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Overview

This page lays out the clear plan for your Media Manager setup—what actions you’ll take, why each step matters, and what success looks like along the way. Think of it as your roadmap that guides you from start to finish.

The Goal

We’re turning a single Linux machine (like a Raspberry Pi) into a reliable, mostly hands-off media server that:

  • Automatically downloads TV shows and movies using qBittorrent
  • Uses the powerful ARR stack (Radarr, Sonarr, Prowlarr, Bazarr) to find and manage your media
  • Organizes and moves finished downloads into a tidy media library
  • Streams your media with Plex Media Server
  • Runs ARR apps inside Docker for easy updates and portability

High-Level Setup Architecture

  • Host operating system: Linux (e.g., Raspberry Pi OS or Ubuntu Server)
  • Host services: Docker engine, Plex Media Server, and qBittorrent installed directly on the host
  • Containerized apps: Radarr, Sonarr, Prowlarr, Bazarr, and any additional helpers via Docker Compose
  • Storage layout:
    • Downloaded files go to /mnt/omnissiah-vault/data/media-manager/downloads
    • Finished media files live in /mnt/omnissiah-vault/data/media-manager/media
    • App configuration files live under /mnt/omnissiah-vault/configs/<service-name>

🔍 1) Validate Your System

What we do:
Verify your operating system, update all critical packages, and set essential system settings like hostname, timezone, and network configuration.

What you achieve:
A stable and predictable environment with SSH access and a consistent system identity, laying the foundation for everything else.

💾 2) Prepare Storage and Mount Points

What we do:
Connect and mount your external drives permanently, create organized folders for media, downloads, and configurations.

What you achieve:
Reliable, durable storage locations cleanly separated from your system disk, making management, backups, and expansions easier.

🐳 3) Install Docker

What we do:
Install Docker Engine and Docker Compose on your host system.

What you achieve:
A containerized environment ready to host ARR services, optimizing portability, isolation, and simplified updates.

🎬 4) Install Plex on the Host

What we do:
Install Plex Media Server natively, set up initial libraries pointing to your media folders, and configure remote access as needed.

What you achieve:
A powerful media streaming service that efficiently accesses and serves your organized media.

🧲 5) Install qBittorrent on the Host

What we do:
Install the headless qBittorrent torrent client, configure it with stable download paths, and set up its web UI for easy control.

What you achieve:
A fast, stable, and reliable download engine integrated with the rest of your media automation pipeline.

🧱 6) Deploy the ARR Stack via Docker Compose

What we do:
Start Radarr, Sonarr, Prowlarr, Bazarr, and any optional services in Docker containers, mounting media and config volumes properly.

What you achieve:
All core media automation services running in isolated but connected containers, ready to manage your media intelligently.

🔗 7) Integrate ARR with qBittorrent and Plex

What we do:
Configure Radarr and Sonarr to use qBittorrent as their downloader and Plex as the media library refresher. Link Prowlarr as the indexer for search results.

What you achieve:
A seamless automated loop where new media gets found, downloaded, organized, and made available with minimal effort.

🗂️ 8) Configure Media Libraries and Quality Profiles

What we do:
Set up consistent folder structures, naming schemes, and quality preferences in Radarr and Sonarr for Movies and TV shows.

What you achieve:
Neatly named and organized media that Plex can easily scan and serve, improving overall media management quality.

🚀 9) Test Your Full Setup

What we do:
Manually add a test movie or episode, verify it downloads through qBittorrent, is organized by Radarr/Sonarr, and appears in Plex.

What you achieve:
Confidence that every part of your automation workflow works smoothly without permission or path issues.

🛡️ 10) Backup and Maintain

What we do:
Implement regular backups of configuration data, keep the system and Docker updated, and optionally add monitoring tools to keep watch on your media server.

What you achieve:
A reliable and maintainable Media Manager system that withstands unforeseen issues and keeps running smoothly.

Feel free to follow the linked steps for detailed, easy-to-understand guides. Each part builds on the previous to get you from a fresh Linux install to a fully automated media powerhouse.

🚪Ready to begin?

Move on to the Setup Mount Points step to prepare your storage structure and permissions Go to 👉 Setup Mount Points