Run tmux on the VPS, start your verified FFmpeg command inside a named tmux session, then detach with Ctrl-b followed by d. The session—and FFmpeg, if it is still running—can survive an SSH disconnect while the VPS and tmux server remain active. tmux does not restart FFmpeg after it exits or bring it back after a VPS reboot; use a service manager such as systemd for those jobs.
What tmux keeps alive—and what it does not
tmux is a terminal multiplexer that runs on the remote host. Its session remains available when you detach or lose the SSH connection, so you can reconnect and inspect the terminal later. The tmux manual describes a session as persistent through accidental SSH disconnection or intentional detaching: tmux(1) manual.
- SSH disconnect: the tmux session can remain on the VPS, provided its tmux server and the host are still running.
- FFmpeg exits: tmux leaves the pane available to inspect, but does not relaunch the process.
- VPS shuts down or reboots: the tmux server stops with the host. tmux alone does not start the stream at boot.
- YouTube stops accepting the stream: tmux cannot fix an invalid key, unsupported media, or ingest problem.
So tmux is useful for interactive operation and later inspection. It is not, by itself, an unattended-recovery system.
Start an FFmpeg stream inside tmux
1. Connect to the VPS and create a named session
From your local computer, SSH into the VPS using the login command supplied by your hosting provider. Once you are at the VPS shell, create a session named youtube:
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tmux new -s youtubeThis command must run on the VPS, not in a terminal session that exists only on your local computer. If the shell reports that tmux is unavailable, install it using the package manager for your VPS distribution, then create the session.
2. Start your verified FFmpeg command
Run the FFmpeg command you have already checked for your input source, installed FFmpeg build, selected YouTube ingest protocol, and current stream details. There is no single safe command line for every source and FFmpeg build. Get the ingest address and stream settings for that specific broadcast from YouTube Live Control Room; YouTube’s Live Streaming API also describes ingestion addresses and points users to YouTube Help for recommended encoder settings: LiveStreams | YouTube Live Streaming API.
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Keep the output visible while you confirm FFmpeg starts and produces no immediate errors. Do not treat a running process as proof that YouTube is receiving valid media: check the broadcast’s status in Live Control Room as well.
3. Detach without stopping the session
Press Ctrl-b, release both keys, then press d. This detaches your terminal from tmux; it does not send FFmpeg a stop command. You can then close SSH. The VPS must remain powered on for the remote process to continue.
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4. Reconnect and inspect the session
SSH back into the VPS and attach to the existing session:
tmux attach -t youtubeIf FFmpeg is still running, its pane should show the current process output. If it has exited, read the visible error and investigate the relevant input, network, FFmpeg, or YouTube setting before restarting it. Attaching is inspection, not a health check or a restart.
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Choose the recovery mechanism for the failure
| Approach | What it handles | What it does not do by itself | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| tmux session | Preserves an interactive remote terminal through SSH disconnection while the tmux server and host remain running. | Does not automatically restart an exited FFmpeg process or start it after a reboot. | Interactive operation and later inspection. |
| FFmpeg protocol reconnect options | May attempt recovery from specified interruptions for supported protocols and options. | Do not guarantee recovery from every output-side RTMP failure or relaunch a process that has exited. | Protocol-level reconnect attempts when matched to the actual input or output protocol. |
| systemd service | Can run FFmpeg independently of an attached SSH terminal, and can be configured for restart behavior and boot startup. | Behavior depends on the unit policy and target system; it must be configured and verified. | Unattended operation, process supervision, and startup after reboot. |
These options are not mutually exclusive. For an interactive setup, tmux is a straightforward place to run and inspect FFmpeg. For unattended recovery, configure an appropriate service policy with systemd and verify how it behaves on the target distribution. The systemd.service(5) manual documents service lifecycle and restart settings. You can still use SSH and tmux for administration, while inspecting a managed service through its status and logs.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Use FFmpeg reconnect options only for the relevant protocol
FFmpeg documents options including reconnect, reconnect_at_eof, reconnect_on_network_error, reconnect_on_http_error, reconnect_streamed, reconnect_delay_max, reconnect_max_retries, and reconnect_delay_total_max. Their availability and effect depend on the protocol and on how the option is applied. Check the installed build and the relevant section of the FFmpeg Protocols Documentation before adding one.
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Reconnect options are not a universal “keep streaming” switch. An option that applies to an input connection may not recover an output-side failure, and no protocol option can relaunch FFmpeg after the process has terminated. Use a supervisor for process restarts.
Match YouTube settings to the selected ingest protocol
Use the protocol and ingest details shown for the particular stream in Live Control Room. Do not copy HLS-specific settings into an RTMP command or assume one protocol’s requirements apply to another.
If the stream uses HLS
YouTube’s HLS setup guide specifies an HTTPS server URL and explains that HLS has higher latency than continuous RTMP because it sends video in segments. For HLS, the guide calls for TS segments lasting 1–4 seconds, no byte-range mode, a rolling playlist with no more than five outstanding segments, and HTTPS POST/PUT. It lists H.264 or HEVC video and AAC, AC3, or EAC3 audio support. Apply these requirements only when HLS is actually the selected ingest protocol, and follow the current instructions for the specific stream.
If the stream uses another protocol
Use the matching ingest address and the encoder guidance for that protocol. The sources cited here do not establish a universal FFmpeg command line, bitrate, resolution, keyframe interval, or codec setting for every input and FFmpeg build. Confirm settings in the current Live Control Room and the applicable YouTube documentation rather than borrowing HLS settings or guessing.
Troubleshoot the common failure cases
- SSH closes and you cannot find the stream terminal: reconnect to the VPS and run
tmux attach -t youtube. Confirm you created the session on the VPS and used the same session name. - The tmux pane is present but FFmpeg stopped: inspect the last error output, correct the underlying issue, and restart the verified command. tmux does not relaunch it.
- The session is missing after a VPS reboot: this is expected; tmux does not survive host shutdown. Configure and enable a service for boot startup, then verify the unit on that VPS.
- FFmpeg reports a connection or network error: identify whether the failing connection is the input or output, check the protocol, and consult the matching FFmpeg protocol documentation. Reconnect options only cover specified conditions and do not guarantee recovery in every case.
- YouTube does not accept or display the stream: check the stream key and ingest address shown for that broadcast, confirm the selected protocol and media settings, and review Live Control Room status. tmux cannot resolve YouTube ingest rejection.
- HLS settings appear incompatible with an RTMP setup: verify the selected protocol first. HLS uses its own HTTPS and segmented-stream requirements; do not mix those requirements into an RTMP command.
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