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Xtream-Masters OTT panel feature: load balancing
IPTV Panel Load Balancer with unlimited load balancers
Xtream-Masters is a self-hosted IPTV / OTT panel for Ubuntu 20.04 to 26.04 that spreads your viewers over unlimited load balancers on one license. The main server keeps the database and redirects every stream request to a load balancer, which delivers the stream.
Add balancers for more capacity or more regions, pin channels to the servers you choose, and keep catchup on a dedicated storage server.
- Unlimited load balancers
- Ubuntu 20.04 to 26.04
- 3-day money-back
Load balancing at a glance
- Load balancers per licenseUnlimited
- Stream routingMain redirects (302) to LB
- Database port LBs use7999 on the main
- Catchup storageTimeshift Only server
- Playlist / EPG offloadMulti-Main, optional
- Price€40/mo, €70/mo from 2027
What is an IPTV panel load balancer?
An IPTV panel load balancer is a streaming server that the panel sends viewers to. In Xtream-Masters, the main server checks the line and redirects (302) each stream request to a load balancer, which delivers the live channel, movie or catchup. One license covers the main server and unlimited load balancers.
Xtream-Masters is a self-hosted IPTV/OTT panel (Xtream UI / XUI.ONE replacement) that installs on your own Ubuntu server and migrates Xtream UI, XUI, NXT and other panel databases by remote database or mysqldump file.
| Load balancers | Unlimited on one license |
|---|---|
| Operating system | Ubuntu 20.04 to 26.04, 24.04 recommended (main and load balancers) |
| Stream routing | Main server redirects (302) to a load balancer, the balancer delivers the stream |
| Streaming ports | 80, 8080, 443, 8443 and custom ports |
| Playlist, EPG, portal | Main server, or Multi-Main Sub-Main nodes (€199 one-time, about 50,000 requests/s per node) |
| Catchup / TV archive | Load balancer set to Timeshift Only, added as sub-server |
| Price | €40/month until 31 Dec 2026, then €70/month from 1 January 2027 |
How IPTV load balancing works
One stream request, four hops. The heavy video traffic never stays on the main server.
302 redirect to a load balancer.
Main server
- Admin and reseller panel, database
- Checks lines, redirects streams (302)
- Builds playlist, EPG and portal unless Multi-Main is added
- 32 GB RAM minimum recommended
Load balancers
- Deliver live channels, movies and series
- Unlimited on one license
- Optional Timeshift Only role for catchup storage
- Own SSL, DNS and proxy settings per server
Multi-Main node
Optional add-on- Takes playlist, EPG and portal requests
- About 50,000 requests/s per node, up to about 5x faster playlists
- €199 one-time, unlimited nodes, Ubuntu 24.04+ and 32 GB RAM each
- Does not deliver streams and does not replace the main
IPTV load balancer features in the panel
Everything below is set per server or per stream from the admin panel.
Server Tree per stream
Edit a stream, open the Load Balancing tab and choose in the Server Tree which balancers run the channel.
Catchup storage server
Set a balancer with large disks to Timeshift Only, add it as a sub-server and choose how many days of TV archive to keep.
Balance by connections
Set Balance Connections to Number of connections and give every server a max allowed connections value above 0.
Automatic SSL per balancer
Free Let's Encrypt certificates on the streaming SSL port, renewed automatically. Turn it on once per server, main and each balancer.
Users CDN and Private CDN
Each balancer has Users CDN and Private Users CDN domains. Several DNS records can point to one balancer and rotate on playback retries.
Proxy in front of each balancer
The built-in Install Proxy page puts a proxy in front of a balancer to hide its real IP. Rule of thumb: one proxy per load balancer, with the same or higher bandwidth.
Secure LB Connection
Rewrites stream URLs automatically so the link format is harder for an ISP to detect and block.
Reseller Private CDN
A reseller can add a small VPS under VPN Servers and route chosen lines through it instead of the load balancer.
Bandwidth and resources monitor
Track bandwidth, CPU, RAM and disk on the main server and every load balancer to find peak hours.
How to add a load balancer to the IPTV panel
Steps from the official Xtream-Masters FAQ. A fresh Ubuntu 24.04 server is recommended.
