To bring a containerized YouTube playlist encoder back after a server reboot, give its Compose service a restart policy—usually unless-stopped—and make sure Docker Engine starts at boot. From the project directory, apply the configuration with docker compose up -d. This restarts the encoder container; it does not by itself confirm that YouTube is receiving video or that the same live event will continue seamlessly.
Set a restart policy on the streaming service
Add a restart policy to the long-running service that runs your playlist encoder in compose.yaml (or the Compose file your project uses):
services:
streamer:
image: your-streamer-image
restart: unless-stopped
# Keep the existing command, stream configuration, and media mounts here.This example shows only where the policy goes; it is not a complete, tested streaming configuration. Keep your existing image, command, environment, stream key handling, and media mounts. Docker describes restart policies as controlling whether containers start automatically when they exit or when Docker restarts (Docker: Start containers automatically).
Choose the policy that matches your stop behavior
| Policy | After daemon or host reboot | After an operator manually stops it | Use it when |
|---|---|---|---|
unless-stopped |
Returns | Remains stopped across a daemon restart | A deliberate stop should persist |
always |
Returns | Returns after a daemon restart | The container should come back even if it was manually stopped before the reboot |
on-failure |
Does not restart solely because the daemon restarted | Does not restart after a clean exit | Restart only after a non-zero exit, not for this reboot requirement |
For most unattended playlist streams, unless-stopped is a practical default: it recovers from a reboot without undoing an intentional stop. Choose always if you want a manually stopped container to return after Docker restarts. Docker notes that restart-policy monitoring begins only after a container has run successfully for at least 10 seconds; a manual stop suppresses restarting until the daemon restarts or the container is manually started.
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Make Docker start at boot and apply the Compose change
A restart policy cannot help if Docker Engine itself is not configured to start when the host boots. Enable Docker’s boot-time startup using the method appropriate to your operating system or server installation; the exact system service controls vary.
- Edit the Compose file. Add the chosen
restart:value to the playlist encoder service, preserving its existing configuration. - Go to the Compose project directory. Run the command where the Compose file is located, or specify the file with the appropriate Compose option.
- Create or update the service in the background. Run
docker compose up -d. Composeupstarts services and applies changes in the Compose configuration (Docker Compose up reference).
Do not use docker compose restart to apply a changed restart policy or other Compose configuration. It restarts existing containers without applying changes in the Compose file. docker compose start starts previously created, stopped containers; it does not create or reconfigure the service. See the Docker Compose FAQ.
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Check the container and YouTube separately after reboot
A running container is only the first check. YouTube distinguishes the incoming encoder feed, called a liveStream, from the viewer-facing event, called a liveBroadcast. YouTube’s API describes an active stream status as indicating that its servers are receiving encoder data; that platform status is separate from whether your local container is running (YouTube Live Streaming API: broadcasts and streams; YouTube Live Streaming API overview).
- Check Docker and the service: from the project directory, run
docker compose ps. Confirm the streamer service exists and is running. - Read recent encoder output: run
docker compose logs --tail=100 streamer. Look for startup errors, authentication problems, missing media, or failed connections. - Verify files and configuration: confirm the playlist, videos, and configuration are mounted at the paths expected inside the container. A restart policy cannot repair a missing file, invalid command, expired credential, or changed host path.
- Check YouTube Live status: inspect the incoming stream and the broadcast event in YouTube’s live controls or API. Confirm that YouTube is receiving encoder data and that the intended viewer-facing event is in the expected state.
Do not assume a reboot resumes at the previous playlist position or continues the same broadcast without interruption. Docker’s restart policy covers container lifecycle behavior; YouTube documents the distinction between feed and event. Neither establishes continuity for every encoder, playlist implementation, channel, or event state. Check your encoder’s own documentation for its behavior on process restart.
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Troubleshoot a stream that does not return
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check or do |
|---|---|---|
| Container stays stopped after reboot | Docker did not start at boot, the service was manually stopped with unless-stopped, or the policy change was never applied |
Confirm Docker’s boot startup is enabled; inspect the Compose file and run docker compose up -d from the project directory. |
| Container is running, but logs show no video or an error | Bad command or configuration, missing media mount, inaccessible playlist, or credential issue | Review docker compose logs --tail=100 streamer; check paths inside the container, mounts, command, and credentials. |
| Container runs, but YouTube shows no active incoming feed | The encoder may not be sending valid data or may not be connecting to the expected stream | Check encoder logs and YouTube’s incoming stream status. A running container alone does not prove YouTube is receiving data. |
| YouTube receives video, but the broadcast is unavailable or different than expected | The incoming stream and viewer-facing broadcast are separate resources; event state or encoder behavior may differ after restart | Inspect the broadcast separately and consult the encoder documentation for restart and playlist-position behavior. Do not assume the same event continued seamlessly. |
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