This guide provides basic instructions for installing and configuring Emby Media Server on FreeBSD 11 using packages.

Prerequisites

  • FreeBSD 11 installed and updated
  • Root or sudo access
  • Basic familiarity with FreeBSD command line
  • Sufficient storage space for your media library

Installation

  1. Update package repository:
# Update package repository
pkg update
  1. Install Emby Media Server package:
# Install Emby Server
pkg install emby-server
  1. Enable the Emby service to start at boot time:
# Add Emby to startup services
sysrc emby_server_enable="YES"
  1. Start the Emby service:
# Start the service
service emby-server start

Basic Configuration

  1. Once the service is running, access the Emby web interface by opening a browser and navigating to:
http://your_server_ip:8096

  1. Follow the setup wizard which will guide you through:

    • Choosing your preferred language
    • Creating an admin account
    • Setting up your media libraries

  2. Add media libraries:

    • During setup, you’ll be prompted to add media folders

    • Navigate to the directories containing your media files

    • Typical paths might include:

      • /usr/local/media/movies
      • /usr/local/media/tv
      • /usr/local/media/music

Managing Your Emby Server

Stopping the Service

service emby-server stop

Restarting the Service

service emby-server restart

Checking Service Status

service emby-server status

Firewall Configuration

If you’re using the built-in FreeBSD firewall (pf or ipfw), you’ll need to allow traffic on port 8096 (HTTP) and optionally 8920 (HTTPS):

For pf, add to your /etc/pf.conf:

pass in proto tcp to any port 8096
pass in proto tcp to any port 8920

Then reload the firewall:

service pf reload

Troubleshooting

  • Check logs for errors:

    tail -f /var/log/emby-server/emby-server.log

  • Verify permissions:

    # Ensure Emby user has access to media directories
chown -R emby:emby /path/to/your/media

  • If the web interface isn’t accessible, confirm the service is running and check your firewall settings.

Updating Emby Server

To update Emby when new versions are available:

# Update all packages including Emby
pkg update
pkg upgrade

After updating, restart the service:

service emby-server restart

References

  • FreeBSD Handbook
  • Emby Documentation (accessible through the web interface’s help section)