Ever wanted to run a 24/7 live stream on YouTube without keeping your personal computer on all the time? Ant Media Server is the solution! It's an open-source streaming engine that you can install on a Linux VPS to broadcast videos continuously to platforms like YouTube.
What is Ant Media Server?
Ant Media Server is a powerful, real-time streaming engine that supports WebRTC, RTMP, HLS, and more. The Community Edition is free and open-source, making it perfect for personal projects and 24/7 streaming setups.
Prerequisites
- A Linux VPS (Ubuntu recommended)
- Basic terminal/SSH knowledge
- A YouTube channel with live streaming enabled
- Your video file(s) to stream
Download Links
Installation Steps
Follow these commands to install Ant Media Server on your Linux VPS:
Step 1: Update your system
sudo apt update
Step 2: Download Ant Media Server
Download the desired version from GitHub. Replace the URL with the version you want:
wget https://github.com/ant-media/Ant-Media-Server/releases/download/ams-v2.4.1/ant-media-server-community-2.4.1.zip
Step 3: Download the installation script
wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ant-media/Scripts/master/install_ant-media-server.sh && chmod 755 install_ant-media-server.sh
Step 4: Run the installer
⚠️ Note: Update the version number (2.4.1) in the command below if you're installing a newer version.
sudo ./install_ant-media-server.sh -i ant-media-server-community-2.4.1.zip
Step 5: Verify the installation
systemctl status antmedia
Press Q to exit the status view.
Configuring Your Stream
Once installed, access the Ant Media dashboard at http://YOUR-SERVER-IP:5080
Video Source URL Format
Use this format to point to your video file:
http://SERVER-IP:5080/LiveApp/streams/VIDEO-ID.mp4
YouTube RTMP Stream URL
Use this RTMP URL with your YouTube stream key:
rtmp://a.rtmp.youtube.com/live2/YOUR-STREAM-KEY
Watch the Full Tutorial
For a complete walkthrough with visual guidance, check out my YouTube tutorial:
Conclusion
With Ant Media Server, you can easily set up a 24/7 live stream on YouTube without relying on your personal computer. Once configured, your stream will run continuously from your VPS, broadcasting your content around the clock.
Happy streaming! 🎬