How to Install Emby Media Server on Ubuntu 22.04

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

Shape.host Resources dashboard with Create > Instance highlighted.

Step 2: Choose a Datacenter Location

Pick a datacenter location, such as New York, London, or Frankfurt, for low-latency access.

Shape.host instance form with the data center location selector highlighted.

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.

Shape.host instance form with the operating system image selector highlighted.

Step 5: Configure and Launch

Set the Network Type and Authentication Method (SSH key or password), name your instance, and click Create Instance.

Shape.host instance form with the Create Instance button highlighted.

Locate Your Instance’s IP Address

Shape.host Resources dashboard with the server IP address highlighted.

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

Terminal showing APT package management commands and output.

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

Terminal showing file download commands and transfer output.

Install Emby:

dpkg -i emby-server-deb_4.8.3.0_amd64.deb
apt install -f

Terminal showing package installation trigger output.

Step 3: Start and Verify Emby Service

Start the Emby server:

systemctl start emby-server

Check its status:

systemctl status emby-server

Terminal showing systemd service management commands or output.

Step 4: Verify the Listening Ports

Check the active ports:

ss -tulpn

Terminal showing ss commands or output during Verify the Listening Ports.

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

Terminal showing nano commands or output during Install and Configure Nginx as a Reverse Proxy.

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";
 }
}

Terminal showing web server configuration text.

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/

Terminal showing nano commands or output during Enable the Nginx Site and Restart Nginx.

Test the Nginx configuration:

nginx -t

Terminal showing Nginx configuration test output.

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

Terminal showing firewall configuration commands and rules.

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

Terminal showing Certbot certificate commands and messages.

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.

Emby setup form for creating the first user.

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.

Emby preferred metadata language and country selectors.

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.

Emby remote access configuration screen.

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.

Emby setup completion screen with a Finish button.

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.

Emby home screen with an empty media library.

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.