-
1
Manage Servers
Install the balancer
Add the server with its SSH password. If it stays offline, use LB Server Option > Re-install Balancer.
-
2
Server Guard
Whitelist its IP
If IP Whitelisting is on, add the balancer IP to Whitelist IPs on the main. Find it with
ip route get MAIN-IP. -
3
Load Balancing tab
Put channels on it
Edit each stream and select the balancer in the Server Tree. Set its max allowed connections above 0.
-
4
Up to 2 minutes
Check it is online
Connections stuck at 0? Run
main restarton the main, thenbalancer restarton the balancer.
| Symptom | What to do |
|---|---|
| Balancer shows Offline | Check the Server Guard whitelist (database port 7999), then Restart Service and wait up to 2 minutes. Over SSH: balancer status, balancer logs. |
| Balancer down, SSH works | Run df -h, free any 100% full disk, then balancer restart. Reboot as a last step. |
| High CPU on a balancer | Turn off Connections Exceed VideoLog, then read Request per sec. 200 or more on a balancer usually means an attack: enable Server Guard protections. |
| All streams down on one balancer | Switch that balancer to FFmpeg v7 (Ubuntu 20.04, 22.04, 24.04, 26.04 x86) and restart the balancer service. |
| Streams blocked on an HTTPS panel | Install SSL on the main server and on all load balancers to avoid mixed content. |
Moving load balancers from Xtream UI, XUI.ONE, NXT or other panels
The database migration brings your users, lines, bouquets, streams, movies, series, categories, resellers and settings. Then bring each server online again from the panel. Read the Xtream UI to Xtream-Masters migration guide or the NXT panel alternative guide.
View migration guide- Edit each balancer, set SSH password
- LB Server Option > Re-install Balancer
- Main Server Option > Restart Service
- Wait up to 2 minutes, balancers come online
/home/, reboot, then reinstall the balancer.IPTV load balancer questions
Short answers taken from the official Xtream-Masters FAQ.
How many load balancers can I add to the Xtream-Masters IPTV panel?
Unlimited. One Xtream-Masters license covers the main server plus unlimited load balancers, so you add a balancer whenever you need more streaming capacity or another region. The license is €40/month until 31 Dec 2026, then €70/month from 1 January 2027.
What does the main server do when I use load balancers?
The main server keeps the database and checks each line. Stream requests still reach the main server, which redirects them (HTTP 302) to a load balancer, and the load balancer delivers the stream. Without the Multi-Main add-on, the main server also builds playlists, EPG and portal responses.
Do I need the Multi-Main add-on to use load balancers?
No. Load balancers work without it. Multi-Main is an optional €199 one-time add-on that moves playlist, EPG and portal traffic to Sub-Main edge nodes, about 50,000 requests per second per node and up to about 5x faster playlists. It does not deliver streams and does not replace the main server.
Why does my load balancer show Offline?
Often Server Guard IP Whitelisting is on and the balancer IP is missing, so it cannot reach the main database port 7999. Add the balancer IP under Manage Servers > Main Server > Server Guard > Whitelist IPs. Otherwise use Restart Service on the balancer and wait up to 2 minutes, or run balancer status and balancer logs over SSH.
Which Ubuntu version do IPTV load balancers need?
Main server and load balancers run on Ubuntu 20.04, 22.04, 24.04 and 26.04, with 24.04 recommended on a fresh install. If every stream on one balancer is down, switch that balancer to FFmpeg v7, which supports Ubuntu 20.04 to 26.04 on x86.
Can a load balancer store catchup (TV archive) recordings?
Yes. Install a load balancer with enough disk space, turn on Timeshift Only, then in the stream Load Balancing tab add it as a sub-server under the live balancer and set it as the Timeshift Server with the number of days. The stream needs a valid EPG.
Can I keep my Xtream UI, XUI.ONE, NXT or other panel load balancers when I migrate?
Yes. After the database migration, edit each load balancer in Manage Server, set its SSH password, then choose LB Server Option > Re-install Balancer. A fresh Ubuntu 24.04 install is recommended for the new main server.
Run unlimited load balancers on one IPTV panel license
Install the Xtream-Masters panel on your Ubuntu server, migrate your old database and add balancers as your audience grows.