How to Reverse Proxy Jellyfin with Caddy on Docker (Beginner Friendly)

[DemonWarrior]

How to Reverse Proxy Jellyfin with Caddy on Docker (Beginner Friendly)

Caddy Docs Example Compose

https://docs.demonwarriortech.com/Exampl...mposeyml-3

Caddy Docker Commands

https://docs.demonwarriortech.com/Exampl...for-docker

Caddyfile Examples

https://docs.demonwarriortech.com/Exampl...y_Examples

Jellyfin Example with Caddy

https://docs.demonwarriortech.com/Exampl...r_Examples

Site to Check if Your Ports are Open or Closed

https://portchecker.co

Caddy Dockerhub

https://hub.docker.com/_/caddy

BuymeaCoffee

https://buymeacoffee.com/demonwarriortech

[KodiUser1138]

I watched the first half of the video and skimmed the rest. I think this might be what I'm looking to do but as a beginner I feel already 2-3 steps behind before your video begins. I guess what seems missing is an explination fo what you are trying to achieve, to what purpose and then an example of the final result? It seems a few terms are used is if the audience should already have an understanding of them and that can set those who truly do feel they are beigginers back before they even begin.

I will watch again to see if I bettter undersand what is happening. Appreciate the effort to help others out here.

[TheDreadPirate]

If you have any specific questions about any concepts or terminology, feel free to ask them and DW or I will respond as best we can.

[KodiUser1138]

I want to give access to my server from outside my LAN and I want to have a somewhat simple URL to give to people, not just share my IP. I run on Windows 10 (maybe 11 one day) systems and currently don't want to pay to a web domain. This method seems like it might be a method for someone like myself, but from the beginning of the video there is a lot of talk about docker and things that I, very much a beginner, don't have an understanding of.

Eventually I would preffer to have my own DNS through some method and make sharing even easier, and build a fully dedicated server machince that I've been designing storage caddy's and planning required drives and hardware. It's all a learning process and I try my best to sort things out but there are times where I step into the shallow end and the waves are already 4 feet high.

[TheDreadPirate]

DuckDNS has free DynamicDNS (DDNS) domains you can register. You then install their client on your PC to update the IP associated to your DDNS domain. You'd then had that address out to friends and family. Caddy does not require docker and you can install it directly on Windows.

https://caddyserver.com/download
https://jellyfin.org/docs/general/networking/caddy/

You do need to use the Windows command prompt, though.

[KodiUser1138]

But you need to use Caddy with DuckDNS? Sorry it's been a bit since I watched the video as life got in the way so just asking for clarification at 4am.

[KodiUser1138]

I think this is more the video I am looking for?

https://youtu.be/AEyhpuWeiTk?si=No1RCi1bl4ep-cLz

[TheDreadPirate]

You don't HAVE to use Caddy with DuckDNS. But if you want https you would need a DuckDNS domain.

DuckDNS also allows you to not have to worry about your home IP changing. You install their client on the server and it checks every few minutes for a public IP change and pushes the change to their servers so your domain will always route home.

[KodiUser1138]

OK now I'm more confused HAHA.

I can use DuckDNS to get a "stable" URL to give to others that will keep my IP private and use reverse proxy to set it up with Jellyfin? How do you accomplish that?

If so, what do Caddy and Docker do for you?

This is what I mean by the videos leaving users without other prior knowledge a bit lost. They don't have an explination of what you are trying to do and why, or alternatives that will also work. Not that the info isn't useful, just doesn't start you from the very beginning and can leave others lost pretty quick, as I seem to still be. All the help is of course appreciated.

[TheDreadPirate]

DuckDNS does not hide your IP. It just provides a single URL, plus an update application, to handle IP address changes for residential Internet connections. Most residential service does not give you a 100% static IP address and DuckDNS aids in handling that periodic IP address change.

Forget about Docker. That does not come into play for this situation.

Caddy is a HTTP server and reverse proxy. The purpose of a reverse proxy is to sit in between the client and the server program and handle https connections in a more secure manner. Jellyfin is not a hardened application and there are attacks on the HTTPS handshake process that can weaken the resulting encryption.

Caddy IS a hardened program and is not vulnerable to known HTTPS handshake attacks. Caddy also has a lot of automation built in for managing and requesting certificates that are used in HTTPS.