Media Stack Usage Guide

Last Updated: 2025-12-28

⚠️ CRITICAL: Docker Commands Require sudo

On Bazzite/Fedora, ALL docker commands require sudo:

bash

# WRONG - will fail with permission denied
docker compose up -d
docker logs tdarr

# CORRECT - always use sudo
sudo docker compose up -d
sudo docker logs tdarr
sudo docker compose restart tdarr

This is a Bazzite/SELinux security requirement, not a misconfiguration.

Stack Hierarchy: What Talks to What

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                        YOU (Daily Use)                          │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│  Overseerr          Plex              Audiobookshelf            │
│  (Request content)  (Watch content)   (Listen to audiobooks)    │
└────────┬────────────────┬─────────────────┬─────────────────────┘
         │                │                 │
         ▼                ▼                 ▼
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                    AUTOMATION LAYER                              │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│  Radarr ←→ Sonarr ←→ Prowlarr    Komga ←→ Kavita               │
│  (Movies)  (TV)      (Indexers)   (Comics)  (Books)             │
│                                                                  │
│  Bazarr (Subtitles)   Tdarr (Transcoding)   Komf (Metadata)     │
└────────┬────────────────┬───────────────────────────────────────┘
         │                │
         ▼                ▼
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                    DOWNLOAD LAYER                                │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│  SABnzbd (Usenet - Primary)     Transmission (Torrents)         │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Current Library Stats

Library	Size	Location
Movies	16 TB	`/var/mnt/pool/movies`
TV Shows	6.1 TB	`/var/mnt/pool/tv`
Anime	5.9 TB	`/var/mnt/pool/anime`
Total	28 TB	MergerFS Pool (41TB total, 12TB free)

Daily Workflow: What You Should Actually Use

For Movies & TV

Task	Use This	NOT This
Request new content	Overseerr	Radarr/Sonarr directly
Watch content	Plex	-
Check download status	Overseerr or SABnzbd	-
See what's coming	Overseerr calendar	Sonarr calendar

Why Overseerr?

Beautiful UI designed for requesting
Shows what's already in your library
Handles both movies AND TV in one place
Can be shared with family (they can request, you approve)

When to use Radarr/Sonarr directly?

Troubleshooting failed downloads
Adjusting quality profiles
Managing exclusions or tags
Bulk operations

For Manga/Comics

Task	Use This
Read manga	Komga or Kavita
Fix metadata	Komf GUI (localhost:8085)
Add new series	Mylar3 or manual add to folder

For Audiobooks

Task	Use This
Listen on desktop	Audiobookshelf web (localhost:13378)
Listen on iPhone	Audiobookshelf app (App Store)
Add books	Readarr or manual add

Audiobookshelf Mobile Setup

Download: Search "Audiobookshelf" on iOS App Store (free, by advplyr)
Server URL: http://192.168.6.167:13378
Login: Use your Audiobookshelf credentials

Features:

Background playback
Offline downloads for travel
Sleep timer & playback speed
CarPlay support
Sync progress across devices

Overseerr: The Right Way to Use It

Your Current Setup

Overseerr
├── Radarr (movies → /pool/movies)      ← Should be "Default"
├── Radarr_anime (anime movies → /pool/anime)
└── Sonarr (TV → /pool/tv, Anime → /pool/anime)

The "Default" and "4K" Toggles Explained

Toggle	What It Means
Default	Used when user clicks "Request" without specifying
4K	Used when user explicitly requests 4K version

Recommended Configuration

For Radarr servers:

Radarr (movies): ✅ Default, ❌ 4K
Radarr_anime (anime): ❌ Default, ❌ 4K

Why? Most requests are regular movies. Anime movies are niche - users should explicitly choose "Radarr_anime" from the server dropdown when requesting anime films.

