Nginx-rtmp-module practical guide to building streaming live streaming servers

1. Introduction and application of RTMP protocol

Real-time Message Transfer Protocol (RTMP) is a network protocol widely used in audio, video and data transmission. Its design goal is to achieve high bandwidth audio and video streaming push with low latency. The RTMP server plays the role of a transit station, which is not only responsible for receiving live streams from clients, but also for distributing these streams to viewers.

Principle of RTMP protocol

RTMP relies on TCP as the transport layer and usually works on TCP 1935 port, but it can also be encrypted using SSL/TLS, i.e. RTMPS. RTMP uses a proprietary communication protocol between Adobe Flash Player and Adobe Media Server, which is often used to publish video and audio content to the Flash platform for live streaming online.

Application of RTMP protocol

RTMP has always occupied an important position in the field of live broadcast, especially in scenarios such as game live broadcast, distance education and real-time communication. However, with the rise of new protocols such as HLS (HTTP Live Streaming), RTMP is facing the challenge of gradually being replaced. Nevertheless, RTMP has irreplaceable advantages in scenarios with high real-time requirements due to its low latency characteristics.

The relationship between RTMP and modern streaming technology

Although RTMP technology itself is gradually being replaced by emerging streaming media technologies, the concepts and transmission mechanisms behind it are still of great significance to understanding other streaming media protocols. In the future, with the popularity of 5G networks and the continuous innovation of streaming media technology, RTMP may further evolve or be replaced by more efficient protocols.

2. Introduction to Nginx server and expansion capabilities

2.1 Features and application scenarios of Nginx server

2.1.1 High performance and low resource consumption of Nginx

Nginx (pronounced "engine X") is a high-performance HTTP and reverse proxy server, and is also an IMAP/POP3/SMTP server. Nginx is known for its high performance, high stability and low resource consumption. Nginx is implemented using asynchronous event-driven methods, which means it does not require creating a new thread or process for each connection, which greatly reduces the consumption of system resources.

This design makes Nginx very efficient when handling static content services, especially when handling large numbers of concurrent connections. Nginx uses a highly optimized kernel, and its core function is to handle static data. However, its reverse proxy function is also very powerful, and it can handle a large number of dynamic content requests. Through the dynamic application of proxy backend servers, Nginx can reduce the demand for backend resources, balance the load, and improve overall response speed.

#Nginx configuration paragraph exampleserver {
    listen       80;
    server_***;

    location / {
        root   /usr/share/nginx/html;
        index   ;
    }

    #Other configurations...}

In the above configuration example, an HTTP server is defined to listen on port 80 to provide services to the *** domain name. This basic configuration reflects Nginx's ability to efficiently process static files. By specifying the root directory and index file of static content, the server can quickly respond to user requests.

2.1.2 Nginx's position in the web server market

Nginx has a place in the modern web server market and its market share continues to rise. According to multiple web server survey reports, Nginx's usage rate has surpassed traditional Apache web servers, becoming the second most popular web server after IIS (Internet Information Services). This is mainly due to Nginx's excellent performance, especially in the ability to handle high concurrency and high load scenarios.

Nginx's rapid rise is due to its ability to effectively handle thousands of concurrent connections, and as the number of connections increases, the system resource consumption does not increase significantly. In addition, Nginx also supports a variety of modern web technologies such as caching, load balancing, WebSockets, etc., making it not only suitable for traditional static content services, but also well meets the back-end processing needs of complex businesses.

#Nginx load balancing example configurationupstream backend {
    *** weight=5;
    ***;
    *** backup;
}

server {
    location / {
        proxy_pass ***
    }

    #Other configurations...}

The above configuration paragraph shows how Nginx is used as a load balancer. Here is a defined namebackend The server group, where the servers allocate traffic by weight. This configuration greatly improves the efficiency of request processing, and when the primary server is unavailable, it can also automatically switch to the standby server to ensure high service availability.

2.2 Nginx's modular architecture design

2.2.1 How to understand the modularity of Nginx

A key feature of Nginx is its modular architecture. Nginx works through a core plus optional modules, which handles basic network connections and requests, while additional functionality is implemented through modules. The modular design makes Nginx very flexible, enabling or disabling specific functional modules based on specific needs without having to load unnecessary components.

