Media Server

A portable Docker Compose stack for Jellyfin, Seerr, the Arr apps, download clients, and a few useful homelab extras. It uses ordinary host paths, has no required domain name, and works on Linux or macOS with Docker Compose v2.

Quick start

Install Docker, then run:

git clone https://github.com/iamngoni/media-server.git
cd media-server
./start.sh

That one command:

• creates a private .env with your user IDs and timezone when needed;
• creates local config, download, and media folders;
• validates the Compose configuration;
• starts the complete stack that does not require third-party API keys.

Existing .env files are never overwritten.

Open the apps

App	URL	Purpose
Jellyfin	http://localhost:8096	Stream media
Seerr	http://localhost:5055	Request movies and series
qBittorrent	http://localhost:8080	Download client
Sonarr	http://localhost:8989	Series management
Radarr	http://localhost:7878	Movie management
Lidarr	http://localhost:8686	Music management
Bazarr	http://localhost:6767	Subtitle management
Prowlarr	http://localhost:9696	Indexer management
MeTube	http://localhost:8081	Video downloader
JDownloader	http://localhost:5800	General downloader
Uptime Kuma	http://localhost:3001	Service monitoring
Speedtest Tracker	http://localhost:8765	Network measurements
Home Assistant	http://localhost:8123	Home automation

If you changed a port in .env, use that port instead.

First-run checklist

1. Open qBittorrent and set a permanent password. Its temporary password is shown by:

   docker compose logs qbittorrent | grep -i 'temporary password'

2. Add qBittorrent to Sonarr, Radarr, and Lidarr with host qbittorrent, port 8080, and download path /downloads.

3. Add these root folders: Sonarr /tv and /anime, Radarr /movies, Lidarr /music.

4. Add FlareSolverr to Prowlarr as http://flaresolverr:8191, then connect Prowlarr to the Arr apps using their service names.

5. Connect Seerr to Jellyfin, Sonarr, and Radarr.

The exact internal addresses and recommended categories are in Service configuration.

Start modes

./start.sh --core   # Jellyfin, Seerr, qBittorrent, Prowlarr, FlareSolverr, and Arr apps
./start.sh          # core plus all credential-free extras
./start.sh --all    # also enable automation services after adding API keys
./start.sh --check  # prepare and validate without starting containers

The automation profile contains Unpackerr, Recyclarr, and Notifiarr. Configure its API keys in .env before using --all.

Storage

The default layout stays inside the repository and is ignored by Git:

media/
├── Movies/
├── Series/
├── Anime/
└── Music/
downloads/
data/          # application databases and configuration

To use an existing library or external drive, edit these values in .env before starting:

MEDIA_DIR=/path/to/media
DOWNLOADS_DIR=/path/to/downloads
CONFIG_DIR=/path/to/app-data

See Storage and permissions for Linux, macOS, NAS, and external-drive guidance.

Everyday commands

docker compose --profile extras ps
docker compose --profile extras logs -f jellyfin
docker compose --profile extras pull
docker compose --profile extras up -d
docker compose --profile extras down

down removes containers and networks, not your bind-mounted data. Do not add -v unless you understand what will be removed.

Let an AI agent set it up

This repository includes an agent skill at skills/setup-media-server/SKILL.md. Give the repository to a compatible agent and ask:

Use the setup-media-server skill to install and verify this stack on my machine.

The skill tells the agent how to inspect the host, preserve existing data, choose paths, run the setup, and verify the result.

More detail

• Service configuration
• Storage and permissions
• Updates, backups, and recovery

Use download and indexer tools only for content you are legally allowed to access.