title: Is it better to connect directly to an IP camera or stream the video through a server?
body: <p>We have an IP camera, we have 100 people interested in watching the stream 12 hours per day.</p>
  
  <p>If we allow people to connect directly to the camera then the bandwidth at that location is hammered, the IP camera has to be really top of the range and the video quality degrades.</p>
  
  <p>If we stream the video through a server it seems as though the costs become astronomical, increasing per user.</p>
  
  <p>What are the pros and cons and what's the best recommendations for designing this system in the most affordable way?</p>
  
  <p><strong>UPDATE</strong>: Currently all live streaming services I can find are using Unicast. With Unicast, each user gets their own stream meaning your bandwidth costs increase per user. This is incredibly expensive if you're streaming 24x7x365 (using e.g. Amazon CloudFront). (In my case we'd be streaming 12 hours per day, 5 days per week, all year round but still, the Unicast bandwidth costs make it unworkable)</p>
  
  <p>What I need is a Multicast service that exists in the cloud but I cannot find one. Cisco seem to have bought a company that did what I'm looking for but now you need to call them to enquire, so I presume it costs an arm and a leg.  </p>
  
  <p><a href="http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps6552/products_ios_technology_home.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps6552/products_ios_technology_home.html</a></p>