# Connect a UDP encoder to Wowza Video using the Wowza Video REST API

The Wowza Video™ service can connect to any H.264 encoder that supports the User Datagram Protocol (UDP). UDP is a connectionless protocol that makes it easier to transmit information quickly, but is also more prone to network issues, packet loss, and packets arriving out of order.

Info
Source authentication isn't available for UDP.

## Before you start

You should be familiar with the following concepts:

- **API authentication** **methods**. We use JSON web tokens for API
authentication. See
[Authentication](/docs/wowza-video/about-the-rest-api/authentication)
for more information.
- **Environment variables**. We use environment variables for the API
version and your JWT in the cURL API request examples in this topic
to make it easier for you to copy, paste, and run commands in your
Terminal or Command Prompt window. If you don't set environment
variables for these values, you'll need to manually enter the
correct values in the code samples throughout this tutorial. See [Tools for testing the API](/docs/wowza-video/about-the-rest-api/api-overview#tools-for-testing-the-api) for instructions.


You should complete the following tasks:

- Install the **latest firmware installed** for your encoder.


You should have access to the following items:

- The **encoder's user guide** for details about how to operate the
device or software and how to specify settings such as resolution,
bitrate, and frame rate.


You should choose between the following two workflows:

- Decide between the **live stream** or **transcoder** workflow.
See Decide between a live stream or transcoder workflow for more information about these workflows.


details
summary
Live stream workflow
## Live Stream Workflow

### 1. Create a live stream

Create a live stream that receives a UDP source, generates a player, and
configures a hosted page by sending a
`POST` request to the
`/live_streams` endpoint.

You can use the following sample request, making sure to:

- Set `encoder` to `other_udp`.
- Set `delivery_method` to `push`. Wowza Video doesn't support
`pull` or `cdn` connections for UDP.
- Set `broadcast_location` to the region that's closest to your video
source.
- Change any values unique to your broadcast, using the API reference
documentation as a resource. See the **Endpoint Reference** button
below.


#### Sample request

Endpoint Reference


```
curl -X POST \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-H "Authorization: Bearer ${WV_JWT}" \
-d '{
   "live_stream": {
     "aspect_ratio_height": 720,
     "aspect_ratio_width": 1280,
     "billing_mode": "pay_as_you_go",
     "broadcast_location": "us_west_california",
     "delivery_method": "push",
     "encoder": "other_udp",
     "name": "MyUDPStream",
     "transcoder_type": "transcoded"
   }
}' "${WV_HOST}/api/${WV_VERSION}/live_streams"
```

#### Sample response

The response includes:

- An `id` for the live stream that you'll use in step 3.
- `source_connection_information` you'll use in the next step to
configure an UDP source encoder for the live stream.
  - `primary_server` and `host_port`



```
{
   "live_stream": {
     "id": "1234abcd",
     "name": "MyUDPStream",
     ...
     "encoder": "other_udp",
     ...
     "source_connection_information": {
       "primary_server": "udp://[subdomain].entrypoint.video.wowza.com",
       "host_port": "10000",
       "stream_name": "54g2813p"
       "disable_authentication": "true"
     },
     ...
   }
}
```

### 2. Configure your video source

Use the `source_connection_information` from the live stream response to
configure your UDP encoder. You'll need to refer to documentation for
your specific encoder to determine where to input the
`source_connection_information` settings, which include the stream and
user credentials for authentication.

- **Address** is the `primary_server` value:
udp://[*wowza.subdomain*].entrypoint.video.wowza.com
- **Destination Port** is the `host_port` value, such as
10000.


Authentication is disabled by default for UDP streams. Different
encoders might use different names in their user interface, like **URL**
instead of **Address**. Make sure to refer to your encoder's
documentation to determine the correct locations.

### 3. Test the connection

Now that you have configured your source, you can test your live stream.
You'll need the
`[live_stream_id]`
returned in step 1.

1. Start your live stream.
Endpoint Reference

```
curl -X PUT \
-H "Authorization: Bearer ${WV_JWT}" \
"${WV_HOST}/api/${WV_VERSION}/live_streams/[live_stream_id]/start"
```
2. Check the state to make sure the live stream started.
Endpoint Reference

```
curl -X GET \
-H "Authorization: Bearer ${WV_JWT}" \
"${WV_HOST}/api/${WV_VERSION}/live_streams/[live_stream_id]/state"
```
3. Start the stream in the UDP encoder. How you start the encoder
varies by device.
4. Fetch a URL to a thumbnail that you can enter into a browser and
visually confirm the stream is playing.
Endpoint Reference

```
curl -X GET \
-H "Authorization: Bearer ${WV_JWT}" \
"${WV_HOST}/api/${WV_VERSION}/live_streams/[live_stream_id]/thumbnail_url"
```
5. Stop the live stream.
Endpoint Reference

```
curl -X PUT \
-H "Authorization: Bearer ${WV_JWT}" \
"${WV_HOST}/api/${WV_VERSION}/live_streams/[live_stream_id]/stop"
```
6. Stop the stream in the source camera or encoder.


