The simplest documented way to run Wowza Streaming Engine on Google Compute Engine is to deploy Wowza’s preconfigured Linux image from Google Cloud Marketplace. It creates a Compute Engine VM with the Wowza license embedded in the image; Google manages billing for VM runtime and bandwidth under the Marketplace flow. The deployment guide updated July 22, 2026, identifies the image as Wowza Streaming Engine 4.11.3, but check the live listing because image versions and console steps can change.
What you need before deploying
- A Google account with access to Google Cloud.
- A Google Cloud project to use or permission to create one.
- An identity with the current IAM permissions needed to deploy the Marketplace solution and create or access its required resources. The required roles can vary by project and deployment method, so check Google’s current IAM guidance rather than assuming one fixed role set.
- A decision about whether the server will deliver live streams only or also record, provide DVR, or serve VOD.
You can use the Google Cloud console for the provisioning flow; Wowza describes the gcloud CLI as optional. This walkthrough covers the documented Marketplace image. The available guidance does not establish current step-by-step instructions or licensing terms for a separate manual installation on a GCE Linux VM.
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Deploy the Wowza Marketplace image
- In the Google Cloud console, select the project in which you want to run Wowza.
- Open the Google Cloud Marketplace listing for Wowza Streaming Engine and choose Launch. Review the listing’s current software, support, and pricing details before proceeding.
- Configure the deployment, including the VM and storage choices, and review the firewall rules before you launch. Use the storage and network guidance below to choose settings appropriate to your workflow.
- Click Deploy. Wowza says deployment status appears on the Resources tab of Solution deployments.
- When deployment completes, open its Details tab and use the deployment-specific site URL and login instructions to access Wowza Streaming Engine Manager. Follow the suggested next steps there to register in Wowza’s support portal if this is your first Marketplace instance.
The Wowza setup guide updated July 22, 2026, says its preconfigured image runs Wowza Streaming Engine 4.11.3. Treat that as the version stated by that guide, not a guarantee about the image currently listed in Marketplace. The site URL and credentials are generated for each deployment; do not rely on examples as universal login details.
Choose storage for the job
| Workload | Wowza’s documented guidance |
|---|---|
| Live applications without server-side recording | A standard hard drive can be sufficient. |
| Recording, DVR, or VOD | Wowza suggests SSD storage for caching or direct server recordings. |
| Media Cache content | Media Cache can be configured to store and retrieve content from Google Cloud Storage. |
The cited setup guidance does not prescribe a universal disk capacity or performance tier. Estimate storage from the recording bitrate, expected hours, retention period, and workload, then choose capacity and performance accordingly.
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Set firewall rules for the protocols you use
Firewall openings should match the actual ingest, playback, and management paths required by your deployment. Wowza’s Marketplace setup guide lists these common rules:
| Port or range | Protocol | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 1935 | TCP | RTMP |
| 80 | TCP | HTTP delivery, including HLS, MPEG-DASH, and RTMPT; Wowza also says inbound HTTP allows its licensing server to confirm license validity. |
| 443 | TCP | HTTPS |
| 554 | TCP | RTSP; disable this rule if your workflow does not use RTSP. |
| 8086–8088 | TCP | Wowza Streaming Engine Manager |
| 6970–9999 | UDP | RTP UDP streaming, as listed in Wowza’s general technical specification; open only if the workflow requires it. |
Wowza warns, “Creating certain firewall rules may expose your instance to the internet.” Keep management access private where possible, or restrict its source ranges to trusted administrator addresses. Expose only the streaming endpoints your viewers or upstream services need, and confirm current Wowza licensing and network guidance before changing rules related to license validation.
Understand Marketplace billing
Under the Marketplace arrangement described in Wowza’s setup guide, the license is embedded in the image and Google manages billing for running instance time and bandwidth. The guide says charges begin after deployment completes and that there is no separate monthly Wowza invoice for Streaming Engine usage under this offering.
That does not make the VM or network free. Check the current Marketplace listing and Google Cloud pricing for the selected VM, disk, runtime, and bandwidth before launch. The guide does not provide a current price, so no rate is quoted here.
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When one VM is no longer enough
Wowza documents a Google Cloud design with one origin VM and multiple edge VMs in a repeater configuration. In that topology, an edge server runs the Dynamic Load Balancing AddOn to distribute connections among edge instances. Wowza presents this as an option when one origin cannot handle the audience load or when delivery across regions is desired. It requires additional software and network configuration; it is not a prerequisite for a first or small deployment. The cited material does not provide performance benchmarks or a universal threshold for when to scale.
Troubleshoot common deployment problems
The deployment is still pending or fails
Check the deployment status under Resources in Solution deployments, confirm that you launched into the intended project, and review whether your identity has the permissions required by the current deployment flow. IAM needs depend on the resources and method used; consult current Google Cloud role guidance rather than adding broad permissions indiscriminately.
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Engine Manager or a stream endpoint cannot be reached
Verify that the VM is running, use the site URL shown on the deployment’s Details tab, and check that the firewall allows the required port and protocol. Manager uses TCP 8086–8088 in Wowza’s setup guide; streaming traffic may need different ports. Restrictive source ranges can block legitimate access, while unrestricted management rules can expose the instance.
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RTSP or RTP playback fails
Confirm that the workflow is using the expected protocol and that its corresponding ports are open: TCP 554 for RTSP, or UDP 6970–9999 for RTP UDP where needed. Do not open RTP’s range simply because it appears in the general specification if the deployment does not use RTP.
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License validation or HTTP delivery fails
Check the relevant HTTP network path. Wowza lists TCP 80 for HLS, MPEG-DASH, and RTMPT and says inbound HTTP permits its licensing server to confirm license validity. Validate the current licensing and network requirements before changing firewall or outbound policies.
Disk fills during recording or VOD use
Review actual recording volume and retention against available disk capacity. Wowza suggests SSD for caching or direct server recordings in recording, DVR, or VOD workloads; Media Cache can instead use Google Cloud Storage. The deployment guide does not specify a fixed size, so capacity must reflect your workload.
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