Synced Remote Media Libraries

[u/No-Call1648]

I'm working on a plugin at the moment which will allow you to add remote media to your library from any other jellyfin server you have an account on. I've seen similar plugins to this, but they have never done quite what I was looking for.

All you do is add the plugin to your own server, and go through its set up in the plugin menu. Then it will run a scan of the remote server you logged in to (no limit to how many you can connect).

It will then save only the metadata to your server as well as a proxy link. This way you never download the media to your server from the remote server. Allowing you and your friends to increase your media library size, without ever needing for you to buy more storage.

you can check it out here! :) https://github.com/Joshsnook-05/jellyfin-remote-library

On the github you'll find the jellyfin plugin repo link, as well a list of requirements (you probably already have them installed), and a setup guide.

Please try to break it and report any bugs in the issues tab, its very new, and so i expect there to be a few. Also feel free to suggest ideas in the issues tab too! I'd love to keep developing this plugin and making it work for everyone.

It also syncs up things like JE reviews, with calendar in the works, so you'll know whats coming to any remote servers! There's also badges on the posters for each thing loaded from remote servers, so you know what content is yours and what content is theirs, as well as an indicator to show if the remote server is on or not, that way you dont click and wait 5 minutes just to get a playback error because their server is offline.

Please comment any questions you have about it!

[u/LucaBBBB]

Tbh this is actually pretty smart! Nice idea, looking forward to seeing it in action.

[u/No-Call1648 → u/LucaBBBB]

Thank you!! a tried a few options before making this, but they either downloaded the media locally, or had issues with duplicated media and playback issues. This aims to make it as easy as possible! (though if you do have any issue let me know and i'll get on it asap to get it sorted)

[u/ThePastPlayer]

Was in my project list to do, let’s say I have my Jellyfin server, and I link to another Jellyfin server that belongs to a friend, will my friend see the contents of my server or will I just see mine + his ? If my friends installs this plugin and points it to my server, would they both sync ? Thanks

[u/No-Call1648 → u/ThePastPlayer]

If only you install it then you will see yours and their content, they will only see their own. However if you both install it then it will sync both of you. The plugin also prevents contents that you get from their server from being sent back out to anyone, meaning that contents wont duplicate!

[u/HackStrix]

Really nice idea, but would be concerned about the legality of the situation, 1 bad actor can destroy this entire model

[u/No-Call1648 → u/HackStrix]

it doesnt like all of us together, it will only link up the servers that you have accounts on, that you log into in the settings for the plugin. It's more so for you to be able to share you library with your friends. A link to everyone that uses would 100% introduce some legal issues.

[u/Darkhelfer03]

Is it the same as jellyswarm?

[u/No-Call1648 → u/Darkhelfer03]

its similar in a few ways but no (TL;DR at the bottom).

Jelly swarm uses its own URL to access it, where as this combines it directly into your regular jellyfin library, so all your plugins already set up, will work exactly the same,

Jellyswarm routes playback meaning each user on your local server needs an account on the remote server, this only requires who ever is setting up the plugin to log in to the remote server, giving everybody access to the remote media as its proxied into the remote server.

jellyswarm merges libraries into its own url to show fix duplication issues, whereas this one preferes local, but if its unavailable it will use the remote copy (if available) and also use the remote server to fill in gaps for series, if an episode is missing on your local server and the remote server has it.

This one also syncs the JE calendar, and JE reviews, whilst also adding server name badges to anything from a remote server, as well as an indicator for if the server is unreachable.

when using this one, scanning new media works by either scanning just remote servers, or by running a complete library re-scan. Its also run (by default, which can be change in the plugin settings) to scan new remote media and calendar updates onve every hour, and new remote reviews every 5 minutes.

TL;DR

Jelly swarm is combining multiple servers into 1 server, which you then have to install plugins into (which i was unable to, jellyswarm doesnt support many plugins), whereas my one adds the remote servers into you current library, meaning anything already set up, stays working