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You can run a free RTMP server with SRS and send a test stream to it from OBS. The server software costs nothing under SRS’s MIT license, but a public server still needs a reachable host, network access, power and administration; those can cost money. For the simplest test, run SRS locally with Docker, publish from OBS, then open the stream in VLC.
What “free RTMP server” means
RTMP server software receives a stream from a broadcaster such as OBS. In the setup below, OBS publishes to an RTMP ingest URL on your SRS server. Viewers do not have to watch over RTMP: SRS also documents output routes such as HTTP-FLV and HLS.
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The OBS Project explains that “There are no OBS servers – the connection goes directly from your computer to the streaming service.” That describes OBS’s role as publisher, not a hosting service. Running SRS yourself is a separate arrangement: you supply the server and make it reachable. OBS Project Help Portal
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Choose where to run the server
- On your own computer: Best for a contained test on the same machine or local network. The example below uses localhost; it is not publicly reachable by default.
- On a home server: Allows remote publishing only after you configure your router and firewall. The older nginx tutorial notes TCP port 1935 forwarding and dynamic DNS for a changing home IP; those network concepts apply generally, but its installation commands are dated. OBS community wiki: Streaming With Nginx RTMP
- On a rented server: Provides a public endpoint without keeping a home computer on, but hosting is not necessarily free. The OBS private-hosting guide identifies a dedicated server as a prerequisite for its workflow. OBS community wiki: Streaming With Nginx RTMP
Set up SRS with Docker
SRS is a free, MIT-licensed media server. Its current project README describes SRS 8.0, recommends Docker, and documents OBS publishing and VLC playback. The commands shown in the project README include an srs:6 image tag; do not assume that tag and the README’s SRS 8.0 version label refer to the same release. Follow the project’s current tag and configuration instructions when installing. SRS project README
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- Install Docker for your operating system, then use the SRS project’s current getting-started instructions and documented Docker command. Confirm the container is running and that the needed RTMP and playback ports are available locally.
- Open OBS Studio and choose Settings → Stream.
- Set Service to Custom, Server to
rtmp://localhost/live, and Stream Key tolivestream. These are the SRS local example values. - Apply the settings, start streaming in OBS, and check the OBS status for a successful connection. The composed publishing URL is
rtmp://localhost/live/livestream: the server address and application path followed by the stream key. - Verify reception in VLC by opening the composed RTMP URL. SRS also documents HTTP-FLV and HLS output URLs, along with WebRTC options, in its getting-started documentation. Use the output route appropriate to the viewer or player; RTMP is the ingest route in this example. SRS getting-started documentation
For a remote SRS host, replace localhost with the host’s reachable address in OBS and use the corresponding server path and key. The SRS README also documents publishing with FFmpeg if you need to test without OBS. SRS project README
Make a home-hosted server reachable and protect it
- Allow inbound TCP port 1935 through the server firewall and forward TCP port 1935 from the router to the server’s local address. Check the SRS configuration and network requirements before exposing it.
- If your home IP changes, use dynamic DNS or another way to keep a stable hostname pointed at the current address.
- Replace example credentials with a strong, unguessable stream key and restrict who can publish where the server supports it. Treat the key as a password: anyone who obtains it may be able to send a stream.
- Keep the host and server software updated, and do not expose administrative interfaces unnecessarily.
The OBS community wiki’s example warns that its stream key is not private and demonstrates an IP whitelist. That is a warning about that example’s configuration, not a universal property of every RTMP server. Do not copy old Debian 10 installation commands from the wiki as current setup instructions. OBS community wiki: Streaming With Nginx RTMP
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How the main free and commercial routes differ
| Option | Setup path | Protocols and fit | Currency and cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| SRS | Docker is the project-recommended path; project documentation gives OBS and VLC examples. | Project documentation lists RTMP plus WebRTC, HLS, HTTP-FLV, SRT, MPEG-DASH and other protocols. A fit for readers who want a media server. | The project identifies SRS 8.0 as free and MIT licensed. The README’s example image tag is srs:6; check current project documentation rather than treating it as the 8.0 label. |
| nginx-rtmp-module | The OBS community tutorial explains a basic RTMP application and OBS/VLC testing. | Useful for understanding the architecture or as a historical starting point. | The tutorial was published and last updated in 2014; its sample nginx version and compile steps are stale. Consult current project and operating-system documentation before using commands. |
| NGINX Plus packaged RTMP module | F5 documents an RTMP module packaged for NGINX Plus. | A commercial NGINX Plus option, rather than the free-software route. | Not free software. F5 NGINX Plus RTMP module documentation |
SRS’s listed capabilities and compatibility are claims from the project documentation, not independent performance measurements. The inspected setup sources do not establish a comparative performance winner.
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Troubleshoot the first connection
- OBS cannot connect: Check that the SRS container is running, that OBS has the right server address and application path, and that the firewall permits the ingest port. On the same computer, use the documented
localhostvalue; from another device, use the server’s reachable local or public address. - OBS connects but VLC cannot play: Verify the full URL includes the application and stream key, and ensure you are testing the route that matches the output protocol. SRS documents separate RTMP, HTTP-FLV and HLS routes.
- It works locally but not over the internet: Confirm router forwarding to the correct host, firewall rules, public address or dynamic-DNS hostname, and that the server is listening on the expected port.
- An unknown broadcaster can publish: Change the key and enable publishing restrictions supported by your server, such as an IP whitelist where appropriate. Do not treat an example stream key as private.
Or let it run in the cloud
If your goal is a 24/7 YouTube channel playing uploaded recordings rather than operating an RTMP server, StreamNeo is a different, managed option: upload a recording or playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. It keeps the stream running from the cloud, so nothing has to stay on at home. Uploaded video streams as made, up to 4K 60fps, at one flat price per slot; StreamNeo automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card.
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