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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11For a straightforward RTMP server on Windows, Linux, or macOS, use MediaMTX: download the release for your operating system and CPU architecture, run it, then publish to it from OBS. For a first local test, OBS can send a stream to rtmp://localhost/mystream without a separate stream key. If you need an NGINX-based stack instead, NGINX RTMP is another option, but the current NGINX documentation available for it covers the NGINX Plus dynamic module.
Choose a setup that fits your use
| Option | Platforms and deployment | Best fit |
|---|---|---|
| MediaMTX standalone | Windows, Linux, and macOS; run a single executable without a dependency or interpreter, according to the MediaMTX introduction. | A quick local server or a simple process on a computer you control. |
| MediaMTX in Docker | Container deployment with documented port mappings; MediaMTX recommends this approach for production environments. | A managed, isolated deployment where you already use Docker. |
| NGINX RTMP | An NGINX-based stack. The current NGINX documentation surfaced for this topic describes the NGINX Plus RTMP dynamic module. | A project that specifically needs an NGINX-based setup, rather than the simplest cross-platform start. |
There is no controlled performance or latency comparison between these options in the cited documentation, so the choice here is about deployment fit, not a claim that one is faster. MediaMTX also supports protocols beyond RTMP; for an OBS-to-server first test, you only need the RTMP listener.
Set up MediaMTX as a standalone server
- Download the matching release. Open the MediaMTX releases and select the archive for your operating system and CPU architecture. Extract it to a directory you can find again.
- Start the server. On Windows, double-click
mediamtx.exe. On Linux or macOS, open a terminal in the extracted directory and run./mediamtx. The official installation instructions describe this download, extract, and run workflow; they do not prescribe a particular shell, service manager, or macOS security-dialog procedure. - Keep the default configuration for the first local test. The documented Docker example maps TCP port
1935for RTMP, along with ports for other supported protocols. If you change a port or other setting, check the current configuration file and official install instructions rather than assuming every protocol port is needed. - Leave the server process running. The process must remain active while clients publish to or read from it. For a first test, keep it on the same computer as OBS.
Use the current MediaMTX installation page for the project’s latest platform instructions and release details. Release versions and package availability can change.
Run MediaMTX with Docker instead
MediaMTX describes Docker as an isolated, deterministic deployment and recommends its Docker method for production environments. Its example maps 1935:1935 for RTMP and also exposes ports for other protocols, including RTSP, HLS, and WebRTC. Those additional mappings are not required just to test RTMP; expose only the services you intend to use.
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- Install and start Docker using the instructions for your environment.
- Follow the current MediaMTX Docker installation instructions for the exact image and command.
- Retain the RTMP port mapping if you need RTMP publishing. Apply the documented environment variables only if they relate to transports or addresses you use.
- Start the container and keep it running while publishing. For a local OBS test, use the host’s reachable address as the server rather than assuming a container-internal address is reachable from OBS.
Docker commands, image tags, and environment options can change; use the official page for their current exact values instead of copying an old command.
Publish a test stream from OBS
- Start MediaMTX, either as a standalone process or in Docker.
- In OBS Studio, open Settings → Stream.
- Set the service to Custom….
- Enter
rtmp://localhost/mystreamin the Server field and leave Stream key empty. - Save the settings and select Start Streaming.
MediaMTX documents this OBS publishing workflow and makes the stream available at the /mystream path. The URL is a local test address: OBS and MediaMTX must be on the same computer for localhost to reach that server. From another device on the same network, replace localhost with the server computer’s reachable LAN address. See the MediaMTX OBS publishing guide for the project’s current instructions.
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Make the server reachable beyond your computer
A local test does not make a server available to other devices or to the public internet. To accept connections from a LAN or remote clients, configure routing and access deliberately. The exact steps depend on where the server runs and on your network.
- For LAN use, use the server computer’s reachable network address instead of
localhost. - For public access, configure the host firewall and any router or cloud firewall deliberately, and restrict allowed sources where possible.
- Avoid publishing credentials or exposing a listener more broadly than needed. A public RTMP endpoint should use appropriate authentication and transport protection for its use.
- If you need an always-on public endpoint, a VPS is one possible hosting route. It is not required for a local OBS-to-server test; no particular provider or hosting price is established here.
RTMPS and authentication
MediaMTX documents RTMPS configuration using a TLS certificate and key, as well as RTMP authentication using username/password or token query parameters. Its RTMP documentation notes that RTMPS is not supported by most major players; treat that as the limitation stated by MediaMTX, not as a guarantee about every client. Check the current RTMP feature documentation and authentication documentation before exposing a service. The setup pages do not prescribe a universal firewall policy, so choose rules appropriate to your host and network.
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When NGINX RTMP makes sense
Choose an NGINX-based route when your deployment specifically calls for NGINX and you are prepared to manage that stack. The current NGINX documentation available for RTMP describes the NGINX Plus RTMP dynamic module and its package installation. An older OBS community tutorial also describes an NGINX RTMP setup, but its platform-install references are dated and should not be treated as current download instructions. For a current Windows, Linux, or Mac standalone setup, MediaMTX has a directly documented cross-platform path.
Troubleshoot common connection problems
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| OBS cannot connect to the server | MediaMTX is not running, OBS is pointed at the wrong address, or the RTMP listener is not reachable. | Confirm the server process or container is running. For a same-computer test, use rtmp://localhost/mystream; for Docker or another device, verify the host address and RTMP port mapping. |
| OBS is on another device and localhost fails | localhost refers to the OBS device itself, not the computer running MediaMTX. |
Replace it with the server computer’s reachable LAN address and confirm network/firewall rules permit the connection. |
| The stream key appears invalid | The local MediaMTX example uses the stream path in the server URL and leaves the OBS key empty. | For the documented test, enter rtmp://localhost/mystream as Server and leave Stream key blank. If you changed authentication or configuration, follow those settings instead. |
| A remote client cannot reach the server | The server may only be reachable locally, or a host, router, or cloud firewall may block access. | Check each firewall and routing layer deliberately; do not open unrelated protocol ports. Restrict permitted sources where practical. |
| RTMPS fails with a particular client | That client may not support RTMPS; MediaMTX notes support limitations among major players. | Check the client’s current protocol support and MediaMTX’s RTMP-specific documentation before choosing the transport. |
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