Skip to main content

Game Streaming with Sunshine

Sunshine is a self-hosted game streaming server that allows you to stream games from your Aurora desktop to any device running a Moonlight client. It offers low-latency gaming with hardware-accelerated encoding support for AMD, Intel, and NVIDIA GPUs.

What is Sunshine?​

Sunshine is an open-source, self-hosted alternative to NVIDIA GameStream that works with any GPU. It allows you to:

  • Stream games from your Aurora desktop to phones, tablets, laptops, and other devices
  • Play games remotely with low latency using hardware acceleration
  • Access your desktop remotely for productivity tasks
  • Use any Moonlight-compatible client for streaming

Sunshine is included by default in Aurora and provides a web-based configuration interface for easy setup.

Prerequisites​

System Requirements​

Minimum Requirements:

  • GPU: Hardware encoding support (see compatibility below)
  • CPU: Intel Core i3 / AMD Ryzen 3 or higher
  • RAM: 4GB or more
  • Network: 5GHz 802.11ac WiFi or wired connection

For 4K Streaming:

  • GPU: More recent hardware encoding support
  • CPU: Intel Core i5 / AMD Ryzen 5 or higher
  • Network: Wired ethernet connection recommended

GPU Compatibility​

AMD GPUs:

  • VCE 1.0 or higher for basic streaming
  • VCE 3.1 or higher recommended for 4K
  • VCE 3.4 or higher for HDR

Intel GPUs:

  • VAAPI-compatible on Linux
  • Skylake or newer with QuickSync for Windows compatibility
  • HD Graphics 510+ for 4K
  • HD Graphics 730+ for HDR

NVIDIA GPUs:

  • NVENC-enabled cards
  • GTX 1080+ for 4K on Windows
  • RTX 2000 series+ for 4K on Linux
  • GTX 10-series+ for HDR

Getting Started​

Initial Setup with ujust​

Aurora provides a convenient setup command to configure Sunshine with optimal settings:

ujust setup-sunshine

This command will:

  • Configure Sunshine with recommended settings for Aurora
  • Set up proper firewall rules
  • Enable the Sunshine service
  • Provide initial configuration guidance

Installing Moonlight Client​

You'll need a Moonlight client on the device you want to stream to:

  • Android/iOS: Install from app stores
  • Windows/Mac/Linux: Download from moonlight-stream.org
  • Steam Deck: Available through Discover
  • Nintendo Switch: Available through homebrew
  • Web Browser: Some web-based clients available

First-Time Setup​

  1. Run Aurora Setup Command (recommended):

    ujust setup-sunshine

  2. Access Sunshine Web UI:

    # After running setup-sunshine, or if Sunshine is running by default
    # Open your web browser and go to:
    # https://localhost:47990

  3. Create Admin Account:

    • On first access, you'll be prompted to create an admin username and password
    • Use a secure password as this controls access to your streaming server

  4. Configure Basic Settings:

    • Set your desired streaming resolution and framerate
    • Configure audio settings
    • Set up client authentication

Configuration​

Web Interface Configuration​

Access the Sunshine web interface at https://localhost:47990 to configure:

Display Settings:

  • Output resolution (1080p, 1440p, 4K)
  • Framerate (30, 60, 120 FPS)
  • Bitrate settings
  • HDR support (if hardware supports it)

Audio Settings:

  • Audio device selection
  • Surround sound configuration
  • Audio codec preferences

Input Settings:

  • Gamepad support
  • Keyboard and mouse input
  • Touch input handling

Network Settings:

  • Port configuration (default 47989-47990)
  • UPnP settings
  • External IP configuration

Adding Applications​

  1. Navigate to Applications in the web UI
  2. Add New Application:
    • Name: Display name for the app
    • Command: Full path to executable
    • Working Directory: Application folder
    • Image Path: Optional icon for the app

Example Game Configuration:

Name: Steam Big Picture
Command: flatpak run com.valvesoftware.Steam steam://open/bigpicture
Working Directory: /home/username

Example Desktop Configuration:

Name: Desktop
Command: /usr/bin/plasma-desktop
Working Directory: /home/username

Firewall Configuration​

If you used ujust setup-sunshine, the firewall configuration is handled automatically. Otherwise, Sunshine requires certain ports to be open:

# Allow Sunshine through firewall
sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --add-port=47989/tcp
sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --add-port=47990/tcp
sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --add-port=48010/tcp
sudo firewall-cmd --reload

For systems using UFW:

sudo ufw allow 47989/tcp
sudo ufw allow 47990/tcp
sudo ufw allow 48010/tcp

Client Setup and Pairing​

Pairing a New Device​

  1. Start Sunshine: Ensure Sunshine is running on Aurora
  2. Get Pairing PIN:
    • Access the web UI at https://localhost:47990
    • Go to "Pin" section to generate a pairing PIN
  3. Add Host in Moonlight:
    • Open Moonlight on your client device
    • Add host using your Aurora IP address
    • Enter the pairing PIN when prompted

Finding Your IP Address​

# Find your local IP address
ip addr show | grep 'inet ' | grep -v '127.0.0.1'
# Or use the simpler command:
hostname -I

Optimizing Performance​

Network Optimization​

For Best Performance:

  • Use wired ethernet connection when possible
  • Ensure strong WiFi signal (5GHz preferred)
  • Consider gaming routers with QoS features
  • Minimize network traffic during streaming

Bitrate Guidelines:

