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Live Stream Pusher

Overview​

Live Stream Pusher allows ITVDesk to operate as a full RTSP ingest server, meaning that external applications can push live audio/video streams directly into ITVDesk.

Once received, these streams can be:

  • Exposed as standard RTSP streams
  • Published as ONVIF-compatible virtual IP cameras
  • Viewed, recorded, or forwarded to VMS / NVR systems

Unlike typical RTSP usage where a client pulls a stream, Livestream Pusher reverses the flow: the external source actively sends (pushes) the stream to ITVDesk.

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How Live Stream Pusher Works​

In Live Stream Pusher mode, ITVDesk listens for incoming streams.

Data flow:

External Source
→ ITVDesk RTSP Server
→ VMS / NVR / RTSP Clients

This mode is ideal for:

  • Dynamically generated streams
  • External encoders or software
  • Simulation, testing, or custom pipelines
  • Environments where ITVDesk should act as a central ingest point

Enabling Live Stream Pusher​

To enable Live Stream Pusher:

  1. Create a new Virtual ONVIF IP Camera
  2. In Camera Media Source, enable Livestream Pusher
  3. Configure:
    • Stream name
    • Transport mode (RTSP / TCP / UDP)
    • Listening ports (RTSP / RTP)
  4. Click Add IP Camera
tip

Once enabled, ITVDesk starts listening for incoming pushed streams.

Pushing Streams into ITVDesk (FFmpeg Example)​

The most common way to push a stream into ITVDesk is using FFmpeg.

Example: Push a Video File as a Live RTSP Stream​

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ffmpeg -stream_loop -1 -re -i test.mp4
-vcodec libx264 -acodec copy
-f rtsp rtsp://192.168.68.100:5554/ipc1-stream1/livepusher1

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Explanation of Key Parameters​

-stream_loop -1​

Loops the input file endlessly.
Useful for continuous playback and testing scenarios.

-re​

Sends data in real-time.
Important for live simulation and preventing buffer overflows.

-i test.mp4​

Specifies the input media source (file, device, or stream).

-vcodec libx264​

Encodes the video stream using the H.264 codec.

-acodec copy​

Passes the audio stream without re-encoding.

-f rtsp​

Sets the output format to RTSP.

rtsp://<ITVDESK_IP>:5554/<stream-name>​

Target RTSP ingest URL on the ITVDesk server.

tip

Once the stream is pushed, it becomes immediately available to connected clients.

Supported Transport Modes​

Live Stream Pusher supports three transport modes:

  • Works with FFmpeg and standard RTSP tools
  • No special configuration required
  • Any stream name can be used
  • Best choice for most users

TCP Mode​

  • Reliable delivery
  • Suitable for controlled or custom environments
  • Used when stability is more important than latency

UDP Mode​

  • Lower latency
  • Best-effort delivery
  • Suitable for real-time or experimental streaming

Accessing the Pushed Stream​

Once a stream is pushed into ITVDesk, it behaves like any other RTSP or ONVIF camera stream.

Clients can access the stream using:

Example: rtsp://192.168.68.100:5554/ipc1-stream1/livepusher1

Supported Clients​

Once a stream is pushed into ITVDesk, it can be accessed by a wide range of standard video clients, including:

  • VMS systems
  • NVR devices
  • ONVIF-compatible clients
  • RTSP players (VLC, FFplay, and similar tools)

Practical Use Cases​

Live Stream Pusher enables many real-world scenarios across different industries and environments.

Surveillance Integration​

Push streams from:

  • IP cameras
  • Hardware encoders
  • Existing NVR systems

Education and Training​

  • Stream lectures and presentations
  • Demonstrate software or workflows
  • Replay recorded training materials

Live Events​

  • Conferences
  • Concerts
  • Sports events
  • Internal company broadcasts

Media Distribution​

  • Internal video distribution within organizations
  • Controlled access to live or recorded streams

Testing and Simulation​

  • Generate synthetic RTSP streams
  • Development and QA testing
  • VMS / NVR validation environments

Custom Pipelines​

  • Integrate FFmpeg-based workflows
  • Use GStreamer pipelines
  • Connect OBS Studio or proprietary encoders

Supported External Tools​

Live Stream Pusher works with any tool capable of pushing RTSP streams, including:

  • FFmpeg
  • GStreamer
  • VLC Media Player
  • OBS Studio
  • Live555
  • Custom or embedded encoders

Technical Note – TCP Mode​

When using RTP over TCP, each RTP packet includes an additional 4-byte header:

  • 0x24 – RTP-over-TCP marker
  • Channel identifier
  • Payload length (including RTP header)

This mechanism is required for correct RTP multiplexing over a single TCP connection.

Summary​

Live Stream Pusher allows ITVDesk to:

  • Act as a full RTSP ingest server
  • Receive pushed audio and video streams
  • Convert pushed streams into ONVIF-compatible IP cameras
  • Integrate external encoders and streaming tools
  • Support RTSP, TCP, and UDP transport modes

This makes ITVDesk not only a capture application, but a flexible RTSP and ONVIF gateway suitable for advanced and enterprise streaming workflows.

https://www.itvdesk.eu/de/support-center/forum/knowledge-itvdesk/11-itvdesk-7-7v-livestream-pusher-as-an-rtsp-server

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