Nginx's modules are divided into core modules, standard modules and third-party modules. The core module provides basic HTTP and mail proxy functions, and the standard module provides additional HTTP functions, such as CGI processing, caching, compression, etc. Third-party modules are provided by community members and cover a wide range of features ranging from authentication to ad blocking.

#Nginx module configuration exampleload_module modules/ngx_http_geoip2_module.so;

geoip2 /usr/share/nginx/geoip/ {
    auto_reload 5m;
    database ;

    default $geoip2_data_country_code;

    include servers/*.conf;
}

Through the above configuration paragraph, you can see how to load third-party modules.ngx_http_geoip2_module , it provides the ability to parse geolocation information. Here, the path and automatic refresh interval of the geolocation database are also defined, and the database files are associated with specific configuration files, so that Nginx can personalize the content based on the client's geographical location information.

2.2.2 Functions and differences between core modules and third-party modules

Core modules and third-party modules have their own advantages in functions, and together they form a powerful feature set of Nginx. The core module provides the basic framework for Nginx operation, including core functions such as handling static files, handling reverse proxy, load balancing, and basic HTTP services. These core features ensure that Nginx can be used as a stable web server.

Third-party modules provide more extension functions and can be added according to specific needs. These functions may include data compression, SSL acceleration, access control, restriction, image processing, flow control, and more. Since developers of third-party modules may come from different organizations and individuals, their development and maintenance may not be as secure as core modules. Users should carefully consider their stability and compatibility when selecting third-party modules.

# Nginx SSL module configuration exampleserver {
    listen 443 ssl;
    server_***;

    ssl_certificate     /path/to/ssl/;
    ssl_certificate_key /path/to/ssl/;
    ssl_protocols       TLSv1 TLSv1.1 TLSv1.2;
    ssl_ciphers         HIGH:!aNULL:!MD5;

    location / {
        root   /usr/share/nginx/html;
        index   ;
    }

    #Other configurations...}

In the above configuration, SSL/TLS support is enabled for Nginx. This requires the installation of the SSL certificate and key and the configuration of supported protocols and encryption suites. This configuration is crucial to ensure the security of data transmission, especially when the web server needs to process sensitive data such as login credentials, payment information, etc.

2.3 Development and integration of Nginx extension modules

2.3.1 Discussing the importance of Nginx extension module

The development and integration of Nginx extension modules is the key to Nginx's powerful function. These modules are often contributed by the community, and they are able to provide features beyond the scope of core functionality. For example, video streaming, database connections, advanced caching policies, restricted access, security enhancements, etc. With the development of Internet technology, more and more scenarios require web servers not only to provide static content services, but also to have more advanced functions, so the demand for expansion modules is also growing.

Through modular expansion, Nginx can flexibly add new features without sacrificing performance and stability. This feature allows Nginx to adapt to changing technological environments and to solve specific problems by integrating different modules. For example, when dealing with video streaming, nginx-rtmp-module can be integrated to support RTMP live streaming.

#Nginx extension module installation command examplewget ***

Through this command, users can compile and install third-party extension modules from source code. These steps involve obtaining the module source code, decompressing, entering the module directory, configuring the installation parameters, and then compiling and installing the module. The entire process requires ensuring that the compilation environment is compatible with the Nginx version and following the installation guide provided by the module.

2.3.2 Basic steps and key points for developing Nginx modules

Developing Nginx modules requires a deep understanding of Nginx's internal architecture. The Nginx module is implemented by writing C language code and needs to follow the module development framework provided by Nginx. Module developers usually need to have an in-depth understanding of HTTP request processing flow, memory management, event-driven models, etc.

The basic steps of module development include: 1. Define the configuration structure of the module. 2. Implement the module's initialization function. 3. Implement configuration parsing functions so that Nginx can recognize module configuration instructions. 4. Implement the callback function for the module to process requests. 5. Register the module to the Nginx core.

