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Migrate the loop as a service, not as a disk image: build and test a new Hetzner server, copy the media and configuration it needs, then switch the YouTube encoder over while keeping Linode available for rollback. Plan for a possible interruption; YouTube does not document a seamless handoff between encoders.
Before you move anything
A loop stream depends on more than its virtual machine disk: the media files, playlist, encoder, startup and restart rules, credentials, and YouTube Live settings all have to work on the destination. Hetzner’s server snapshots contain the server disk but exclude attached volumes, and its documentation does not establish that a Linode snapshot can be imported as a Hetzner snapshot. Use a fresh server and reproduce the setup instead. Hetzner’s snapshot guidance
Set a maintenance window and decide what interruption is acceptable. YouTube says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived when sending content stops, so a cutover may end one session and begin another rather than preserve one uninterrupted event. YouTube encoder instructions
1. Inventory the Linode stream
Record the current setup before provisioning the replacement. Do not put a stream key in an inventory document, terminal command, or log.
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- Operating system, CPU architecture, encoder or transcoder software, and versions.
- Media and playlist paths, scripts, configuration files, local state, and file permissions.
- How the process starts and restarts: service manager, container definition, scheduled task, or other mechanism.
- Environment variables, user and group permissions, logs, firewall policy, and required open ports.
- Any attached block storage and what data it contains.
- The YouTube Live server URL and where the stream key is securely stored.
Measure CPU, memory, disk, and network use while the loop is running. Choose Hetzner capacity from the actual workload: resolution, bitrate, codecs, and any transcoding affect resource needs. A loop that simply relays a file may have different requirements from one that encodes or transforms video. Akamai’s migration documentation covers moves within Akamai Cloud, not a move to Hetzner. Akamai Linode compute documentation · Akamai migration documentation
2. Create and configure the Hetzner server
In the Hetzner Cloud Console, create a server using an operating system and architecture supported by your encoder. Select its location and server type against the measurements you collected. During creation, configure SSH access, networking, firewall rules, and any required volume; cloud-init can help apply repeatable setup. These are server-creation options, not an automatic copy of your Linode configuration. Hetzner server creation
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Install the runtime and software, create the required user and directories, and reproduce the service definition and restart behavior. Recreate only the network rules the loop needs, including administrative access and outbound access to YouTube’s ingest endpoint. Do not assume Linode firewall settings carry over.
Choose the server type, location, storage, and network configuration based on measured CPU and memory demand, architecture compatibility, media volume, latency to YouTube ingest and the operators, public IPv4 needs, transfer allowance, backup needs, and downtime tolerance. Hetzner says server prices vary by type and public IPs are separate; check its current overview when selecting a configuration rather than relying on an old price. Hetzner server overview
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3. Copy media and configuration safely
Transfer the loop media, playlist, scripts, configuration, and required local state using a method appropriate to your installation and data size. The right command depends on the operating systems, storage layout, and transfer access in use; there is no single migration command established for every Linode setup. Compare file counts or checksums where practical, and check ownership and permissions on the destination.
If the media lives on an attached Linode volume, treat it as a separate data transfer. Hetzner server backups and snapshots do not include attached volumes, so separately copy or back up any destination volume data as well. A snapshot also reflects only the state captured at that point; synchronize changes made after it. Hetzner backup and snapshot overview · Hetzner Cloud server FAQ
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Recreate secrets through a secure method, such as a protected service environment or secret store appropriate to your setup. Avoid exposing the stream key in shell history, public scripts, or logs. If your existing architecture uses NGINX RTMP, Linode’s tutorial is an example of an RTMP configuration and recommends authentication to reduce stream-hijacking risk; it is not a requirement to use NGINX for this migration. Linode RTMP tutorial
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.4. Connect and test the new encoder with YouTube
- Open YouTube Live Control Room and confirm the intended stream’s current server URL and stream key. Previous stream settings may load again, but verify that they belong to the correct stream. YouTube documents entering these values in the encoder settings. YouTube encoder instructions
- If the encoder supports RTMPS, use the RTMPS endpoint shown in Live Control Room. YouTube describes RTMPS as RTMP over a TLS/SSL connection that provides encryption; do not assume a URL from an older configuration is still correct. YouTube RTMPS guidance
- Start the destination encoder and check Live Control Room’s preview before treating the migration as complete. Confirm the expected video and audio, resolution, bitrate, and live player behavior.
- Check outbound connectivity and that Hetzner firewall rules permit the required traffic. If RTMPS will not connect, YouTube advises verifying the URL and, where appropriate, port 443. YouTube RTMPS troubleshooting
Do not rely on a successful preview alone: confirm the loop advances as intended and that the process remains healthy under its normal service manager.
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5. Cut over and keep rollback possible
- Confirm the destination’s files, permissions, service configuration, firewall, and YouTube settings are ready.
- At the planned cutover time, pause or stop the Linode encoder. Avoid sending from both hosts to the same stream at once.
- Start the Hetzner encoder with the verified Live Control Room URL and key.
- Check Live Control Room and the viewer-facing stream for picture, sound, and ongoing playback.
- Keep the Linode server intact until the Hetzner service has passed operational checks. Test service restart and server reboot recovery before decommissioning the source.
YouTube explains how to start and stop an encoder, but does not guarantee that replacing one encoder with another preserves a single uninterrupted event. Schedule the switch with that limitation in mind. Stopping content also has the platform’s under-12-hour automatic archive behavior to account for if the stream is intended as an ongoing broadcast. YouTube encoder instructions
Troubleshooting after the move
| Symptom | What to check | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| No signal in YouTube Live Control Room | Current server URL and key, outbound connectivity, firewall rules, and encoder logs. | Reconfirm the endpoint and key in Live Control Room, then verify the relevant outbound port is allowed. |
| RTMPS connection fails | Whether the encoder is using the current RTMPS endpoint, and whether the network permits the connection. | Use the endpoint supplied in Live Control Room; verify the URL and, where appropriate, port 443 as YouTube advises. |
| Media is missing or the playlist fails | Destination paths, file counts, checksums, permissions, and whether the files were on an attached volume. | Copy missing data independently and correct ownership or paths. A server snapshot does not contain attached-volume data. |
| Service does not return after a restart or reboot | Service-manager or container configuration, user permissions, environment, and startup dependencies. | Correct the destination service definition and test a restart and reboot before retiring Linode. |
| Video or audio differs from the source | Encoder configuration and the stream’s actual resolution, bitrate, and audio/video output. | Compare the destination output with the expected settings and inspect encoder logs and Live Control Room preview. |
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