Jellyfin Update Notification

[linesma]

I am running Jellyfin on an Ubuntu Server. I noticed that none of my media was being scanned in properly. In troubleshooting this issue, I noticed that there was an update for the Jellyfin server. This update fixed the issue.

Is there a way to send a notification to my email or when I log into Jellyfin that an update is available?

Thank you.

[TheDreadPirate]

How is Jellyfin installed? With apt or with docker? If you installed it directly on Ubuntu with apt then it should automatically notify you of an update to jellyfin when you update the rest of the OS.

Same with Docker if you are using the "latest" tag.

[Host-in-the-Shell]

And additionally to being notified through your package manager, I also get notifications of new releases using RSS:

-https://jellyfin.org/posts/rss
-https://forum.jellyfin.org/syndication.php?fid=5&limit=15
-https://github.com/jellyfin/jellyfin/releases.atom
-https://github.com/jellyfin/jellyfin-web/releases.atom

etc...

Comes in handy to know of a new release before you're in front of your server or to triage bugs/mirror sync problems.

[linesma]

Thank you both for your replies.

It is installed using APT. It was not until I actually went to my server, did I notice the package manager stating there was an update. My server is a different computer than I use on a daily basis. I check it about once a month.

It looks like I need to step up my server maintenance game.

And additionally to being notified through your package manager, I also get notifications of new releases using RSS:

-https://jellyfin.org/posts/rss
-https://forum.jellyfin.org/syndication.php?fid=5&limit=15
-https://github.com/jellyfin/jellyfin/releases.atom
-https://github.com/jellyfin/jellyfin-web/releases.atom

etc...

Comes in handy to know of a new release before you're in front of your server or to triage bugs/mirror sync problems.

I will have to give using RSS a look.

[Host-in-the-Shell]

By your post I'm assuming you're not running a headless server? If that's the case, then you probably want to look into that, since it will make your life way easier, as you can operate your server from another machine in your network and even remotely if you configure it properly.

[linesma]

By your post I'm assuming you're not running a headless server?

You are correct. It is a standard install with a GUI. I am looking into replacing it with a headless server in the future. Being able to "manipulate" Jellyfin via the web browser has sparked this idea. There are several things I use this server for, and I want to make sure everything will work before I go down that route. Plus, despite having used Linux since the early 2000's, going headless is new to me. So there is a bit of, "I know what I do now works, do I really want to mess with it?" going on.

That being said, thank you for the recommendation. I know I will do that at some point, I just need to find my "big boy pants" and give it a whirl.

[Host-in-the-Shell]

I know that buzz terms like the Dunning–Kruger effect have been co-opted by big brain reddit boys and turned into somewhat of a meme now, but there's a valid case of this effect happening in learning things like these, so try and hang in there if it feels overwhelming at first: it will be worth it, and eventually pay off tremendously by making your life way easier when administering a server.

Not that I'm anti-GUI or anything like that, mind you, but at some point and with some tasks, you will hit a realization that they've become redundant and are wasting resources without necessity.

[TheDreadPirate]

My gripe with UIs is more directed toward UIs for apps that are CLI native, or whole operating systems that are built around a web interface to manage your operating system. Like Docker Desktop, Portainer, Podman, TrueNAS Scale, Open Media Vault, unRAID, etc.

You are reliant on the UI developer implementing buttons and check boxes for all the things the underlying CLI app can do. The status information shown to you is selected and organized in a way they see fit. The number of times someone had a problem with, for example, Docker that I knew exactly how to fix on the command line. But the user was using a UI to make using Docker "easier".....until something breaks.

And then when you start learning how to write bash scripts and such, the world of loops and automation opens up.

[Host-in-the-Shell]

I think GUIs built on top of CLI tools are perfectly fine for an operating system that is going to be used by the average user for common tasks, and they're also okay for more complex endeavors like certain hosted services, programming and even enterprise, so long as the users that are targeted don't exceed the "enthusiast to business who wants easy to operate software" category. The moment you cross over to either developer, sysadmin, network admin, etc. even if just as a hobby, then foregoing the abstraction of CLI tools becomes practically a crucial need.

[linesma]

Thank you both for your thoughts, I really do appreciate it.

I was looking into setting up something, maybe using cron, that will send me an email when there are updates available. I am using this as a way to increase my knowledge.

Because I used to travel quite a bit, and I liked its more robust security, I have always run Linux on my laptops. Over time, I became "lazy" with how easy Ubuntu made it. About 5 years ago, I installed Arch on a bet, and I have not looked back. Since that time, I have learned to prefer using the CLI where and when I can. I am slowly moving this preference over to my home server.

My problem is, I tend to over think things when I am in the research phase. Then I have to kick myself into action and just "do it". That all being said, I am still in the research phase of going headless. Eventually, I will give myself a "kick" and just do it. I mean, it only took about 3 months of researching Jellyfin before I installed it to replace my P*** install.

Right now, this is my server.

Ubuntu 20.04 ESM
AMD Ryzen 3 3300X
Asrock B450 Steel Legend
16gb Kinston DDR4 3200 CL-16
Kingston M.2 SSD 256gb boot drive
2-8TB WD Red
3-4TB WD Blue

I am slowly replacing the 4TB drives with 8TB. I also know that I will need to move off of 20.04 ESM at some point, but see above.