Anonymous Streaming Guide
Build your own private media streaming empire with self-hosted open source solutions
Self-Hosted Media Stack 2025
Modern media automation stack with Jellyfin, Sonarr, Radarr, and Prowlarr provides Netflix-like experience with complete privacy control. Enhanced with AI-powered recommendations and VPN integration for anonymous content acquisition.
Why Self-Hosted Streaming?
Self-hosting gives you complete control over your media library without the restrictions, tracking, or subscription fees of commercial platforms. Own your content, protect your privacy, and access everything from anywhere.
Complete Privacy
No tracking, no data collection
Total Control
Your content, your rules
Cost Effective
One-time setup, lifetime access
Essential Media Stack Components
Jellyfin Media Server
Free and open-source media server for organizing and streaming content
Features and setup will cover:
- • Installation and initial configuration
- • Library organization and metadata management
- • User management and access controls
- • Remote access and mobile apps
- • Hardware transcoding optimization
Sonarr (TV Shows)
Automated TV show downloading and management system
Configuration and automation will cover:
- • Installation and basic configuration
- • Series monitoring and season management
- • Quality profiles and release preferences
- • Integration with download clients
- • Automated episode organization
Radarr (Movies)
Automated movie downloading and collection management
Setup and optimization will cover:
- • Installation and initial setup
- • Movie discovery and wishlist management
- • Quality profiles and format preferences
- • Custom formats and scoring
- • Collection and franchise organization
Infrastructure & Hardware Setup
1Hardware Requirements & Recommendations
Basic Setup (1-2 Users)
- CPU: Intel i3 or AMD Ryzen 3
- RAM: 8GB DDR4
- Storage: 500GB SSD + 2TB HDD
- Network: Gigabit Ethernet
- Power: ~50W idle consumption
Recommended (5-10 Users)
- CPU: Intel i5 or AMD Ryzen 5
- RAM: 16GB DDR4
- Storage: 1TB SSD + 8TB HDD
- GPU: Intel Quick Sync or Nvidia
- Power: ~100W under load
Enthusiast (10+ Users)
- CPU: Intel i7/i9 or AMD Ryzen 7/9
- RAM: 32GB+ DDR4
- Storage: 2TB NVMe + 20TB HDD array
- GPU: Dedicated transcoding card
- Power: ~200W+ under load
Storage Planning:
SSD (Fast Storage):
- • Operating system and applications
- • Docker containers and databases
- • Temporary download processing
- • Recently accessed media cache
HDD (Bulk Storage):
- • Media library (movies, TV shows)
- • Completed downloads archive
- • System backups and snapshots
- • Long-term media storage
2Operating System Selection
Recommended: Ubuntu Server 24.04 LTS
- • Long-term support until 2029
- • Excellent Docker support
- • Large community and documentation
- • Regular security updates
- • Hardware compatibility
Alternative: Debian 12
- • Rock-solid stability
- • Minimal resource usage
- • Excellent for headless servers
- • Strong security focus
Screenshot Placeholder:
Ubuntu Server Installation Screen
3Initial Server Configuration
Essential Setup Commands:
# Update system packages
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
# Install essential packages
sudo apt install curl wget git htop tree unzip -y
# Configure timezone
sudo timedatectl set-timezone America/New_York
# Set up firewall
sudo ufw enable && sudo ufw default deny incoming
User Management:
- • Create dedicated user for media services
- • Configure SSH key authentication
- • Disable root login via SSH
- • Set up sudo access properly
Security Hardening:
- • Change default SSH port
- • Install fail2ban for intrusion prevention
- • Configure automatic security updates
- • Set up log monitoring
4Storage & Network Configuration
Directory Structure Setup:
# Create media directories
sudo mkdir -p /data/media/{movies,tv,music}
sudo mkdir -p /data/downloads/{complete,incomplete}
sudo mkdir -p /data/config
# Set permissions
sudo chown -R $USER:$USER /data
sudo chmod -R 775 /data