### Related API requests

- GET/live_streams — View all live streams for an account.
- GET/live_streams/ID — View the details of a live stream, including the player embed code
and hosted page URL.
- PATCH/live_streams/ID —
Update a live stream's configuration.


details
summary
Transcoder workflow
## Transcoder Workflow

### 1. Create a transcoder

In the transcoder workflow, you'll manually configure the transcoder,
output renditions, and stream targets to fit your specific streaming
solution.

Create a transcoder that receives a UDP source by sending a
`POST` request to the
`/transcoders` endpoint.

You can use the following sample request, making sure to:

- Set  `protocol` to  `udp`.
- Set `broadcast_location` to the region that's closest to your video
source.
- Change any values unique to your broadcast, using the API reference
documentation as a resource. See the **Endpoint Reference** button
below.


#### Sample request

Endpoint Reference


```
curl -X POST \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-H "Authorization: Bearer ${WV_JWT}" \
-d '{    
  "transcoder": {
    "billing_mode": "pay_as_you_go",      
    "broadcast_location": "us_west_california",      
    "delivery_method": "push",      
    "name": "MyUDPTranscoder",      
    "protocol": "udp",      
    "transcoder_type": "transcoded"
  }
}' "${WV_HOST}/api/${WV_VERSION}/transcoders"
```

The response includes:

- An `id` for the transcoder that you'll use throughout the rest of
this task.
- Source connection information you'll use in step 3 to configure an
UDP source for the stream.
  - `domain_name` and `source_port`



```
{
  "transcoder": {
    "id": "tmd8ybp2",
    "name": "MyUDPTranscoder",
    "transcoder_type": "transcoded",
    "billing_mode": "pay_as_you_go",
    "broadcast_location": "us_west_california",
    ...
    "protocol": "udp",
    "delivery_method": "push",
    "source_port": 10000,
    "domain_name": "[hostname].entrypoint.video.wowza.com",
    ...
    "outputs": []
  }
}
```

### 2. Add output renditions and stream targets

Complete the transcoder by adding output renditions and stream targets.
For instructions, see one of the following articles, depending on
whether you're creating an adaptive bitrate or passthrough transcoder:

Info
You'll need the transcoder ID from step 1.

- **Adaptive bitrate transcoder** — [Create an ABR stream and send it
to a target with the Wowza Video REST
API](/docs/wowza-video/guides/more-tasks/create-an-abr-stream-and-send-to-a-target)
- **Passthrough transcoder** — [Pass a stream through the transcoder
to a target with the Wowza Video REST
API](/docs/wowza-video/guides/more-tasks/pass-a-stream-through-the-transcoder-to-a-target)


### 3. Configure the source of your transcoder

Use the the `domain_name` and `source_port` values returned when you
created the transcoder to configure your UDP encoder. You'll need to
refer to documentation for your specific encoder to determine where to
input the stream settings and user credentials for authentication.

- **Address** is the `domain_name` value:
[*hostname_name*]:entrypoint.video.wowza.com
- **Destination Port** is the `source_port` value:
10000


Authentication is disabled by default for UDP streams. Different
encoders might use different names in their user interface, like **URL**
instead of **Address**. Make sure to refer to your encoder's
documentation to determine the correct locations.

### 4. Test the transcoder connection

Now that you have configured your source, you can test your transcoder.
You'll need the `[transcoder_id]` returned in step 1.

1. Start the transcoder.
Endpoint Reference

```
curl -X PUT \
-H "Authorization: Bearer ${WV_JWT}" \
"${WV_HOST}/api/${WV_VERSION}/transcoders/[transcoder_id]/start"
```
2. Check the state to make sure the transcoder started.
Endpoint Reference

```
curl -X GET \
-H "Authorization: Bearer ${WV_JWT}" \
"${WV_HOST}/api/${WV_VERSION}/transcoders/[transcoder_id]/state"
```
3. Start the stream in the encoder. How you start the encoder varies by device.
4. Fetch a thumbnail that shows a frame of the playing stream to
visually confirm the stream is playing.
Endpoint Reference

```
curl -X GET \
-H "Authorization: Bearer ${WV_JWT}" \
"${WV_HOST}/api/${WV_VERSION}/transcoders/[transcoder_id]/thumbnail_url"
```
5. Stop the transcoder.
Endpoint Reference

```
curl -X PUT \
-H "Authorization: Bearer ${WV_JWT}" \
"${WV_HOST}/api/${WV_VERSION}/transcoders/[transcoder_id]/stop"
```
6. Stop the stream in the source camera or encoder.


### Related Transcoder API requests

- GET/transcoders — View all transcoders for an account.
- GET/transcoders/ID — View the details of a transcoder.
- PATCH/transcoders/ID —
Update a transcoder's configuration.