Why use Jellyfin in Docker
The biggest advantage of using Jellyfin in Docker It's portability. Docker allows you to package all software, including its dependencies, into a “container” that can run on any operating system that supports Docker. This means that you could, for example, set up Jellyfin on an Ubuntu system and then move the container to a Windows or MacOS system without making any configuration changes.
In addition to portability, Docker also has the advantage of being a lightweight virtualization solution. Unlike traditional virtual machines that emulate an entire operating system, Docker containers share the host operating system, making them significantly more efficient in terms of resource usage.
Prepare to install Jellyfin on Docker
Before you start installing Jellyfin in Docker, we need to prepare the environment:
- Install Docker: Depending on your operating system, you may need to download and install Docker.
- Create a new folder for Jellyfin: I recommend creating a new folder on your hard drive to save all the Jellyfin files. For example, you could create a new folder called "jellyfin" in your home directory.
Install Jellyfin in Docker
First, we need to find the appropriate Jellyfin Docker image. Start Docker and search for 'jellyfin' in the Docker Hub repository. Select the official Jellyfin image, download and install it following the instructions provided.
Once downloaded, we could start a new Docker container using the Jellyfin image we just downloaded. Make sure you assign all the necessary volumes and ports according to your needs.
Jellyfin Initial Setup
After installation, we will need to configure Jellyfin according to our needs. This involves adding our media libraries such as movies and TV shows, setting up our user accounts, and adjusting various network and streaming settings.
We may also want to explore Jellyfin's advanced settings such as hardware transcoding and DLNA integration.
Bonus: updating Jellyfin in Docker
One of the great benefits of using Docker It is the ease with which we can keep the software updated. To update Jellyfin, we will simply need to download the new Jellyfin image from Docker Hub and restart the Docker container with this new image.
To summarize, Jellyfin on Docker offers a flexible and powerful way to run a customizable media server. With a little initial work to install and configure, Jellyfin can provide a free and open source media server that can serve all your streaming needs.