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Jellyfin Media Server Installation

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This guide explains how to set up Jellyfin Media Server as a Docker container installed on an Ubuntu system running on ODYSSEY-X86. By using Jellyfin, you can stream all your local media files from anywhere in the world!

What is Docker?​

Docker is an open platform for developing, shipping, and running applications. Docker provides the ability to package and run an application in a loosely isolated environment called a container. The isolation and security allow you to run many containers simultaneously on a given host. Containers are lightweight and contain everything needed to run the application, so you do not need to rely on what is currently installed on the host. You can easily share containers while you work, and be sure that everyone you share with gets the same container that works in the same way.

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What is Jellyfin Media Server?​

Jellyfin Media Server is a tool that allows you to access the music, pictures, and videos stored on one device with many other devices. You can install Jellyfin software on a Windows, Mac, or Linux computer, network-attached storage (NAS) device or even a router. You can stream all your media files stored on your Jellyfin Media Server remotely over the internet and access from anywhere in the world using the Jellyfin app.

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Getting Started​

Now let's go through the process of running Jellyfin Media Server as a Docker container installed on an Ubuntu system.

Install Ubuntu on X86​

Follow this wiki to install Ubuntu on ODYSSEY-X86. You can download the latest Ubuntu OS from here.

Install Docker on Ubuntu​

  • Step 1. Update your existing packages list
sudo apt update
  • Step 2. Install needed prerequisite packages
sudo apt install apt-transport-https ca-certificates curl software-properties-common -y
  • Step 3. Add the GPG key for the official Docker repository to your Ubuntu system
curl -fsSL https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu/gpg | sudo apt-key add -
  • Step 4. Add the Docker repository to APT sources
sudo add-apt-repository "deb [arch=amd64] https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu focal stable"
  • Step 5. Install Docker
sudo apt install docker-ce -y
  • Step 6. Verify that Docker is installed and already running
sudo systemctl status docker

And you will see the following output

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  • Step 7. By default, the docker command can only be run as the root user or by a user in the docker group. So, add your username to the Docker group
sudo usermod -aG docker ${USER}
  • Step 8. Apply the new group membership
su - ${USER}

Install Jellyfin Media Server on Docker​

  • Step 1. Download the latest Jellyfin container image
docker pull jellyfin/jellyfin
  • Step 2. Create persistent storage for configuration and cache data
docker volume create jellyfin-config
docker volume create jellyfin-cache
  • Step 3. Create a folder to save the media files
# for example
mkdir /home/username/movies

Note: Here username should be replaced by the username on your Ubuntu system

  • Step 4. Create and run a container
docker run -d \
 --name jellyfin \
 --net=host \
 --volume jellyfin-config:/config \
 --volume jellyfin-cache:/cache \
 --mount type=bind,source=/path/to/media,target=/media \
 --restart=unless-stopped \
 jellyfin/jellyfin

Note: Here /path/to/media is the /home/username/movies directory that we created before

Initial Setup of Jellyfin Media Server​

  • Step 1. Type the following on a web browser from within ODYSSEY-X86 or any other PC on the same network as ODYSSEY-X86
<IP_address_of_ODYSSEY-X86>:8096
# for example:
192.168.1.133:8096
  • Step 2. On the Jellyfin setup homepage, select your preferred language and click Next

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  • Step 3. Enter a Username, Password for the admin account and click Next

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  • Step 4. Click Add Media Library

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  • Step 5. Choose the Content type from the drop-down menu and fill the Display name. Here the Display name will choose the same as the content type

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  • Step 6. Click on the + symbol next to Folders

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  • Step 7. Click on the /media folder inside the Docker container and click OK

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  • Step 8. Click OK again keeping the other settings at default. You can change the other settings if you prefer.

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  • Step 9. Click Next

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Note: Before clicking Next, you can continue to add other media libraries such as TV shows. Just click Add Media Library and repeat the process

  • Step 10. Change the seetings if you want and click Next for the following screens

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  • Step 11. Finally click Finish

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  • Step 12. Sign in to the admin account we created before

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And you will be brought to the Homepage of Jellyfin!

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Add Movies/ TV Shows​

Now we will add a couple of movies so that we can play on Jellyfin

  • Step 1. Copy and paste all your movie files into the directory (/home/username/movies) that we created before

  • Step 2. Come back to the Jellyfin homepage, click the 3 dots and select Refresh metadata

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  • Step 3. Keep the default Refresh mode and click Refresh

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  • Step 4. Click Movies

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And finally you will see all your movies loaded

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  • Step 5. Click on a movie and click the Play button to start playing the movie

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Play the Media on Jellyfin Client Applications​

Now you can use the Jellyufin Client applications to view all your media inside the Jellyfin Media Server. The Jellyfin app can be installed on various devices such as mobile phones, PCs, smart TVs, etc...

Visit this link to view supported devices so that you can install the Jellyfin app on them.

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Now you can navigate to the Jellyfin Client App, log in, and stream all your media stored on the Jellyfin Media Server!

Attach External Storage to Store the Media​

You can also attach external storage drives to expand the storage on X86 so that we can store all our media.

ODYSSEY - X86J4125 has a number of storage options such as:

  • PCIe SSD
  • SATA SSD
  • SATA HDD
  • Micro-SD Card
  • USB Flash Drives

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You can attach any external storage of your choice by referring to the above storage options.

Turn an Ordinary TV into a Smart TV to Run Jellyfin​

It is very convenient to stream media such as movies from your Jellyfin Media Server by using a Smart TV at home. You need a smart TV because the Jellyfin app can be installed if the TV has an app store. However, if you have an ordinary TV, you can turn it into a smart TV by using a Raspberry Pi!

You can follow this link to learn more!

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