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First identify which side failed: FFmpeg may have lost its HTTP input, or it may have lost its RTMP connection to the streaming destination. Use HTTP reconnect options for the input and FFmpeg’s FIFO muxer recovery for an RTMP output; they solve different problems. Neither guarantees an interruption-free stream, so check the options against the FFmpeg build installed on your always-on host.
Diagnose where the connection failed
A typical FFmpeg streaming pipeline reads a source, processes or copies its audio and video, then publishes an output. Internet loss can break either connection:
- Input failure: FFmpeg cannot keep reading a remote HTTP source. HTTP protocol reconnect options govern attempts to restore that input.
- Output failure: FFmpeg can still read the source but cannot publish to the RTMP destination. The documented FIFO muxer recovery pattern addresses this output-side case.
These mechanisms are not interchangeable. Before changing flags, check FFmpeg’s logs to determine whether the input or the publishing connection is failing. If the source is a local file and the RTMP connection drops, HTTP input flags will not restore the output.
Reconnect an HTTP input
FFmpeg’s HTTP protocol documentation describes options for different disconnect conditions. Put input-scoped HTTP options before the relevant -i in the command.
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| Option | What it addresses |
|---|---|
-reconnect 1 |
Attempts to reconnect after a disconnect before EOF. |
-reconnect_at_eof 1 |
Treats EOF as an error and reconnects; useful for live or endless inputs where EOF should not end the job. |
-reconnect_streamed 1 |
Allows reconnect attempts on streamed or non-seekable inputs. |
-reconnect_on_network_error 1 |
Retries TCP or TLS errors while connecting. |
-reconnect_on_http_error 5xx |
Retries the specified HTTP status codes or classes. The option accepts status codes or classes such as 4xx and 5xx. |
-reconnect_delay_max, -reconnect_max_retries, -reconnect_delay_total_max |
Bound the delay between retries, the retry count, or the total retry delay. Set values deliberately for the service’s operating policy. |
Example: retry an endless HTTP source
This pattern illustrates input-side options; replace the URL and choose limits that fit your source and operating policy:
ffmpeg -reconnect 1
-reconnect_streamed 1
-reconnect_at_eof 1
-i "https://example.com/live-source"
-c copy OUTPUTThe flags are HTTP protocol options, not universal reconnect switches for every input type. Add network-error or HTTP-status retries only if those are the failures you intend to retry. For a bounded retry policy, consult your installed version’s option descriptions and set the maximum delay, retry count, or total delay accordingly.
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Recover an RTMP output after a temporary outage
For output-side recovery, FFmpeg’s all-components documentation shows an RTMP example using the FIFO muxer. The command below follows that documented pattern:
ffmpeg -re -i INPUT
-c:v libx264 -c:a aac
-f fifo -fifo_format flv
-drop_pkts_on_overflow 1
-attempt_recovery 1 -recovery_wait_time 1
-map 0:v -map 0:a
rtmp://example.com/live/stream_nameINPUT and the RTMP URL are placeholders; replace them with your source and destination. The example re-encodes video with libx264 and audio with aac. Its maps select the first video and audio streams. Adapt the codecs and stream selection to your material rather than assuming that this exact command fits every input.
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-attempt_recovery 1 enables FIFO recovery attempts. The example sets -recovery_wait_time 1, meaning a one-second wait before another attempt after an unsuccessful one; FFmpeg documents five seconds as the default. These values are configuration choices, not a guarantee of recovery or a promise that viewers will not see an interruption.
FIFO buffering and packet handling can affect latency and what happens while the destination is unavailable. Understand the FIFO options before using the example in a production stream. FFmpeg also documents recover_any_error; it can extend attempts to errors that are usually permanent, so do not enable it indiscriminately.
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Choose a retry policy for an always-on stream
Retries should reflect the failure mode and your operating policy, not simply use every available flag. For an HTTP input, decide which failure classes merit another attempt and whether retry count or total waiting time should be bounded. For an RTMP output, decide how long to wait between recovery attempts and how the job should respond to non-transient errors.
- Use input reconnect settings only when the source connection is the problem.
- Use output recovery when the RTMP publishing connection is the problem.
- Set retry limits with the length of an outage and your restart or alerting policy in mind; unlimited attempts and finite limits have different operational consequences.
- Test the command and inspect logs after a controlled interruption before relying on it for a children’s 24/7 stream.
The FFmpeg references describe options and an example, not a universal configuration for children’s programming, a recovery success rate, or guaranteed uptime.
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Check options on the installed FFmpeg build
The online FFmpeg documentation index says its documentation is regenerated nightly for the newest revision and advises users of older versions to consult locally installed documentation. Option availability and behavior should therefore be checked on the machine that will run the stream, rather than assumed from the current online pages.
- On the streaming host, check the installed build with
ffmpeg -version. - Use that installation’s help output, such as
ffmpeg -h protocol=httpfor HTTP options, to confirm available option names and details. - For FIFO output options, consult the locally installed FFmpeg documentation or help for the muxer, then validate the adapted command before deployment.
Troubleshoot reconnect failures
| Symptom | Likely issue | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| The source stops but output recovery does not help. | The failure is on the input side, while FIFO recovery addresses output publishing. | Confirm the input protocol and use the matching reconnect options before -i. |
| HTTP reconnect flags have no effect on a local file or another input type. | HTTP options apply to HTTP inputs, not every protocol. | Check the input type and the local protocol help. |
| The HTTP source ends and FFmpeg exits. | EOF may be treated as normal completion. | For a live or endless HTTP source, check whether -reconnect_at_eof 1 is supported and appropriate. |
| Some HTTP failures still stop the job. | The relevant network error or status class may not be covered by the chosen flags. | Check logs, then consider the documented network-error or HTTP-status options and set retry bounds deliberately. |
| The RTMP publisher does not recover. | The failure may be permanent, the FIFO options may not be supported by the installed build, or the output setup may differ from the example. | Confirm the RTMP destination, inspect local FIFO documentation, and distinguish a temporary network outage from other errors. |
| The stream resumes but viewers see a gap. | Recovery attempts do not guarantee continuous playback. | Review the outage, recovery wait, buffering behavior, and destination status; the official example does not promise zero viewer interruption. |
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