To give an EC2 streaming server a persistent public IPv4 address, allocate an Elastic IP in the same AWS Region and associate it with the instance or its network interface. Then configure your encoder with YouTube Live’s current ingest URL and stream key. YouTube’s published setup guidance does not say a static source IP is required to send a stream; use an Elastic IP when you independently need a stable address, such as for an IP allowlist or remote access.
What the static IP does—and what it does not do
An EC2 instance’s ordinary auto-assigned public IPv4 address is not a durable identity: AWS says it releases that address when an instance is stopped, hibernated, or terminated, and assigns a new one when it starts again. If the address itself must persist, use an Elastic IP (EIP), which AWS describes as a static IPv4 address designed for dynamic cloud computing. AWS Elastic IP documentation
An EIP is regional, can be associated with an instance or network interface, and can be moved between resources in that Region. It remains allocated to your account until released. It is separate from YouTube’s ingest configuration: the encoder sends video to YouTube using an ingest URL and stream key. The reviewed YouTube guidance recommends RTMPS but does not establish that YouTube requires a fixed source IP for this outbound connection. AWS Elastic IP documentation · YouTube live encoder settings
How to get a static IP on an EC2 instance
- Choose the Region and instance. Create or select the EC2 instance in the AWS Region where you want the address. Pick an operating system and instance configuration suited to your encoder and source workload; there is no universally established instance size for this job, and no performance benchmark is available here.
- Check connectivity and administration access. The instance needs a working route for outbound internet traffic to YouTube. Configure its security group for your actual administration method, and do not expose SSH or remote desktop broadly to the internet. The required inbound rules depend on how you administer the server; YouTube ingest is an outbound publishing connection.
- Allocate an Elastic IP. In the EC2 console, open Network & Security → Elastic IPs, choose Allocate Elastic IP address, and allocate the address in the instance’s Region. Console labels can change; verify that the selected Region matches the instance.
- Associate the address. Select the new EIP and choose Actions → Associate Elastic IP address. Select the target instance or network interface and complete the association. Confirm the associated resource and public IPv4 address in the Elastic IPs view. AWS documents allocation and association in its Elastic IP guide.
- Keep the address only as long as you need it. An allocated EIP remains associated with your account until released. If you no longer need it, release it; simply stopping the instance is not the same as releasing the address, and an idle or stopped-resource association may have a charge under current AWS billing rules.
Configure the encoder for YouTube Live
- Get the destination details. In YouTube Live Control Room, create or select the live stream and retrieve its current ingest URL and stream key. YouTube’s API describes the ingestion address as the primary destination for supported protocols. Treat the key like a password: do not put it in screenshots, public logs, or scripts that others can read. YouTube Live Streams API
- Choose RTMPS. YouTube recommends RTMPS, a secure extension of RTMP that encrypts the stream payload in transit to Google’s servers. Select the RTMPS ingest option in the encoder where available. YouTube encoder settings
- Match output settings to your target and uplink. Set the codec, resolution, frame rate, bitrate, and keyframe interval in the encoder. YouTube recommends constant bitrate (CBR) and a two-second keyframe interval; its bitrate guidance varies by codec, resolution, and frame rate. For 1080p at 30 fps using H.264, the current YouTube settings page lists 5 Mbps as the minimum and 14 Mbps as the recommendation. That figure is specific to that codec and format, not a general bitrate for every stream. YouTube encoder settings
- Check that the EC2 uplink can sustain the chosen output. Your instance must send the selected bitrate continuously, with room for protocol overhead and normal variation. Higher bitrate and longer runtime also mean more outbound data to account for. The available evidence does not identify a best EC2 instance family or prove which instance can encode a particular format; test the actual workload rather than assuming a CPU or GPU configuration will be sufficient.
- Test privately and monitor stream health. Before a public event, use a private or unlisted test with representative audio and motion. Check YouTube’s stream health and the encoder’s output status, and make adjustments if YouTube reports instability. YouTube recommends testing with representative content and monitoring stream health. YouTube encoder settings
Estimate the cost of running OBS or another encoder on EC2
There is no reliable single monthly total without a Region, instance type, operating system, runtime, disk configuration, stream bitrate, and hours streamed. Build the estimate from the parts below, then check the exact configuration in the AWS Pricing Calculator and verify current billing treatment for your Region and account.
