How to install Jellyfin on old iMac

[David Hopkins]

I would like to install Jellyfin server on my old iMac. 

The Mac is early 2008. It runs 10.11.6 and cannot take latest version.

I looked here and I am just not experienced enough to do the install.

https://jellyfin.org/docs/general/installation/macos/

Is there a step by step/for dummies set of instructions?

I scrolled down to "Portable Version" I cant make any sense of instruction 1. I don't know what .net runtime means. None of the instructions really makes sense in step 1. In step 2 I dont know which version to download and from where. I think if I had those two steps done I could do the rest.

Sorry about this. I feel absolutely confused by these instructions.

[TheDreadPirate]

Unfortunately, as the doc you linked states, Jellyfin requires Mac OS 10.15 and newer.

[David Hopkins]

Really?

It seems to me there would be a way. You can run a version of Jellyfin on a raspberry pi. You'd think there is a way. Maybe I need to get serious with this old Mac and install linux on it.

I see something about running a container
https://jellyfin.org/docs/general/instal.../container

Maybe that would work?

[tmsrxzar]

i can confidently say you are probably the only one trying to still use a 2008 iMac for anything so you will have to pioneer your own install

check the docker system requirements https://docs.docker.com/desktop/install/mac-install

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second link https://www.almabetter.com/bytes/article...er-for-mac

macOS version 10.13 or newer

[David Hopkins]

Seems kinda silly. Docker wont install.

Seems like Jellyfin is an ideal fit for an old Mac. The thing is slow as molasses but it has a massive screen. Design is still quite nice.

Maybe I can run Jellyfin in a virtual machine?

[TheDreadPirate]

If you installed Linux on your Mac you would 100% be able to run Jellyfin. Either directly or with Docker.

[David Hopkins]

I might be able to navigate this but sure would appreciate some guidance.

I am pretty sure I can create a virtual machine on my Mac. I did this once to run home assistant. I'm guessing it would be pretty easy to install Jellyfin in the virtual machine.

Here is the tricky part. I would like to access my usb external drive from both the virtual machine and my Mac.

I'd appreciate any tips. Otherwise, I'll dive in.

[TheDreadPirate]

Stick with Debian 12 or Ubuntu 22.04. Both have a large user base and there is a lot of documentation available. Both for Jellyfin and in general. As long as you make your USB drive available to the VM Debian/Ubuntu shouldn't have a problem accessing it. Your other option is to create a network share on the Mac and have the VM access the USB drive over the network.

[jimmyjammy]

you could also install Open-Core Legacy Patcher on your iMac & be able to update it's OS to one that will work for Jellyfin Server. I run my server on a 2014 mac mini running Sonoma with Open-Core Legacy Patcher. Here is their site https://dortania.github.io/OpenCore-Legacy-Patcher/. There are lots of instructional videos on youtube - MrMacintosh are the best! https://mrmacintosh.com/ . You also might want to max out the ram on that old iMac - here's a link to upgrade it to 6gb of ram https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/memory/i...o_PC2-6400

Cheers,
JJ