More and more anchors, developers and operators are starting to choose live broadcast VPS as the core carrier for live streaming, transcoding or edge distribution. However, live broadcast has strict standards for server hardware, network, system compatibility, etc. Wrong selection may cause screen freezes, frame drops, streaming failures, or even live broadcast room crashes. So, what specific configurations does a live broadcast VPS need? How to choose the most suitable VPS solution based on the business model?
1. What is a live broadcast VPS?
Live broadcast VPS refers to a virtual server dedicated to streaming, transcoding, CDN node caching or OBS/FFmpeg service operation. It is usually deployed in a high-speed data center, supports public network access, has 7×24 hours online capabilities, and remotely implements anchor-side streaming, transcoding services (supporting different resolutions and bit rates), distribution node caching (similar to edge CDN), player content services and other core live broadcast functions.
2. Core requirements for VPS configuration for live broadcast
1. CPU: key to video processing and encoding
The most CPU resource-consuming part of live broadcast is encoding and transcoding. For example, OBS push streaming uses the x264 encoder to compress the video into H.264 format, which requires continuous large-scale computing.
Recommended configuration: at least 2 cores to start, 4 cores or more are recommended
CPU models should give priority to server-level processors such as Intel Xeon / AMD EPYC
If it involves high bit rate and transcoding multiple streams, it is recommended to choose a CPU that supports AVX/AVX2 instruction sets
Encoding is a highly computationally intensive task. If the CPU performance is insufficient, it is easy to cause problems such as video freezes, frame drops, and audio and video asynchrony.
2. Memory: Ensure smooth operation of the system
Although live streaming itself does not occupy an extreme amount of memory, transcoding, caching, or superimposing multiple video sources will quickly increase memory usage.
Recommended configuration: at least 2GB of memory, 4GB and above is recommended
If you install video services such as FFmpeg, Nginx, Wowza, etc., it is recommended to start with 6GB
The system operation stability is directly related to the memory capacity, especially in the OBS scenario, multiple video sources + audio tracks + filter processing will occupy a lot of RAM, insufficient memory may cause the process to automatically terminate.
3. Hard disk: ensure recording and temporary file storage
If the live content needs to be recorded, cached (HLS/M3U8), screenshots or asynchronous editing, the hard disk read and write speed and capacity are required.
SSD solid state drive is recommended
Storage capacity recommendation: minimum 20GB, recommended to start with 50GB~100GB
If it involves local storage of recorded and broadcasted videos, a high IO VPS host that supports RAID 10 should be selected
Special note: low-end VPS using mechanical hard disks has low IO throughput, which will seriously affect the efficiency of transcoding processing.
4. Bandwidth and traffic: determine clarity and delay
Bandwidth is the lifeline of live broadcasting. High-bitrate live broadcast (such as 1080P@60FPS) transmits huge amounts of data per second:
720P bitrate: 2~4Mbps
1080P bitrate: 4~6Mbps
4K bitrate: 10Mbps or more
Therefore, the network configuration recommendations for live broadcast VPS are as follows:
Prioritize exclusive bandwidth, starting at a minimum of 10Mbps
High-quality live broadcast recommends 20Mbps~100Mbps exclusive line
If carrying multiple push/pull tasks, 1Gbps bandwidth is recommended
In addition, pay attention to whether monthly traffic is limited. For example, a monthly 1TB traffic limit will seriously affect high-frequency live broadcast activities.
5. Network line and delay: the determining factor of connection speed
The speed at which viewers in different regions access the server is significantly affected by the network line. Common network lines:
CN2 GIA/CMI optimized lines: suitable for streaming or access in mainland China
Hong Kong, Tokyo, Los Angeles nodes: suitable for East Asian or global audience distribution
European VPS: suitable for anchors or e-commerce live broadcasts targeting the EU market
It is recommended to test the connectivity of VPS nodes to the target audience area through tools such as Ping, MTR, Tracert, etc. The lower the latency, the smaller the playback buffer and frame drop probability.
III. Other factors to consider when purchasing live broadcast VPS
Whether to support root permissions: convenient for configuring transcoding environment, deploying OBS, and building streaming services
Visual control panel: such as Pagoda, Webmin, etc. to simplify operations
Mirror support: pre-installed OBS/FFmpeg environment saves deployment time
After-sales response speed: live broadcast business cannot tolerate downtime, and it is strongly recommended to choose a service provider with online customer service
Backup mechanism: automatic snapshot and snapshot rollback function
The requirements of live broadcast business for VPS are by no means simple, and stacking with "high configuration" alone may not necessarily bring a good experience. Customized selection must be made based on business model, audience location, playback requirements, etc., and the appropriate processor, memory, bandwidth and network node must be selected to ensure that the live broadcast screen is high-definition and smooth without lag.
Finally, a reminder: Before purchasing, be sure to request a test IP or conduct a trial to measure the network quality and IO performance to ensure that the purchased VPS is truly adapted to the needs of the live broadcast business.
