How to Install Subsonic and Stream Your Media Securely

This guide details how to install, configure, and secure Subsonic, a powerful media streaming server, on Ubuntu and Debian systems. Enjoy your music and videos remotely, securely, and from any device.

Subsonic offers versatile media management, including remote access, multi-user support, and format conversion. This guide prioritizes security and performance best practices.

Why Choose Subsonic?

Subsonic provides:

• Browser-based access to your entire media library from any device.
• Wide format support (MP3, AAC, FLAC, OGG, WMA, and more).
• Streaming to Android, iOS, and smart TVs.
• Automatic audio/video format conversion for compatibility.
• Customizable user access levels.
• Integrated podcast and web radio support.

Step 1: Installing Subsonic on Ubuntu/Debian

Begin by updating your system:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Install necessary dependencies: Java (for Subsonic) and FFmpeg (for media streaming):

sudo apt install openjdk-8-jre ffmpeg curl -y

Download the latest Subsonic DEB package (replace 6.1.6 with the current version):

wget https://sourceforge.net/projects/subsonic/files/subsonic-6.1.6.deb

Install the downloaded package:

sudo dpkg -i subsonic-6.1.6.deb
sudo apt-get -f install

Access Subsonic via your browser at http://localhost:4040. Change the default password immediately for security.

Step 2: Configuring Media Folders

Specify your media library locations:

1. Navigate to Settings > Media Folders.
2. Click Add Folder and enter the paths to your music and video directories (e.g., /home/user/music, /home/user/videos).
3. Click Save. Subsonic will automatically index your media.

Step 3: Enabling Transcoding for Compatibility

Enable real-time transcoding for broader media support:

1. Go to Settings > Transcoding.
2. Add the necessary FFmpeg transcoding command (example provided below).
3. Click Save.

ffmpeg -i %s -map 0:0 -b:a 128k -v 0 -f mp3 -

Step 4: Setting Up a Reverse Proxy (Nginx or Apache)

Using a reverse proxy (Nginx or Apache) enhances security and allows custom domain access with HTTPS. Instructions for both are provided below. Remember to replace yourdomain.com with your actual domain name.

Option 1: Nginx

Install Nginx: sudo apt install nginx -y

Create /etc/nginx/sites-available/subsonic.conf with the provided Nginx configuration. Enable the configuration and restart Nginx.

Option 2: Apache

Install Apache: sudo apt install apache2 -y

Enable necessary Apache modules (proxy, proxy_http, ssl). Create /etc/apache2/sites-available/subsonic.conf with the provided Apache configuration. Enable the configuration and restart Apache.

Step 5: Securing Subsonic with HTTPS (Let's Encrypt)

Secure your Subsonic instance with HTTPS using Let's Encrypt and Certbot:

sudo apt install certbot python3-certbot-nginx python3-certbot-apache -y

Run Certbot, specifying your domain and choosing either the Nginx or Apache plugin:

sudo certbot --nginx -d yourdomain.com -d www.yourdomain.com  # For Nginx
sudo certbot --apache -d yourdomain.com -d www.yourdomain.com # For Apache

Access Subsonic securely via https://yourdomain.com.

Step 6: Mobile Access

Use the official Subsonic mobile apps (available on Google Play and the Apple App Store) for convenient on-the-go access.

Conclusion

Subsonic provides a robust and user-friendly media streaming solution. This guide's steps ensure a secure and performant setup for your media library.

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