In addition, the development of modules also requires attention to performance and security. In terms of performance, the code should minimize blocking and invalid operations; in terms of security, it is necessary to prevent memory leakage, ensure data security, and prevent possible injection attacks.

// Nginx module development code example (excerpt)#include &lt;&gt;
#include &lt;ngx_config.h&gt;
#include &lt;ngx_core.h&gt;

// Module configuration structuretypedef struct {
    ngx_str_t my_value;
} ngx_http_my_module_conf_t;

// Module contextstatic ngx_command_t ngx_http_my_module_commands[] = {
    { 
        ngx_string("myDirective"),
        NGX_HTTP_LOC_CONF|NGX_CONF_NOARGS,
        ngx_conf_set_str_slot,
        NGX_HTTP_LOC_CONF_OFFSET,
        offsetof(ngx_http_my_module_conf_t, my_value),
        NULL 
    },

    ngx_null_command
};

// Module entry functionngx_int_t
ngx_http_my_module_init(ngx_conf_t *cf)
{
    // Initialize the code...    return NGX_OK;
}

// Module configuration initializationstatic void *
ngx_http_my_module_create_conf(ngx_conf_t *cf)
{
    ngx_http_my_module_conf_t  *conf;

    conf = ngx_pcalloc(cf-&gt;pool, sizeof(ngx_http_my_module_conf_t));
    if (conf == NULL) {
        return NULL;
    }

    // Initial value setting...    return conf;
}

// Module request processing functionstatic char *
ngx_http_my_module(ngx_http_request_t *r)
{
    // Request processing code...    return NGX_DECLINED;
}

// Module registrationngx_module_t ngx_http_my_module = {
    ...
}

The above code snippet provides a basic framework for Nginx modules. This module can process configuration instructions, store its own configuration structure, and perform corresponding operations when processing HTTP requests. This example is just a starting point, and more details and performance optimization will be involved in actual development.

Summarize

Through the introduction of this chapter, we understand the advantages of Nginx as a modern web server, as well as its modular architecture design and the development of expansion modules. Nginx is designed to be the preferred server for high concurrency scenarios, and its modular architecture allows it to provide powerful functional expansion with minimal resource consumption. Subsequent chapters will explore nginx-rtmp-module and other related modules in depth, further revealing Nginx's powerful capabilities in specific fields such as streaming services.

3. Detailed explanation of nginx-rtmp-module function

3.1 Installation and Enablement of nginx-rtmp-module

3.1.1 Source code compilation and installation of Nginx and nginx-rtmp-module

To install the nginx-rtmp-module module, you need to download the source code of Nginx first, and then download the source code of the module. Here are the steps to install on a Linux system:

Install development tools and dependency libraries.sh sudo apt-get install build-essential libpcre3 libpcre3-dev libssl-dev
Download the source code of Nginx and nginx-rtmp-module.sh wget *** ***
Unzip and compile and install Nginx.sh tar -xvf nginx-1.19. cd nginx-1.19.2 ./configure --with-http_ssl_module make sudo make install
Unzip and compile and install nginx-rtmp-module.sh unzip cd nginx-rtmp-module-master ./configure --add-module=/path/to/nginx-1.19.2/modules/nginx-rtmp-module make sudo make install

After the installation is complete, Nginx will support the rtmp function.

3.1.2 Verify whether nginx-rtmp-module is installed correctly

After the installation is completed, you can check whether nginx-rtmp-module is installed correctly by following the command:

nginx -V

If the installation is successful, the information output by the above command will include--add-module The path information pointed to by the parameter indicates that the module has been integrated into Nginx.

3.2 Live broadcast and playback functions of nginx-rtmp-module

3.2.1 Publishing and receiving mechanism of live streams

nginx-rtmp-module implements the publishing and receiving of streaming media data through the RTMP protocol. The release of live streams usually involves the following key steps:

Set live streaming address: Configure nginx-rtmp-modulehttp Block, defines a location block to handle RTMP push stream requests.

nginx http { server { listen 80; location /live { rtmp on; rtmp publish_http_pass 8080; # Point to an HTTP server for providing metadata #Other configuration items... } } }
Use of streaming tools: Publishers use RTMP-enabled streaming software (such as OBS Studio, FFmpeg, etc.) to push video streams to configured addresses.

sh ffmpeg -re -i input.mp4 -vcodec copy -acodec copy -f flv rtmp://your_server/live/stream
Receive and play live streams: Viewers can use a player or software that supports RTMP playback (such as VLC, VLC plug-in, etc.) to connect to the same URL to receive and play live streams.

