Self-hosting movies#
I started hosting video streaming over a year ago. I’m using Jellyfin media server.
It’s straightforward to install it using yunohost.
One of the big advantages of using yunohost is simiplified user management across apps/services: you create user accounts in yunohost once and those accounts are used by apps supporting LDAP.
After installation of yunohost you have to add libraries in User > Settings > Dashboard > Libraries > Add Media Library.
I keep separate libraries for movies, short movies, shows (series) and music videos. Jellyfin supports music as well, but imho Navidrome is better for streaming music.
I keep large media on dedicated HDD drive. HDD is perfect for files that are large and rarely accessed. HDD is slower than SSD, but it’s cheaper per GB.
Adding movies#
Initially I was copying media using rsync.
Lately I realised that yunohost offers qbittorrent app simplifying adding movies greatly.
Note, you can register this app with your browser, so it automatically lauches when clicking on Magnet link. To do so, open qBittorrent app and go to Tools > Register to handle Magner links…
To further register clicking, go to Tools > Options and set
Default torrent management mode to Automatic
Default Save Path to: path used by Jellyfin for movies
Keep incomplete torreints in: some other temporary location
Additionally you may want to adjust
Speed > Alternative Rate Limits (with schedule)
BitTorent > Torrent Queueing & Seeding Limits
Now, everytime you click on magnet link in your browser, qBittorrent app will launch automatically, so you can start downloading media with a single click.
Plugins#
Functionality of jellyfin can be further extended with plugins. You can add/edit plugis in User > Settings > Dashboard > Plugins.
Some plugins will require to add new repository source. To add new plugin source, click on Manage Repositories.
Most plugins require restart of jellyfin server to be activated. This can be done in yunohost admin > Tools > Services and click on jellyfin and Restart.
A short list of plugins I found useful so far
Open Subtitles - automatic downloading of subtitles. After installation provide you credential in pluggin settings.
Playback Reporting reports playback activity from users
Media Cleaner allows automatic cleaning of media. In order to install it, you need to add new repository: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/shemanaev/jellyfin-plugin-repo/master/manifest.json Our movie collection grew to over 800GB! I realised we get many more movies than we’re able to watch. So now I’m deleting movies unless someone favourited it 30 days after being watched (letting other people to watch) or 90 days after being added (unlikely anyone will watch it).