To fix (if not already set):

Go to http://localhost:5055/settings/services
Click on "Radarr" entry
Enable "Default Server" toggle
Save

Tdarr: Storage Optimization

Tdarr transcodes media to HEVC/AV1 to save 30-50% storage. With 28TB of media and only 12TB free, this is critical.

Current Status ✅ OPERATIONAL

Component	Status	Details
MainNode	✅ Active	GPU workers: 2, CPU health: 1
SecondaryNode	✅ Active	GPU workers: 2, CPU health: 1
Movies	✅ Configured	ID: `qRHd4dcGk`, `/media/movies`
TV	✅ Configured	ID: `FKnGmlxBT`, `/media/tv`
Anime	✅ Configured	ID: `08QZ-saXn`, `/media/anime`
Files Queued	5,026	GPU transcoding with HEVC

Library Configuration

Libraries are configured with the Migz1FFMPEG GPU plugin for hardware-accelerated HEVC encoding:

Plugin	Status	Purpose
`MigzImageRemoval`	✅	Remove embedded images
`Reorder_Streams`	✅	Optimize stream order
`Migz1FFMPEG_CPU`	❌ OFF	CPU encoding (disabled)
`Migz1FFMPEG`	✅ ON	GPU VAAPI encoding
`New_file_size_check`	✅	Verify compression worked

AMD Radeon 780M VAAPI Configuration

Your GPU uses VCN4 (Video Core Next 4.0) with RDNA3 architecture.

Optimal FFmpeg flags:

bash

# HEVC (recommended for compatibility)
-vaapi_device /dev/dri/renderD128 \
-vf 'format=nv12,hwupload' \
-c:v hevc_vaapi \
-qp 20 \
-profile:v main

# For 10-bit HDR content
-vf 'format=p010,hwupload' \
-profile:v main10

# AV1 (better compression, newer)
-c:v av1_vaapi -qp 24

Quality Settings (QP scale: 0-51, lower = better):

Content Type	HEVC QP	AV1 QP	Notes
4K HDR	18	22	Preserve quality
4K SDR	20	24	Standard high quality
1080p	22	26	Good compression
720p/480p	24	28	Maximum compression
Anime	18	22	Preserve line art

CRITICAL: VAAPI does NOT support CRF mode. Use -qp or -global_quality only!

Tdarr API Reference

Libraries must be created via UI (API-created libraries cause RangeError: interval NaN), but configuration can be done via API:

bash

# Get all libraries
curl -s -X POST http://localhost:8265/api/v2/cruddb \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"data":{"collection":"LibrarySettingsJSONDB","mode":"getAll"}}'

# Update library settings
curl -s -X POST http://localhost:8265/api/v2/cruddb \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "data": {
      "collection": "LibrarySettingsJSONDB",
      "mode": "update",
      "docID": "LIBRARY_ID",
      "obj": {
        "processLibrary": true,
        "processTranscodes": true,
        "processHealthChecks": true
      }
    }
  }'

# Trigger library scan
curl -s -X POST http://localhost:8265/api/v2/scan-files \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"data":{"scanConfig":{"dbID":"LIBRARY_ID","arrayOrPath":"/media/movies","mode":"scanFindNew"}}}'

# Check file queue status
curl -s -X POST http://localhost:8265/api/v2/cruddb \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"data":{"collection":"FileJSONDB","mode":"getAll"}}' | \
  jq '[.[] | .TranscodeDecisionMaker] | group_by(.) | map({decision: .[0], count: length})'

Initial Setup (UI Only Required)

⚠️ WARNING: Libraries MUST be created via the web UI at http://localhost:8265. API-created libraries lack proper schedule arrays and cause runtime errors.

Step 1: Create Libraries (UI)

Click Libraries → + Library
Create three libraries:

Library	Source Folder	Cache	Priority
Movies	`/media/movies`	`/temp`	Normal
TV	`/media/tv`	`/temp`	Normal
Anime	`/media/anime`	`/temp`	Normal

Note: Container paths differ from host! Host /var/mnt/pool/movies maps to container /media/movies.