  • 1080p 60fps: 10-20 Mbps
  • 1440p 60fps: 20-40 Mbps
  • 4K 60fps: 50-100 Mbps

Hardware Acceleration​

Sunshine automatically detects and uses available hardware encoders:

Check Hardware Encoding Status:

  • Monitor the Sunshine logs for encoder information
  • NVENC (NVIDIA), QuickSync (Intel), or VCE (AMD) should be detected
  • Software encoding will be used as fallback

GPU Settings for NVIDIA:

# Ensure NVIDIA drivers are properly installed
nvidia-smi
# Check for NVENC support
nvidia-ml-py3

Gaming-Specific Optimizations​

Steam Configuration:

  • Enable Hardware Accelerated GPU Scheduling in Windows (if dual-booting)
  • Use Steam Big Picture mode for controller support
  • Configure Steam In-Home Streaming settings

Reduce Input Lag:

  • Use "Fast" encoding preset
  • Lower framerate cap if needed
  • Enable "Reduce Buffering" in Moonlight client
  • Use wired controllers when possible

Managing Sunshine​

Sunshine Service Control​

For initial setup, use the Aurora convenience command:

# Complete setup including service enablement
ujust setup-sunshine

For manual service management:

# Check Sunshine status
systemctl --user status sunshine

# Start Sunshine
systemctl --user start sunshine

# Stop Sunshine
systemctl --user stop sunshine

# Enable automatic startup
systemctl --user enable sunshine

# Disable automatic startup
systemctl --user disable sunshine

Configuration Files​

Sunshine configuration is stored in:

~/.config/sunshine/
├── sunshine.conf    # Main configuration
├── apps.json       # Application definitions
└── credentials.json # Authentication data

Viewing Logs​

# View real-time logs
journalctl --user -f -u sunshine

# View recent logs
journalctl --user -u sunshine --since "1 hour ago"

Troubleshooting​

Common Issues​

Cannot Connect to Web UI:

  • Verify Sunshine is running: systemctl --user status sunshine
  • Check firewall settings
  • Try accessing via http://localhost:47990 instead of https

Client Cannot Find Host:

  • Verify Aurora IP address
  • Check firewall configuration
  • Ensure both devices are on same network
  • Try manual IP entry in Moonlight

Poor Streaming Quality:

  • Check network bandwidth and latency
  • Reduce resolution or framerate
  • Adjust bitrate settings
  • Verify hardware encoding is working

Audio Issues:

  • Check audio device selection in Sunshine
  • Verify audio is working on Aurora host
  • Test different audio codecs
  • Check client device audio settings

Controller Not Working:

  • Verify controller works on Aurora host
  • Check input settings in Sunshine
  • Try different controller mapping
  • Ensure gamepad support is enabled

Performance Issues​

High Latency:

  • Use wired connection
  • Reduce encoding settings
  • Close unnecessary applications
  • Check for network interference

Stuttering or Lag:

  • Monitor CPU/GPU usage during streaming
  • Adjust encoder settings
  • Check for thermal throttling
  • Verify sufficient network bandwidth

Black Screen Issues:

  • Try different display capture method
  • Check GPU driver status
  • Verify application compatibility
  • Test with desktop streaming first

Getting Help​

Log Collection:

# Collect detailed logs for troubleshooting
journalctl --user -u sunshine > sunshine_logs.txt

Community Support:

Advanced Usage​

Custom Applications​

Adding Non-Steam Games:

{
  "name": "Custom Game",
  "cmd": "/path/to/game/executable",
  "working-dir": "/path/to/game/",
  "image-path": "/path/to/icon.png"
}

Desktop Environments:

  • Stream entire desktop for productivity use
  • Configure multiple desktop environments
  • Set up virtual displays for dedicated streaming

Remote Access​

Sunshine isn't just for gaming - it can provide full remote desktop access:

Desktop Streaming:

  • Add KDE Plasma as an application
  • Stream productivity applications
  • Access files and settings remotely

Security Considerations:

  • Use strong authentication
  • Consider VPN for external access
  • Regularly update Sunshine
  • Monitor access logs

Multiple GPU Setups​

For systems with multiple GPUs:

  • Configure which GPU handles encoding
  • Set up GPU-specific profiles
  • Monitor GPU usage during streaming

Best Practices​

Security​

  • Use Strong Passwords: For both Aurora user account and Sunshine admin
  • Network Isolation: Consider separate network for streaming if needed
  • Regular Updates: Keep Sunshine updated through system updates
  • Access Control: Monitor which devices are paired

Performance​

  • Dedicated Streaming Setup: Consider dedicated GPU for encoding if available
  • Network Infrastructure: Invest in quality network equipment
  • System Maintenance: Keep Aurora updated and optimized
  • Monitor Resources: Watch CPU/GPU usage during streaming

User Experience​

  • Test Configurations: Try different settings for optimal experience
  • Multiple Profiles: Set up different quality profiles for different devices
  • Controller Setup: Ensure controllers work well on target devices
  • Backup Configuration: Save working configurations

Conclusion​

Sunshine provides excellent game streaming capabilities on Aurora, allowing you to enjoy your games anywhere in your home or remotely. With proper setup and optimization, you can achieve near-native gaming performance on various devices.

The combination of Aurora's stability and Sunshine's flexibility makes for a powerful streaming solution that rivals commercial alternatives while giving you complete control over your setup.

For the best experience, start with a wired network connection and gradually optimize settings based on your specific hardware and network conditions.