Setting up a Backup Channel from Dashboard

IBM Video Streaming allows you to configure a backup channel for your live stream. This helps provide a failover option if the primary channel is interrupted.

This article explains how to set up a primary channel with a backup channel from the IBM Video Streaming dashboard.

Configure a Backup Channel

1. Log in to your IBM Video Streaming dashboard.
2. Go to the Channels section.
3. Select your primary channel.
4. Scroll down to the Broadcast Settings section.
5. In the Backup Channels row, click Edit Settings.
6. Click Add Channel.
7. Enter the backup channel URL or backup channel ID.
8. Save your changes.

Find the Backup Channel URL or ID

If you are having trouble locating the backup channel URL, open the backup channel in the dashboard and go to the Info section under the Channel tab.

Remove a Backup Channel

To remove a configured backup channel, click Remove or Remove All from the Backup Channels settings.

Best Practices

• Use a backup channel that is dedicated to a separate network and power source from the primary channel.
• This helps prevent the backup channel from being affected by the same issue that may impact the primary channel.
• Configure backup channels while both channels are not live to avoid streaming conflicts.
• Test the backup channel setup well before the main broadcast.
• Confirm that failover works correctly before relying on the backup channel for a live event.

Important Limitation

Interactivity features bound to the live stream, such as polls, slides, and live CTAs, are not transferred to the backup channel.

If the primary channel is replaced by the backup channel during failover, these tools will no longer appear to viewers.