µStreamer

Self-Hosted

Lightweight low-latency video streaming server for embedded devices

Overview

µStreamer is a tiny, high-performance video streaming server optimized for low-resource embedded devices like Raspberry Pi. It streams MJPEG, JPEG, or PNG video with minimal CPU usage, ideal for real-time applications such as remote monitoring or KVM over IP (via PiKVM). Supports HTTP, RTSP, and WebSocket protocols for flexible client integration. Easy to deploy via Docker or source code, it prioritizes speed and efficiency over heavy enterprise features, making it perfect for hobbyists and small-scale self-hosted setups.

Self-Hosting Resources

Find Official Image on Docker Hub View Source & Docs

Below is a reference structure for docker-compose.yml. ⚠️ Do NOT run blindly. Replace placeholders with official values.

docker-compose.template.yml TEMPLATE


version: '3'
services:
  ustreamer:
    image: <OFFICIAL_IMAGE_NAME>:latest
    container_name: ustreamer
    ports:
      - "8080:<APP_INTERNAL_PORT>"
    volumes:
      - ./data:/app/data
    restart: unless-stopped

Key Features

Low-resource footprint (ideal for Raspberry Pi/embedded devices)
Supports MJPEG/JPEG/PNG streaming over HTTP, RTSP, WebSocket
Real-time low-latency performance for monitoring/KVM use cases

Frequently Asked Questions

? Is µStreamer hard to install?

µStreamer is accessible for users familiar with embedded systems. It can be deployed via Docker (official images) or compiled from source on Raspberry Pi. Integration with PiKVM simplifies KVM over IP setups, but standalone use needs basic CLI knowledge to configure protocols like HTTP/RTSP.

? Is µStreamer a good alternative to Wowza Streaming Engine?

It’s a great lightweight alternative for self-hosted embedded streaming (e.g., camera monitoring) but lacks Wowza’s enterprise features. It excels at low-resource real-time feeds but doesn’t offer Wowza’s scalability, audio support, or advanced transcoding for large audiences.

? Is it completely free?

Yes! µStreamer is open source under the GPLv3 license. It’s free to use, modify, and distribute without any subscription fees or hidden costs.

Top Alternatives

Wowza Streaming Engine Search Google

AWS Elemental MediaLive Search Google

Microsoft Azure Media Services Search Google

Tool Info

Pricing Open Source

Category Media Streaming - Multimedia Streaming

Platform Self-Hosted

Pros

⊕ 100% open source (GPLv3 licensed)
⊕ Minimal CPU usage for efficient streaming
⊕ Seamless integration with PiKVM for KVM over IP

Cons

⊖ No built-in audio streaming support
⊖ Limited to image-based video (no advanced transcoding)
⊖ Requires basic command-line setup for standalone use