3.2.2 How to realize streaming media recording and playback

Recording live streams for subsequent playback is a common requirement in streaming services. The following are the steps to implement recording and playback using nginx-rtmp-module:

Configure recording parameters:existhttp Add to blockapplication Blocks to configure the recorded file path and format.

nginx http { server { listen 80; location /live { rtmp { on; publish_http_pass 8080; record all; record_path /path/to/records; # record file storage path record_unique on; } } } }
Start streaming service: After the configuration is completed, restart the Nginx service to make the configuration take effect.
Playback of the recording file:Nginx does not directly provide playback function for recording files. It can play back recorded FLV files using HTTP-enabled media servers, or use a professional streaming media server to provide playback services.

3.3 Advanced features of nginx-rtmp-module

3.3.1 Supported multiple streaming protocols

nginx-rtmp-module supports not only the RTMP protocol, but also supports a variety of other streaming protocols:

HLS (HTTP Live Streaming) : A protocol for distributing audio and video streams through the HTTP protocol.
DASH (Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP) : Dynamic adaptive streaming protocol, a video streaming technology based on HTTP.
WebRTC : Supports real-time communication between browsers, which allows direct transmission of audio, video streams and any other data of any type.

Implementing these protocols requires the installation of additional modules or software and the corresponding configuration is made. These advanced features allow nginx-rtmp-module to play a role in a wider range of application scenarios.

3.3.2 Advanced configuration options and application scenario analysis

nginx-rtmp-module provides a wealth of advanced configuration options that can be customized according to different application scenarios to achieve high-performance streaming services:

Limit the number of connections: By settingmax_connections Parameters to limit the number of simultaneous connections.
Streaming media bandwidth limitation:usemax_bandwidth Parameters to limit the transmission bandwidth of a given application.
Cache size settings:passapplication The in blockexec Command to set the cache size when pushing streams.
Security settings: Restrict the list of IP addresses that can be published or played, usingallow anddeny instruction.

These configuration items help server administrators accurately control resource usage while ensuring service security and stability.

| Parameters | Description | | --- | --- | | max_connections | Maximum number of connections | | max_bandwidth | Maximum bandwidth for application layer transmission | | exec | Execute external commands for dynamic configuration | | allow/deny | List of IP addresses to restrict access |

As mentioned above and other advanced options, when actually deploying, it should be reasonably set and optimized according to the specific requirements scenarios.

4. HLS streaming protocol and adaptive bitrate streaming

4.1 Working principle and application scenarios of HLS protocol

HLS (HTTP Live Streaming) is a streaming protocol proposed by Apple. It divides the entire streaming file into a series of small, small files that can be distributed by an HTTP server and allows the media stream to be divided into several fragments at a certain time interval. These clips can be downloaded and cached separately for continuous playback by the client.

4.1.1 Basic process of HLS protocol

In the HLS protocol, the original video file is first encoded and segmented into a series of small MPEG-TS file fragments. These fragments are then distributed to the client via the HTTP server. The client requests and downloads these file fragments and combines them to play in order. HLS uses a text playlist (M3U8 file) to tell the client which clips need to be downloaded and played.

There are several different types of playlist files, mainly divided into two versions: - Regular HLS (V1): described by an M3U playlist file with the extension .m3u. - HLS version 2 (V2): Use a UTF-8 encoded playlist file with the extension .m3u8. This version supports UTF-8 character encoding, allowing playlists to contain non-ASCII characters.

4.1.2 Comparative analysis of HLS and RTMP

Both HLS and RTMP protocols are used for the distribution and playback of video streams, but their implementation methods and application scenarios are different.

