ffserver

Start streaming server

$ ffserver -f [ffserver.conf]

$ ffserver -f [ffserver.conf] &

$ ffserver -f [ffserver.conf] -loglevel [verbose]

ffserver [options]

ffserver was an HTTP/RTSP streaming server included with ffmpeg. It received feeds from ffmpeg encoders and served them to clients, enabling live video streaming setups.
The server supported multiple streams and on-demand reencoding. Configuration defined input feeds from ffmpeg and output streams for clients with different formats and bitrates.
ffserver provided a complete streaming solution for webcams, screen capture, and video files.

-f FILE

Configuration file.

No launch (parse config only).

Debug mode.

Log verbosity: quiet, error, warning, info, verbose.

Display help information.

ffserver.conf

Server configuration defining input feeds, output streams, formats, and bitrates.

Deprecated and removed from ffmpeg in version 4.0. Use alternatives like nginx-rtmp or GStreamer. Configuration was complex.

ffserver was part of ffmpeg from early versions until its removal in 2018 (ffmpeg 4.0). It was deprecated due to maintenance burden, with recommendations to use dedicated streaming servers instead.

ffmpeg(1), nginx(1), vlc(1)