Overview of multi-application stream groups
A multi-application stream group is a stream group that's linked to multiple applications. This enables you to stream multiple applications by using the same set of compute resources in a single stream group.
A common use case for multi-application stream groups is to release different versions of your game. For example, suppose that you created a stream group and set the default application to the original version of your game. Then, suppose you create additional applications that contains other versions of your game and link them to the stream group. Since these applications are associated with the same stream group, you only have to manage a single set of compute resources, or stream capacity, to stream all of these games. This means, regardless of which application an end-user streams, the application runs on a compute resource from the same set that this stream group has allocated.
Here are other possible real-life examples:
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A game streaming platform that offers different streaming tiers to customers.
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A quality assurance team that's testing multiple versions of a game.
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To simplify stream capacity management by using a single stream group for multiple applications.
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To enable a set of applications to stream from the same pool of stream capacity.
Limitations and requirements
You can only associate applications to stream groups that have compatible runtime environments and stream classes. For more information, refer to Runtime environment and stream class compatibility.
The following association limits apply to applications and stream groups. These limits are fixed within the service for all customers.
| Name | Default | Adjustable | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applications in a stream group | 100 | No | The maximum number of Amazon GameLift Streams applications that can be associated to a stream group. |
| Stream group associations per application | 100 | No | The maximum number of stream groups that an Amazon GameLift Streams application can be associated to. |
About default applications
Each stream group has one default application, which is initially the first application that you add to the stream group. The default application is automatically pre-cached on all always-on compute resources, which can help reduce application load time during stream startup. The Amazon GameLift Streams service can also cache other linked applications during its optimization processes.
Characteristics of default applications and other linked applications:
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The default application is pre-cached (on pre-allocated compute resources such as your always-on capacity) to help reduce application load time during stream startup.
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The default application can be changed. Note that when you switch default applications in a stream group, it can take up to a few hours for the new default application to be pre-cached in all locations.
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At least one linked application is required before you can start streaming from the stream group. The first application linked is automatically made the default application.
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If you unlink the default application of a stream group, Amazon GameLift Streams will automatically choose a new default application from the remaining associated applications, if there are any.
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The same application can be the default application for multiple stream groups.
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The set of linked applications is mutable until the stream group is 180 days old. In practical terms, this means that you can link and unlink applications until the stream group is 180 days old. After that, you will only be able to unlink applications from a stream group throughout the remainder of the stream group's lifecycle.
Change default application
When you link the first application to a stream group, it automatically becomes the default application and receives pre- caching benefits. You can change the default application at any time to give these benefits to a different application.
Note
When you switch default applications in a stream group, it can take up to a few hours for the new default application to be pre-cached in all locations.
Link an application
When you link, or associate, an application to a stream group, the stream group will be able to stream the application. If it is the first application in the stream group, it will automatically become the default application. You can link and unlink additional applications to a stream group until it reaches 180 days old. After that, you will only be able to unlink applications from a stream group throughout the remainder of the group's lifecycle.
Important
You cannot link an application to a stream group that is over 180 days old. To associate different applications to the stream group, you will first need to recreate it. For instructions on how to recreate a stream group, refer to Stream group maintenenace.
Before you link an application, ensure that the stream group is in Active status.
Unlink an application
When you unlink, or disassociate, an application from a stream group, you can no longer stream this application by using that stream group's allocated compute resources. Any streams in process will continue until they terminate, which helps avoid interrupting an end-user's stream. Amazon GameLift Streams will not initiate new streams using this stream group. The unlink action does not affect the stream capacity of a stream group.
If you unlink the default application of a stream group, Amazon GameLift Streams will automatically choose a new default application from the remaining associated applications, if there are any.
