- Posted on Jan 22, 2022
- 5 min read
🤖 AI summary: This tutorial walks you through setting up Ant Media Server on a Linux VPS to enable 24/7 live streaming to YouTube. Ant Media is an open-source streaming engine that allows you to broadcast pre-recorded videos as continuous live streams—perfect for music channels, ambient streams, or automated content. The guide covers downloading, installing, and configuring the server, plus connecting it to YouTube's RTMP endpoint.
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! 🎬