Raspberry Pi Camera / Webcam streaming helper scripts

This script is designed to help automate turing a raspberry pi with a compatible video4linux2 camera into a MPEG-DASH / HLS streaming server.

The steps it will attempt to take:

• Install FFmpeg OR (optional) Compile and Install FFmpeg ( with h264 hardware acceleration and nonfree libraries)
• Install nginx for DASH / HLS OR install RTSP server if desired
• (DASH/HLS) Update rc.local to run required setup script on reboot
• (DASH/HLS) Create index.html file to view video stream at
• Create systemd service and enable it

If you will be compiling while running over SSH, please use in a background terminal like "tmux" or "screen".

If you are compilng FFmpeg, be aware, this will build a NON REDISTRIBUTABLE FFmpeg. You will not be able to share the built binaries under any license.

This script requires Python 3.6+

MPEG DASH / HLS

DASH is a great way to use your device as standalone streaming server with a easy to view webpage hosted on the Pi. The disadvantage is the delay due to buffering and the way DASH / HLS work with manifest files. You will have a 5~20 second lag from the camera to when you view it.

To use the pre-built FFmpeg and MPEG DASH, just need to run the script as root / sudo then you're good to go:

sudo python3 streaming_setup.py

RTSP

If you want near instant real time streaming, it's best to use the aptly named Real Time Streaming Protocol, RTSP.

sudo python3 streaming_setup.py --rtsp

If you are connecting to an external RTSP server, pass in the rtsp-url argument.

sudo python3 streaming_setup.py --rtsp --rtsp-url rtsp://192.168.1.123:8554/raspberrypi

Compile FFmpeg

If you want to compile FFmpeg make sure to pass the --compile-ffmpeg flag and I suggest setting the user to pi if making in your home directory.

sudo python3 streaming_setup.py --compile-ffmpeg --run-as pi

Script Options

usage: streaming_setup [-h] [-v] [--ffmpeg-command] [-d DEVICE] [-s VIDEO_SIZE] [-r] [--rtsp-url RTSP_URL] [-f INPUT_FORMAT] [-b BITRATE] 
                       [-c CODEC] [--ffmpeg-params FFMPEG_PARAMS] [--index-file INDEX_FILE] [--on-reboot-file ON_REBOOT_FILE] 
                       [--systemd-file SYSTEMD_FILE] [--compile-ffmpeg] [--compile-only] [--camera-info]
                       [--minimal] [--run-as RUN_AS] [--disable-fdk-aac] [--disable_avisynth] [--disable-dav1d] 
                       [--disable-zimg] [--disable-kvazaar] [--disable-libxavs] [--disable-libsrt] [--rebuild-all] [--safe]

streaming_setup version 1.6

optional arguments:
  -h, --help            show this help message and exit
  -v, --version
  --ffmpeg-command      print the automated FFmpeg command and exit
  -d DEVICE, -i DEVICE, --device DEVICE
                        Camera. Selected: /dev/video0
  -s VIDEO_SIZE, --video-size VIDEO_SIZE
                        The video resolution from the camera (using 1920x1080)
  -r, --rtsp            Use RTSP instead of DASH / HLS
  --rtsp-url RTSP_URL   Provide a remote RTSP url to connect to and don't set up a local server
  -f INPUT_FORMAT, --input-format INPUT_FORMAT
                        The format the camera supports (using h264)
  -b BITRATE, --bitrate BITRATE
                        Streaming bitrate, is auto calculated by default
  -c CODEC, --codec CODEC
                        Conversion codec (using 'copy')
  --ffmpeg-params FFMPEG_PARAMS
                        specify additional FFmpeg params, helpful if not copying codec e.g.: '-b:v 4M -maxrate 4M -buffsize 8M'
  --index-file INDEX_FILE
  --on-reboot-file ON_REBOOT_FILE
  --systemd-file SYSTEMD_FILE
  --compile-ffmpeg
  --compile-only
  --camera-info         Show all detected cameras [/dev/video(0-9)] and exit
  --minimal             Minimal FFmpeg compile including h264, x264, alsa sound and fonts
  --run-as RUN_AS       compile programs as provided user (suggested 'pi', defaults to 'root')
  --disable-fdk-aac     Normally installed on full install
  --disable_avisynth    Normally installed on full install
  --disable-dav1d       Normally installed on full install
  --disable-zimg        Normally installed on full install
  --disable-kvazaar     Normally installed on full install
  --disable-libxavs     Normally installed on full install
  --disable-libsrt      Normally installed on full install
  --rebuild-all         Recompile all libraries
  --safe                disable overwrite of existing or old scripts

License

MIT License - Copyright (c) 2020 Chris Griffith

Debuging

Error: ioctl(VIDIOC_STREAMON) failure : 1, Operation not permitted

Go into raspi-config and up the video memory (memory split) to 256 and reboot. (thanks to #15 rezrov)