Help with setting up local server

[rosejelly]

Hello! I'm new to, well, this whole matter, and IT stuff in general. My goal is to host a Jellyfin server locally so that I can create a small catalogue on my PC of shows and movies and allow them to be accessed on a Firestick within the same network. My PC is ethernet connected to a router, the firestick is wifi connected. I want to point out that this is not a dedicated jellyfin PC. I could run a VM if needed though.

I have gone through the process of installing jellyfin for windows 10 in the most default manner, set everything up through the web client, but could not ascertain how to connect my androidtv app to the server. I tried putting in the server name, the PC name, all sorts of IPv4 addresses which was enabled on the server.

Currently, I have just uninstalled the server but retained the data, because I am unsure if I need to install as a service or the default method.

Additionally, would it be possible to use jellyfin over a virtual LAN as well, if I wanted to securely share my media with a friend on that virtual LAN (like zerotier or the like)? But the basic goal is getting my server to pop up on my local network. I have no intention of streaming to a device on the go or anything.

Do I need to port forward something? My router requires me to do that through the xfinity app for some reason, which I would like to avoid if possible, since I do not have it, but could do it if there's no other viable option.

I've read all sorts of stuff from reverse proxies to virtual machines in virtual machines but I feel like it's probably not that complicated? Hopefully?

So tl:dr, how do I get my server from my PC to connect to something on the local network, and bonus points if you can tell me how to do it on virtual lan too, if possible.

[Skankhunt42]

You dont need to do any port forewarding on your router.
Windows does have a Firewall, you may have to set a inbound tcp rule for the Jellyfin Server to be able the reach it from other devices.

[rosejelly]

I reinstalled as normal, set up a new server since I believe the old one was deleted, I have checked all the firewall stuff im set to private network and the connections for jellyfin seem open, nothing seems like its getting blocked, but my other devices cannot seem to find the server. It seemed to one time, but never again.

[TheDreadPirate]

Uninstall, then right click on the installer and run as admin. Do you get a popup at the end about adding a firewall rule?

[rosejelly]

The install automatically runs as admin, the first time i installed i got asked about the firewall and added the exception. Ive now also added exception for all the ports related to jellyfin as well

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it also will not run on my pc through the ip, only localhost:8096

[TheDreadPirate]

Can you share your log with us. Upload it to pastebin then link back here.