# Create and manage stream files

You can use the Wowza Streaming Engine™ media server software REST API to identify, add, and manage stream files in a Wowza Streaming Engine instance.

A stream file is an alias for a complex, URI-based stream name from a source such as an MPEG-TS encoder or IP camera.
For example, a stream from an MPEG-TS encoder might have a name like `udp://0.0.0.0:10000`.
You can replace that with a stream file such as `mycoolevent.stream`.
Players can then use `mycoolevent.stream` in playback URLs in place of the URI-based stream name.
Stream files are stored in the `/Library/WowzaStreamingEngine/content` directory and have a `.stream` file extension.

> **Notes:**
- Wowza Streaming Engine 4.3.0 or later is required.
- PHP examples for the tasks in this article are available in the **tests** folder of the [PHP REST Library for Wowza Streaming Engine on GitHub](https://github.com/WowzaMediaSystems/wse-rest-library-php).



## Get a list of stream files

View a list of stream files associated with an application:


```bash Example request
curl -X GET \
  -H "Accept:application/json; charset=utf-8" \
  -H "Content-Type:application/json; charset=utf-8" \
  http://localhost:8087/v2/servers/{serverName}/vhosts/{vhostName}/applications/{appName}/streamfiles
```

View a list of stream files associated with an application named *testlive*:


```bash Example request
curl -X GET \
  -H "Accept:application/json; charset=utf-8" \
  -H "Content-Type:application/json; charset=utf-8" \
  http://localhost:8087/v2/servers/{serverName}/vhosts/{vhostName}/applications/testlive/streamfiles
```

The command should return a response similar to the following:


```json Example response
{
  "serverName": "serverName",
  "streamFiles": [
    {
      "id": "metallica",
      "href": "http://localhost:8087/v2/servers/{serverName}/vhosts/{vhostName}/applications/testlive/streamfiles/streamfile1"
    },
    {
      "id": "saosin",
      "href": "http://localhost:8087/v2/servers/{serverName}/vhosts/{vhostName}/applications/testlive/streamfiles/streamfile2"
    }
  ]
}
```

View the details of a stream file:


```bash Example request
curl -X GET \
  -H 'Accept:application/json; charset=utf-8' \
  -H 'Content-type:application/json; charset=utf-8' \
  http://localhost:8087/v2/servers/{serverName}/vhosts/{vhostName}/applications/{appName}/streamfiles/{streamfileName}
```

The command should return a response that shows the stream file's name and the source URI, like this:


```json Example response
{
  "version": "1430317484000",
  "serverName": "serverName",
  "uri": "udp://0.0.0.0:10000",
  "name": "streamfileName"
}
```

## Add a stream file

Add a stream file named *creedence*:


```bash Example request
curl -X POST \
  -H 'Accept:application/json; charset=utf-8' \
  -H 'Content-Type:application/json; charset=utf-8' \
  http://localhost:8087/v2/servers/{serverName}/vhosts/{vhostName}/applications/{appName}/streamfiles \
  -d '{
    "name": "creedence",
    "serverName": "serverName",
    "uri": "udp://1.2.3.4:10000"
  }'
```

Depending on the stream type, change the protocol for the value in the `uri` string. The command returns a response similar to this:


```json Example response
{
  "success": true,
  "message": "",
  "data": null
}
```

## Update a stream file

When using the REST API, you can customize the advanced properties of a stream file. The following example changes the URI to an Axis IP camera and reduces the stream timeout and reconnect wait time for the stream file named *creedence*:


```bash Example request
curl -X PUT \
  -H 'Accept: application/json; charset=utf-8' \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json; charset=utf-8' \
  http://localhost:8087/v2/servers/{serverName}/vhosts/{vhostName}/applications/{appName}/streamfiles/creedence/adv \
  -d '{
    "sourceControlDriver": "",
    "advancedSettings": [{
      "sectionName": "Common",
      "canRemove": false,
      "defaultValue": "null",
      "documented": false,
      "name": "uri",
      "section": "null",
      "type": "string",
      "value": "rtsp://user:pass@[ip-camera]:554/axis-media/media.amp?videocodec=h264&streamprofile=400",
      "enabled": true
    }, {
      "sectionName": "Common",
      "canRemove": true,
      "defaultValue": "12000",
      "documented": true,
      "name": "streamTimeout",
      "section": "null",
      "type": "integer",
      "value": "0",
      "enabled": true
    }, {
      "sectionName": "Common",
      "canRemove": false,
      "defaultValue": "3000",
      "documented": true,
      "name": "reconnectWaitTime",
      "section": "null",
      "type": "integer",
      "value": "0",
      "enabled": true
    }],
    "serverName": "serverName",
    "version": ""
  }'
```

The command should return a response that looks something like this:


```json Example response
{
  "success": true,
  "message": "",
  "data": null
}
```

