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FFmpeg

How to Keep FFmpeg Running After an SSH Session Closes on Linode

Use tmux and FFmpeg’s -nostdin option to keep a one-off job running after SSH disconnects. Choose nohup for a background task or systemd for boot-time service management.

By VGSources Team 5 min read

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Run FFmpeg inside a tmux session, add -nostdin to its command, and detach from tmux before closing SSH. To resume viewing the terminal later, reconnect to the same Linode and attach to that session. For a noninteractive job, nohup is an alternative; use systemd when the process needs service management or should start after a reboot.

Keep a one-off FFmpeg job running with tmux

A tmux session persists independently of your SSH terminal, so disconnecting after you detach does not close the session. FFmpeg’s -nostdin option prevents it from checking terminal input while running in the background. That option alone does not keep a process alive after logout; use it together with tmux or another process-management method.

  1. SSH into the Linode and check whether tmux is available. If it is not installed, install it using the package manager for the instance’s Linux distribution.

  2. Start a named session: tmux new -s ffmpeg.

  3. Run FFmpeg inside that session, substituting the real input and output paths and the settings your job requires:

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    ffmpeg -nostdin -i /path/to/input -c:v libx264 -c:a aac /path/to/output.mp4

    The codec options are an example, not a recommendation for every source or output.

  4. While FFmpeg is running, press Ctrl+B, then D to detach from tmux. You can now close SSH.

  5. To inspect the job later, SSH back into the same Linode and run tmux attach -t ffmpeg.

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Detaching preserves the terminal session across an SSH disconnect, not across a server reboot or shutdown. It also cannot prevent a job from failing because of a full disk, resource exhaustion, a failed input or network source, or an FFmpeg error.

Choose another method if the job needs a different lifecycle

Method Use it when What to know
tmux You want to detach and later reattach to see terminal output. Run FFmpeg inside the session; detach with Ctrl+B, then D. Reattach with tmux attach -t ffmpeg. Linode Community guidance describes this pattern.
GNU Screen You want a persistent terminal session and prefer Screen. Detach with Ctrl+A, then Ctrl+D; reattach with screen -r. Linode Community describes Screen as another option for surviving an SSH disconnect.
nohup The task is noninteractive and you do not need to reattach to its terminal. Redirect output to a known log, redirect terminal input away, and background the command. It does not provide reboot persistence.
systemd You need start/stop/restart management or want the service to start at boot. Create a service unit with a deliberate user, working directory, full executable path, inputs and outputs, and an appropriate restart policy. Enable it for startup if required.

Run FFmpeg with nohup and keep a log

For a noninteractive job where terminal reattachment is unnecessary, this example sends FFmpeg’s standard output and error to ffmpeg.log, disconnects standard input, and backgrounds the process:

nohup ffmpeg -nostdin -i input.mp4 output.mp4 > ffmpeg.log 2>&1 < /dev/null &

FFmpeg writes its log output to stderr by default, so 2>&1 captures that output along with stdout. The Linux nohup utility runs a command while ignoring hangup signals; its manual also documents its default terminal input and output handling. The explicit redirections make the log destination and input behavior clear.

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Note the PID printed by your shell after backgrounding the job. After reconnecting, inspect its log with tail -f ffmpeg.log. If FFmpeg is suspended or appears to wait for input, confirm that -nostdin is present or redirect stdin from /dev/null. FFmpeg’s FAQ specifically recommends -nostdin for background operation.

Use systemd when FFmpeg should start after a reboot

A detached tmux session or a nohup process is not a boot-time service. If FFmpeg needs to start automatically when the Linode boots, configure a systemd unit and enable it for startup. Linode’s guide, Use systemd to Start a Linux Service at Boot, explains service setup and boot enablement.

Set the unit’s execution details deliberately: choose the account that should run FFmpeg, its working directory, the full path to the FFmpeg executable, and the complete command with real input and output paths. Select a restart policy that fits the job rather than assuming every failure should trigger a restart. Use the host’s systemd tools to check service status and logs when diagnosing a problem. systemd can manage process startup and restart behavior, but it cannot fix a bad input, unavailable network source, full disk, or invalid FFmpeg command.

Logging and progress options

FFmpeg’s -report option writes the full command line and log output to a timestamped report file in the current directory. Its -progress option emits periodic machine-readable progress to a selected URL, such as pipe:1. If you use -progress pipe:1, decide where stdout should go so those progress records are retained; otherwise they may be lost or mixed with other output. The FFmpeg command-line documentation covers these options and stdin behavior.

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Check the job before and after disconnecting

  • With tmux, verify FFmpeg is running inside the named session before detaching. Reconnect to the same server and use tmux attach -t ffmpeg.

  • With nohup, note the PID after backgrounding and confirm output is reaching the intended log file. After reconnecting, use tail -f ffmpeg.log to follow it.

  • With systemd, inspect the service status and logs using the systemd tools available on the host.

  • If the process is gone after a reboot, that is expected for an ordinary tmux or nohup job. Configure and enable a systemd service if boot-time startup is required.

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Or let it run in the cloud

For a different job—keeping a prerecorded video live on YouTube 24/7—StreamNeo runs the playback from the cloud rather than from your Linode or home computer. Upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. Your computer does not have to stay on; the stream uses the uploaded video, not a live camera.

This is a YouTube-only service for looping uploaded videos, not a way to keep an arbitrary FFmpeg command running or to stream a camera. See StreamNeo, or start the free first day.

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