Emby is a versatile, open-source media server solution that allows users to organize, stream, and share their personal media collections, including movies, music, TV shows, and photos. Emby helps centralize multimedia content and makes it accessible from any device, whether you’re on your home network or remotely. It provides an intuitive user interface and supports transcoding, making it possible to stream content in various formats. Emby also integrates with various plugins for expanded functionality, such as metadata retrieval, parental controls, and live TV.
Creating an Instance on Cloud.shape.host
Step 1: Access the Dashboard and Create an Instance
Log in to Cloud.shape.host, click Create, and select Instances.
Step 2: Choose a Datacenter Location
Pick a datacenter location, such as New York, London, or Frankfurt, for low-latency access.
Step 3: Select a Plan
Choose a suitable plan based on the server resources required for Emby (Standard, CPU-Optimized, or Memory-Optimized).
Step 4: Choose an Operating System
Select Ubuntu 22.04 as the operating system for your instance.
Step 5: Configure and Launch
Set the Network Type and Authentication Method (SSH key or password), name your instance, and click Create Instance.
Locate Your Instance’s IP Address
Accessing Your Instance
- SSH (for Linux/macOS):
ssh root@<your-instance-ip>
Replace <your-instance-ip>
with your instance’s public IP.
- PuTTY (for Windows):
Download PuTTY, enter the instance’s public IP, and click Open.
Installing and Configuring Emby
Step 1: Update and Upgrade the System
Start by updating your system:
apt update -y
apt upgrade -y
Step 2: Download and Install Emby Media Server
Download the Emby package:
wget https://github.com/MediaBrowser/Emby.Releases/releases/download/4.8.3.0/emby-server-deb_4.8.3.0_amd64.deb
Install Emby:
dpkg -i emby-server-deb_4.8.3.0_amd64.deb
apt install -f
Step 3: Start and Verify Emby Service
Start the Emby server:
systemctl start emby-server
Check its status:
systemctl status emby-server
Step 4: Verify the Listening Ports
Check the active ports:
ss -tulpn
Step 5: Install and Configure Nginx as a Reverse Proxy
Install Nginx:
apt install nginx
Create a new Nginx configuration for Emby:
nano /etc/nginx/sites-available/emby
Insert the following configuration:
server {
listen 80;
server_name tutorials.shape.host; # Change to your domain
proxy_hide_header X-Powered-By;
add_header X-Xss-Protection "1; mode=block" always;
add_header X-Content-Type-Options "nosniff" always;
add_header Strict-Transport-Security "max-age=2592000; includeSubdomains" always;
add_header X-Frame-Options "SAMEORIGIN" always;
add_header 'Referrer-Policy' 'no-referrer';
location / {
proxy_pass http://127.0.0.1:8096; # Emby’s non-SSL port
proxy_set_header Host $host;
proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for;
proxy_http_version 1.1;
proxy_set_header Upgrade $http_upgrade;
proxy_set_header Connection "upgrade";
}
}
Step 6: Enable the Nginx Site and Restart Nginx
Create a symlink to enable the site:
ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/emby /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/
Test the Nginx configuration:
nginx -t
Restart Nginx:
systemctl restart nginx
Step 7: Allow Nginx and SSH Through the Firewall
Allow the required services:
ufw allow 'Nginx Full'
ufw allow ssh
ufw enable
ufw status
Step 8: Secure Emby with SSL using Certbot
Install Certbot and configure SSL:
apt install certbot python3-certbot-nginx
certbot --nginx --agree-tos --redirect --hsts --staple-ocsp --email contact@shape.host -d tutorials.shape.host
Step 9: Access Emby Web Interface
Open your web browser and visit the domain name or IP address of your Emby installation:
https://tutorials.shape.host
If the installation was successful, you will see a “Welcome to Emby” message.
Step 10: Welcome to Emby
The Emby setup begins with a welcome screen where you are asked to select your preferred display language. Choose the appropriate language for the interface and click “Next” to proceed.
Step 11: Create Your First User
In this step, you are prompted to create your first user account, which will be the administrator of the Emby server. Enter a username and create a strong password. Once you’ve filled in the necessary details, click “Next” to move forward.
Step 12: Setup Media Libraries
Here, you can configure your media libraries. If you want to add a new media library, click “New Library.” After you’ve set up the libraries, click “Next” to proceed.
Step 13: Preferred Metadata Language
Select the preferred metadata language for your media files. You can customize this setting on a per-library basis later. Choose your desired language and country, then click “Next” to continue.
Step 14: Configure Remote Access
This step allows you to enable remote access to your Emby server. By checking the “Enable automatic port mapping” option, Emby will attempt to map the public port to the local port via UPnP. This may not work on all router models. Click “Next” to proceed.
Step 15: Terms of Use
To continue the setup process, you must accept the Emby terms of use and privacy policy. Check the box for “I accept the terms of use” and click “Next” to continue with the installation.
Step 16: Setup Completion
The setup is now complete. Emby has started scanning your media libraries and you can now access the server dashboard. Click “Finish” to finalize the installation and proceed to the dashboard interface.
Step 17: Server Login Screen
After the setup, you are taken to the login screen of your Emby server. Enter the username and password you created during the installation process. Click on “Manual Login” to sign in to your Emby server.
Step 18: Enter Login Credentials
At this screen, enter the username and password you created during setup. Optionally, you can check the “Remember me” box to stay logged in for future sessions. Click “Sign In” to access your Emby server.
Step 19: Emby Server Dashboard
After logging in, you will be directed to the main Emby dashboard. This interface allows you to manage your media, customize server settings, and explore additional features. From here, you can begin setting up your media collection or explore other options.
For enhanced performance and reliability, use Shape.Host’s Cloud VPS services to host your Emby Media Server. With scalable infrastructure and high-speed SSDs, your media streaming needs will be well supported.