Seedbox Media Centre with Rutorrent and Plex
Introduction
Have you ever wished you could access your entire media library from any device, anywhere? Combining Plex with a ruTorrent seedbox can make this dream a reality. In this guide, we will break down each step of the process, making it easy to follow even if you’re not a tech expert. By the end, you’ll have a seamless media server setup that’s as convenient as flipping a switch.
What is Plex?
Plex is a powerful media server that allows you to organize and stream your digital media collection across various devices. Imagine Plex as a personal Netflix where you get to decide the content. You can stream movies, TV shows, music, and even photos directly to your TV, smartphone, tablet, or computer.
What is ruTorrent?
ruTorrent is a web-based front-end for the popular BitTorrent client, rTorrent. It provides a user-friendly interface for managing your torrents, making it easier to download and seed files. Think of ruTorrent as your personal file manager in the world of torrenting, providing you with control over your downloads and uploads.
Why Combine Plex and ruTorrent?
By combining Plex and ruTorrent, you can automate the process of downloading and organizing your media. Once set up, your seedbox will handle downloads, and Plex will take care of the organization and streaming. This integration creates a smooth workflow that makes accessing your media library effortless.
Steps to connect and setup Media library properly in rutorrent and Plex.
Setting up rutorrent Folders
Step 1: Opening Rutorrent
Go to your evoseedbox client area and click on the Open button
Your rutorrent will open up like this
Step 2: Opening File manager in Rutorrent
Click on the file manager tab in rutorrent
In the file manager double click on downloads
Right click on any folder in downloads then select “Create” and then click on “New Directory” as shown in image below.
In The pop up option type TV
Similarly, create a folder a for Movies in rutorrent file manager
Then also create a folder called Music in rutorrent filemanager
Part 2: Setting up Plex for the media server with rutorrent seedbox
Setting up Plex in Evoseedbox
Go to your client area scroll down a little and locate the Plex app
Under it click on the install button.
A popup will open up , if you already have a plex account then click on “Generate here”
If you dont have a plex account then follow the below instructions
Creating Plex Account
You can click on create one here or
If you don’t have a plex account go to plex.tv and then sign up for a free account
And then login plex with your registered credentials
Linking Plex server with plex account
Then go to seedbox client area and click on generate here ensure that your logged into your Plex account online.
Or go to link https://plex.tv/claim
It will generate the claim code
Copy the claim code and paste it in the seedbox plex installer
and then click on install
Please wait sometime while the system installs the plex server on your system
Once installed in your seedbox client area, scroll up to install application section and click on the Plex icon.
Wait 2 minutes and then click the icon. Sometimes the Plex server is setting up a lot of small system files which can take some time.
Setting up Plex for media server
Once you click on plex it will display Plex web would like to sign in into the plex account.
Just click on Sign In
The below How Plex works screen will open up in which just click on the button Got it.
After that the Plex server setup page will open up,
Under the name tab, give a name to the media server according to your wishes.
Please ensure that ” Allow me to access my media outside my home” option is checked.
Then click on next
Setting up the Media folder in plex to link with rutorrent
Under the Media Library Tab, click on Add library
Setting up plex media folder for Movies
Then click on Movies
Then select next
In Add folder section click on Browse for Media Folder
If the folder option on the left, choice downloads and then choose folder movies on the right side
as shown in the image below.
This is the same folder we created in rutorrent.
Then click on Add library
You will see the library Movies with path to data has been updated on the Plex screen,
Setting up plex media folder for Music
Similarly, click on Add library again
This time click on Tv Shows and then click on Next
Click on Browse for Media Folder
Click on DOwnloads and then select The TV folder and then click on add
The path will show up as shown in the image below and then click on Add library
Setting up Plex Media folder for television
Then again Click on Add Library
Then click on Music and then click on Next
Once the Add folders tab opens up click on Browse for Media Folder
Select downloads and then click on folder Music
Thats it the final folder setup should look like the image below and then click on Next
Now Just click the down button.
Once done you can browse to your seedbox Plex sever and see that the folder have been created as shown in image below.
Moving rutorrent movie torrent to Movies folder linked with plex
Now go back to rutorrent and in this case we will use the example of the movie The Kid by Charlie Chaplin and set it accordingly to its right folder so it can load on plex
To do that right click on the torrent
Then click on the button with three dots
Once the drop down opens click the two dots
It will move you one folder up and select the Movies folder
The final path should look like the one below and then press the x button
Now just click the ok button to transfer the movie torrent to the movie Folder.
In your file manager you can go to the movies folder and double click on it
You will see the move has transferred to movie folder.
Now go to plex , in front of the Movies tab there will be three dots. Click on it and select scan library files.
The movie will now show up in your plaex and you can stream it by clicking on it
Moving Rutorrent Music torrent to Music folder linked with plex
For Music similarly you can select your music torrents in your rutorrent
Right click on the torrents and click on save to
Then browse to the Music folder that we had created earlier
And then click ok
In your file manager you can check that the torrent files are now in the music folder.
Now go to Plex and in the music’s front Tab there will be three dots click on it and select scan Libraries.