You can also create stream files using MPEG-TS audio and video [packet identifiers (PIDs)](https://www.wowza.com/docs/how-to-control-video-and-audio-pid-and-streamids-for-outgoing-mpeg-ts), as in the following example.
For the value properties in the `MpegtsAudioPID` and `MpegtsVideoPID` blocks, use the values from your encoder.


```bash Example request
curl -X PUT \
  -H 'Accept: application/json; charset=utf-8' \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json; charset=utf-8' \
  http://localhost:8087/v2/servers/{serverName}/vhosts/{vhostName}/applications/{appName}/streamfiles/creedence/adv \
  -d '{
    "sourceControlDriver": "",
    "advancedSettings": [{
      "sectionName": "Common",
      "canRemove": false,
      "defaultValue": "null",
      "documented": false,
      "name": "uri",
      "section": "null",
      "type": "string",
      "value": "udp://1.2.3.4:10000",
      "enabled": true
    }, {
      "sectionName": "Common",
      "canRemove": true,
      "defaultValue": "",
      "documented": true,
      "name": "MpegtsAudioPID",
      "section": "null",
      "type": "integer",
      "value": "15",
      "enabled": true
    }, {
      "sectionName": "Common",
      "canRemove": false,
      "defaultValue": "",
      "documented": true,
      "name": "MpegtsVideoPID",
      "section": "null",
      "type": "integer",
      "value": "16",
      "enabled": true
    }],
    "serverName": "serverName",
    "version": ""
  }'
```

Notes
If you're using multiple audio tracks, you can create separate stream files for each alternative language you would like to ingest — for example, `myStream_English.stream`, `myStream_German.stream`, etc.
To specify the language you would like to play, include a different value for the `mpegtsAudioPID` property in each of these stream files.

Once done, you can use a SMIL file to choose the correct stream based on the language track.
For more, see [Use alternative audio or video tracks with HLS streams](https://www.wowza.com/docs/how-to-use-alternative-audio-or-video-tracks-with-apple-hls-streams) and [Use alternative audio or video tracks with MPEG-DASH streams](https://www.wowza.com/docs/how-to-use-alternative-audio-or-video-tracks-with-mpeg-dash-streams).

### SRT example

With Wowza Streaming Engine 4.8.27, changes were made to improve the creation of SRT stream files via the Wowza Streaming Engine REST API.
The [`mpegTsFilters`](https://www.wowza.com/docs/how-to-specify-per-stream-settings-in-stream-files#mpeg-ts-filters) property was added to the Swagger model for the PUT endpoint that handles updates for advanced stream settings.

If you're creating an SRT stream, first create the stream using the POST request in the [Add a stream file](#add-a-stream-file) section.
Omit the `mpegTsFilters` property in the POST request.
Then, update the stream properties with a PUT request to this advanced properties endpoint:


```
/v2/servers/{serverName}/vhosts/{vhostName}/applications/{appName}/streamfiles/{streamfileName}/adv
```

While the `mpegTSFilter` property is optional, it must be included in the body of the PUT request to update the SRT stream and MPEG-TS filters when applicable.
For example:


```bash Example request
curl -X PUT \
  -H 'Accept: application/json; charset=utf-8' \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json; charset=utf-8' \
  http://localhost:8087/v2/servers/{serverName}/vhosts/{vhostName}/applications/{appName}/streamfiles/{streamFileName}/adv \
  -d '{
    "sourceControlDriver": "",
    "advancedSettings": [{
      "sectionName": "Secure Reliable Transport",
      "canRemove": false,
      "defaultValue": "",
      "documented": false,
      "name": "srtKeyLength",
      "section": "",
      "type": "integer",
      "value": "16",
      "enabled": true
    }, {
      "sectionName": "Secure Reliable Transport",
      "canRemove": false,
      "defaultValue": "",
      "documented": false,
      "name": "srtLatency",
      "section": "",
      "type": "integer",
      "value": "400",
      "enabled": true
    }, {
      "sectionName": "Secure Reliable Transport",
      "canRemove": false,
      "defaultValue": "",
      "documented": false,
      "name": "srtTooLatePacketDrop",
      "section": "",
      "type": "boolean",
      "value": "true",
      "enabled": true
    }],
    "serverName": "serverName",
    "version": "",
    "mpegTSFilters": [{
      "name": "main",
      "mpegtsProgramID": "1",
      "mpegtsVideoPID": "283",
      "mpegtsAudioPID": "0x101"
    }, {
      "name": "main1",
      "mpegtsProgramID": "1",
      "mpegtsVideoPID": "283",
      "mpegtsAudioPID": "0x102"
    }]
  }'
```

## Connect a stream file

Initiate the connection of a stream file named *creedence*:


```bash Example request
curl -X PUT \
  -H 'Accept:application/json; charset=utf-8' \
  -H 'Content-type:application/json; charset=utf-8' \
  "http://localhost:8087/v2/servers/{serverName}/vhosts/{vhostName}/applications/{appName}/streamfiles/creedence/actions/connect?connectAppName={appName}&appInstance={instanceName}&mediaCasterType=rtp"
```

## Disconnect a stream file

Disconnect a stream file:


```bash Example request
curl -X PUT \
  -H 'Accept:application/json; charset=utf-8' \
  -H 'Content-Type:application/json; charset=utf-8' \
  http://localhost:8087/v2/servers/{serverName}/vhosts/{vhostName}/applications/{appName}/instances/{instanceName}/incomingstreams/{streamfileName}/actions/disconnectStream
```

> **Note:** Stream files must be disconnected before they can be deleted.


## Remove a stream file

Delete a stream file:


```bash Example request
curl -X DELETE \
  -H 'Accept:application/json; charset=utf-8' \
  http://localhost:8087/v2/servers/{serverName}/vhosts/{vhostName}/applications/{appName}/streamfiles/{streamfileName}
```