Hello my dear Linux Yogi’s
I am going to illustrate for you how to install and configure an Emby Media Server. Emby is a very nice media server project with lots of features and it is possible to install it on a variety or platforms for example Linux, Window, Mac and various NAS devies and FreeBSD. Client for Emby are available on for example: AmazonFire, Android, Chrome, Roku, AppleTV, HTML5 and many more.
Emby also offers Premium feature for a licensing fee and it offers for example: MobileSync, CloudSync, CoverArt, FolderSync, CinemaMode, Backup and much more. I can everybody recommend to get the premium license.
Let’s get started by adding the new repositories to the system. Depending on your OS you might want to look here https://goo.gl/fUXoRi for the full list. I am going to install it on a Ubuntu 14.04 Server Edition. If you are not sure which version you are running you can simply execute the following command:
lsb_release -rc
and it should return something similar like this:
Release: 16.04 Codename: xenial
or you can also execute this command:
cat /etc/lsb-release
which returns something like the following:
DISTRIB_ID=Ubuntu DISTRIB_RELEASE=16.04 DISTRIB_CODENAME=xenial DISTRIB_DESCRIPTION="Ubuntu 16.04.1 LTS"
Ok in order to add the new repositories to our distribution we need to execute the following command:
sudo sh -c "echo 'deb http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/home:/emby/xUbuntu_16.04/ /' > /etc/apt/sources.list.d/emby-server.list"
now before we can actually update our repositories we need to add the GPG key. Execute the following commands.
wget http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/home:emby/xUbuntu_16.04/Release.key sudo apt-key add - < Release.key
Now we are able to update our repositories.
sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install emby-server ffmpeg
There might be quiet a few additional packages needed to be installed and the installer will ask you if you want to continue? Hit “y” to continue. You might also be asked the following question: “Install these packages without verification? [y/N]” also here again hit “y” to continue. The installation will take a moment so be patient. After the installation is done you can use the following commands:
# Start the Emby Server # sudo service emby-server start # Stop the Emby Server # sudo service emby-server stop # Restart the Emby Server # sudo service emby-server restart # Look up the status of the Emby server # sudo service emby-server status
When the Server is running you can use your browser and access it with the following URL:
http://<your servers ip address>:8096
and then you should see something like this.

I recommend that you read the “Quick start guide” before you start. After you’ve done it pick you language and click on “Next”

Enter a Name and if you like to make use of the online sync functions you need to set up an Emby Account. Please read the “Learn more about Emby Connect”. Click on “Next”

Now the setup like you to add at least one Library location. Click on “Add Media Library”

Select a Content Type from the List.

Click on the “Add” button to add a media location.

You can use local or networked locations. Enter the ones you need.

Verify that all looks correct and then click on “OK”

Either you repeat this process for adding additional media resources or click on “Next”

Select you preferred metadata language and click on “Next”

Here you can pick a online live tv provider or skip it all together. Make you pick.

On this screen we need to specify the location of the ffmpeg location. Select “Use a custom version” if it is not detecting it automatically and enter the correct path for ffmpeg. If you don’t know the path go to the terminal on the emby server and run the following command:
whereis ffmpeg
this should tell you the location. In my case it is located under /usr/bin/ffmpeg

Check the “I accept the terms of service” box after reading the terms and click on “Next”

Now we are done. Click on the “Finish” button.

Click on your User Account

After the login the system shows you the back-end with all its settings. Click on the little House Icon in the top left corner.

Here it is displaying the Home Screen. On this Home Screen you will see your movies, music, pictures or other stuff you uploaded. Click on the little Gear icon in the top right corner to get back to the back-end.

Scroll further down until you see the “Plugins” option in the left pane. Below you can see all available plugins. Keep scrolling down.







The Emby server has tons of settings and configuration option. The best thing from here on is to look around and read the help function to figure out if certain option apply to you or not.
I hope that this illustration for helpful and got you started with Emby Media Server. I recommend to purchase a Premium License for the additional feature like mobile clients for you phone or table.
If you have any question feel free you contact me! I’ll be happy to help out. Leave a comment and register to the forum.
Until next time my friends Namaste! 😉