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For a temporary network failure on FFmpeg’s RTMP output, wrap the FLV output in FFmpeg’s FIFO muxer and enable attempt_recovery. Set a recovery wait time, then decide whether to drop queued packets if the output falls behind. This gives FFmpeg a way to retry the output; it does not guarantee uninterrupted viewing or that YouTube will keep the same live event open.
Configure FFmpeg to retry an RTMP output
The FFmpeg documentation’s network-outage example puts the RTMP output inside the FIFO muxer and uses FLV as the underlying format. Adapt the input, stream mapping, encoding settings, ingest URL and stream key to your setup:
ffmpeg -re -i INPUT
-c:v libx264 -c:a aac
-f fifo -fifo_format flv
-drop_pkts_on_overflow 1
-attempt_recovery 1
-recovery_wait_time 1
-map 0:v -map 0:a
rtmp://INGEST_SERVER/live/STREAM_KEYThis pattern and its option behavior are documented in the FFmpeg FIFO muxer documentation. The example’s one-second recovery wait is an example value, not a universal recommendation. Choose an interval suited to your setup and verify the available options in the FFmpeg build you actually run.
- Replace the placeholders. Set
INPUTto your source, adjust the maps if it does not contain both video and audio, and use the ingest address and stream key shown for your YouTube live setup. Keep the stream key private. - Keep FIFO around the output. Use
-f fifo -fifo_format flvso FIFO manages the output while FLV carries the RTMP stream. - Enable retries and set a wait.
-attempt_recovery 1enables recovery attempts after an output failure.-recovery_wait_time 1sets the wait before another attempt after an unsuccessful recovery, in the documented example. - Choose overflow behavior. The example uses
-drop_pkts_on_overflow 1; the trade-off is explained below. - Check and test your local build. Confirm the FIFO options your binary supports, then test a network interruption with a controlled stream before depending on the setup for a production broadcast.
Option availability and behavior can vary with the FFmpeg version or build. Check the local muxer help rather than assuming an option in the example is supported unchanged.
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Choose what happens when the output queue fills
Recovery retries and queue overflow are related but distinct decisions. FIFO can buffer packets while output is unavailable or slow. If that queue fills, the encoder must either wait for output to catch up or discard queued packets, depending on the configuration.
- Drop packets on overflow:
-drop_pkts_on_overflow 1lets processing continue by discarding packets when the FIFO queue fills. The stream may have missing content around the interruption. - Allow backpressure: Without dropping, the documented default behavior can block the encoder while the muxer processes packets. This avoids that particular drop policy but can pause processing rather than keep it moving.
Consider how long an outage may last, whether a gap is preferable to a stall, and whether your source can be buffered or replayed. The FIFO documentation also describes restart_with_keyframe, which can make recovery wait for a keyframe after recovery or queue overflow. Its suitability depends on your encoding and the receiver, so test it with your actual stream rather than treating it as a required setting.
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Do not confuse HTTP input reconnect with RTMP output recovery
FFmpeg’s HTTP protocol options include a -reconnect family, but those options concern HTTP protocol reconnection, especially when reading HTTP inputs. They do not, by themselves, recover an RTMP output connection. For an RTMP output failure, configure recovery around the output with FIFO. See the FFmpeg protocol documentation for the HTTP options and their scope.
Troubleshoot a failed recovery
- Identify which side failed. Inspect FFmpeg’s log and determine whether the input ended or failed, or whether an output write or network error occurred. FIFO output recovery cannot fix an input source that has stopped.
- Confirm the output configuration. For RTMP, check that FIFO wraps the output and that the underlying format is FLV.
- Review recovery and overflow settings. Make sure recovery attempts are enabled and a wait time is set. Decide whether queue overflow should drop packets or block processing.
- Verify the local options. Check the FIFO muxer help for your installed FFmpeg binary; version and build differences may affect which options are available.
- Test the actual failure path. Simulate a temporary network interruption in a controlled stream and observe FFmpeg’s logs and output behavior before relying on it for a broadcast.
- Check YouTube Live Control Room afterward. The available FFmpeg documentation explains output recovery, but it does not establish whether a particular RTMP reconnection preserves the same YouTube event or how quickly viewers resume playback.
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