How to create and use a stream for free

Your own streaming server on the free demo of the MyVMS video surveillance system

If you are willing to administer a server yourself, you can run an IP camera stream without any paid service: rent a VPS, install the MyVMS Linux demo and get the poster plus MP4 and HLS streams over direct links.

If you would rather not deal with a server, rtsp.me does the same for you: it checks the RTSP link and hands you ready-made player code for your website.

Download MyVMS Linux 8.6.0 x64 (demo)

What you will need

Step 1. Rent a Linux VPS

Rent a virtual server running Linux in a data center. The server needs a public IP address — it is the address the poster and stream links will open on.

Step 2. Install the MyVMS demo

Download and install the MyVMS Linux 8.6.0 x64 demo.

After installation, create a separate user without administrator rights. Its login and password are passed inside the links, so the administrator account must not be used.

Never publish the administrator login and password. Use only a separate account with minimal rights in the links.

Step 3. Connect the camera

Add the IP camera in the settings of the MyVMS video surveillance system. Make sure the server sees the camera and displays video.

Step 4. Open port 9786

The MyVMS web server runs on port 9786. Forward it on the router or open it in the server firewall so the links can be opened from the internet.

Internet → PUBLIC_IP:9786 → MyVMS web server → camera

Port forwarding examples for popular routers are in the guide “How to set up port mapping”.

Step 5. Use the direct links

Replace PUBLIC_IP with your server address and <base64(login:pass)> with the base64-encoded login:password pair of the user you created.

Camera poster (snapshot):

http://PUBLIC_IP:9786/cameras/0/image?authorization=Basic%20<base64(login:pass)>&keep_aspect_ratio=0&resolution=640x480

MP4 stream:

https://PUBLIC_IP:9786/cameras/0/streaming/main.mp4?authorization=Basic%20<base64(login:pass)>&audio=1

HLS stream (m3u8):

https://PUBLIC_IP:9786/cameras/0/streaming/main.m3u8?authorization=Basic%20<base64(login:pass)>&audio=1

main is the camera's primary stream at full resolution, sub is the secondary stream at a lower resolution. To get the secondary stream, replace main with sub in the link — for embedding on a website it often loads faster and saves bandwidth.

Frequently asked questions

Is it really free?
The MyVMS demo is free. You only pay for the VPS rental and the bandwidth.
Which port has to be open?
Port 9786 — that is where the MyVMS web server runs. Without an open port, the poster and stream links will not work from the internet.
What is the difference between main and sub?
main is the camera's primary stream, sub is the secondary stream at a lower resolution. In the MP4 and m3u8 links simply replace main with sub.
How do I build the authorization string?
Encode the login:pass pair of the user you created in base64 and place it after Basic%20. Do not use the administrator account.
How does this differ from rtsp.me?
Here you administer the server yourself and stay responsible for updates, bandwidth and uptime. rtsp.me takes that on and additionally gives you a ready-made player, access protection, statistics and a cloud archive.

Would rather not administer a server?

Check your camera's RTSP link on rtsp.me and get a ready-made stream with a player, access protection and a cloud archive.

Check an RTSP link