How to install Owncast on Ubuntu | Live Video Broadcaster

Owncast: A comprehensive guide

Owncast is a free and open-source self-hosted live video and web chat server. It allows you to stream your content to the world without having to rely on a third-party platform. Owncast is easy to set up and use, and it offers a variety of features, including chat moderation, stream recording, and more.

How to use Owncast

To use Owncast, you first need to install it on your own server. Owncast can be installed on a variety of platforms, including Linux, macOS, and Docker. Once Owncast is installed, you need to create an account and configure your streaming settings.

Once your streaming settings are configured, you can start streaming using your favorite broadcasting software. Owncast supports a variety of broadcasting software, including OBS Studio, Streamlabs OBS, and Restream.io.

To start streaming, simply open your broadcasting software and select Owncast as your streaming service. Enter the URL of your Owncast server and your stream key. Once you have entered this information, you can start streaming.

Features

Owncast offers a variety of features, including:

• Chat moderation: Owncast allows you to moderate your chat room using a variety of tools, such as banning and muting users.
• Stream recording: Owncast can automatically record your streams so that you can watch them back later or share them with others.
• HLS streaming: Owncast supports HLS streaming, which allows viewers to watch your streams on a variety of devices, including mobile devices and smart TVs.
• Custom branding: Owncast allows you to customize the branding of your streaming channel, including the logo, colors, and theme.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Free and open-source
• Self-hosted, so you have full control over your data and content
• Supports a variety of broadcasting software and platforms
• Easy to set up and use
• Feature-rich, including chat moderation, stream recording, and more

Cons:

• No native Windows server support
• Requires some technical knowledge to set up and maintain
• May not be as scalable as some commercial streaming solutions

Comparison with other tools

Owncast is a good alternative to commercial live streaming solutions such as Twitch, YouTube Live, and Facebook Gaming. It offers many of the same features, but at a fraction of the cost.

Another option is to use a cloud-based live streaming solution such as Restream.io or Dacast. Cloud-based live streaming solutions are easier to set up and use than self-hosted solutions, but they can be more expensive.

Owncast is a good alternative to commercial live streaming solutions such as Twitch, YouTube Live, and Facebook Gaming. It offers many of the same features, but at a fraction of the cost. However, it is important to note that Owncast is not as user-friendly as some of the commercial solutions. It also requires some technical knowledge to set up and maintain.

Overall, Owncast is a good option for users who want to self-host their live streams and have full control over their data and content. It is also a good option for users who are looking for a free and open-source live streaming solution. However, it is important to note that Owncast is not as user-friendly as some of the commercial solutions, and it does require some technical knowledge to set up and maintain.

I hope this additional information is helpful. Please let me know if you have any other questions.

Which tool is right for you?

The best tool for you will depend on your specific needs and requirements. If you are looking for a free and open-source self-hosted live streaming solution, Owncast is a good option. If you are looking for a more user-friendly solution,

Installation of Owncast

Minimum Server Requirements ‘

The minimum server requirements for Owncast are as follows:

• CPU: 1 core
• RAM: 1 GB
• Disk space: 100 MB
• Network: 1 Mbps upload speed

However, it is recommended to have a more powerful server if you plan on streaming to a large number of viewers.

Firewall Rules Setting

To set up a firewall in Ubuntu terminal, you can use the UFW firewall. UFW is a simple and easy-to-use firewall that is included with Ubuntu by default.

To enable UFW, run the following command:

sudo ufw status

## To allow traffic on port 8080, which is the port that Owncast uses, run the following command:

sudo ufw allow 8080/tcp
sudo ufw allow 1935/tcp

## You can also allow traffic on a range of ports or on all ports. To allow traffic on all ports, run the following command:


sudo ufw allow all

## To disable UFW, run the following command:

sudo ufw disable

## UFW will now block all other incoming and outgoing traffic. To allow traffic on specific ports, you need to create more UFW rules.

sudo ufw enable

Owncast Installation

1. Update your system:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

2. Install the required dependencies:

sudo apt install nano curl wget iftop htop unzip -y

3. Clone the Owncast GitHub repository:

curl -s https://owncast.online/install.sh | bash

4. Change to the Owncast directory:

cd owncast

6. Start the Owncast service:

sudo ./owncast

Open a web browser and navigate to http://<server-ip>:8080 to access the Owncast admin panel.

Admin Panel

The Owncast admin panel allows you to manage your live streams, users, and settings. To access the admin panel, open a web browser and navigate to http://<server-ip>:8080/admin.

by default username: admin and password: abc123. you can change it later. For Video Resolution Configuration

Conclusion

Owncast is a powerful and versatile self-hosted live streaming solution. It is a good option for users who want to have full control over their data and content. Owncast is also a good option for users on a budget.

However, it is important to note that Owncast does require some technical knowledge to set up and maintain. If you are not comfortable with setting up and maintaining your own server, you can contact me or contact on Fiverr

Watch Video Tutorial:

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