Media servers

Make new movies, shows and music appear in Plex, Jellyfin or Emby right after import.

HolyArrs tells the server to look at a folder again after it imports, renames or deletes files there.

Before you start

• You can open the server’s address from the machine that runs HolyArrs.
• You have a Plex token, or an API key for Jellyfin or Emby (make one in the server under Dashboard, API keys).
• You know where the server sees your media folders. In Docker, that is the path inside the server’s container.

Add a media server

1. Open Settings > Media servers.
2. Select Add a media server.
3. Enter a Name. Each server needs its own, up to 80 characters.
4. Pick the Kind: Plex, Jellyfin or Emby. You cannot change it later.
5. Enter the Address with http or https, such as http://192.168.1.10:32400 for Plex or http://192.168.1.10:8096 for Jellyfin and Emby.
6. Paste the Plex token, or the API key for Jellyfin and Emby.
7. Select Save, then Test on the new card. You should see the library names (Plex) or the server name and version (Jellyfin, Emby).

Caution

If the server sees your files under another path, for example in another container, scans find nothing new. Set the path pair under Paths.

Choices

Update it after

Pick which changes the server hears about: An import, A rename, A delete. All 3 are on for a new server. A delete counts only when files left the disk.

Paths

Fill HolyArrs path and Same folder on the server only when the two see files under different paths. If HolyArrs sees /movies and the server sees /media/movies, enter /movies first and /media/movies second. Fill both or neither.

Reach the local network

On by default, since media servers are almost always at home. Turn it off for a server on the internet. HolyArrs never calls link-local or cloud metadata addresses, whatever this says.

Send updates

Turn it off to pause a server without removing it. The card shows Off.

The token or key is stored encrypted and never shown. Leave the box empty to keep it. After an address change, paste it again, so it never goes to a different server.

Check that it works

The card shows the last check or the last error. Each update also lands in History as Told the media server about it or Could not reach the media server, with the reason. Health checks lists each server and its state.

If it does not work

Message or symptom	Fix
“the server turned down the token”	Select Change and paste a new token or key
“the server did not answer”	Check the address and port, and that HolyArrs can reach that machine
“the server is on the local network, which it may not reach”	Turn on Reach the local network
“the server has no movie, TV or music library”	Add a library in Plex, then test again
“type the token again when the server address changes”	Paste the token again and save
“give both sides of the path map, or neither”	Fill both path boxes, or clear both
The server scans, but nothing new shows	The paths differ. Set the path pair

For experts

How updates are sent

HolyArrs waits 10 s and gathers every changed folder before it sends, so renaming a whole show is one update.

Server	What HolyArrs sends
Plex	Finds the movie, TV or music library that holds the folder and scans that folder only. If none holds it, scans every library of that type
Jellyfin	The list of created, changed or deleted folders, then one library refresh
Emby	The list of created, changed or deleted folders

A request to a server times out after 20 s, and Test after 30 s.

Related

• Library folders
• Folders and hardlinks
• Health checks