The Tool Desk
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What FFmpeg’s reconnect options do—and do not do
FFmpeg documents reconnect, reconnect_at_eof, reconnect_on_network_error, reconnect_on_http_error, reconnect_streamed, and related retry controls under its HTTP protocol options. They govern HTTP connections, commonly an HTTP input that may disconnect. RTMP is documented separately as a streaming protocol over TCP/IP, and FFmpeg’s RTMP publishing example uses an RTMP URL with -f flv (FFmpeg RTMP protocol documentation).
FFmpeg options are scoped by where they appear in the command. An HTTP reconnect option placed before an HTTP input’s -i can affect that input. Placing the same option before an RTMP output URL does not turn it into a general RTMP retry mechanism. The documentation does not establish a universal command-line flag that guarantees RTMP output reconnection.
What each HTTP option means
reconnect: reconnect after a disconnection before the input reaches EOF.reconnect_at_eof: treat EOF as an error and reconnect. This can suit an intended endless or live source, but can cause unwanted retries when EOF is the normal end of a finite file or source.reconnect_on_network_error: retry for TCP or TLS errors during connection.reconnect_on_http_error: retry for selected HTTP status codes; documented syntax supports individual codes such as503and groups such as4xxor5xx.reconnect_streamed: allow retries for streamed, non-seekable inputs.reconnect_delay_max: cap the delay before giving up, in seconds.reconnect_max_retries: set a retry-count limit.reconnect_delay_total_max: cap total reconnect delay.respect_retry_after: honor an HTTPRetry-Afterresponse header instead of relying on exponential backoff.
These are HTTP-specific behaviors. They should not be treated as interchangeable with publishing retries for RTMP.
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Defaults vary by FFmpeg build
The current FFmpeg trunk HTTP source lists implementation defaults of 120 seconds for reconnect_delay_max, -1 for reconnect_max_retries, and 256 seconds for reconnect_delay_total_max (FFmpeg HTTP source). These are version- and build-sensitive implementation details, not a guarantee for every installed release. Check ffmpeg -version, local help, and documentation matching your release before relying on an exact default.
Apply retries to an HTTP input, not the YouTube output
If the source is an HTTP stream and the destination is YouTube RTMP, the reconnect flags belong before the input’s -i. This illustrative command shows that scope:
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ffmpeg -reconnect 1 -reconnect_streamed 1 -reconnect_delay_max 30
-i "https://example.invalid/live-source"
-c copy -f flv "rtmp://ingest.example.invalid/app/STREAM_KEY"The .invalid hostnames are placeholders, not working endpoints. Replace them with a real source and the current YouTube destination details from their respective services. The example demonstrates HTTP input retry syntax only; it does not guarantee gapless recovery, uninterrupted stream continuity, or a successful RTMP reconnect. Treat output recovery separately.
Choose EOF behavior for the source
Do not add reconnect_at_eof by default. For a finite recording or ordinary source, EOF normally means the input has ended, and treating it as an error can create unwanted retry loops. Use it only when the HTTP source is intended to be endless and its EOF behavior makes retrying appropriate.
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Configure YouTube Live and protect the stream key
- In YouTube Live Control Room, obtain the server URL and stream key for the stream you intend to publish. YouTube’s encoder setup guidance instructs encoder users to enter these details in their encoder.
- Configure FFmpeg for the RTMP or RTMPS ingest workflow YouTube currently allows for that stream. YouTube’s encoder settings page lists supported protocols, codecs, and encoding settings; it recommends RTMPS for encrypted transport.
- Use the current settings table for the resolution, frame rate, and codec you selected instead of relying on a generic command copied from an older guide. As one example, YouTube’s current table recommends 5 Mbps H.264 for 1080p at 30 fps; that is a platform recommendation, not a measured result or universal minimum.
- Test before an event and watch stream health indicators and messages in Live Control Room, as YouTube advises.
Treat the stream key like a password. Do not expose it in published examples, screenshots, logs, or public repositories. If you reset the key, update FFmpeg with the new value from Live Control Room.
Diagnose a dropped stream by failure layer
A stream can fail at the source, FFmpeg process, publishing connection, local network, or YouTube ingest. Identify which layer failed before changing retry settings.
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| Failure layer | What to check | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| HTTP input source | Whether the source is finite or live, seekable or streamed, and whether the disconnect is an HTTP or network error. | Use HTTP reconnect options that match the source and failure. Avoid treating normal EOF as a failure. |
| FFmpeg process or RTMP output | Whether FFmpeg exited, reported an output error, or remains running while publishing has stopped. | Handle process restart or output retry explicitly with suitable retry logic or a process supervisor. HTTP protocol options do not establish RTMP output reconnection. |
| YouTube ingest setup | Current server URL, stream key, selected protocol, and Live Control Room health messages. | Verify the ingest details in Live Control Room; replace a reset key in the encoder and keep it private. |
| Local network | Upload capacity and connection stability between the encoder and the internet. | YouTube recommends sufficient outbound bandwidth with headroom. Its streaming tips recommend 20% upload bandwidth headroom; for primary and backup encoders, include both encoders plus that headroom in the calculation. Ethernet can remove a weak Wi-Fi hop, but cannot fix ISP, routing, or ingest-side failures. |
YouTube’s streaming tips state, “A disruption on your connectivity could mean a broken stream.” A local reconnect setting cannot prevent every network or ingest disruption.
Plan and test backup-encoder failover
YouTube recommends testing backup-encoder failover by stopping the primary encoder or disconnecting its Ethernet cable, then checking that the player rolls over to the backup encoder. A backup is a separate reliability layer; it does not make HTTP input retries equivalent to RTMP publishing retries.
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Check copyright and live-stream eligibility
Technical reconnects do not resolve rights or policy issues. Before looping a recording, confirm you have the rights to stream its audio and video and check that the content complies with YouTube’s live-stream rules. Repeated retries cannot make unauthorized content permissible or repair a restriction applied by the platform. Use the copyright safety checklist as a preflight aid.
Quick Recap
Useful checks before changing a command
- Confirm which URL is the HTTP input and which is the RTMP/RTMPS output; option placement matters.
- Check whether EOF means “the source ended” or “the live source unexpectedly closed” before enabling
reconnect_at_eof. - Verify installed FFmpeg version and matching option behavior rather than assuming trunk defaults apply.
- Keep the current YouTube server URL and stream key private and confirm them in Live Control Room.
- Allow network headroom and test failover before relying on a backup encoder.
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