Network Configuration:
- • Configure static IP address
- • Open required ports (8096, 8989, 7878)
- • Set up port forwarding if needed
- • Configure DNS settings
Mount External Drives:
- • Format drives with ext4 filesystem
- • Add to /etc/fstab for auto-mounting
- • Set up RAID arrays if using multiple drives
- • Configure regular filesystem checks
Docker Container Deployment
1Docker & Docker Compose Installation
Installation Commands:
# Remove old Docker versions
sudo apt-get remove docker docker-engine docker.io containerd runc
# Install Docker from official repository
curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com -o get-docker.sh
sudo sh get-docker.sh
# Add user to docker group
sudo usermod -aG docker $USER
# Install Docker Compose
sudo curl -L "https://github.com/docker/compose/releases/download/v2.24.1/docker-compose-$(uname -s)-$(uname -m)" -o /usr/local/bin/docker-compose
sudo chmod +x /usr/local/bin/docker-compose
Verify Installation:
docker --version
docker-compose --version
Test Docker:
sudo docker run hello-world
Should download and run successfully
2Project Directory Setup
Create Directory Structure:
# Create main project directory
mkdir -p /opt/mediaserver
cd /opt/mediaserver
# Create subdirectories
mkdir -p config/{jellyfin,sonarr,radarr,prowlarr,qbittorrent}
mkdir -p downloads/{complete,incomplete}
mkdir -p media/{movies,tv,music}
# Set permissions
sudo chown -R $USER:$USER /opt/mediaserver
chmod -R 755 /opt/mediaserver
Directory Structure:
/opt/mediaserver/
├── docker-compose.yml
├── .env
├── config/
│ ├── jellyfin/
│ ├── sonarr/
│ ├── radarr/
│ ├── prowlarr/
│ └── qbittorrent/
├── downloads/
│ ├── complete/
│ └── incomplete/
└── media/
├── movies/
├── tv/
└── music/
3Environment Variables Configuration
Create .env File:
# Create environment file
nano /opt/mediaserver/.env
Environment Variables:
# User Configuration
PUID=1000
PGID=1000
TZ=America/New_York
# Base Paths
CONFIG_ROOT=/opt/mediaserver/config
DATA_ROOT=/opt/mediaserver
DOWNLOADS_ROOT=/opt/mediaserver/downloads
MEDIA_ROOT=/opt/mediaserver/media
# Network Configuration
DOCKER_NETWORK=mediaserver
# Security (Generate strong passwords)
QBITTORRENT_USER=admin
QBITTORRENT_PASS=strongpassword123
4Complete Docker Compose Configuration
Create docker-compose.yml:
version: "3.8"
services:
jellyfin:
image: jellyfin/jellyfin:latest
container_name: jellyfin
user: ${PUID}:${PGID}
restart: unless-stopped
ports:
- "8096:8096"
volumes:
- ${CONFIG_ROOT}/jellyfin:/config
- ${MEDIA_ROOT}:/media
environment:
- JELLYFIN_PublishedServerUrl=http://localhost:8096
sonarr:
image: linuxserver/sonarr:latest
container_name: sonarr
restart: unless-stopped
ports:
- "8989:8989"
volumes:
- ${CONFIG_ROOT}/sonarr:/config
- ${MEDIA_ROOT}:/media
- ${DOWNLOADS_ROOT}:/downloads
environment:
- PUID=${PUID}
- PGID=${PGID}
- TZ=${TZ}
Deploy Stack:
cd /opt/mediaserver
docker-compose up -d
Monitor Services:
docker-compose logs -f
docker-compose ps
Download Client Configuration
1qBittorrent Installation & Basic Setup
Add to Docker Compose:
qbittorrent:
image: linuxserver/qbittorrent:latest
container_name: qbittorrent
restart: unless-stopped
ports:
- "8080:8080"
- "6881:6881"
- "6881:6881/udp"
volumes:
- ${CONFIG_ROOT}/qbittorrent:/config
- ${DOWNLOADS_ROOT}:/downloads
environment:
- PUID=${PUID}
- PGID=${PGID}
- TZ=${TZ}
- WEBUI_PORT=8080
Access qBittorrent:
• URL: http://localhost:8080
• Default user: admin
• Password: check container logs
docker logs qbittorrent
Initial Configuration:
• Change default password
• Set download directories
• Configure connection limits
• Enable Web UI authentication
2Download Categories & Path Management
Set Up Categories in qBittorrent:
Category Setup:
# Categories to create:
movies → /downloads/complete/movies
tv → /downloads/complete/tv
music → /downloads/complete/music
software → /downloads/complete/software
Path Configuration:
Default save path: /downloads/incomplete
Completed path: /downloads/complete
Move completed: Enable
Append category: Enable
