Jellyfin, install and configure this media server on Ubuntu 18.04

about Jellyfin

In the next article we are going to take a look at Jellyfin. As has already been written previously in this blog, in Ubuntu we can find different powerful and functional media servers. The one that concerns us today is a free, cross-platform and open source alternative for streaming media.

In Jellyfin we will not find premium features, licenses or other types of plans. It is simply a totally free and open source project that is supported by its corresponding community. Using jellyfin we will be able to quickly and instantly configure this media server in Ubuntu in a few minutes. Will allow us access via LAN or WAN from any device.

about media server
Related article:
Media server, some good options for our Ubuntu

Install Jellyfin on Ubuntu 18.04

Jellyfin is compatible with GNU / Linux, Mac OS and Windows. For this example we are going to install it on an Ubuntu 18.04 LTS distribution.

To begin we are going to open a terminal (Ctrl + Alt + T) and install HTTPS transport for APT, if it is not already installed on your computer:

install apt transport https

sudo apt install apt-transport-https

The next step will be add Jellyfin GPG signing key:

Jellyfin Key repo

wget -O - https://repo.jellyfin.org/debian/jellyfin_team.gpg.key | sudo apt-key add -

We continue adding the Jellyfin repository. In the same terminal we will write the following commands:

add Jellyfin repository

sudo touch /etc/apt/sources.list.d/jellyfin.list

echo "deb https://repo.jellyfin.org/ubuntu bionic main" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/jellyfin.list

Finally, we will update software listing from the repositories:

sudo apt update

Finished installed Jellyfin using the following command:

media server installation

sudo apt install jellyfin

Start the Jellyfin service

For enable and start the service after each restart we will execute the following commands:

starting the media server

sudo systemctl enable jellyfin

sudo systemctl start jellyfin

We can check if the service has been started correctly or not by running the command:

media server status

sudo systemctl status jellyfin

If you see an output like the one in the previous screenshot, Jellyfin will have started the service correctly. At this point, we can move on to the initial setup.

Initial setup

We will be able to access Jellyfin from any system on the network. It will not be necessary to install any extra applications. All you need is a web browser modern. To begin, we are going to make the configuration, start by accessing the URL in the browser http://nombredominio:8096 o http://dirección-IP:8096.

Select the language of the media server

On the screen we will see the welcome screen like the one in the previous screenshot. Here there is nothing but select our preferred language and click on Next.

user data in Jellyfin

On this screen we will have to write our user data. In the control panel that we will find later, we can add more users. We go to the next screen by clicking on Next.

Add media library

The next step is going to be select the multimedia files we want to transmit. Just click the button 'Add Media Library'.

Jellyfin media library directory

Select the type of content between audio, video, movies, etc. We will also have to type a display name and click the + sign found next to the text «Folders«. So you can choose the location where we have our multimedia files saved. As well we will be able to make other configurations for the library, etc. We will go to the next screen by clicking on Ok.

Select different folders on the media server

In the same way we can add all the multimedia files categorized as we are interested. Once you've chosen everything you want to stream, click Next.

Metadata Settings in Jellyfin

Choose the metadata language and click Next.

Jellyfin remote configuration

On this screen we must configure if we want to allow remote connections to this media server. Make sure to allow remote connections if you are interested in accessing from other devices or computers. It also enables the automatic port assignment. Finish by clicking Next.

Jellyfin finished setup

If you get to this screen, everything is ready. do click on Finish to complete the initial Jellyfin setup. You will be redirected to the login page.

Log in to Jellyfin

log in with username and password configured on the media server

Write the username and password you set before.

Home page on the media server

As seen in the screenshot, all media files should be displayed on the screen in the section My Contents. All you have to do is click on the multimedia file you want to play or select the tab to see its data.

selected video data on the media server

If you need change or reconfigure something, No more than click on the three horizontal bars at the top left of the screen. Here you can add users, media files, change playback settings, install plugins, change the default port, and many other settings.

installed media server configuration options

If you would like to know more about the features or configurations, take a look at the page of official documentation Jellyfin or his page on GitHub.


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  1.   Eduardo Rivero said

    An interesting project since it contains all the premium features of other programs, but how this service could be accessed outside the local network.

  2.   alex said

    for a while now, the restart option does not appear, neither the public nor private ip, and it does not allow access remotely.

  3.   Ignatius Tender said

    Hello, if it lets you access remotely, you just have to find out your external ip, it is very simple and open the ports on the router, if you have an ip that changes, use a very simple dns server (duckdns.org) and he will only change the ip if They change it because you connect by a web address
    there's a lot of information
    regards