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First identify whether FFmpeg is losing its input or its output, and whether it exits or stays running without moving packets. The right fix depends on the protocol: FFmpeg’s HTTP reconnect options apply to HTTP, RTSP has separate transport choices, and network-output recovery uses different controls. No single reconnect flag covers every case.
Diagnose where the disconnect happens
Before changing options, record the installed FFmpeg version, the command with credentials and stream keys removed, and the complete log around a failure. Note the protocol for each endpoint: input and output may use different protocols. Check the help and protocol documentation for your installed build; current FFmpeg master documentation may not match an older Raspberry Pi OS package.
- FFmpeg exits: reconnect options inside FFmpeg cannot restart a terminated process. Use a service manager or other process supervisor with a restart policy.
- FFmpeg remains running but stops receiving packets: investigate input reconnect behavior, source availability and timeout or stall behavior.
- FFmpeg remains running but stops writing packets: investigate output recovery and whether the destination is reachable.
Keep the distinction between input and output explicit when reading logs: a network error while opening or reading a source is not the same failure as an output write error.
If FFmpeg reads an HTTP source
HTTP reconnect controls are protocol-specific. The FFmpeg HTTP implementation documents reconnect, reconnect_at_eof, reconnect_on_network_error, reconnect_on_http_error, and reconnect_streamed. They are disabled by default in the current master implementation. Choose the controls that fit the source and failure rather than enabling them blindly.
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Set an intentional retry and delay policy for the feed. Current master source lists a maximum reconnect delay of 120 seconds, unlimited maximum retries when set to -1, and a total reconnect-delay limit of 256 seconds; packaged builds may differ. Inspect the installed version’s protocol options and confirm the available names and defaults before relying on those values.
These HTTP controls do not provide a general reconnect switch for RTSP or arbitrary network outputs. See the FFmpeg HTTP implementation for the option descriptions and version-sensitive defaults.
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If FFmpeg reads an RTSP camera or server
FFmpeg documents UDP and TCP as RTSP lower transports. UDP can have lower transport overhead, but packets may arrive out of order or be lost. TCP interleaves media within the RTSP control channel, which can be useful for diagnosing loss on a UDP path. Testing TCP is not a guarantee that FFmpeg will re-establish an RTSP session after every interruption.
- Confirm the RTSP URL and that the camera or server is reachable after the drop.
- Try
-rtsp_transport tcpas a diagnostic. Compare behavior with the default or UDP transport under the same conditions. - If the process exits, configure an external supervisor to restart it. If it stays alive but stalls, inspect the log and source availability, and investigate the relevant timeout or stall behavior for that build.
Transport choice depends on the camera/server, network path, firewall behavior and latency needs. Consult the FFmpeg RTSP protocol documentation; it describes the transports and UDP packet handling, not a universal session-recovery guarantee.
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If FFmpeg writes a network stream
For network output, FFmpeg’s FIFO muxer has separate recovery controls: attempt_recovery, recovery_wait_time, max_recovery_attempts, recover_any_error and overflow behavior. The documented defaults include attempt_recovery off, a five-second recovery wait, unlimited successive attempts when max_recovery_attempts is zero, and packet dropping on overflow off.
The FIFO can retry recovery after an output error. Decide what should happen if its queue fills:
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- Do not drop queued packets: the default overflow behavior can block or delay processing as the queue fills. This favors retaining queued content but may undermine real-time delivery.
- Drop packets on overflow: the encoder can keep processing in real time, but the outgoing stream omits content from the full queue.
The FFmpeg documentation’s network-outage example uses -f fifo -fifo_format flv -drop_pkts_on_overflow 1 -attempt_recovery 1 -recovery_wait_time 1. Treat that as an example for a compatible FLV-style output, not a universal command. Choose a FIFO format and options that match the actual destination, then test the behavior you want during an outage. See the FFmpeg FIFO muxer documentation.
Keep a terminated FFmpeg process running again
In-process recovery and process restart solve different problems. FIFO or protocol recovery can address certain I/O failures while FFmpeg is active; neither can revive a process that has exited. Configure a service manager or supervisor to restart the command after failure, and check its logs to distinguish repeated restarts from one long-running process that has stalled. The FFmpeg documentation describes its own recovery controls but does not prescribe a particular supervisor.
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Check the Raspberry Pi camera and workload separately
If the source is the Pi’s camera, verify that the camera stack and workload are stable before attributing every interruption to the network. Raspberry Pi’s Picamera2 manual describes Picamera2 as the current Python camera library in that manual, supports Raspberry Pi OS Bullseye or later, and identifies version 0.3.37 as the version covered. Confirm the latest manual and release for your installation. The manual also notes that lower-powered devices may struggle with desktop preview software. Legacy PiCamera and the older camera stack are described there as deprecated and unsupported. These camera considerations are separate from FFmpeg network recovery; see The Picamera2 Library manual.
Troubleshoot by symptom
| Symptom | Likely distinction | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| FFmpeg exits immediately after a network error | Process termination; in-process reconnect cannot restart it | Review the last log lines and configure an external restart policy. |
| HTTP input fails to return after a drop | HTTP reconnect options may be disabled or not suited to the failure | Check installed-build HTTP option help; set retry and delay behavior appropriate to the source. |
| RTSP over UDP loses media during network trouble | UDP packets can be lost or reordered | Try -rtsp_transport tcp diagnostically; verify the source and network path. |
| RTSP command remains alive but receives nothing | A live process may still be stalled or its source unavailable | Inspect logs, source reachability and applicable timeout behavior; do not assume a transport switch guarantees session recovery. |
| Network output errors or lags after a drop | Output recovery and FIFO queue policy are relevant | Evaluate FIFO recovery settings and decide whether overflow should retain queued packets or drop them for real-time processing. |
| Disconnects continue with the Pi camera source | The camera stack or device workload may be unstable independently of the network | Verify OS support, camera software and whether preview or encoding load is too demanding. |
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