For a 24/7 YouTube loop, you need enough Contabo disk space for the video files you keep on the VPS, plus the operating system, streaming software, logs, temporary files and free working space. Replaying one video does not create another copy: a 20 GB file still occupies about 20 GB whether it loops once or continuously. Measure your actual files before choosing a plan, and do not treat the VPS’s full advertised capacity as space available for video.
How to calculate the storage you need
Disk sizing depends on the files retained on the VPS, not on how many times the stream plays. Start with the source file and count every additional file you intend to keep there. Then account for the operating system and software, logs, temporary working space and operational free capacity. This is a practical estimate based on the one-file loop workflow and Contabo’s documented disk capacities, not a benchmark of a particular VPS. Contabo Storage VPS documentation
- Measure the video file or files. Use the actual file size, not the stream’s bitrate or duration as a substitute.
- Add retained copies and other assets. Include alternate encodes, overlays, graphics, music, backups and any other files you will store on the VPS. A second copy of a 20 GB file adds roughly another 20 GB to the video-file total.
- Allow space for the system and routine operation. The OS, streaming software, logs, updates and temporary files also use disk space. The exact amount depends on your setup, so check the installed system’s usage and leave free capacity rather than planning to fill the disk.
- Compare the resulting total with usable capacity. Choose a plan that leaves room for the files and operating needs above. Verify current plan details before purchasing.
For example, if you retain one 20 GB video, looping it does not turn it into a larger file. Keeping a second copy roughly doubles the video portion of the estimate; the system and working-space allowance still needs to be counted separately.
Contabo VPS storage options
Contabo documents Storage VPS plans with 300 GB, 400 GB, 1 TB, 1.2 TB and 1.4 TB SSD storage. Its broader VPS documentation lists Core VPS storage from 100–600 GB SSD and Performance VPS storage from 150–900 GB NVMe. These are different families, not interchangeable promises of equal compute performance. Storage VPS documentation · VPS documentation
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| Contabo plan family | Documented storage | Storage type and relevant distinction |
|---|---|---|
| Core VPS | 100–600 GB | SSD; compare the current plan’s compute and network specifications for your encoder workload. |
| Performance VPS | 150–900 GB | NVMe; positioned around compute and storage performance rather than maximum capacity alone. |
| Storage VPS | 300 GB–1.4 TB | SSD; intended for higher-capacity storage workloads. Contabo describes shared vCPUs and says the storage is suited to high-capacity use rather than extreme I/O workloads. |
Contabo’s Storage VPS documentation lists network ports from 200 Mbit/s to 1 Gbit/s and identifies media assets, including video files, as a use case. The same documentation distinguishes a Storage VPS—a virtual machine with a disk—from Object Storage accessed through an S3 API. A large disk alone does not establish that a server has enough CPU, memory or network capacity for a particular streaming setup.
Contabo says changing Storage VPS plans requires reinstalling, so back up data and check the current upgrade procedure before changing plans. Its traffic is subject to fair-use terms, and the provider reserves the right to throttle exceptionally high or disruptive usage. Check the current terms and plan details before relying on a configuration for continuous outbound streaming. Contabo Storage VPS documentation
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Disk capacity is not stream bandwidth
The source file’s size determines how much disk it occupies. The live stream’s bitrate determines the rate of data sent to YouTube; it does not multiply the source file’s disk footprint. For H.264 live ingest, YouTube recommends 5–14 Mbps for 1080p at 30 fps and 3–8 Mbps for 720p at 30 fps. Those are encoder settings for the outgoing stream, not storage estimates for a local loop file. YouTube live encoder settings
At a constant 5–14 Mbps, outbound data works out to approximately 2.25–6.3 GB per hour, or 54–151 GB per day, using decimal units. This is a bitrate-times-time calculation, not a quoted YouTube statistic or disk usage figure. It helps frame the network and traffic question, but it does not establish whether a given Contabo plan or network path will sustain your stream.
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Choose and test the VPS for the whole workload
- Decide what stays on the server. Total the video files, alternate versions, assets and backups you plan to retain, then allow room for system files and normal operation.
- Choose a plan family against your constraint. If retained data is the main constraint, compare Storage VPS capacity. If compute or NVMe performance matters more, compare the other VPS families and verify their current storage, CPU, RAM and network details. There is no universal minimum plan established for every loop.
- Set output quality separately. Select resolution, frame rate and bitrate according to your desired stream and YouTube’s encoder guidance. A static prerecorded file, software encoder and other server workloads can change the practical resource requirements.
- Check the connection and traffic terms. YouTube recommends leaving 20% upload-bandwidth headroom. Its encoder guidance recommends a two-second keyframe frequency, not exceeding four seconds, CBR bitrate encoding and RTMPS. These are recommendations, not a guarantee of uninterrupted streaming from a particular VPS. YouTube encoder settings · YouTube streaming tips
- Test and monitor stream health. YouTube recommends testing the stream and monitoring stream health. Confirm the actual setup behaves as expected rather than inferring reliability from disk size or a listed network port.
Common sizing and streaming problems
- The disk fills sooner than expected: Check for retained duplicate files, alternate encodes, logs, temporary files and backups. Compare actual disk usage with the plan’s usable capacity; do not count the entire advertised disk as video space.
- A large-capacity plan still struggles to stream: Disk capacity is separate from CPU, RAM, encoder workload and network conditions. Review those resources and test the stream rather than upgrading storage alone.
- The stream uses more traffic than anticipated: Recalculate outbound usage from the actual output bitrate and stream duration. Confirm the VPS plan’s current traffic terms and leave the recommended network headroom.
- A plan change risks data loss: Contabo says Storage VPS plan changes require reinstallation. Back up the data and verify the current change procedure before proceeding.
- YouTube stream health is poor: Check the output bitrate and encoder settings against YouTube’s guidance, ensure network headroom, and test the path to YouTube. A disk-capacity increase by itself does not fix an ingest or connection problem.
Or let it run in the cloud
If you would rather not configure and maintain a VPS, StreamNeo runs a prerecorded YouTube stream from the cloud: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. Your computer and home connection do not have to stay on. Each slot includes one always-on stream, 10 GB storage per slot pooled across active slots, 24/7 looping and playlists, and automatic recovery if YouTube drops the stream. Uploaded video streams as made, up to 4K 60fps, with no re-encode and no quality tiers; every plan has the same product, with only billing length changing. The first day is free with no card, one free day per account. The monthly option is $9.99 per month. Start your free StreamNeo day.
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