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| Cost item | How to estimate it | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| EC2 runtime | Instance price Ă— expected running hours, using the chosen purchasing model and operating system. | Region, instance family and size, OS or licensing costs, and whether the instance runs continuously or only during broadcasts. |
| Storage | EBS volume capacity and any provisioned performance, plus snapshots if used. | Disk size, performance configuration, and retained backups. |
| Public IPv4 / Elastic IP | Include public IPv4 address charges applicable to the configuration. | AWS’s calculator guide describes one EIP on a running instance as included at no charge in its estimate, while additional addresses or idle/stopped-resource cases may incur charges. Check the current regional calculator and bill rather than assuming an EIP is always free. AWS public IPv4 documentation · AWS Pricing Calculator guide |
| Outbound data transfer | Estimate the data sent to YouTube from bitrate and duration, then include any other egress. | Actual billing depends on AWS metering and applicable allowances or tiers. AWS lists data transfer as a distinct estimate input. AWS Pricing Calculator guide |
| Optional supporting services | Add only infrastructure the design actually uses. | A NAT Gateway, load balancer, or other service can add separate charges; do not include one by default if the instance connects directly. |
Translate bitrate into a rough traffic volume
For intuition, a continuous 5 Mbps stream sends about 2.25 GB of video payload per hour before protocol overhead: 5 megabits per second × 3,600 seconds ÷ 8 ÷ 1,000. This is arithmetic from the bitrate, not a bill estimate; AWS’s metering and any applicable allowances determine billable transfer. The AWS documentation also shows $0.005 per public IPv4 address-hour in a specific NAT Gateway-versus-existing-public-address cost comparison. That scoped figure is not a complete current quote for an EC2 streaming workload. AWS NAT Gateway documentation
Reduce costs without losing the fixed address accidentally
If broadcasts are occasional, stopping the instance between sessions can reduce runtime charges, but review how the EIP is billed when associated with stopped resources. If the encoder must run continuously, estimate the full monthly runtime and outbound volume rather than multiplying a short test bill without adjustment. Release an EIP only when you no longer need that address; a released address is no longer reserved for your account.
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Common problems and fixes
- The address changed after a restart. The instance was using an ordinary auto-assigned public IPv4 rather than an EIP, or the EIP was not associated with the resource. Allocate and associate an EIP in the instance’s Region, then confirm the association in the console.
- The EIP cannot be associated. Check that you are working in the correct Region and that you selected the intended instance or network interface. AWS allows an EIP to move between resources within its Region, not to act as a global address.
- YouTube does not receive the stream. Confirm that the encoder uses the current ingest URL and stream key, that the key is still valid, and that the EC2 instance has outbound internet connectivity. Select RTMPS if supported, then check encoder output and YouTube stream health.
- YouTube reports poor stream health or the encoder drops frames. Verify the codec-specific bitrate, resolution, frame rate, CBR setting, and two-second keyframe interval. Reduce output demands if the instance cannot sustain encoding or upload; confirm performance with a representative test because no universal EC2 size is established.
- The bill is higher than expected. Review runtime, EBS configuration, outbound transfer, public IPv4/EIP line items, and any supporting services such as NAT Gateway. Compare the estimate with the actual Region and usage shown in AWS billing.
Keep YouTube rights and monetization rules in view
A technically healthy stream is not automatically cleared for broadcast. Use material you own or are authorized to stream, including music, footage, and other embedded content. A stream key only authorizes publishing to the channel; it does not grant rights to the video or audio. For a continuing channel, review YouTube’s current copyright and monetization requirements, including rules relevant to reused content, before scheduling a loop or long-running broadcast. YouTube live encoder guidance
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Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Frequently Asked Questions
Does an Elastic IP stay with an EC2 instance if I terminate it?
The EIP remains allocated to your account until you release it, but it is not the same as preserving a terminated instance. You can associate it with another resource in the same Region.
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Can I use an Elastic IP in a different AWS Region from my instance?
No. Elastic IP addresses are regional; allocate the address in the Region containing the EC2 resource you want to associate.
Does an Elastic IP encrypt my YouTube stream?
No. The EIP is an address. Encryption in transit comes from using RTMPS, which YouTube recommends.
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