The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Start by finding out what actually stopped: the FFmpeg process, its input, its output connection, or the VPS/network. A stream ending after a few hours does not, by itself, show that Contabo caused the failure. Save the full command, installed FFmpeg version, logs around the stop, and server metrics before changing settings or rebooting.
Identify which part of the stream failed
There are four different failure patterns, and they call for different fixes. A reconnect option for an input will not necessarily restore a publishing connection; a service restart will not fix a process that is still alive but no longer delivering output.
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| What you observe | What to check next |
|---|---|
| FFmpeg exited | Record its exit status and the final log lines. Look for an explicit error before deciding whether to change the command or add process supervision. |
| FFmpeg is running, but input packets stopped | Inspect the input protocol and logs for a disconnected source, end of file, or network error. Input-side reconnect settings may apply, depending on protocol and version. |
| FFmpeg is running and reading input, but output delivery stopped | Inspect output-side errors and publishing connection status. Input reconnect flags address a different direction; check whether the chosen output muxer supports recovery for the failure involved. |
| The process or connections appear disrupted alongside VPS or network symptoms | Compare the failure timestamp with CPU, memory, swap, disk, network, firewall, interface, and provider-status evidence. |
Preserve the exact command, FFmpeg version, complete logs covering the stop, input and output protocols, and VPS metrics. A report that says only “it ran for a few hours” does not establish a cause.
Diagnose the failure before changing the command
Check process state and exit details
Determine whether the FFmpeg process exited or remains alive. If it exited, capture the exit status and final log lines before relaunching it. If it remains alive, check whether it is still receiving input packets and writing output. The command-line documentation notes that option order matters: an option placed before an input may apply to that input, while output options belong with the output. Verify the actual command rather than copying flags into an arbitrary position. See the FFmpeg command-line documentation.
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Separate input recovery from output recovery
For a failing input connection, FFmpeg documents options including reconnect, reconnect_at_eof, reconnect_on_network_error, reconnect_on_http_error, reconnect_streamed, and retry or delay controls. Their behavior depends on the protocol. In particular, reconnect_at_eof treats end-of-file as an error; that may suit an input expected to remain live, but is wrong when a file reaching its end should finish the job. Check the installed FFmpeg version and documentation for the exact input protocol before enabling an option. These settings do not automatically repair a failed publishing output. FFmpeg protocol documentation.
For a failed output, investigate the output protocol and muxer separately. FFmpeg’s FIFO muxer has recovery settings such as attempt_recovery and recovery_wait_time for supported failure scenarios. They are not a guarantee that every RTMP disconnect can be recovered. Confirm that the muxer, format, build, and version in the actual output command support the behavior you need. FFmpeg format and muxer documentation.
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Decide what should happen at end-of-file
For a finite input file, EOF may be the expected end of the job. If you intend to repeat a file or playlist, configure that behavior deliberately; do not treat every EOF as a network fault. For a live input, EOF may instead indicate a dropped or ended source. Also decide whether restarting from the beginning is acceptable or whether maintaining position matters: a supervisor that launches a fresh FFmpeg process may not preserve where playback stopped.
Keep FFmpeg running with supervision
Run FFmpeg under a managed service with logs and an intentional restart policy. This can relaunch a process that exits unexpectedly; it cannot fix an invalid stream key, ended input, persistent network outage, or an FFmpeg process that stays alive while output is stalled. Design the policy around the input and the acceptable restart behavior rather than treating restarts as a universal repair. The FFmpeg FAQ documents -nostdin for preventing console input checks when running FFmpeg in the background.
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- Keep service logs and FFmpeg logs so an automatic restart does not erase the evidence needed to diagnose repeated failures.
- Check whether the service is restarting because FFmpeg exits, or whether FFmpeg remains active without useful output; those need different responses.
- Confirm that the service starts with the intended command, environment, permissions, and stream credentials.
Check Contabo VPS and network conditions
Review metrics and configuration at the timestamp of the failure: CPU, RAM and swap, disk, network use, firewall rules, interface configuration, and provider status. Contabo Support lists resource exhaustion as one possible contributor to network timeouts and also identifies firewall or network configuration as possible causes. That makes these useful checks, not proof that a particular VPS caused the stream to stop. Contabo’s network-timeout guidance.
Contabo’s support information says VPS/VDS/dedicated servers have no default bandwidth limit, while fair-use measures may apply to exceptionally high or disruptive traffic. It lists VPS/VDS port speeds from 100 Mbps to 1 Gbps. Those are provider-level product and policy statements—not a measurement of your server’s available throughput or evidence that it was throttled. Check actual traffic and account/server status before drawing that conclusion. Contabo bandwidth guidance.
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If the evidence points to a host-node or routing issue, contact Contabo with timestamps, logs, and relevant metrics rather than attributing the problem to the provider based on runtime alone.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Reboot only after preserving useful evidence
A reboot can restore service or help diagnose a problem, but it is not a root-cause fix. Save logs and metrics first where possible: a reboot may remove transient evidence. Contabo Support advises, “If you still have access to the operating system on the server, please consider rebooting from the operating system instead.” Its control-panel reboot shuts down and restarts the server. Contabo’s network-timeout guidance.
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Common symptoms and next steps
| Symptom | Likely area to investigate | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| FFmpeg exits with an error | Process-level failure, command, input, or output error | Save exit status and final logs; verify the relevant command options and protocol behavior. |
| Input ends or disconnects, but the process remains or exits | Input source and its protocol | Determine whether EOF is expected; assess input reconnect options supported by the installed version. |
| Input continues but publishing fails | Output connection, credentials, muxer, or destination | Inspect output logs and verify output-side recovery support; do not assume input reconnect flags apply. |
| FFmpeg stays alive but the stream is no longer delivered | Stalled output or connection state | Check whether output writes continue. A restart-on-exit policy alone may not detect or repair a stalled process. |
| Timeout coincides with high resource use or network configuration changes | VPS resources, firewall, interface, or routing | Preserve timestamped metrics and configuration; investigate and escalate with evidence. |
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Quick Recap
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