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Streaming to both preferred and backup/fallback RTMP endpoints

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When streaming to RingCentral Events via RTMP, you'll be presented with two destinations to have more redundancy for your stream. We use MUX as the preferred provider and Amazon's Interactive Video Service (IVS) as the backup. This guide explains how to generate your RTMP setup and configure streaming to both destinations for smoother performance. 

Generating RTMP setup

  • In a multi-track event, it's possible to stream via RTMP both to a Stage and a Session room. To access Stage RTMP setup:

    1. Go to Event Dashboard > Venue > Stages.
    2. Hover over the selected Stage and click the Pencil icon to open Stage settings.
    3. Under Stream Provider, select StreamYard.
    4. Go to RTMP Stream and click Generate RTMP Setup. 
    5. Click Save.

    To access Session RTMP setup:

    1. Go to Event Dashboard > Venue > Sessions.
    2. Hover over the selected Session and click the Pencil icon to open Session settings.
    3. Under RTMP settings, select the Enable RTMP streaming checkmark.


    4. Click Save.
      ✔ You will be brought back to the list of Sessions. 
    5. Hover over the Session and click the People icon to open the RTMP details.


    6. Click Generate RTMP Setup. 

  • To access RTMP setup in a Webinar event:

    1. Go to Event Dashboard > Setup > Basics.
    2. Under Webinar Style, select Stage.
    3. Go to RTMP Stream and click Generate RTMP Setup. 

Streaming to both destinations

We recommend streaming to both destinations if your setup allows it. This minimizes the impact of failures on your viewers' experience. If your connection to the preferred endpoint gets disconnected, having a backup ensures your stream doesn’t end abruptly. Instead, viewers will experience a brief delay or a black screen during the switch.

Configure each encoder to stream to a different endpoint. The switch happens automatically. Here's a recommended setup (at a minimum, we recommend you separate the encoders and network paths):

  • Separate feeds: Ensure feeds come from different sources.
  • Hardware encoders: Use separate hardware encoders for each endpoint.
  • Network separation: Use separate networks for each encoder, each with sufficient bandwidth.
  • Power supply: Use a UPS or redundant power supply to handle power failures.
  • Wired network: Always use wired connections.
Note: The stream follows the logic where the preferred endpoint always takes precedence. If it reconnects after failing, viewers will switch back to it.

Warning: If you can't follow the above recommendations, it’s not recommended to set up a redundancy path. Streaming to both endpoints on a single network with limited bandwidth or using wireless connections can cause issues. Avoid streaming on one computer with different software types, as it can spike CPU usage, degrading the stream on both endpoints.

Final tips for best results

By following these guidelines, you can ensure a robust and smooth streaming experience for your viewers.

  • Hardware encoders: Use hardware encoders that support streaming to preferred and fallback destinations when streaming to both endpoints.
  • Wired connection: Ensure your wired connection has enough bandwidth to support both streams.
  • Isolate infrastructure: Use separate encoders, power sources, and network paths for each endpoint.
  • Avoid wireless: Wireless connections can cause quality issues.
  • Follow encoder settings: Use the recommended encoder settings for a smooth experience.
  • Preferred endpoint logic: If you have continuous connectivity issues, it might be best to fix them before resuming streaming to the preferred endpoint to avoid continuous switching.
  • Recording considerations: Losing connectivity to an endpoint will create multiple recordings for your event, corresponding to each switch.

 

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