Transmission protocol:RTMP is a TCP-based streaming media transmission protocol, commonly used in live broadcast scenarios, which provides low latency real-time video transmission. HLS is HTTP-based and is suitable for on-demand and live broadcast scenarios. It can work under various network conditions, including poor network environments.
Delay and synchronization: The RTMP protocol provides lower latency and is suitable for live broadcast scenarios with strong real-time interactiveness, such as live chat and games. Because HLS is based on the HTTP protocol, it has high latency, but it has advantages for network stability and compatibility.
Accessibility and compatibility: Since HLS is transmitted through the standard HTTP protocol, it can be played on almost any device, including iOS and Android devices, smart TVs, etc. RTMP usually requires dedicated streaming media players and plug-ins.

4.2 Introduction to adaptive bit rate streaming technology

4.2.1 What is Adaptive Bit Rate Stream

Adaptive Bitrate Streaming (ABR) is a streaming technology that allows streaming media to dynamically adjust video quality according to the user's network bandwidth conditions during transmission. This ensures that a smooth playback experience can be provided in different network environments.

4.2.2 Implementation principle of adaptive bit rate streaming technology

The core of ABR technology lies in the pre-encoded video content into quality versions of multiple bit rates, and then select the most appropriate video quality in real time for playback based on the user's current network conditions and player performance. The player continuously monitors download speed, buffering time, and playback quality to determine whether to improve or reduce video quality.

Common ABR technologies include: - Apple's HLS (HTTP Live Streaming) - Adobe's HDS (HTTP Dynamic Streaming) - MPEG-DASH (Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP)

4.3 The combination of HLS and nginx-rtmp-module

4.3.1 Configuration method for realizing HLS streaming live broadcast

In order to use HLS with nginx-rtmp-module, we need to configure Nginx to handle the M3U8 playlist files and TS file fragments of HLS. Here is a basic Nginx configuration example:

http {
    ...
    server {
        listen 80;
        server_***;

        location /hls/ {
            types {
                application/ m3u8;
                video/mp2t ts;
            }
            root /usr/local/nginx/html/;

            add_header Cache-Control no-cache;

            # denying access to .m3u8 files for non Safari browsers
            # this can be useful if you don't want browsers to cache your m3u8 files
            location ~ /\.m3u8$ {
                deny all;
            }
        }
    }
}

In this configuration, we define a new location block to handle all/hls/ The request at the beginning will.m3u8 and.ts The file is mapped to Nginx's MIME type and setroot Directive specifies where the file is stored.

4.3.2 Performance optimization strategy for HLS live streaming

In order to further improve the performance of HLS live streaming, we can consider the following optimization strategies:

Using cache and CDN: By caching the HLS fragment to the edge node, the number of requests to the original server can be reduced while increasing the response speed.
Adjust the size and duration of TS file fragments: Adjust the size and duration of the clips according to content type and network conditions to achieve the best playback experience and smoothness.
Optimize using Nginx module: For example, usenginx-rtmp-module Combinednginx-extras In the modulengx_http_sub_module To dynamically modify the M3U8 file, recommend a suitable bit rate version according to the user's network status.

Such integration can allow live broadcast services to better adapt to different network environments and terminal devices, providing a smoother and more personalized viewing experience.

5. Nginx and nginx-rtmp-module configuration guide

5.1 Basic configuration of Nginx

5.1.1 Configuration file structure and syntax

The Nginx configuration file is usually located in/etc/nginx/ (Linux system), its structure ismain 、 events andhttp It consists of three large pieces. in,main Block settings global configuration,events The block is responsible for defining the working mode,http Blocks define HTTP-related configurations.

