Darwin Streaming Server (DSS) is the open source version of Apple’s QuickTime Streaming Server technology that allows you to send streaming media to clients across the Internet using the industry standard RTP and RTSP protocols. Based on the same code base as QuickTime Streaming Server, Darwin Streaming Server provides a high level of customizability and runs on a variety of platforms allowing you to manipulate the code to fit your needs. Although Darwin Streaming Server does not offer as many professional features as QuickTime Streaming Server, it still retains its capacity to broadcast streaming video. Although there are other free alternatives, DSS was the first free RTP/RSTP server to arise, and it also integrates impressively well with everything Apple. As long as you have a quick internet connection, you will be able to deliver a completely professional real time stream to as many users as you want.

Typically, in any given streaming setup, there are two computers. One is the server, which requires either DSS or QTSS, and the other is the broadcaster, which requires Quicktime Broadcaster (Mac OS X only). The server can be either Windows or Mac, but the broadcaster must be a mac. For more detailed instructions on installing DSS on a Windows machine, follow these instructions. For Mac users, continue following these instructions:

1. Download DSS
2. Download QuickTime Broadcaster
3. Make sure you have Apache Web Server installed.
4. Obtain the URL from QuickTime Broadcaster.
5. Post it on a website on your Apache Web Server.

The installation is a breeze, and there is virtually no configuration whatsoever. You might only want to open a couple of ports, and then you’ll manage everything from QuickTime Broadcaster. You’ll be able to stream from your webcam, or just transmit a file from your HDD.

That’s it. In no time, you’ll be using the same solution that YouTube Mobile uses to transfer videos in 3GP.