Set Up the Complete *arr Stack in 30 Minutes #
This quick-start guide walks you through setting up the full automation stack on your EvoSeedbox. By the end, new TV episodes and movies will download, organize and appear in Plex automatically — no manual searching, no manual renaming, no manual anything.
What the Stack Does #
Each app has one job, and they chain together:
- Prowlarr — manages your indexers (tracker search) in one place and syncs them to every other app
- Sonarr — monitors TV series and grabs new episodes the moment they’re available
- Radarr — does the same for movies
- ruTorrent/rTorrent — actually downloads what Sonarr and Radarr request (preinstalled on every plan)
- Plex or Jellyfin — streams the finished library to your devices
The flow: you add a show once → Sonarr asks Prowlarr’s indexers → the best release goes to rTorrent → when the download completes, Sonarr renames and moves it into your library folder → Plex picks it up automatically.
Install Order #
- Prowlarr (indexer manager) → Install from dashboard, port 9696
- Sonarr (TV) → Install, port 8989
- Radarr (movies) → Install, port 7878
- Plex (or Jellyfin) if you haven’t already — see setting up Plex
All four are one-click installs from your client area — each runs in its own container and gets watched by App Doctor.
Step 1: Configure Prowlarr #
- Open Prowlarr → Settings → Indexers → Add your trackers
- Settings → Apps → Add Sonarr (localhost:8989, API key from Sonarr → Settings → General)
- Add Radarr (localhost:7878, API key)
- Prowlarr now syncs indexers to both apps automatically — add a tracker once, both apps can search it
For a deeper walkthrough see the Prowlarr setup guide.
Step 2: Configure Download Client #
In both Sonarr and Radarr: Settings → Download Clients → Add:
- For ruTorrent: Select rTorrent, host localhost, port 8080, URL /RPC2
- For Deluge: Select Deluge, host localhost, port 8112
Press Test — you want the green tick before saving.
Step 3: Set Root Folders (the step everyone gets wrong) #
In Sonarr: Settings → Media Management → Root Folders → add /downloads/tv-shows/ (or your preferred library path). In Radarr, add /downloads/movies/. Two rules save you hours of debugging:
- Point your Plex libraries at the same folders. Sonarr moves finished episodes into the root folder; Plex watches that folder. If they don’t match, downloads “disappear”.
- Everything runs on the same machine, so no remote path mapping is needed — leave that section empty. (Running Sonarr at home against a remote seedbox is the one case where you DO need it: see remote path mapping explained and connecting home Sonarr to a seedbox.)
Step 4: Pick Quality Profiles #
When you add a series or movie you choose a quality profile. HD-1080p is the sweet spot for most libraries (roughly 1.5–4 GB per episode, 2–8 GB per movie). Only pick Ultra-HD/4K if you have the storage and stream to 4K displays. Profiles can also upgrade existing files automatically when a better release appears — details in the quality settings guide.
Step 5: Add Content #
- Sonarr: Series → Add New → search, select quality profile, add
- Radarr: Movies → Add New → search, select quality, add
Watch your first grab go through Activity → Queue, then check ruTorrent — you’ll see the download running. When it completes, the file is renamed and lands in your library folder, and Plex picks it up within a minute or two.
Optional Extras #
- Bazarr — automatic subtitles for everything Sonarr/Radarr import (guide)
- Overseerr — lets your family request shows/movies from a pretty web UI (guide)
- Lidarr for music, Readarr for books — same pattern (Lidarr guide, Readarr guide)
Quick Troubleshooting #
- Grabbed but not downloading → check the indexer isn’t dead and rTorrent connection tests green
- Downloaded but not imported → root folder mismatch; check Activity → Queue for the exact error
- Imported but not in Plex → Plex library watches a different folder, or permissions
- Nothing found for a search → your indexers don’t carry it, or the quality profile is too strict
Related Guides #
- Sonarr Seedbox · Radarr Seedbox · Prowlarr Seedbox · Plex Seedbox
- Full Sonarr Setup
- Full Radarr Setup
- Full Plex Setup
Frequently Asked Questions #
Do I need Jackett if I have Prowlarr? #
No — Prowlarr replaces Jackett for almost everyone and adds automatic sync to your *arr apps. Keep Jackett only if a specific indexer works better through it.
Can Sonarr and Radarr share one download client? #
Yes — both point at the same rTorrent. They tag their own downloads and only import what they requested, so they never interfere with each other or with torrents you add manually.
How much disk space do I need for automation? #
More than you think: a monitored 1080p library grows by seasons, not episodes. Start with at least a few hundred GB free and remember completed torrents keep seeding (and using disk) until you remove them — plans with more storage are on the pricing page.
Will this work with Jellyfin instead of Plex? #
Identically — Sonarr and Radarr just organize files into folders; Jellyfin watches them exactly like Plex does.