# main block, global configurationuser  nginx;
worker_processes  auto;
error_log  /var/log/nginx/ warn;
pid        /var/run/;

# events block, define working modeevents {
    worker_connections  1024;
}

# http block, define HTTP-related configurationshttp {
    include       /etc/nginx/;
    default_type  application/octet-stream;

    log_format  main  '$remote_addr - $remote_user [$time_local] "$request" '
                      '$status $body_bytes_sent "$http_referer" '
                      '"$http_user_agent" "$http_x_forwarded_for"';

    access_log  /var/log/nginx/  main;

    sendfile        on;
    # ...Other configurations...}

5.1.2 Common configuration instructions and functions

user : Specify the user running Nginx, the default isnobody 。
worker_processes : Specifies the number of worker processes, usually set to the number of cores of available CPUs.
error_log : Define the location of the error log file.
pid : Specifies the location of the PID file of the Nginx master process.
worker_connections : Defines the maximum number of connections allowed by each worker process.
sendfile : Enable efficient file transfer mode.
log_format : Define log format.
access_log : Define the location where the log file is accessed.

These instructions have a direct impact on the performance and behavior of Nginx. Properly configuring these instructions can help Nginx handle requests more efficiently.

5.2 Configuration details of nginx-rtmp-module

5.2.1 Configuration example of live broadcast server

To enable nginx-rtmp-module, you need to add the rtmp section in the Nginx configuration file to specify the application and its related options. For example:

rtmp {
    server {
        listen 1935;
        ping 30s;
        notify_method get;

        application live {
            live on;
            record off;
            exec_push play /usr/local/nginx/html/hls/$name.m3u8;
            execPull play;
        }
        # ...Other applications...    }
}

This configuration starts a RTMP server listening on port 1935. It sets a name calledlive The application allows live broadcast operations (live on ), but not record the stream (record off ）。 exec_push The instruction is used to configure how to process the data incoming streams, and here is to convert the stream into HLS form.

5.2.2 Configuration of live streaming, streaming and playback

Live streaming configuration: When configured to allow live streaming, you can use push streaming tools (such asffmpeg ) Push media content to the rtmp server. Example:ffmpeg -re -i input.mp4 -c copy -f flv rtmp://server/live/stream
Flow pull configuration: Pull streams are usually used to test or proxy streams through other media servers. Example:ffmpeg -i rtmp://server/live/stream -c copy output.mp4
Playback configuration: To achieve stream playback, the stream can be converted to HLS format for storage and then played using a player that supports HLS.

Example: The configuration is already includedexec_push The use of directives can be used to create HLS files that can be played through the browser.

5.3 Advanced configuration and optimization skills

5.3.1 Load balancing and multi-server collaboration

When using multiple Nginx servers to work together, load balancing can be configured to allocate traffic. This is usually inhttp Use in blocksupstream Module implementation:

http {
    upstream rtmp_cluster {
        server rtmp_server1;
        server rtmp_server2;
        server rtmp_server3;
    }

    server {
        location /live {
            proxy_pass ***
            ***
            *** $host;
            proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
            proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for;
            proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-Proto $scheme;
        }
    }
}

This configuration defines a name calledrtmp_cluster The server group, then inlocation /live The request will be proxyed to this group.

5.3.2 The role of monitoring and log analysis in configuration

Nginx provides multiple ways to monitor server status and analyze logs. By settingstatus The path can enable the server status page:

location /nginx_status {
    stub_status on;
    access_log off;
    allow ***.*.*.*;
    deny all;
}

This allows users to access*** To monitor the status of Nginx. Log analysis is very important for performance debugging and user behavior analysis. It can be done through Nginx's own analysis tools or third-party tools such asnginx-rtmp-nginx-module To achieve it.

Configuring Nginx and nginx-rtmp-module is the basis for implementing streaming servers. The next chapter will explore security, performance optimization suggestions, and case studies.

6. Security and performance optimization suggestions

6.1 Security analysis of Nginx and nginx-rtmp-module

6.1.1 Common security threats and prevention measures

In an Internet environment, live broadcast servers are easily targeted by attacks. For streaming servers using Nginx and nginx-rtmp-module, major security threats include, but are not limited to, distributed denial of service attacks (DDoS), cross-site request forgery (CSRF), cross-site scripting attacks (XSS), and unauthorized access.

To prevent DDoS attacks, you can configure the number of Nginx's worker processes, set a reasonable number of connections, and use a reverse proxy to alleviate traffic pressure. In addition, installing and configuring firewalls, using DDoS defense services and content distribution networks (CDNs) are also common precautions.

