The theory about streaming remains for a lot of people a bit unclear, but it is necessary to find out and to describe problems in a precise manner, leading fast and direct to a solution. In this chapter you are introduced to the things behind the shiny surface, the things which work in the background and cause eventually problems.

You will learn

• about the 3 server layout of any streaming session
• how audio is converted to a streaming compatible format
• and what implications are done with this
• what bandwidth is and how it can be described
• what a firewall does to your stream
• the main difficulties choosing audio quality in relation to bandwidth
• how to find out how you are connected to the Internet