Choosing the right Linux distribution is crucial for a stable and efficient Jellyfin media server setup. This guide explores the best distros tailored to optimize Jellyfin's performance, ensuring a seamless media streaming experience.
A stable distro ensures that your Jellyfin server runs smoothly without frequent crashes or the need for constant updates.
High performance is essential for handling media transcoding and streaming without lag or buffering.
A user-friendly interface and easy setup process help even beginners set up a Jellyfin server quickly.
Strong community support provides access to troubleshooting resources and updates, enhancing the Jellyfin experience.
Our top picks for jellyfin, ranked by overall experience.
Best overall experience
Ubuntu Server is renowned for its stability and robust community support, making it an ideal choice for setting up a Jellyfin media server.
Rock-solid stability
Debian offers a stable and secure environment, perfect for ensuring your Jellyfin server runs without interruptions.
Cutting-edge features
Fedora Server provides the latest features and technologies, giving Jellyfin users access to new improvements and optimizations.
Highly customizable
Arch Linux offers unmatched customization, allowing advanced users to tailor their Jellyfin server to their exact specifications.
User-friendly Arch base
Manjaro combines the power of Arch Linux with user-friendly tools, making it accessible for both beginners and advanced users.
Enterprise-grade stability
openSUSE Leap provides a stable and enterprise-grade platform, ideal for running a reliable Jellyfin server.
Not sure which to pick? These comparisons might help.
Ubuntu Server is often recommended due to its stability, ease of use, and strong community support, making it ideal for Jellyfin.
Yes, lightweight distros like Debian or Manjaro can run Jellyfin efficiently, provided your server meets the hardware requirements.
A GUI is not necessary for managing Jellyfin, as it can be configured and managed via the command line interface and web-based GUI.
Community support provides access to troubleshooting resources, updates, and enhancements, improving the overall Jellyfin experience.
Yes, Docker is a popular choice for running Jellyfin on Linux, offering containerized deployment and ease of management.
A multi-core CPU, at least 4GB of RAM, and sufficient storage are recommended for running an efficient Jellyfin server on Linux.
Compare any two distros side-by-side.