CSRF and XSS attacks are mainly initiated by the user's browser, so they need to be defended at the application level. For example, make sure all form requests are validated with CSRF tokens and are properly filtered and escaped for all user input to prevent XSS attacks.

To prevent unauthorized access, you need to configure the correct access control list (ACL) and ensure that sensitive resources are only available to authenticated users. In Nginx configuration, implementing basic HTTP authentication using the auth_basic directive is an easy and effective way.

6.1.2 Configuration and application of authentication and authorization mechanism

Nginx supports multiple authentication mechanisms, such as HTTP basic authentication, digest authentication and third-party authentication systems. When configuring nginx-rtmp-module, these mechanisms can be used to restrict access to specific streaming resources. For example, using HTTP Basic Authentication for access control of streaming media can be configured through the following steps:

First, create a password file containing the username and encrypted password. This usually passeshtpasswd Command to complete.

htpasswd -c /etc/nginx/.htpasswd username

Next, introduce the password file in the Nginx configuration file and set the authentication area.

location /live {
    auth_basic "Restricted Area";
    auth_basic_user_file /etc/nginx/.htpasswd;
    # ...Other configurations ...}

In this way, when the user tries to access/live When streaming media content in the path, Nginx will prompt for a username and password.

6.2 Performance optimization strategy

6.2.1 Performance adjustment at the system and network level

Performance optimization involves a wide range, from server hardware configuration to network configuration, and then to application-level tuning. First, ensure sufficient hardware resources, including CPU, memory and storage I/O performance. In addition, network bandwidth and latency also directly affect the performance of live broadcast services.

At the system level, some optimizations can be made, such as using more efficient file systems (such as XFS or Btrfs), and TCP parameters such as net.ipv4.tcp_tw_recycle to reduce connections to TIME_WAIT state.

Optimization at the network level includes rational configuration of bandwidth and traffic control to ensure stable transmission of live streams. In addition, the use of network devices that support fast path processing and enabling hardware acceleration such as Intel's Quick Sync can significantly improve performance.

6.2.2 Performance testing and tuning of Nginx and nginx-rtmp-module

Nginx and nginx-rtmp-module both provide rich performance adjustment options. In Nginx, the number of worker processes, cache size, connection timeout and other parameters can be adjusted. For nginx-rtmp-module, the buffer size and frame rate limit can be adjusted, etc.

Performance testing requires the use of specialized tools, such as ApacheBench(ab), wrk or professional performance testing services. During the testing process, it is crucial to monitor the server's CPU, memory, disk I/O and network usage.

The steps to tune may include:

Analyze the performance test results and determine the bottleneck.
Adjust the configuration parameters of Nginx and nginx-rtmp-module according to the bottleneck.
Retest and monitor performance changes.
Repeat the above process until ideal performance is achieved.

6.3 Troubleshooting and Maintenance

6.3.1 Diagnosis and solutions to common problems

Streaming live servers may experience a variety of problems. Frequently asked questions include streaming delay, lag, inability to push/pull, etc. When diagnosing a problem, you should first check the log files of Nginx and nginx-rtmp-module. Configuring the log level allows for more detailed error information.

For example, if you encounter a problem that you cannot push streams, you can check Nginx's error log:

tail -f /var/log/nginx/

Check whether there are any records of permission issues, configuration errors, or network issues. In addition, you can useffmpeg Test basic streaming functions such as tools.

6.3.2 Regular maintenance and upgrade process of the system

In order to ensure the stable operation of the streaming media server, regular system and software maintenance is required. This includes:

Regularly update the operating system and dependency libraries.
Regularly check the hardware status, such as disk health, memory errors, etc.
Regularly back up important configuration files and log files.

The upgrade process can be performed as follows:

Make a backup in the maintenance window.
Check the new version of Nginx and nginx-rtmp-module features.
Download the new version and check for compatibility issues.
Test the new version in the test environment to make sure everything is working.
Upgrade in the production environment and monitor the performance of the system.
After the upgrade is completed, stress tests and functional verification are performed again.

