How to Install and Configure Shoutcast on a Linux Server

Shoutcast is a popular audio streaming server software that allows users to broadcast audio over the internet. It is widely used by radio stations, DJs and podcasters to stream live shows or pre-recorded content to their audiences. In this article, we will go through the steps to install and configure Shoutcast on Linux.

1. Install the required dependencies
   Before installing Shoutcast, you will need to ensure that your Linux system has all the required dependencies. The dependencies required to install Shoutcast are:

   glibc.i686

   libstdc++.i686

   zlib.i686

   libxml2.i686

   libxslt.i686

   To install these dependencies, open the terminal and run the following command:

   sudo yum install glibc.i686 libstdc++.i686 zlib.i686 libxml2.i686 libxslt.i686

2. Download Shoutcast
   Once the dependencies are installed, you will need to download the latest version of Shoutcast from the official website. You can do this by using the following command:

   wget http://download.nullsoft.com/shoutcast/tools/sc_serv2_linux_x64-latest.tar.gz

3. Extract the Shoutcast files
   After downloading the Shoutcast package, the next step is to extract the files from the archive. Use the following command to extract the files:

   tar -xvf sc_serv2_linux_x64-latest.tar.gz

4. Configure the Shoutcast server
   Once the files have been extracted, you can configure the Shoutcast server by creating a configuration file. To do this, navigate to the Shoutcast directory and create a file named sc_serv.conf using the following command:

   cd sc_serv2_linux_x64

   nano sc_serv.conf

   In the configuration file, you will need to specify the port number and password for the server. You can set any port number of your choice, but the default port number for Shoutcast is 8000. In the configuration file, you will need to add the following lines:

   portbase=8000

   password=yourpassword

   Replace “yourpassword” with the password you want to use for your server.

5. Start the Shoutcast server
   After configuring the Shoutcast server, you can start it by running the following command:

   ./sc_serv sc_serv.conf

   This will start the Shoutcast server on the specified port number with the password you set.

6. Connect to the Shoutcast server
   To connect to the Shoutcast server, you will need a compatible audio player. Some popular audio players that work with Shoutcast are Winamp, VLC and iTunes. Open your audio player and enter the URL of the Shoutcast server in the format: http://yourdomain.com:portnumber. For example, if your domain name is “myradiostation.com” and your port number is 8000, the URL would be “http://myradiostation.com:8000”.

Which type of server do I need?

When it comes to choosing a server for Shoutcast, there are several factors to consider, including your specific needs, budget and technical expertise. Here are some options to consider:

• Dedicated server
  A dedicated server is the most powerful and flexible option, as it allows you to customise the hardware and software to meet your specific needs. However, dedicated servers can be expensive, and they require a high level of technical expertise to set up and maintain. If you choose a dedicated server, then a managed solution would remove much of the technical burden.
• Virtual private server (VPS)
  A VPS is a virtual server that in many ways acts like a mini dedicated server. It still offers plenty of storage and processing power but at a fraction of the cost of a dedicated server. It also provides a high level of control and flexibility. Like a dedicated server, it still requires some technical knowledge to set up and manage, however, with managed VPS hosting much of this can be taken care of by the web host.
• Cloud hosting
  Cloud hosting offers guaranteed 100% uptime and is the best choice if you require scalability – in other words, if you need extra resources on tap to cope with unexpectedly large audiences. Like dedicated servers and VPS, a managed cloud solution would remove many of the more technical server admin tasks.
• Shared hosting
  While shared hosting is the most affordable option, it also has the least amount of control and flexibility. It also has significantly less storage and processing power than the options above and is, therefore, not recommended for streaming media as it can lead to performance issues and other problems.

Conclusion

Shoutcast is a powerful tool that allows you to stream audio over the internet and reach a wider audience. From reading this article, you should now know the steps you need to take to install and configure Shoutcast on Linux and have a better idea of the type of server that will best suit your needs. By following these simple steps, you will be able to set up your own Shoutcast server and start broadcasting your audio content to the world. If you are looking for a server to host Shoutcast and store your media, visit our home page to view our range of managed VPS, dedicated servers and cloud solutions.