Skip to content

How to setup the server

The Fast Video Cataloger server lets multiple users share the same catalog at the same time. The server hosts a .vcat catalog file (the same file format used by the standalone application) and serves video files, companion images, and actor photos to connected clients.

If you already have a catalog, build it locally first in the standalone application. When you are ready to share it, set up the server and host the existing catalog through it.

Choose how to host video files

The catalog metadata is always served by the Fast Video Cataloger server itself. Video files are a separate decision — you have three options:

Starting with version 10, Fast Video Cataloger includes a built-in HTTP server that serves videos, companion images, and actor photos directly. No external web server is required, and videos do not need to share a common root folder — the built-in server uses ID-based streaming, so files can live anywhere on disk.

This is the recommended option for new setups. It also enables the browser-based web interface and the full REST API.

See Host Video from a Web Server for the wizard walkthrough.

Windows file share

Videos are served over a Windows network share. Clients access video files directly through the share while metadata still goes through the Fast Video Cataloger server. All videos must live under a single common root folder, and clients need network access to the share. This option is fastest on a local network and supports the widest range of video formats, including older ones that do not stream reliably over HTTP.

See Share a Catalog Using the Server for the wizard walkthrough.

External web server (IIS, Apache, nginx)

Videos are served through a separately installed web server. This requires more manual setup and typically restricts you to formats that stream well over HTTP (MP4 with H.264 is recommended). Use this option only if you already operate a web server that you want to keep using.

See Host Video from a Web Server for setup details.

Set up the server

The server is included with the Fast Video Cataloger installer and is installed as a Windows service so it runs even when the desktop application is closed.

To configure it, open the catalog you want to share in the desktop application and use Share → Share Catalog to launch the wizard. The wizard installs the service, opens the firewall, and connects your application to the new server. The server address is shown when setup completes (for example, YourComputer:8754).

After setup, Share → Start Server and Share → Stop Server control the running service. Share → Admin Server opens the server admin tool for advanced configuration; manual edits to serverconfig.xml are usually not needed — see Serverconfig.xml if you need to edit it directly.

Connect a client

Install Fast Video Cataloger on the client machine, open the Connect screen, and enter the server address (for example, YourComputer:8754). For a quick first test, run the server and a client on the same computer and connect using localhost. See Connect to a Server for details.

User accounts and access control

When using the built-in HTTP server, you can create accounts on the catalog and assign different access rights per user. Account management is done from the server admin tool.