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Streaming has become an essential part of content creation, whether for gaming, online courses, or live events. Open Broadcaster Software (OBS) is a widely used open-source tool for high-quality streaming. This guide will walk you through setting up a streaming server using OBS on Ubuntu, along with important optimizations for a stable stream.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have:

• A server running Ubuntu 20.04 or later with at least:
  • 2 vCPUs
  • 4GB RAM
  • Stable internet connection
• OBS installed on your local machine (Windows/Linux/Mac) or directly on the Ubuntu server
• Basic knowledge of Linux commands
• An RTMP server for hosting your stream (Nginx RTMP or an external service like YouTube or Twitch)

Step 1: Install OBS on Ubuntu

OBS requires certain dependencies before installation. Run the following commands:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
sudo apt install ffmpeg v4l2loopback-dkms

 To install OBS:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:obsproject/obs-studio
sudo apt update
sudo apt install obs-studio

Step 2: Setting Up an RTMP Server on Ubuntu

Instead of streaming directly to platforms like YouTube, you can set up your own RTMP server for private broadcasting.

Install Nginx with RTMP Module

sudo apt install nginx libnginx-mod-rtmp -y

Configure RTMP

Edit the Nginx configuration file:

sudo nano /etc/nginx/nginx.conf

Add the following lines at the end:

rtmp {
    server {
        listen 1935;
        chunk_size 4096;

        application live {
            live on;
            record off;
        }
    }
}

Save and exit (CTRL+X, then Y, then Enter). Restart Nginx:

sudo systemctl restart nginx

Your RTMP server is now ready at rtmp://your-server-ip/live.

Step 3: Configure OBS

Open OBS and follow these steps:

1. Navigate to Settings > Stream.
2. Select Custom Streaming Server.
3. Enter the RTMP URL: rtmp://your-server-ip/live.
4. Set a Stream Key (e.g., teststream).
5. Click Apply and OK.

Step 4: Optimize OBS Settings

To ensure smooth streaming, adjust the following settings:

In Output Settings:

• Set Encoder to x264 (or NVENC if using an NVIDIA GPU).
• Set Keyframe Interval to 2.
• Choose CBR (Constant Bitrate).

In Advanced Settings:

• Enable Network Optimizations for smoother connectivity.

Step 5: Start Streaming

1. Click Start Streaming in OBS.
2. Open VLC or another media player.
3. Enter the RTMP URL: rtmp://your-server-ip/live/teststream.
4. You should see your live stream in action.

Additional Optimizations

• Use a Wired Connection: Avoid Wi-Fi for stable streaming.
• Monitor CPU Usage: Use htop to ensure OBS isn’t overloading the server.
• Automate OBS Startup: Use screen or systemd to run OBS as a background process.
• Enable Recording: Save streams locally for backup.

Conclusion

By following this guide, you can successfully set up a streaming server with OBS on Ubuntu. Whether you’re streaming to a private audience or a large platform, these configurations will help you achieve a stable and high-quality stream.