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To restart SRS automatically after a crash, configure the supervisor that runs it: use a Docker restart policy for a container, or a host service manager for a direct Linux installation. That restores the SRS process, but it does not prove that a separate FFmpeg or OBS publisher has reconnected or that YouTube has resumed the live session. Check all three parts after recovery.

Know which part needs to restart

A typical SRS-to-YouTube setup has three separate components: SRS, which acts as the media server; a publisher such as FFmpeg or OBS, which sends video to SRS; and YouTube, which receives the outgoing stream. SRS supports RTMP, and its getting-started documentation shows Docker deployment and FFmpeg/OBS publishing examples. SRS getting started documentation

A restart policy supervises the process or container it is configured for. Restarting SRS alone does not supervise a separate publisher or guarantee YouTube’s live control room returns to a live state. Treat those as separate recovery checks.

Choose recovery for your deployment

Deployment Recovery mechanism What to decide
SRS in a standalone Docker container Docker container restart policy Whether manual stops should remain stopped, whether only failures should trigger a restart, and whether recovery after Docker or host restart is needed.
SRS installed directly on a Linux host Host service manager configured for boot start and restart after abnormal exit Distribution and init system, binary and configuration paths, run user, logging, restart delay, and restart limits.
SRS managed by Compose or another orchestrator Service-level restart behavior in that deployment system Use the syntax and behavior for your specific orchestrator and version, including intentional stops and host reboot handling.

Docker recommends restart policies for container lifecycle and advises against combining them with a host-level process manager that independently starts the same container. The Docker guidance is specific to container management; use the appropriate service manager for a direct host installation. Docker: Start containers automatically

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Configure automatic restart with Docker

For a new standalone container

Adapt the image, tag, ports, configuration, volumes, and environment variables to match your working SRS deployment. This illustrative command adds a restart policy to the SRS Docker example; it is not a verified fit for every configuration:

docker run -d --name srs --restart unless-stopped 
  -p 1935:1935 -p 1985:1985 -p 8080:8080 
  ossrs/srs:5

The example uses SRS image tag 5. The current SRS getting-started reference is under the v8 documentation path and shows an SRS 5 image example; confirm the tag and configuration appropriate to your actual deployment. SRS getting started documentation

For an existing container

  1. Identify the container name or ID with docker ps -a.

  2. Set the policy: docker update --restart unless-stopped <container>. Replace <container> with the actual name or ID.

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  3. Check its state with docker ps, then inspect logs with docker logs <container>. Docker events can help identify container lifecycle changes.

A container created with --rm cannot be given a restart policy. Recreate it without --rm if automatic restart is required. Docker documents restart options and container behavior in its container run reference.

Pick the policy that matches your intent

  • unless-stopped restarts a container after it exits and after Docker daemon restart, except when an operator deliberately stopped it. A deliberate stop remains in effect across daemon restart.

  • on-failure applies when the container exits with a nonzero status; it does not by itself restart a container merely because the Docker daemon restarted.

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  • Docker applies increasing delays between repeated restart attempts, capped at one minute. A restart policy manages container exits; it may not detect an application-level failure if SRS remains running but is no longer handling the expected stream.

See Docker’s restart policy reference for details. Do not configure a host-level process manager to independently start the same Docker container alongside Docker’s restart policy; Docker warns this can create conflicts. Docker guidance on automatic container startup

Make Docker itself start at boot

Container restart behavior and Docker’s own boot behavior are separate. Docker’s Linux post-installation guide says Docker starts on boot by default on Debian and Ubuntu. For other systemd-based distributions, it documents enabling both Docker and containerd:

sudo systemctl enable docker.service
sudo systemctl enable containerd.service

Follow the guidance for your distribution in Docker’s Linux post-installation steps.

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Configure recovery for a direct Linux installation

If SRS runs directly on the host rather than in a container, configure the local service manager to start it at boot and restart it after an abnormal exit. Use the paths, run user, and configuration options from your installed SRS deployment, and retain logs so you can diagnose the original failure. The SRS references here do not establish an official, current SRS-specific systemd unit, so do not assume a generic unit file is endorsed or suitable for every SRS version.

For Compose or another orchestrator, use its service-level restart settings and documentation. The correct syntax and behavior depend on the orchestrator and version; check how it treats intentional stops, failed starts, and host restarts.

Verify the full stream after a crash

  1. Check whether SRS is running. For Docker, inspect docker ps for the container state, then review docker logs <container> and Docker events for the restart sequence.

  2. Check that the publisher—FFmpeg or OBS—has reconnected to SRS and is sending the expected input. If it is a separate process, supervise it separately or use an appropriate orchestrator; the SRS container policy does not supervise it.

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  3. Check SRS logs and confirm that the expected stream is present in SRS.

  4. Check YouTube’s live control room and session status. A recovered SRS process does not establish that the YouTube session resumed; depending on how the session was created and the encoder connection state, operator attention may be needed.

The SRS RTMP documentation describes the publishing connection, but neither the SRS nor Docker references promise end-to-end reconnection to YouTube. SRS RTMP documentation

Troubleshoot when recovery does not work

Symptom Likely area to check Next step
Container stays stopped after SRS exits Policy missing, mismatched, or container created with --rm Inspect the configured policy, update it if possible, or recreate the container without --rm.
Container restarts, but the stream is still absent Publisher, RTMP connection, or YouTube session Check publisher status and logs, confirm it reconnects to SRS, then check SRS stream presence and YouTube’s live control room.
Container does not return after a host reboot Docker Engine boot configuration or restart policy semantics Confirm Docker starts at boot for the host distribution and that the selected policy covers daemon or host restart.
Container shows as running, but SRS is not forwarding the expected stream Application-level failure rather than container exit Inspect SRS logs and deployment health. An exit-based policy may not notice a process that remains alive but is not functioning as expected.
Repeated restart attempts continue Underlying crash remains unresolved Review logs and diagnose the original failure rather than relying on repeated restarts alone; each interruption can affect live output.

Or let it run in the cloud

If your goal is to keep uploaded videos running on a YouTube channel rather than operate an SRS relay, StreamNeo is a separate cloud service: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. It loops the uploaded video from the cloud, so nothing has to stay on at home. It streams the file as uploaded, up to 4K 60fps, at one price per slot; it can automatically recover if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card required (one free day per account). Monthly pricing is $9.99 per month.

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