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For a first deployment, use Wowza’s Linux Amazon EC2 Marketplace AMI, choose BYOL or a paid AMI, configure a security group and EC2 key pair, then validate the server through Wowza Streaming Engine Manager and a sample VOD video. The steps below follow Wowza’s Linux EC2 route; image availability and subscription choices can change, so check the live Marketplace listing before launch. Windows deployments use separate Windows AMI guidance.
Choose the AMI, license, and instance before launching
Wowza’s Linux EC2 guide documents Marketplace AMIs for x86 and ARM64 processors, each with BYOL and paid variants. Select the option compatible with your license and workload; do not assume the processor architectures or subscription listings are interchangeable. See Wowza’s Linux EC2 deployment guide for the current launch flow and image choices.
| Choice | What it means | Important consideration |
|---|---|---|
| BYOL AMI | Bring a valid Wowza license and supply it at launch in EC2 user data or activate it after launch through the appropriate flow. | If the key is missing, the server may start with a temporary license that must be replaced. Feature keys can be added as documented, separated by pipe characters. |
| Paid AMI | The license is embedded in the image. | The license cannot be changed, and Wowza says paid Linux AMIs always use the default startup package. |
| x86 or ARM64 | Choose the processor architecture offered by the Marketplace image you intend to use. | Confirm image and instance compatibility in the current AWS listing. |
| Default or custom startup package | The default package configures the standard applications; a custom package supplies your own startup configuration. | A custom package replaces the default, so it must include every application configuration you need. |
Wowza says the current subscription choices replace older AWS Marketplace BYOL and Standard subscriptions, although legacy subscriptions may continue until canceled in the AWS account. Names and availability can change; verify the live listing rather than relying on an old subscription label.
Choose an AWS region near the stream source or audience when latency matters. Wowza notes that instances in multiple regions can provide redundancy, but the guide does not establish a universally best instance size or performance benchmark. Size the instance for your ingest format, audience, transcoding, concurrency, and egress needs, and review current AWS charges. Wowza cautions against CPU-credit instance types, giving a Tx instance as an example, because Streaming Engine could stop if credits are exhausted.
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Launch the Linux EC2 instance
- Open the Wowza Linux AMI listing in AWS Marketplace. Select the required processor architecture and BYOL or paid option, then proceed through the Marketplace launch flow. Check the current listing for availability in your region.
- Choose an instance type and region. Match them to the expected workload and latency needs; do not treat a single instance size as suitable for every stream.
- Configure the network and security group. Add only the ingress rules needed for your intended management and streaming protocols. Wowza’s examples include TCP 1935 for RTMP and TCP 8086–8088 for Streaming Engine Manager. The “Anywhere” source shown in an example is not a universal security recommendation: restrict Manager access to trusted administrator addresses where possible, and expose only the media protocols you use. Other protocols or management tasks may require additional rules; consult the protocol-specific guidance in the EC2 guide.
- Select an EC2 key pair. Wowza identifies the key pair as the means to connect to the instance over SSH. Keep the private key available to the authorized administrators who need access.
- For BYOL, provide the license key if you are entering it at launch. In the user-data field, Wowza documents the key in this form:
WZA_wowzaServerLicenseKey=[license-key]. Replace the bracketed text with your valid key. If supplying additional feature keys, separate them with pipe characters as described in Wowza’s instructions. Paid AMIs have embedded licensing, so this BYOL step does not apply to them. - Optionally provide a custom startup package. Follow the package options below if you need startup configuration beyond the default. For a paid AMI, Wowza specifies that the default startup package is always used.
- Review and launch. Once the instance is running, note its public DNS name or hostname and instance identifier. For a persistent public address that can be reassigned, Wowza notes that you can associate an Elastic IP.
Decide whether to use the default or a custom startup package
A startup package is a compressed bundle containing startup.xml, configuration files, and scripts, passed to the instance through user data. Without a custom package, the default configures the live, vod, and vods3 applications. A custom package replaces that default rather than layering on top of it, so include all application configurations your deployment needs. Wowza documents these options in its startup package guide.
- As file: upload the compressed package directly; this route is limited to 16 KB.
- As text: use the user-data text route to reference a full package URL through
WZA_startupPackageURL.
If you do not have a specific configuration requirement, keep the default package for the first deployment. It avoids replacing standard application configuration unintentionally.
Rank #2
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Connect to the instance and open Manager
Use the public DNS name or hostname shown for the running instance for remote access. Manager’s documented initial URL is http://[wowza-ip-address]:8088/enginemanager; substitute the instance’s reachable IP address. Sign in with the case-sensitive credentials configured for the Manager administrator. The example uses plain HTTP; secure Manager with an appropriate network boundary and use HTTPS where your deployment requires it. Use the selected EC2 key pair for SSH access rather than exposing administrative access broadly.
The ports in the security group must match the traffic you intend to send. TCP 8086–8088 are Wowza’s example Manager openings, while TCP 1935 is the example for RTMP. A reachable Manager page or SSH connection does not by itself confirm that an ingest or playback protocol is permitted; check the relevant security-group rule and any protocol-specific requirements.
Rank #3
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Smoke-test the server
- Check the server response. Open
http://[wowza-ip-address]:1935/ServerVersionfrom a network that can reach the instance. A successful response displays the Wowza Streaming Engine version, according to Wowza’s installation and configuration walkthrough. - Sign in to Manager. Visit
http://[wowza-ip-address]:8088/enginemanagerand use the configured, case-sensitive Manager credentials. - Test VOD playback. In Manager, create a VOD application and play the installed
sample.mp4. Successful playback confirms the basic server can serve content.
This is a basic server check, not a load or production-readiness test. Validate your actual ingest, playback, security, and capacity requirements separately before relying on the deployment.
Troubleshoot common first-launch failures
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check or do |
|---|---|---|
| Manager or the version endpoint does not load | The instance is not reachable on the relevant port, or the address is wrong. | Confirm the instance is running, use its current public IP or DNS name, and check the security group and network path for TCP 8088 (Manager) or TCP 1935 (version endpoint and RTMP example). |
| SSH connection fails | The wrong key pair or address is being used, or SSH is not permitted by the network rules. | Use the key pair selected for the instance and verify the address and SSH access rules without opening administrative access to everyone. |
| License is temporary or not the expected one | A BYOL key may have been omitted, entered incorrectly, or not activated. | Check the supplied key and complete the appropriate license activation or replacement flow. A paid AMI uses its embedded license, which cannot be changed. |
| Expected applications are missing after startup | A custom package replaced the default and omitted application configuration. | Check that the custom bundle contains every required application configuration. The default package provides live, vod, and vods3. |
| Custom startup configuration did not apply | The package upload exceeded the file-route limit, the package URL was not referenced correctly, or startup failed. | For the “As file” route, keep the package at or below 16 KB; for a full package, use the text route and WZA_startupPackageURL. Inspect /usr/local/WowzaStreamingEngine/logs/wowzastreamingengine_startup.log for startup errors. |
| The server stops under sustained CPU load | A CPU-credit instance may have exhausted its credits. | Review the selected instance type and workload. Wowza cautions against CPU-credit types for this reason; select capacity appropriate to the workload. |
Budget for both Wowza and AWS
The deployment has two distinct cost components: the Wowza subscription or paid Marketplace AMI, and AWS EC2 usage. The total also depends on instance type, region, runtime, and network egress. Neither the Wowza installation guides nor this walkthrough establish a universal cost or instance-size recommendation, so check the current Marketplace listing and AWS pricing for the configuration and region you plan to run.
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Quick Recap
Best Value
- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
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- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
