How to Install Jellyfin Media Server on an Ubuntu 22.04 VPS

Introduction to Jellyfin

Jellyfin is a free and open-source software media system that lets you control the management and streaming of your media. It’s an excellent alternative to proprietary services like Plex or Emby. By installing Jellyfin on your own VPS, you can create a personal media library for your movies, TV shows, music, and photos, accessible from anywhere in the world on a wide range of devices.

Step 1: Update Your System

Before installing any new software, it’s crucial to ensure your system’s package list is up-to-date. Connect to your Ubuntu 22.04 server via SSH and run the following commands:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade -y

Step 2: Add the Jellyfin Repository

Jellyfin is not available in the default Ubuntu repositories. To ensure we get the latest stable version and future updates, we will add the official Jellyfin repository. First, install the necessary dependencies:

sudo apt install curl gpg gnupg2 software-properties-common apt-transport-https ca-certificates lsb-release -y

Next, import the Jellyfin GPG signing key:

curl -fsSL https://repo.jellyfin.org/jellyfin_team.gpg.key | sudo gpg --dearmor -o /etc/apt/trusted.gpg.d/jellyfin.gpg

Now, add the Jellyfin repository itself:

echo "deb [arch=$(dpkg --print-architecture)] https://repo.jellyfin.org/$( lsb_release -c -s ) main" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/jellyfin.list

Finally, update your package list again to include the new repository:

sudo apt update

Step 3: Install Jellyfin Media Server

With the repository configured, installing Jellyfin is as simple as running a single command:

sudo apt install jellyfin -y

The installation process will create a `jellyfin` user and group and set up Jellyfin to run as a `systemd` service.

Step 4: Manage the Jellyfin Service and Firewall

The Jellyfin service should start automatically after installation. You can verify its status with:

sudo systemctl status jellyfin

If it’s not active, you can start it and enable it to launch on boot with these commands:

• Start the service:

  sudo systemctl start jellyfin

• Enable on boot:

  sudo systemctl enable jellyfin

Jellyfin uses port 8096 for HTTP traffic and port 8920 for HTTPS traffic by default. You need to open at least port 8096 in your firewall to access the setup wizard. We’ll use UFW (Uncomplicated Firewall) for this.

sudo ufw allow 8096/tcp
sudo ufw enable
sudo ufw status

The status command should show port 8096 as allowed from anywhere.

Step 5: Complete the Jellyfin Setup Wizard

Now that Jellyfin is installed and accessible, you can complete the setup through its web interface. Open your favorite browser and navigate to:

http://your_server_ip:8096

You will be greeted by the Jellyfin welcome screen. Follow the on-screen instructions to:

• Set your preferred language.
• Create an administrator username and password.
• Add your media libraries by specifying the content type (e.g., Movies, TV Shows) and the folder path on your server where the files are stored.
• Configure language and country settings for metadata fetching.
• Enable or disable remote access options.

Once you finish the wizard, you’ll be taken to your Jellyfin dashboard. You can now start adding media files to your library folders and enjoy your personal streaming service!