Step 2: Enable Workers (UI or API)

bash

# Via API - update node worker limits
curl -s -X POST http://localhost:8265/api/v2/cruddb \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "data": {
      "collection": "NodeJSONDB",
      "mode": "update",
      "docID": "NODE_ID",
      "obj": {
        "workerLimits": {
          "transcodegpu": 2,
          "healthcheckcpu": 1,
          "transcodecpu": 0
        }
      }
    }
  }'

Step 3: Configure Plugins (API)

bash

# Enable GPU plugin, disable CPU plugin
curl -s -X POST http://localhost:8265/api/v2/cruddb \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "data": {
      "collection": "LibrarySettingsJSONDB",
      "mode": "update",
      "docID": "LIBRARY_ID",
      "obj": {
        "pluginIDs": [
          {"_id": "plugin1", "id": "Tdarr_Plugin_MC93_MigzImageRemoval", "checked": true, "source": "Community", "priority": 0, "InputsDB": {}},
          {"_id": "plugin2", "id": "Tdarr_Plugin_lmg1_Reorder_Streams", "checked": true, "source": "Community", "priority": 1, "InputsDB": {}},
          {"_id": "plugin3", "id": "Tdarr_Plugin_MC93_Migz1FFMPEG_CPU", "checked": false, "source": "Community", "priority": 2, "InputsDB": {}},
          {"_id": "plugin4", "id": "Tdarr_Plugin_MC93_Migz1FFMPEG", "checked": true, "source": "Community", "priority": 3, "InputsDB": {}},
          {"_id": "plugin5", "id": "Tdarr_Plugin_a9he_New_file_size_check", "checked": true, "source": "Community", "priority": 4, "InputsDB": {}}
        ]
      }
    }
  }'

What to Bake Into docker-compose vs Manual UI Settings

✅ Put in docker-compose.yml

Setting	Why
Port mappings	Infrastructure, rarely changes
Volume mounts	Infrastructure
Environment variables (API keys)	Reproducible deploys
Resource limits	Infrastructure
Network configuration	Infrastructure
CORS settings	Needed before first access

❌ Configure in UI (don't try to automate)

Setting	Why
Quality profiles	Complex, UI-dependent, rarely changes
Indexer connections	Prowlarr syncs these automatically
Download client settings	One-time setup, UI validates
Library paths in *arr apps	UI validates paths exist
User accounts/permissions	Security-sensitive
Notification settings	Personal preference
Tdarr libraries & workers	No reliable API

🔄 Can Go Either Way

Setting	Recommendation
Metadata providers	UI easier, but komf uses application.yml
Scan intervals	UI for Tdarr, docker env for others
Theme/appearance	Personal preference

Integration Status

Working Now

Tool	Purpose	Status
Overseerr	Request management	✅ Connected to Radarr & Sonarr
Prowlarr	Indexer management	✅ 4 Usenet indexers, syncing to all *arrs
Bazarr	Subtitles	✅ Set and forget
Tautulli	Plex analytics	✅ Running at :8181
Komf	Manga metadata	✅ Connected to Komga & Kavita
Audiobookshelf	Audiobooks	✅ 1 library
Tdarr	Storage optimization	✅ 5,026 files queued, GPU VAAPI active

All Core Services Operational ✅

All essential media stack services are now configured and running.