Now in your music Library your audio torrents will show up
Moving rutorrent TV torrent to TV folder linked with plex
Similarly, for tv shows
Right click on the Tv show torrents
A pop-up options will open up and click on the three dots
On the drop-down menu click on the two dots to go one folder up
Select and click on the Tv folder
Once the save to path is selected to tv click on the x button
Then click on okay
On your rutorrent filemanager click on the tv folder.
You will find that the torrent content is now in the Tv folder.
Go back to plex and then click on the three dots and click on scan library files
Your torrent content will show up in your Tv shows media library
Thats it this is how you can create your perfect media library with plex
Pro Tip to use Lables in Rutorrent
When you download torrents, you can press the control key in your keyboard and select the torrents
you can then accordingly label them into Tv movies, music etc
To do so right click on the selected torrents co to labels and then click on New Lable
Name the Label you want to create in our case we are creating for music. Remember you have to create a label only once.
In future the label created will be available under labels
On the left-hand side now, you can see the new label generated.
On clicking on it only the torrents labelled with that particular label will show up.
Pressing ctr-A will select all teh torrents in that label
Then you can right click and then select save to move to the appropriate folder.
In my opinion it is a much more efficient way to manage your media server with just plex and rutorrent.
Using ruTorrent in conjunction with Plex as a media server offers a powerful and flexible solution for managing and streaming media content. However, it also requires careful setup, regular maintenance, and adherence to legal and security practices to ensure a smooth and trouble-free experience. For users comfortable with technical challenges, the benefits can be substantial, providing a highly customized and accessible media library.
Using ruTorrent with Plex as Your Ultimate Media Server Solution
Discover the advantages of using ruTorrent with Plex as a media server. Learn about the benefits of automated downloads, efficient media management, and remote access, along with potential challenges like setup complexity and security concerns.
Operating System: Web
4.7
Pros
- Automated Downloading:
- ruTorrent: ruTorrent, a web-based front-end for the rTorrent BitTorrent client, provides robust automation for downloading torrents. It supports RSS feeds and has various plugins that can automate the download process, ensuring new media content is continuously added to your library.
- Efficient Media Management:
- Plex: Plex organizes your media library efficiently, fetching metadata, artwork, and other relevant information automatically. This makes your media collection visually appealing and easy to navigate.
- Cross-Platform Availability:
- Plex: Plex is available on a wide range of platforms, including smart TVs, streaming devices, mobile devices, and computers. This allows you to access your media library from virtually anywhere.
- User-Friendly Interface:
- ruTorrent: The ruTorrent interface is highly customizable and user-friendly, making it easy to manage torrents.
- Plex: Plex’s interface is intuitive, with powerful search and organization features, enhancing the user experience.
- Streaming Capabilities:
- Plex: Plex transcodes media on the fly, ensuring compatibility with various devices and network conditions. This means you can stream content smoothly without worrying about file formats.
- Remote Access:
- Plex: Plex allows for remote access, enabling you to stream your media library even when you are not at home.
Cons
- Evoseedbox takes care of all the cons so you can use the setup without worries
- Initial Setup Complexity:
- ruTorrent and Plex: Setting up ruTorrent and integrating it with Plex can be complex, requiring a good understanding of both systems, network configurations, and potentially port forwarding.
- System Resource Usage:
- ruTorrent: Running ruTorrent and Plex simultaneously can be resource-intensive, especially on systems with limited processing power and memory.
- Plex: Transcoding media files can be CPU-intensive, potentially affecting performance if your server hardware is not robust.
- Potential Legal Issues:
- ruTorrent: Downloading copyrighted content without permission can lead to legal problems. It’s important to ensure that all content downloaded is legal.
- Security Concerns:
- ruTorrent and Plex: Exposing ruTorrent and Plex to the internet can create security vulnerabilities. Proper security measures, such as using VPNs, SSL certificates, and strong passwords, are necessary to protect your system.
- Maintenance:
- ruTorrent and Plex: Regular maintenance is required to keep both ruTorrent and Plex updated, ensuring security and compatibility with new media formats and devices.
- Potential for Data Loss:
- ruTorrent: Improper management of torrent files and incomplete downloads can lead to data corruption or loss, requiring careful oversight and potentially manual intervention.
Head of Operations Evoseedbox
About Tim Michels
Tim Michels is a DevOps Engineer with a Master's degree in Computer Science from Vilnius University. Holding a Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) certification, Tim brings deep expertise in Linux, scripting, server management, and digital privacy.
Tim focuses on empowering tech enthusiasts and privacy advocates with step-by-step tutorials that promote self-reliance in the digital world. His work has been featured in popular publications like TorrentFreak, Grey Coder, [invalid URL removed], [invalid URL removed], and his own project, PassVault.me. Tim also actively contributes to respected open-source projects such as Vaultwarden, RuTorrent, GetKuma, RTorrent, and Syncthing.
Outside of technology, Tim enjoys managing media centers, collecting video games, strategy gaming, and even a bit of gardening. His current passion project is AirVault.io, aimed at providing affordable access to open-source digital privacy tools.