Setting Up Jellyfin with Docker Compose¶

Introduction to Jellyfin¶

Jellyfin is a free and open-source media solution that allows you to organize, manage, and share your media files. It is an alternative to services like Plex or Emby, offering no subscription fees and a completely customizable and private experience.

Docker Compose Configuration for Jellyfin¶

This Docker Compose setup deploys Jellyfin in a Docker container, ensuring a consistent and isolated environment. The configuration includes custom volume paths and environment settings.

Docker Compose File (docker-compose.yml)¶

version: "2.1"
services:
  jellyfin:
    image: lscr.io/linuxserver/jellyfin:latest
    container_name: jellyfin
    environment:
      - PUID=1000
      - PGID=1000
      - TZ=Pacific/Auckland
    volumes:
      - /home/server/jellyfin/library:/config
      - /home/server/jellyfin/tvseries:/data/tvshows
      - /home/server/jellyfin/movies:/data/movies
    ports:
      - 8096:8096
      - 8920:8920 #optional
      - 7359:7359/udp #optional
      - 1900:1900/udp #optional
    restart: unless-stopped

Key Components of the Configuration¶

Environment Variables¶

• PUID=1000 and PGID=1000: Set user and group IDs for file permissions.
• TZ=Pacific/Auckland: Sets the container's timezone.

Volumes¶

• /home/server/jellyfin/library:/config: Configuration and data storage.
• /home/server/jellyfin/tvseries:/data/tvshows: TV series library.
• /home/server/jellyfin/movies:/data/movies: Movies library.

Ports¶

• 8096:8096: Main access port for Jellyfin's web interface.
• 8920:8920: Optional port for HTTPS access.
• 7359:7359/udp: Optional port for live TV and DVR features.
• 1900:1900/udp: Optional port for DLNA.

Restart Policy¶

• unless-stopped: The container restarts automatically after a crash, except when it has been explicitly stopped.

Deploying Jellyfin¶

1. Save the Docker Compose configuration in a docker-compose.yml file.
2. Run docker compose up -d to start Jellyfin in detached mode.
3. Access Jellyfin's web interface via http://<host-ip>:8096.

Configuring and Using Jellyfin¶

After navigating to http://<your-server-ip>:8096:

1. Complete the setup wizard — create an admin account and set your preferred language/metadata
2. Add your media libraries by pointing Jellyfin to the directories mounted in the compose file
3. Create additional user accounts under Dashboard → Users if needed
4. For hardware-accelerated transcoding, see Dashboard → Playback and enable your GPU's acceleration method (Intel QSV, NVIDIA NVENC, etc.)

Youtube Video¶

Updating Jellyfin¶

docker compose pull
docker compose up -d

If there is an issue with this guide or you wish to suggest changes, please raise an issue on GitHub.