Worth Adding Later

Tool	Purpose	Effort	Value
Recyclarr	TRaSH Guides sync	Low	Better quality profiles
Notifiarr	Rich Discord notifications	Medium	Know when stuff downloads
Kometa (PMM)	Plex collections/overlays	Medium	Pretty poster overlays

Plex Integrations

Already Working

Integration	Status
Overseerr ↔ Plex	✅ Library sync, user auth
Tautulli ↔ Plex	✅ Watch history, stats

Available But Optional

Integration	What It Does	Worth It?
Kometa (PMM)	Auto-create collections, overlays	✅ If you want pretty posters
PlexTraktSync	Sync watch history to Trakt	❌ Unless you use Trakt
Plex Webhooks	Notify *arrs when playback starts	❌ Overkill

Quick Reference: URLs

Service	URL	Purpose
Overseerr	http://localhost:5055	Request movies/TV
Plex	http://localhost:32400/web	Watch content
Radarr	http://localhost:7878	Movie management (backend)
Sonarr	http://localhost:8989	TV management (backend)
Prowlarr	http://localhost:9696	Indexer management
SABnzbd	http://192.168.6.167:8080	Download status
Tdarr	http://localhost:8265	Transcoding status
Bazarr	http://localhost:6767	Subtitle status
Komga	http://localhost:8081	Read comics
Kavita	http://localhost:5000	Read books/manga
Komf	http://localhost:8085	Manga metadata
Audiobookshelf	http://localhost:13378	Audiobooks
Tautulli	http://localhost:8181	Plex analytics

TL;DR: Your Daily Tools

Overseerr - Request anything
Plex - Watch anything
Komga/Kavita - Read manga/books
Audiobookshelf - Listen to audiobooks (iOS app available!)

Everything else is automation that runs in the background. You shouldn't need to touch Radarr/Sonarr/Prowlarr/SABnzbd unless troubleshooting.

Tdarr Status: ✅ Active - 5,026 files queued for GPU transcoding. Monitor progress at http://localhost:8265

Media Stack Usage Guide ​

⚠️ CRITICAL: Docker Commands Require sudo ​

Stack Hierarchy: What Talks to What ​

Current Library Stats ​

Daily Workflow: What You Should Actually Use ​

For Movies & TV ​

For Manga/Comics ​

For Audiobooks ​

Audiobookshelf Mobile Setup ​

Overseerr: The Right Way to Use It ​

Your Current Setup ​

The "Default" and "4K" Toggles Explained ​

Recommended Configuration ​

Tdarr: Storage Optimization ​

Current Status ✅ OPERATIONAL ​

Library Configuration ​

AMD Radeon 780M VAAPI Configuration ​

Tdarr API Reference ​

Initial Setup (UI Only Required) ​

Step 1: Create Libraries (UI) ​

Step 2: Enable Workers (UI or API) ​

Step 3: Configure Plugins (API) ​

What to Bake Into docker-compose vs Manual UI Settings ​

✅ Put in docker-compose.yml ​

❌ Configure in UI (don't try to automate) ​

🔄 Can Go Either Way ​

Integration Status ​

Working Now ​

All Core Services Operational ✅ ​

Worth Adding Later ​

Plex Integrations ​

Already Working ​

Available But Optional ​

Quick Reference: URLs ​

TL;DR: Your Daily Tools ​

Media Stack Usage Guide

⚠️ CRITICAL: Docker Commands Require sudo

Stack Hierarchy: What Talks to What

Current Library Stats

Daily Workflow: What You Should Actually Use

For Movies & TV

For Manga/Comics

For Audiobooks

Audiobookshelf Mobile Setup

Overseerr: The Right Way to Use It

Your Current Setup

The "Default" and "4K" Toggles Explained

Recommended Configuration

Tdarr: Storage Optimization

Current Status ✅ OPERATIONAL

Library Configuration

AMD Radeon 780M VAAPI Configuration

Tdarr API Reference

Initial Setup (UI Only Required)

Step 1: Create Libraries (UI)

Step 2: Enable Workers (UI or API)

Step 3: Configure Plugins (API)

What to Bake Into docker-compose vs Manual UI Settings

✅ Put in docker-compose.yml

❌ Configure in UI (don't try to automate)

🔄 Can Go Either Way

Integration Status

Working Now

All Core Services Operational ✅

Worth Adding Later

Plex Integrations

Already Working

Available But Optional

Quick Reference: URLs

TL;DR: Your Daily Tools