Self-Hosting an Emby Media Server on Debian

Setting up an Emby server on Debian Linux is straightforward and can be completed in just a few minutes. This guide focuses on a lightweight, self-hosted installation using a minimal Debian deployment.

For this deployment I do not use transcoding, as all client devices are capable of playing the media directly (Direct Play). This significantly reduces the hardware requirements.

Server Specifications

The following virtual machine specifications have proven more than adequate for a Direct Play-only Emby server.

Note

If you intend to use media transcoding, particularly 4K content or multiple simultaneous streams, you should add a supported GPU that supports hardware acceleration.

Install Debian

A minimal Debian installation reduces resource usage and minimises the attack surface.

During installation, select only:

• SSH Server
• Standard System Utilities

Do not install:

• Desktop Environment

Once installation is complete, update the operating system:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade -y

Installing Emby

Download the latest Debian package from the Emby releases page.

wget https://github.com/MediaBrowser/Emby.Releases/releases/download/4.9.5.0/emby-server-deb_4.9.5.0_amd64.deb

Install the package:

sudo dpkg -i emby-server-deb_4.9.5.0_amd64.deb

Verify the service is running:

sudo systemctl status emby-server

Enable the service to start automatically after reboot:

sudo systemctl enable emby-server

Remove the installation package once installation has completed:

rm emby-server-deb_4.9.5.0_amd64.deb

Initial Configuration

Open your browser and navigate to:

http://<server-ip>:8096

The setup wizard will guide you through:

• Creating an administrator account
• Selecting your preferred language
• Adding media libraries
• Configuring metadata providers
• Setting remote access preferences

Once complete, your Emby server is ready to use.

Updating Emby

Updating Emby is identical to the installation process.

1. Download the latest Debian package.
2. Install it using dpkg.
3. Remove the downloaded package.

Verify the installed version from the Emby web interface under Dashboard.

Useful Plugins

Emby includes a plugin catalogue that can extend the functionality of your media server.

1. Open the Emby Dashboard.
2. Navigate to Plugins.
3. Select the Catalog tab.

While the default installation is suitable for most users, the following plugins are worth considering.