title: Server configuration and backend technology of sites like ustream.tv
body: <p>I am going to build a site like ustream.tv. The main use case is <em>A user will create a live channel and any other user can view that channel</em>.  After doing some google search I found this is done using flash media server. </p>
  
  <p>I thought If I could do some load testing I could find how much hardware resource I need. Also a stress testing session will show me the breaking point of my server. But the trial version supports few parallel rtmp connections. So the testing will not work here. So I was looking for configuration of servers that runs <code>ustream.tv</code>. So I have these questions</p>
  
  <ol>
  <li>What type of server is used in live streaming sites? CPU, RAM?</li>
  <li>To balance the bandwidth does it use multiple NICs or any other technique?</li>
  <li>Do I really need Flash Media Server? or there are other alternatives? </li>
  </ol>