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Documentation Index

Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://gcore.com/docs/llms.txt

Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

Create and configure a live stream in the Gcore Customer Portal, then start broadcasting from your encoder, media server, or browser.

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Step 1. Initiate the process

1. In the Gcore Customer Portal, navigate to Streaming > Live Streaming. 2. Click the Create Live stream button on the top right.
Live stream button on the life streaming page
If the button is non-responsive, you have exceeded your live stream limit. To create a new stream, remove an existing stream from the list or request technical support to increase your limits.
2. Enter the name of your live stream in the window that appears and click the Create button.
Enter the name of your live stream
A new page will appear. Perform the remaining steps there.

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Step 2. Set the ingest type and additional features

Live stream page
1. Make sure that the Enable live stream toggle is on.
By default, we offer live streams with low latency (a 4–5 second delay.) Low latency is available in two protocols: LL-DASH (compatible with all devices except iOS) and LL-HLS (compatible with iOS). This feature is active from the start for all users, including those on the trial period or free tier, with no plan upgrades required. You can also obtain legacy HLS with MPEGTS format segments, in which case, please read our article.
2. Review the live stream name and update it if needed. 3. Enable additional features:
  • Record for live stream recording. It will be active when you start streaming. Remember to enable the toggle if you require a record of your stream.
  • DVR for an improved user experience. When the DVR feature is enabled, your viewers can pause and rewind the broadcast.
4. Select the relevant Ingest type: Push or Pull.

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When to choose Push vs Pull

Choose Push if:
  • You generate a live stream from your web-cam, mobile device or computer
  • You’re using a streaming encoder OBS, Streamlabs, vMix, or any other software and hardware encoder
  • You don’t have your own streaming server
How it works:
  1. Configure your encoder with Gcore’s server URL and stream key
  2. Your encoder sends (pushes) the stream to our server via RTMP, SRT, WebRTC WHIP
  3. Gcore transcodes the stream into multiple quality levels
  4. Gcore delivers via CDN in HLS and MPEG-DASH formats

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Step 3. Configure your stream

Depending on the selected ingest type and protocol, your settings will differ.

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For PUSH streams

Refer to specific protocol pages for detailed configuration:

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For PULL streams (step-by-step)

If you selected Pull as your ingest type:
  1. Prepare your source stream URL
    • Ensure your stream is already running on your server
    • Copy the complete URL (e.g., https://1.1.1.1/live/stream.m3u8)
  2. Enter the URL in the PULL URL field
    • Paste your stream URL into the “PULL URL” field
    • You can enter multiple URLs separated by spaces for failover (optional)
    • Example with backup: rtmp://1.1.1.1/live/stream rtmp://1.1.1.2/live/stream
  3. Select geo-distributed pull point (optional)
    • Contact support to configure the optimal pull location
    • This minimizes latency by pulling from a server closer to your origin
  4. Enable the stream
    • Make sure the Enable live stream toggle is ON (should be green)
    • Click the Save button in the top right corner
  5. Wait for activation
    • The stream will become active within approximately 15 seconds
    • You’ll see a preview on the Live Stream Settings page when ready
    • The first webhook notification indicates the stream is available for playback
Troubleshooting: If the stream doesn’t appear after 2 minutes, verify:
  • Your source stream is actively running and accessible
  • The URL is correct and publicly reachable
  • Your firewall allows Gcore’s servers to access your stream

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Step 4. Start the stream

Start a live stream on your media server or encoder. You will see a streaming preview on the Live Stream Settings page if everything is configured correctly.

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Step 5. Embed the stream to your app

After configuring your stream, you can embed it into your app or website. The Live stream settings page in the Gcore Customer Portal provides the export links and player embed options you need.
Export links and player options
If you use your own player, select the appropriate link based on your use case and target devices:
LinkDescription
MPEG-DASH manifest URLLow-latency adaptive bitrate streaming. Compatible with most modern devices except iOS Safari.
HLS manifest URLLow-latency HLS (LL-HLS) with CMAF segments. Compatible with all devices including iOS.
HLS non-low-latency manifest URLTraditional HLS with MPEG-TS segments. Use this for outdated devices or unstable internet connections when the low-latency link causes buffering.
Low-latency streaming reduces delay to 4-5 seconds. Traditional HLS has 15-20 second delay but works better on unstable connections. Details: How low-latency streaming works.

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Player

To quickly embed the stream using the Gcore player:
OptionDescription
Player URLDirect link to the hosted player page. Share this link with viewers or use it for testing.
Iframe embed codeCopy and paste this code into your website or CMS to embed the player directly. To change the player behavior (disable low latency, change colors, etc.), see Customize appearance of the built-in player. If something doesn’t work in your player, contact our support team.
That’s it. Your viewers can see the live stream.