the bandwidth
    in your account? you need to know if you are on
    a machine with a 10 megabit or 100 megabit
    connection.

    if so? you will have to use S3, or another video
    hosting solution. with only a few people start
    downloading large files? your account will soon
    be hogging the 'pipe' so to speak. think about
    it...most people can download anymore at over
    1mbit+, so if you have 40-50 people hitting up
    the server? you are now using 1/2 of a 100mbit
    connection.

    now if you have an account that has either multiple
    100mbit access OR better yet 1gigabit connection?
    then you would be ok. Dreamhost is cool as they
    give you the option to move your mp4 files to
    a 'Darwin' video server which has a massive load
    capability.

    now you can see why s3 is so useful! you are moving
    a LOT of work off of the hosting server, and letting it
    handle the work of taking payments and logging people
    into the site. since browsers can pull 4 streams at once
    this also speeds up your site quite a bit.

    KEY (eric)
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3159158].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Keithsco
    you can use viddler.com and give people access rights - saves a lot of fluffing around and then all you do is insert an embed link

    as for downloading if it were me I would zip and host my own
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3159209].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author entry
      Amazon s3 charge you for customers viewing the streaming video.

      Do they charge per 'download' video file, from the server? (Right click download video file)

      Would they charge every time the file is downloaded?
      Signature
      I Have to say a Massive...THANK YOU to every Warrior who has helped me, and thanks to every warrior who helps me in the future...
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3159259].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author KEY
        with s3? bandwidth is bandwidth - no matter if it
        is sent to a videoplayer, downloaded, or just a graphics
        for your header.

        since you sound (like many) nervous about the cost...
        Amazon S3 Pricing

        scenario:
        empty account-> first month (setup)
        upload 1 gigabytes of videos = 10 cents
        storage for the month = 14 cents

        -> second month
        storage = 14 cents
        250 people view all 1 gigabytes twice = 500 gigabytes
        of data - 1 gig free = 499 gigabytes * .15 = $74.85

        so about $80 for 250 paying customers. even at $7
        a month that is $1,750 - $80 = $1,670

        -> third month
        storage = 14 cents

        1000 people view all 1 gigabytes twice = 2000 gig
        * .15 = $300 , but even at $7! that is $6,700 profit!!!!

        since you do not pay until you are making money? you
        should never need to worry about the cost. keep in mind
        that s3 is capable of handling many people calling for
        data at once, and that is what you are paying for!

        unhappy customers are not customers for long.

        KEY (eric)
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3159368].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author entry
          Originally Posted by KEY View Post


          since you do not pay until you are making money? you
          should never need to worry about the cost. keep in mind
          that s3 is capable of handling many people calling for
          data at once, and that is what you are paying for!

          unhappy customers are not customers for long.

          KEY (eric)
          dont pay untill I am makig money? what do you mean? Do amazon only want payment from me after I make get payment from my ebook sales? :confused:
          Signature
          I Have to say a Massive...THANK YOU to every Warrior who has helped me, and thanks to every warrior who helps me in the future...
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3159407].message }}
          • Profile picture of the author Keithsco
            Originally Posted by entry View Post

            dont pay untill I am makig money? what do you mean? Do amazon only want payment from me after I make get payment from my ebook sales? :confused:
            why aren't you asking them these questions???
            {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3159607].message }}
            • Profile picture of the author KEY
              you really need to go to amazon's s3 fact area
              and read over how it all works.

              amazon can not bill you until there is some usage
              of the files that you have stored. so IF there was
              a bill to be paid? it would be because you had already
              made sales and had people downloading your
              product(s).

              the best scenario is to 'launch' 1-2 days after your
              billing cycle and you would have a month to collect
              money before the bill was due.

              if you are worried about refunds? then you should set
              up your site to take ... 3 payments? and have the
              content delivered over the 3 months. this way you
              would be sure that you had a good income coming
              in before your customers had access to all of the
              content.

              this one of 'those' times when people are going to tell
              you "it takes money to make money" - it is just a great
              thing that amazon is billing a month behind
              {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3205858].message }}

Trending Topics