Automatic Management:
• Torrent Management Mode: Manual
• When Category Save Path Changed: Relocate torrent
• When Default Save Path Changed: Relocate affected torrents
• Watch Folder: /downloads/watch (optional)
3Performance & Security Configuration
Connection Settings:
Listening Port: 6881 (or random)
Use UPnP/NAT-PMP: Disabled
Global Max Connections: 200
Max Connections per Torrent: 50
Max Uploads per Torrent: 4
Speed Limits:
Global Download: 0 (unlimited)
Global Upload: 1000 KB/s (adjust as needed)
Alternative Speed Limits: Enable
Schedule: Weekdays 9 AM - 5 PM
Alt Download: 500 KB/s
Security & Privacy:
Anonymous Mode: Enable
Enable DHT: Disable (for privacy)
Enable PeX: Disable
Enable LSD: Disable
Encryption: Require encryption
Allow Legacy Peers: Disable
Enable IP Filtering: Enable
Filter Path: Use blocklist URL
4VPN Integration & Kill Switch
Network Interface Binding:
# Check available network interfaces
ip route show
# Common VPN interfaces:
tun0 # OpenVPN
wg0 # WireGuard
ppp+ # Some providers
qBittorrent Settings:
Network Interface: Select VPN interface
Bind to Interface: Enable
Use Different Port: Enable
IP Address to Report: Leave empty
Kill Switch Test:
1. Start a download
2. Disconnect VPN
3. Check that downloads stop
4. Reconnect VPN
5. Downloads should resume
⚠️ Important VPN Considerations:
• Port Forwarding: Some VPN providers offer port forwarding for better speeds
• DNS Leaks: Configure DNS to use VPN's DNS servers
• IPv6: Disable IPv6 to prevent leaks if VPN doesn't support it
• Auto-Connect: Set VPN to connect on boot
• Split Tunneling: Only route torrent traffic through VPN if supported
Indexer & Prowlarr Configuration
Content Discovery Management
Centralized indexer management for finding content across multiple sources
This section will cover:
- • Prowlarr installation and setup
- • Public and private indexer configuration
- • Sync settings with Sonarr and Radarr
- • Flaresolverr for cloudflare bypass
- • Indexer testing and troubleshooting
Request Management System
Jellyseerr Request Portal
User-friendly interface for requesting movies and TV shows
This section will cover:
- • Jellyseerr installation and configuration
- • User management and request permissions
- • Integration with Sonarr and Radarr
- • Request approval workflows
- • Notification system setup
VPN Integration & Privacy
Anonymous Download Protection
Securing your media acquisition with VPN containers and kill switches
This section will cover:
- • Gluetun VPN container setup
- • Multiple VPN provider configurations
- • Kill switch and DNS leak protection
- • Port forwarding for better speeds
- • Monitoring and health checks
Remote Access & Security
Secure External Access
Setting up secure remote access without compromising privacy
This section will cover:
- • Reverse proxy configuration with Nginx/Traefik
- • SSL certificate management with Let's Encrypt
- • WireGuard VPN for secure remote access
- • Domain and DNS configuration
- • Fail2ban and intrusion detection
Mobile Apps & Clients
Multi-Platform Access
Setting up mobile and TV apps for seamless streaming experience
This section will cover:
- • Jellyfin mobile apps for iOS and Android
- • Smart TV and streaming device setup
- • Desktop client configuration
- • Offline downloading and sync
- • Chromecast and AirPlay integration
Monitoring & Maintenance
System Health & Updates
Keeping your media server running smoothly with monitoring and automation
This section will cover:
- • Monitoring with Grafana and Prometheus
- • Automated backups and disaster recovery
- • Log management and troubleshooting
- • Update management and security patches
- • Performance optimization and scaling
Self-Hosted vs Commercial Streaming
Self-Hosted Advantages
- No monthly subscription fees
- Complete content control and ownership
- No tracking or data collection
- Unlimited storage and quality
Considerations
- Initial setup complexity
- Hardware and electricity costs
- Maintenance and updates required
- Technical knowledge needed