Assumptions This Book Makes
This book does not make many demands on the average reader. It is written in an informal manner and is intended for both Linux hobbyists as well as for system administrators, whether they are using Linux (or another Unix derivative, such as BSD) or Windows. This book focuses mainly on using icecast and ices on a Linux platform. Beginning Linux users should have no trouble grasping the concepts shown here. Most applications, along with their installation and configuration, are clearly spelled out. While this book does provide the average user with the ability to get an icecast server up and running, professional deployments of any streaming audio solutions benefit from a good knowledge of audio technology, along with basic networking and system administration expertise.
If any of the steps explained in later chapters do not answer all your questions, consult the application's home page or subscribe to its mailing list, if one is available. It is helpful if you are familiar with Usenet newsgroups and can post detailed questions regarding any additional use of the applications presented here. You will find that the icecast open source community is active and incredibly helpful.
This book assumes that the user has access to one or more Linux or Windows-based machines, can perform a standard operating system installation, and has a stable connection to the Internet. It also assumes that a LAN or switched Ethernet network is available for testing purposes. Though this is not required, it does help when testing audio connections and encoding processes.