Through system maintenance and upgrade, the performance and security of the streaming live broadcast system can be ensured.

7. Case study: Building a live streaming server

7.1 Case background and demand analysis

7.1.1 Analyze application scenarios and requirements characteristics

In this case study, we envision a scenario where a live streaming server is built to implement an online educational activity. The goal of the event is to enable students from all over the country to watch lectures and interact online in real time. Therefore, the live broadcast system needs to have the following characteristics:

High concurrency support: able to support access to thousands of users at the same time.
Low-latency live broadcast: Ensure the consistency of real-time interaction, and the delay needs to be controlled within an extremely low range.
High-definition video: Provides clear video images to meet the needs of educational quality.
Reliability and stability: Ensure that live broadcasts during the event will not be interrupted.

7.1.2 Design the architecture plan for live broadcast server

According to the requirements analysis, we will adopt the following architectural scheme:

Front-end load balancer: Use Nginx as the load balancer to assign user requests to multiple live server instances.
Live broadcast server: Use Nginx with nginx-rtmp-module to handle live streaming publishing, recording and playback.
Cache Server: Deploy HLS cache server to improve the efficiency and stability of streaming media playback.
Content Distribution Network (CDN): Cooperate with third-party CDN service providers to ensure that users around the world can get the best viewing experience.

7.2 Implementation steps and configuration details

7.2.1 Environment construction and software installation

In order to build this live broadcast server, the following are the key points in the implementation steps:

Environmental preparation: Deploy on Linux server to ensure kernel optimization and network configuration is reasonable.
Software installation：
Install the Nginx server and make sure the installed version supports nginx-rtmp-module.
Install nginx-rtmp-module module and make sure Nginx can load the module.
Install and configure HLS cache server software, such as NGINX Plus or an open source HLS server.

7.2.2 Key configuration parameters and descriptions

Nginx configuration example：

http {
    # Proxy Settings    server {
        listen 80;
        location /hls/ {
            proxy_pass ***
            ***
            ***
        }
    }

    # rtmp settings    server {
        listen 1935;
        location /live/ {
            rtmp-publish all;
            ...
        }
        location /record/ {
            rtmp_record all;
            ...
        }
    }
}

In the above configuration,/live/ The path is used for the publishing of live streams.
/record/ The path is used for recording storage.
/hls/ The path is used for the proxy of the HLS cache server and provides the end user with access to the HLS stream.

nginx-rtmp-module configuration：

rtmp {
    server {
        listen 1935;
        ping 30s;
        notify_method get;

        application live {
            live on;
            exec_push ffmpeg -i $name -c copy -f flv rtmp://localhost/publish/$name;
            exec_record ffmpeg -i $name -c copy -f flv rtmp://localhost/record/$name;
        }
    }
}

live on; Used to launch a live broadcast application.
exec_push andexec_record Specific commands for pushing and recording are specified.

7.3 Actual deployment and test verification

7.3.1 The actual deployment process of live streaming

During the actual deployment process, the following steps need to be followed:

Configure a firewall: Ensure that the server's port 1935 and ports used by HLS are open to the public.
Start Nginx and nginx-rtmp-module: Pass the commandnginx Start the Nginx service and make sure the module is loading normally.
Configure flow push tool: Use FFmpeg or other streaming tools to/live/ Path publish flow.
Monitoring and log inspection: Check the logs of Nginx and nginx-rtmp-module to ensure the service is running stably.

7.3.2 Evaluation of functional testing and performance testing

During the testing phase, the following tests are mainly conducted:

Functional testing：
Whether the streaming, recording, and playback work normally.
Is the HLS stream smoothly played?
Whether load balancing distributes user requests to each live broadcast server as expected.
Performance Test：
Use professional tools to simulate large number of user access and test server carrying capacity.
Test the delay with ping command or similar tools.
Monitor the use of server CPU, memory and other resources to ensure that there are no resource bottlenecks.

Through these detailed implementation steps and test verification, we can ensure that the built streaming live broadcast server can meet the needs of actual application scenarios and maintain a high-quality live broadcast experience when the number of users is large.

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