Backup stream is an automated system that lets you switch between a main and an identical backup feed without interrupting the stream for your viewers.
How to set up Backup Stream
From your home screen, click "Connect to OBS, Zoom..."
Click Add backup stream under the area displaying your RTMP details.
There will be two identical RTMP URLs and two different streaming keys:
Primary stream 1 is your main source.
Backup stream 2 is your emergency source.
Set up two separate encoders - the first should stream to Primary, and the other should stream to Backup.
Make sure to select "Custom" service in your stream settings to use the exact RTMP URL provided by Restream.
After setting up both encoders, start streaming.
If your main source fails, we will switch to the backup.
Requirements
To use the Backup stream feature, you need at least a Business plan.
This setup requires two distinct encoders.
Two separate network connections are also recommended. If you're using a single connection for both encoders and your internet goes out, both feeds will fail.
If anything happens to your primary stream, the system will seamlessly switch to the backup source with no visible transition.
If the primary source recovers, we will not switch back to it unless the backup source disconnects.
FAQ
Does backup stream work with scheduled events too?
Does backup stream work with scheduled events too?
Backup stream is fully compatible with Restream Events.
Events have a unique stream key that you can find under the "Backup Stream" section of your event's RTMP settings. The rest of the steps remain as shown above.
How can I make the switch as natural as possible?
How can I make the switch as natural as possible?
On our side, the transition will be seamless.
To prevent your audience from noticing the switch, we recommend that you set up identical streams for both encoders. That means that the camera angle and overall feed in the backup source should look as close to the original as possible.
Can I have a backup stream in Studio?
Can I have a backup stream in Studio?
The backup feature is designed for streams done with third-party encoders.
Can I use a server region of my choice when using backup?
Can I use a server region of my choice when using backup?
Yes, you can switch your default server selection from auto-detect to a specific region here. This will also update the RTMP URL for the backup links.
We recommend that you use the same region for both primary and backup to avoid network issues.
Can backup support very long streams?
Can backup support very long streams?
Restream does not guarantee that a stream will be alive for more than 24 hours, even with the backup feature. There is a possibility that the server you're connected to may undergo maintenance and be restarted if you stream continuously for more than 24 hours. To avoid potential issues, we recommend restarting your stream once every 24 hours.
To stream for more than 24 hours, you can contact our Sales team for a custom plan.
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