Owncast is a powerful, self-hosted live-streaming platform that allows users to broadcast video content without relying on mainstream platforms. If you run a WordPress site and want to integrate Owncast to enhance the experience for your audience, setting up authentication between Owncast and WordPress can provide a seamless way to control access to your streams. This guide will take you through the steps to authenticate Owncast with WordPress, enabling a secure and integrated live-streaming experience on your website.
Why Authenticate Owncast with WordPress?
Authenticating Owncast with WordPress allows you to manage and restrict access to your streams using your WordPress user accounts. This is especially useful if you want to offer exclusive live content for subscribers, members, or registered users on your site. With authentication in place, you can protect your streams, requiring users to log in through WordPress before they can watch.
Step 1: Set Up Owncast on Your Server
Before connecting to WordPress, make sure you have Owncast up and running on your server:
1. Download and Install Owncast: Visit the Owncast website to download the software and follow their setup guide to install it on your server.
2. Access the Admin Panel: Once installed, open the Owncast admin interface to configure the server settings. You’ll need to note down your Admin Access Token, which is essential for setting up authentication later.
Step 2: Install a WordPress Authentication Plugin
To enable authentication, you’ll need a plugin on your WordPress site that supports REST API authentication. One popular option is the JWT Authentication for WP REST API plugin, which provides JSON Web Token (JWT) authentication.
1. Install JWT Authentication Plugin:
– Go to your WordPress dashboard.
– Navigate to Plugins > Add New.
– Search for “JWT Authentication for WP REST API,” install, and activate it.
2. Configure the Plugin:
– After installation, go to Settings > JWT Authentication.
– Generate a secret key, which will be used to authenticate users between WordPress and Owncast.
– Follow the plugin’s configuration instructions, which typically involve adding certain code to your WordPress `wp-config.php` file and enabling REST API authentication.
Step 3: Configure Owncast for WordPress Authentication
Now that WordPress is set up for JWT authentication, you’ll configure Owncast to authenticate users through the WordPress API.
1. Access Owncast Admin Panel: Log in to your Owncast admin interface.
2. Go to External Services: Look for an option that allows you to set up external authentication or custom integrations.
3. Add WordPress API Endpoint:
– For example, use `https://yourwebsite.com/wp-json/jwt-auth/v1/token` as the endpoint URL, where `yourwebsite.com` is your WordPress URL.
4. Enter JWT Secret Key: Use the secret key from your JWT Authentication plugin settings in WordPress.
This configuration allows Owncast to send authentication requests to your WordPress site, verifying user credentials.
Step 4: Test the Authentication Setup
1. Log Out and Access Stream: Log out of WordPress and try accessing the Owncast stream page.
2. Attempt Login Prompt: When you try to view the stream, you should be prompted to log in through WordPress.
3. Authenticate: Log in with your WordPress account. If everything is set up correctly, you’ll gain access to the stream.
Step 5: Embed Owncast Stream in WordPress
Now that authentication is set up, you can embed your Owncast stream on your WordPress site:
1. Copy the embed code from Owncast.
2. Paste the code into a WordPress page or post using the HTML block.
Integrating Owncast with WordPress authentication is a great way to control access to your live streams and provide a seamless experience for users. By following these steps, you can ensure that only authenticated WordPress users can view your streams, making it ideal for members-only content, subscription-based access, or community-driven sites. With Owncast and WordPress combined, you can offer secure, self-hosted live-streaming directly on your website