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Identify when the recording stops
Before changing flags, match the error to the stage of failure. FFmpeg’s HTTP reconnect options address different cases, and adding them indiscriminately can obscure a bad URL, access problem, or normal end of a finite recording. The FFmpeg project’s HTTP protocol documentation defines the relevant behaviors.
| What happened | HTTP option to investigate | Important distinction |
|---|---|---|
| Connection drops before the input reaches EOF | -reconnect 1 |
Enables reconnection after a disconnect before EOF. |
| FFmpeg reaches EOF on a source expected to continue indefinitely | -reconnect_at_eof 1 |
Treats EOF as an error and attempts reconnection. It may be unsuitable for a finite recording where EOF is the expected end. |
| A streamed or non-seekable HTTP input disconnects | -reconnect_streamed 1 |
Extends reconnect behavior to streamed or non-seekable inputs. |
| TCP or TLS connection attempt fails | -reconnect_on_network_error 1 |
Applies to TCP/TLS errors during connection establishment, not every transport failure. |
| The HTTP server returns an error status | -reconnect_on_http_error |
Accepts selected status codes or groups such as 4xx and 5xx; broad groups should be chosen deliberately. |
An HTTP 4xx response can indicate a persistent request, authorization, or access problem rather than a temporary outage. Verify the URL and access first instead of automatically retrying every client error.
Check the protocol and FFmpeg build first
Read the input scheme
Look at the scheme at the start of the input URL. The reconnect controls discussed here are HTTP protocol options. If the input is RTSP, SRT, or another protocol, consult the documentation for that protocol and confirm support in your installed build; do not assume HTTP flags apply.
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Capture the exact version and error
Run ffmpeg -version and save the full output, including the build configuration, along with the complete error lines around the failure. Error text can distinguish failure to open or connect, a midstream disconnect, EOF, and an HTTP response. Redact passwords, access tokens, and other secrets before sharing URLs or logs.
Confirm an option exists in your binary
Packaged FFmpeg versions and build capabilities vary. Check your installed binary’s help and the documentation matching that version before relying on an option or its default. The FFmpeg 8.1 source documents specific defaults, but those should not be treated as universal defaults for every installation.
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Place HTTP input options before the input URL
FFmpeg command-line options generally apply to the next input or output file and reset between files. The FFmpeg command documentation explains this option scope. For an HTTP input, put its protocol options before the corresponding -i; put recording and output options after the input.
ffmpeg
-reconnect 1
-reconnect_streamed 1
-reconnect_delay_max 30
-i 'https://stream.example.invalid/live.m3u8'
-c copy recording.tsThis is an illustrative command shape for an HTTP input, not a tested or universal fix. The delay value is illustrative. Choose controls to match the failure, check that your build supports them, and use an output format appropriate for the source and recording workflow. Add -reconnect_at_eof 1 only when EOF on a source expected to be live or endless is the problem. Consider -reconnect_on_network_error 1 or -reconnect_on_http_error only when the observed connection failure or HTTP response justifies it.
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Set a deliberate retry budget
Retrying can help a recording survive a temporary interruption, but retry behavior is bounded and is not a promise of uninterrupted recording or infinite retries. HTTP retry settings include a maximum delay, an optional maximum retry count, and a maximum total delay. The FFmpeg project’s FFmpeg 8.1 HTTP source shows a default maximum reconnect delay of 120 seconds, an unset maximum retry count, and a maximum total reconnect delay of 256 seconds. It also shows Retry-After handling enabled by default. These are version-specific source defaults, not a guarantee for a different binary.
The HTTP documentation says respect_retry_after honors a server’s Retry-After header instead of FFmpeg’s exponential backoff, and notes this can be useful for HTTP 429 and 503 responses. When status errors recur, first determine what the server is asking for and whether the request is valid. Expand the status list only when retrying that response makes sense.
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Work through the failure in order
- Save the evidence. Record the complete error lines,
ffmpeg -versionoutput, and the input URL scheme; redact credentials and tokens. - Classify the failure. Determine whether FFmpeg could not open or connect, disconnected during the stream, reached EOF, or received an HTTP status response.
- Match the advice to the transport. Use HTTP reconnect options only for an HTTP input. For another protocol, verify that protocol’s own options and your build’s support before changing the command.
- Check option placement. Put HTTP input options immediately before the relevant
-iURL, not after it or before an unrelated input. - Decide whether EOF is an error. For a finite educational recording, EOF may mean the input ended normally. For an endless live source,
-reconnect_at_eof 1is the documented HTTP behavior to consider. - Set retry bounds for the job. Review the maximum delay, retry count, and total delay against the installed version’s behavior and the recording’s needs.
- Investigate repeating HTTP statuses. Check request validity, access, server behavior, and any
Retry-Afterheader before widening the retry list.
Separate input retries from restarting FFmpeg
Protocol-level retries happen inside the running FFmpeg process. If FFmpeg exits, those options do not by themselves restart the process. Reliable continuous recording also depends on how the process is supervised, where output is stored, and how recordings are retained. The cited FFmpeg references define HTTP retry behavior and command option scope; they do not prescribe a complete watchdog or storage-retention design. Treat those as separate parts of the recording setup rather than assuming reconnect flags guarantee 24/7 operation.
Plan storage separately from reconnect troubleshooting
Long recordings need sufficient storage for the bitrate, duration, and retention period you choose. An external drive may be one storage destination, but it will not fix reconnect errors, and the required capacity depends on the recording settings and how long you keep files. FFmpeg supports output URLs and files, but that alone does not establish a particular drive size or model.
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