Icecast Streaming Media Server

[Anonymous]

Well, we used to work with the windows Icecast Server here and it use to work ok except for the fact that the radio link comes down once and a while. To solve this issue I decided to change the server to linux and now I face a new problem: LAG.
Everything works all right with Ices2 and Icecast2 for ogg but I have like 3 secs of lag. I realy need a fast response cause this stream will be used for the radialists audio return. I`ve set the least lag possible with burst-size=0 on the server and pre-buffer=0 on the player side.

Is it possible that Im facing this issue cause it is a relative slow CPU? P3 600MHz and 256 RAM

Thanks.

[karlH]

You haven't said what is acceptabe lag for your setup. icecast is not a low latency setup, but it should be possible to reduce the latency but that will mean increased overhead, how much will depend on what you want to achieve.

karl.

[Anonymous]

I need the same lag I used to get with Windows Icecast and Winamp ODDCast cause that`s what people here are used to, witch is about 1 or 2 seconds... With Linux, Icecast and LiveIce (witch I`m using now for Mp3 stream) I get like 5 or 6 seconds with the least bufer on the client side and that is a pretty ugly scene... I`ve tried to use already compressed files (with ezStream) to see if the problem was with lame or something but it ain`t that. It still lags....
Any suggests?

Thanks.

[karlH]

icecast on windows and linux reacts the same way in this regard, so it must be the source client or player settings.

karl

[Anonymous]

Thanks Karl.
Do u think it`s possible to be something like the amount of RAM or the CPU clock? The Windows server is an Athlon XP 64bits and Im trying linux with an old Pentium 3 300MHz.
I thinks it is that.
The sad thing is that I can`t be shure...

[karlH]

no, icecast isn't CPU bound so unless the P3 is severely crippled then it won't be the server. There is really only the burst size within icecast that adds lag every else is in the clients or the connection to the clients.

karl.

[Anonymous]

How mutch lag do you guys use to get?
Am I wrong or 5 secs is a VERY big lag?
I don`t know what to try anymore.
It ain`t the source client, I`ve tried all of then! :>
Why should Linux Icecast be slower than Windows??
Thanks.

[karlH]

For most people, the lag is not a consideration as listeners only hear one end and have nothing to compare. As I've said before the icecast on windows is not that different from on linux, same codebase, however something else on your system could have an adverse affect on icecast. How are you measuring the lag? maybe you can narrow it down

karl.

[Anonymous]

To measure the lag I disconnect the audio cable from the input and start a timer. It takes 5 or 6 secs to the sound disapear on the listener`s side.I will try the exactly same configuration on another machine so see if the problem is with software or hardware.
Thank ya, man.