Learn How To Setup Red5 Media Server on CentOS 7

October 23, 2019

Table of Contents

If you are using a different system, please check our other tutorials.

Red5 is an open source media server implemented in Java that allows you to run Flash multi-user applications such as live streaming audio/video, remote object sharing (for multiplayer games), data synchronization, recording client streams (FLV and AVC+AAC), and much more.

This article will guide you through the install and setup process for launching a Red5 Media Server on CentOS 7.

Requirements

  • A sudo user.
  • An ITWeb.Services CentOS 7 x64 server instance with at least 1 GB available memory.
  • Before installing any packages on the CentOS server instance, let’s start by ensuring your system is up-to-date.

    yum clean all
    yum -y update
    

    Install Java

    First, let’s download the latest Java SE Development Kit 8 release from its official download page.

    cd /opt/
    wget --no-cookies --no-check-certificate --header "Cookie: gpw_e24=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.oracle.com%2F; oraclelicense=accept-securebackup-cookie" "http://download.oracle.com/otn-pub/java/jdk/8u161-b12/2f38c3b165be4555a1fa6e98c45e0808/jdk-8u161-linux-x64.tar.gz"
    tar xzf jdk-8u161-linux-x64.tar.gz
    

    Install Java using alternatives.

    alternatives --install /usr/bin/java java /opt/jdk1.8.0_161/bin/java 2
    alternatives --config java
    

    Setup javac and jar commands path using alternatives.

    alternatives --install /usr/bin/jar jar /opt/jdk1.8.0_161/bin/jar 2
    alternatives --install /usr/bin/javac javac /opt/jdk1.8.0_161/bin/javac 2
    alternatives --set jar /opt/jdk1.8.0_161/bin/jar
    alternatives --set javac /opt/jdk1.8.0_161/bin/javac
    

    Setup global environment variables.

    Setup JAVA_HOME variable:

    export JAVA_HOME=/opt/jdk1.8.0_161
    

    Setup JRE_HOME variable:

    export JRE_HOME=/opt/jdk1.8.0_161/jre
    

    Setup PATH variable:

    export PATH=$PATH:/opt/jdk1.8.0_161/bin:/opt/jdk1.8.0_161/jre/bin
    

    Install Red5

    Obtain the latest version of the Red5 server.

    cd ~
    wget https://github.com/Red5/red5-server/releases/download/v1.0.9-RELEASE/red5-server-1.0.9-RELEASE.tar.gz
    

    Extract the tarball.

    tar xvzf red5-server-1.0.9-RELEASE.tar.gz
    

    Rename the extracted folder red5.

     mv red5-server red5
     cd red5
    

    Start the Red5 server in the background.

    sh red5.sh &
    

    Now you can access the Red5 media server by using your IP address followed by port :5080. You will see the Red5 welcome page.

    Configure autostart

    If you want the Red5 media server to start automatically during boot, create a file named red5 in /etc/init.d.

    sudo nano /etc/init.d/red5
    

    Add the following lines to the file.

    #!/bin/sh
    ### BEGIN INIT INFO
    # Provides:             red5
    # Required-Start:       $remote_fs $syslog
    # Required-Stop:        $remote_fs $syslog
    # Default-Start:        2 3 4 5
    # Default-Stop:         0 1 6
    # Short-Description:    Red5 server
    ### END INIT INFO
    start() {
      cd /opt/red5 && nohup ./red5.sh > /dev/null 2>&1 &
      echo 'Service started' >&2
    }
    stop() {
     cd /opt/red5 && ./red5-shutdown.sh > /dev/null 2>&1 &
     echo 'Service stopped' >&2
    }
    case "$1" in
    start)
        start
        ;;
    stop)
        stop
    ;;
    restart)
        stop
        start
        ;;
     *)
        echo "Usage: $0 {start|stop|restart}"
     esac
    

    Save CTRL + O and close the file CTRL + X.

    Make the file executable.

    sudo chmod ugo+x /etc/init.d/red5
    

    Install the sysv-rc-conf package.

    sudo apt-get install sysv-rc-conf
    

    Turn Red5 autostart on.

    sudo sysv-rc-conf red5 on
    

    At this point you can start, stop and restart the Red5 server with the service commands.

    sudo service red5 start
    sudo service red5 stop
    sudo service red5 restart
    

    Finish installation

    You can finish installing Red5 through your web browser. Open your web browser and navigate to HTTP://[your-ip-adresse:5080] with the actual IP address pointed towards your IT Web Services VPS. For example, you can install some of the demo applications by going to HTTP://your-ip-address:5080/installer/.

    Your Red5 media server installation is now complete.

    Need help?

    Do you need help setting up this on your own service?
    Please contact us and we’ll provide you the best possible quote!