Input Streams Configuration Guide

Complete guide for adding, editing, and managing input streams.

Table of contents

1. Adding a New Input Stream
   1. Prerequisites
   2. Step-by-Step Guide
   3. Source URL Formats
2. Required Fields
   1. Field Validation Rules
3. Viewing Input Stream Details
   1. Information Display
   2. Action Buttons
4. Editing an Input Stream
   1. Modifiable Fields
   2. Edit Workflow
   3. When to Edit
5. Enabling / Disabling Input Streams
   1. Toggle Operation
   2. Use Cases
6. Deleting an Input Stream
   1. Delete Operation
   2. Before Deleting
   3. Deletion Dependencies
7. Configuration Best Practices
   1. Naming Conventions
   2. Content ID Guidelines
   3. Source URL Best Practices
8. Advanced Configuration
   1. Multiple Inputs for Redundancy
   2. Network Interface Selection
9. Troubleshooting Configuration Issues
   1. Issue: Cannot Save Input Stream
   2. Issue: Cannot Delete Input Stream
   3. Issue: Content ID Mismatch Errors
10. Related Documentation

Adding a New Input Stream

Prerequisites

Before creating an input stream, ensure you have:

• Access to the encoder’s output URL
• Confirmed the encoder is configured and running
• Network connectivity between encoder and platform
• A unique Content ID chosen for this stream

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Navigate to Input Streams from the left sidebar
2. Click Add Input Stream button (top-right)
3. Fill in the required fields:
   • Name: Descriptive channel name for easy identification
   • Content ID: Unique identifier (case-sensitive, must match CMS)
   • Source URL: Complete encoder URL with protocol
4. Click Save to create the input stream

Source URL Formats

UDP Multicast:

udp://@239.1.1.1:5000

RTMP:

rtmp://encoder-server.example.com:1935/live/stream-key

The Source URL must be accessible from the server running the transcoder. Test connectivity before configuring!

Required Fields

Field Validation Rules

Name:

• Any descriptive text
• Helps identify the stream in the UI
• Can be changed later

Content ID:

• Must be unique across all streams
• Case-sensitive (sport_01 ≠ Sport_01)
• Cannot be changed after creation
• No spaces (use underscores)
• Alphanumeric characters and underscores only

Source URL:

• Must include protocol (udp:// or rtmp://)
• Must be accessible from the transcoder server
• Should be tested before saving

Viewing Input Stream Details

Information Display

The input stream details page shows:

• Name: Channel identifier
• Content ID: Unique stream ID
• Source URL: Encoder location
• Server: Assigned server
• Status: ENABLED / DISABLED
• Created At: Creation timestamp
• Updated At: Last modification timestamp

Action Buttons

• Disable / Enable: Toggle stream processing
• Edit: Modify configuration
• Delete: Remove input stream
• Back: Return to list view

Editing an Input Stream

Modifiable Fields

You can update the following:

• Name
• Source URL
• Status (Enable/Disable)

Content ID cannot be changed after creation. If you need a different Content ID, delete and recreate the input stream.

Edit Workflow

1. Navigate to the input stream details page
2. Click Edit button
3. Modify the desired fields
4. Click Save to apply changes
5. Click Cancel to discard changes

When to Edit

• Name: Update for better clarity
• Source URL: Change encoder location or switch to backup
• Status: Enable/disable without deleting configuration

Enabling / Disabling Input Streams

Toggle Operation

Use the Enable/Disable toggle to control stream processing without deleting the configuration.

Workflow:

1. Navigate to Input Streams list
2. Click the toggle icon next to the stream
3. Confirm the action in the dialog
4. Click Ok to proceed or Cancel to abort

Use Cases

• Temporary Maintenance: Stop processing during encoder maintenance
• Scheduled Content: Enable only when content is scheduled
• Resource Management: Disable inactive channels to free resources
• Testing: Disable before making changes to connected components

Disabling an input stream also stops associated transcoders and packagers.

Deleting an Input Stream

Delete Operation

Permanently removes the input stream configuration.

Warning: This action cannot be undone. Associated transcoders and packagers must be removed first.

Workflow:

1. Navigate to Input Streams list
2. Click the Delete (bin) icon
3. Review the confirmation message
4. Click Ok to remove or Cancel to abort

Before Deleting

Ensure the following:

• No active transcoders are using this input
• No packagers depend on this stream
• Stream is disabled to prevent disruption
• You have documented the configuration if you might need it later

Deletion Dependencies

If you see an error when deleting, check for:

1. Transcoders using this input - Delete transcoders first
2. Packagers depending on transcoders - Delete packagers first
3. Active streaming sessions - Disable and wait for cleanup

Configuration Best Practices

Naming Conventions

Good Examples:

• news_channel_hd - Clear, descriptive, no spaces
• sports_primary_4k - Includes purpose and quality
• entertainment_backup - Indicates role

Avoid:

• stream1, test - Too generic
• My Channel - Contains spaces
• SPORT$_HD! - Special characters

Content ID Guidelines

✅ Do:

• Use consistent naming scheme
• Include environment if needed: prod_news_hd, stage_news_hd
• Document all Content IDs in a central location
• Use lowercase for consistency

❌ Don’t:

• Mix cases randomly
• Use spaces or special characters
• Reuse Content IDs
• Make Content IDs too long

Source URL Best Practices

UDP Multicast:

• Verify multicast routing is configured
• Test connectivity with ffprobe before configuring
• Document multicast groups used
• Use consistent multicast address ranges

RTMP:

• Use strong stream keys for security
• Test with OBS or similar tools first
• Monitor connection stability
• Consider using backup RTMP servers

Advanced Configuration

Multiple Inputs for Redundancy

For critical streams, configure redundant inputs:

Primary:

Name: "News Primary"
Content ID: "news_primary_hd"
Source URL: udp://@239.1.1.1:5000

Backup:

Name: "News Backup"
Content ID: "news_backup_hd"
Source URL: udp://@239.1.1.2:5000

Network Interface Selection

When multiple network interfaces exist:

• Management Interface: For dashboard access
• Streaming Interface: For high-bandwidth video traffic
• Separate VLANs: For traffic isolation

Troubleshooting Configuration Issues

Issue: Cannot Save Input Stream

Possible Causes:

• Duplicate Content ID
• Invalid Source URL format
• Required field missing
• No server available

Solution:

• Verify Content ID is unique
• Check URL format matches protocol
• Ensure all required fields are filled
• Contact administrator if no servers available

Issue: Cannot Delete Input Stream

Cause: Dependent components exist

Solution:

1. Navigate to Transcoders
2. Find and delete transcoders using this input
3. Navigate to Packagers
4. Delete packagers dependent on those transcoders
5. Try deleting input stream again

Issue: Content ID Mismatch Errors

Cause: Case-sensitive Content ID not matching

Solution:

• Content IDs are case-sensitive
• Check for trailing spaces
• Verify exact match in all components
• Use copy-paste to avoid typos

Related Documentation

• Protocol Support - UDP and RTMP details
• Testing Guide - Verify configurations
• Best Practices - Optimization tips
• Troubleshooting - Common issues