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Step 1Open the server Apps tab
Select your VPS, open the Apps tab, and start a new app deployment. Keep sensitive server details hidden before capturing or sharing screenshots.
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Owncast
Application512MB+ RAM
Self-hosted live streaming server
streaminglivevideotwitch-alternative
Deploy Owncast in 3 Steps
1
Connect Your VPS
Add your server credentials to Server Compass
2
Select Owncast
Choose from our template library
3
Deploy & Configure
Fill in settings and click Deploy
No Docker knowledge required
Step-by-step deployment guide
Deploy Owncast on a VPS with Server Compass
Use the Owncast template in Server Compass to deploy a self-hosted live video streaming server with persistent data storage and RTMP ingest, then verify the Owncast web UI in a browser.
About 7 minutesBrowser verified
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Step 2Choose an app template
Click New App and choose the template deployment path so Server Compass can load the built-in catalog.
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Step 3Search for Owncast
Use the template picker search to find Owncast in the Server Compass template catalog.
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Step 4Select the Owncast template
Choose the Owncast template. Server Compass fills the Owncast image, web port, RTMP port, and persistent Owncast data storage.
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Step 5Review the Owncast settings
Confirm the app name and compose services. In this run, the app was named owncast-demo and used host port 8080.
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Step 6Deploy Owncast
Review the generated environment values, confirm the port is available, and click Deploy Now.
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Step 7Watch the deployment progress
Keep the deployment modal open while Server Compass uploads the compose file, pulls the Owncast image, starts the container, and verifies the stack.
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Step 8Confirm Owncast is running
After deployment finishes, return to the Apps tab and confirm the Owncast app is marked Running with its application URL available.
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Step 9Open Owncast in the browser
Open the application URL in a browser. The Owncast web UI confirms the site is reachable.
After Owncast Opens
- Sign in to the Owncast admin area and change the default admin password before production use.
- Confirm the data volume location before accepting production streams.
- Add a domain and HTTPS before exposing the live streaming server to users.
- Configure the stream key, RTMP ingest settings, player details, and chat settings before going live.
- Back up the Owncast data volume before relying on the server for production live streams.
Owncast deployment questions
What does the Owncast template deploy?
It deploys Owncast with a persistent data volume and exposes both the web UI and RTMP ingest port.
Which port did the tutorial use?
The tutorial used host port 8080, which maps to the Owncast web server on container port 8080.
Why does the guide stop at the homepage?
The tutorial verifies the homepage because instance settings, admin password, stream key, RTMP settings, and player settings should be configured for the real server.
Should this become a blog post?
No. The deployment guide should live on the Owncast template detail page and be linked from the reusable template deployment docs page.
Command Line Setup
Install Owncast Manually
Set up Owncast yourself using Docker Compose and the command line.
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Connect to Your VPS via SSH
Fire up your terminal application and establish a connection to your remote server.
terminal
# Access your VPS
ssh root@YOUR_SERVER_IP
# With SSH key authentication
ssh -i ~/.ssh/your-private-key root@YOUR_SERVER_IPFirst time? Ensure Docker is installed first: curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com | sh
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Initialize Project Folder
Create a folder to house your Docker Compose configuration.
terminal
# Create and navigate to project directory
mkdir -p ~/apps/owncast
cd ~/apps/owncast3
Create Docker Configuration
Define your services in a docker-compose.yml file:
docker-compose.yml
services:
owncast:
image: owncast/owncast:latest
ports:
- "8080:8080"
- "1935:1935"
volumes:
- owncast_data:/app/data
restart: unless-stopped
volumes:
owncast_data:
Configuration Options
PORTWeb port(default: 8080)RTMP_PORTRTMP streaming port(default: 1935)4
Execute the Deployment
Start your containers and verify they're running correctly.
terminal
# Launch the stack
docker compose up -d
# Verify container status
docker compose ps
# Follow the logs
docker compose logs --follow5
Allow Network Access
Update UFW rules to allow traffic on the application port.
terminal
# Allow the application port through firewall
sudo ufw allow 8080/tcp
sudo ufw reload
# Access your app at:
# http://your-server-ip:8080Skip the Terminal
Don't want to type commands? We've got you.
No terminal needed. Deploy Owncast through a visual dashboard with automatic configuration.
- No terminal required
- Point-and-click setup
- Auto SSL certificates
- Rolling deployments
- Health monitoring
- Instant rollbacks
Download Server Compass$29 one-time • Lifetime license
After Deployment
After deploying Owncast with Server Compass, complete these steps to finish setup
1
Access admin at /admin
2
Change stream key
3
Configure your streaming software
Need help? Check out our documentation for detailed guides.
Owncast FAQ
Common questions about self-hosting Owncast
How do I deploy Owncast with Server Compass?
Simply download Server Compass, connect to your VPS, and select Owncast from the templates list. Fill in the required configuration and click Deploy. The entire process takes under 3 minutes.
What are the system requirements for Owncast?
Owncast requires a minimum of 512MB RAM. We recommend a VPS with at least 1024MB RAM for optimal performance. Any modern Linux server with Docker support will work.
Can I migrate my existing Owncast data?
Yes! Server Compass provides volume mapping that allows you to import existing data. You can also use standard Owncast backup and restore procedures.
How do I update Owncast to the latest version?
Server Compass makes updates easy. Simply click the Update button in your deployment dashboard, and the latest Owncast image will be pulled and deployed with zero downtime.
Is Owncast free to self-host?
Owncast is open-source software. You only pay for your VPS hosting (typically $5-20/month) and optionally Server Compass ($29 one-time). No subscription fees or per-seat pricing.
Ready to Self-Host Owncast?
Download Server Compass and deploy Owncast to your VPS in under 3 minutes. No Docker expertise required.
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