Streaming to my group

My backup drive died a few days ago and I want to keep my 21 gig mp3 collection protected. I am thinking, two birds... Can I backup all of my music to a website (the one I'm using has no limits on bandwidth or disk space) and stream from it into SL? I'd like to protect my collection from being downloaded too. The server is Apache. I've Googled 'til I'm crisp with no joy and can really use some advice, help or sympathy at this point. TIA

The typical method of streaming music to SL is with a Shoutcast server to stream it. You can't use the typical website designed for setting up a homepage. It needs to have specific tools for streaming content.

Though Shoutcast servers do provide storage space for your music files, it tends to get expensive. It's a much cheaper proposition to stream it from your computer, to Shoutcast server, to SL. But, if storing your music at another site is something that's important to you, check out some servers and price it out.

As to security, I don't know about specific security issues. I would guess that a Shoutcast server would be no more or less secure than any other server that streamed content. Though I have no doubt that technology exists to illegally capture and store a music stream, it's not as easy as simply downloading a file (like how easy it is to save a picture from a website.)

Yes, I know about Shoutcast and it won't suit my purposes. However I added mime types to the website and can stream easily from there but streaming into SL is another thing. I can make m3u files and stuff but SL won't accept those. I am looking for a nice little php, perl or other script that will make on demand lists that SL will accept.

Yes, that is very easy to do but I don't want to tie up my personal computer streaming music to my group

I live in So Calif and with the four seasons we have (earthquake, mudslide, fire, flood) I like the idea of having off site storage and already have a site that advertises all the space I want. The problem is formating for SL.

Well, I thought I was answering a basic question. But it turned out to be an advanced question over my head.

as far as I know, shoutcast is the only way to stream into SL
(and the mac equivalent, icecast I think it is called, if I am wrong someone correct me)

so basically the answer you got, pretty much covers it

And it was very nice of you to reply too! Thanks

I actually did think of one source of information you might try.

I'm not a technical expert on different OS's, different protocols, different encoding, and so forth. I do know that my web site host provider (I use Network Solutions) has all kinds of different packages for all those different OS's, protocols, etc. that I do not understand. They offer services like setting up streaming content. I don't make use of them for music streaming, though, because a Shoutcast server was just simpler for me to understand, set up, and use.

But the idea is, though, that you might just want to check out a few website hosting companies, that cater to small business. Pick out a few that sound good, and then either e-mail or call up their sales staff with your problem and see if they have a solution to sell you. Though they might not specifically advertise that for which you are looking, they still might be able to help you (or confirm what Rhaoth suggested, that what you want to do just might be impossible).

I'll check out Net Solutions and yeah Shoutcast is just so easy with the dsp plugin thingie. I'm sure this isn't as hard to do as I'm making it. The SL knowledge base says SL can handle a very well shaped pls file.. or maybe I dreamed that, I'm so punchy from trying to grok stuff.

Have you looked at live365? (if its still out there) you could do hosing and as well have that sent out as a stream(shoutcast) ;last i checked a year or two ago it was pretty pricey, but it as well covered the licensing to stream the RIAA crap

I was a member there an aeon ago, forgot about it, thanks for another place to look, I haven't given up... Cha!