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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Configure the encoder to start automatically when the Compute Engine VM boots, then verify it reconnects to YouTube. On Linux, use a Compute Engine startup script for a simple launch command or a systemd service for a long-running encoder that needs supervision and restart handling. A reboot interrupts the running encoder; boot automation can relaunch it, but does not guarantee YouTube will preserve the same live session.
Why the stream stops at reboot
A VM reboot stops processes that were running in its interactive session. To bring the stream back, the encoder must launch after the VM starts and connect with the correct YouTube server URL and stream key. Compute Engine startup scripts run commands at boot; a Linux systemd service is another way to start and supervise a persistent process. Neither approach by itself guarantees seamless continuation of a YouTube live session.
The Linux instructions below assume a Linux VM. Google’s public Compute Engine images include the guest environment that reads startup-script metadata. A custom image needs the guest environment installed and running for metadata startup scripts to work. See Google Cloud’s startup-script overview and guest agent documentation.
Choose a startup script or a systemd service
| Approach | Best fit | What to consider |
|---|---|---|
| Compute Engine startup script | A concise, one-shot launch command. | Runs at boot as root and only runs when network access is available. VM-level metadata scripts override project-level scripts. |
systemd service |
A long-running encoder that should start at boot and be supervised. | Configure the service for the encoder’s dependencies and desired restart behavior. Google documents its guest services using systemd, but does not provide a ready-made YouTube encoder unit file. |
Google defines a startup script as “a file that contains commands that run when a virtual machine (VM) instance boots.” For the documented behavior, see Use startup scripts on Linux VMs.
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Set up automatic launch on a Linux VM
- Confirm the guest environment. Check that it is installed and active. It is preinstalled on public Compute Engine images; custom images require manual installation. Without it, metadata startup scripts will not run.
- Choose the launch mechanism. Put a concise, idempotent command that starts the actual encoder in the VM startup metadata, or configure the encoder as a
systemdservice enabled at boot. Do not rely on an interactive terminal session that disappears when the VM restarts. - Check dependencies and timing. Startup scripts run only when network access is available. If the encoder needs media files, mounted disks, generated configuration, or other services, make sure those are ready before the encoder starts. A service can express startup dependencies and restart behavior more deliberately than a single launch command.
- Protect the stream key. Configure the encoder with the YouTube Live server URL and stream key, but do not put credentials in publicly readable scripts, repositories, or diagnostic output. Use access controls appropriate to the VM and project. YouTube describes these encoder settings in its live-stream setup guide.
- Reboot and inspect the result. After the VM comes back, confirm the encoder process is running and inspect startup-script logs with
sudo journalctl -u google-startup-scripts.service. For diagnosis, Google also documents manually rerunning the startup script withsudo google_metadata_script_runner startup. - Verify the YouTube connection. Check that the encoder is sending content and inspect YouTube Live Control Room. Confirm whether the reconnect appears as the intended live session; a reboot interrupts the encoder, and session behavior depends on the actual encoder and YouTube configuration.
Troubleshoot a stream that does not restart
- No startup activity: Check that the guest environment is installed and active, and that the script is in the intended metadata scope. A VM-level script overrides a project-level script.
- Startup log shows a command failure: Read
sudo journalctl -u google-startup-scripts.service, correct the failing command, then use the documented manual rerun command while diagnosing. - The encoder starts too early: Check network readiness and whether the media file, mounted storage, or generated configuration is available when the launch runs. Adjust ordering or service dependencies as needed.
- The process runs but YouTube is not connected: Verify the current YouTube server URL and stream key in the encoder, then check the encoder’s connection status and Live Control Room.
- The process exits after launch: A one-shot startup script may launch a process without supervising it afterward. For a long-running encoder, consider a
systemdservice configured for the required restart behavior. - YouTube shows a different or ended session: A successful process restart does not prove the original live session continued. Check the actual session in Live Control Room and account for the interruption.
What to expect after a YouTube interruption
YouTube says stopping encoder content ends the stream, and streams under 12 hours are automatically archived. The automatic archive guidance does not mean a rebooted encoder will resume the same live session. Treat reconnection and session continuity as something to verify in your account and encoder setup; the official guidance does not guarantee seamless preservation across a VM reboot. See YouTube’s encoder instructions.
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