Yams Media Server Info
In 2024–2025, YAMS has become the recommended starting point for r/selfhosted and r/PleX users. It sits in the sweet spot between "too simple" (pre-built NAS apps) and "too complex" (DIY Kubernetes).
# View all running containers docker ps cd /yams docker compose restart plex Update all containers manually (if you disabled Watchtower) docker compose pull docker compose up -d See logs for Traefik (useful for SSL debugging) docker logs traefik -f Backup your entire config (run this weekly) tar -czf yams-backup-$(date +%F).tar.gz /yams Conclusion: The New Standard for Homelab Media Servers YAMS is not just another script; it's a reference architecture for how media servers should be built in the Docker era. By forcing best practices (hard links, VPN separation, automated SSL) and removing unnecessary decisions, it democratizes access to high-end media serving.
Introduction: What is YAMS? In the crowded world of DIY media servers (Plex, Jellyfin, Emby), the biggest hurdle isn't the software—it's the setup. Traditional methods involve manually installing Docker, configuring Portainer, setting up reverse proxies, managing permissions, and linking everything with *arr suite apps (Radarr, Sonarr, Prowlarr, etc.). For the average user, this is a multi-day headache of debugging forum posts. yams media server
is a modern solution: a fully automated, opinionated, and script-driven installer for a complete media server stack using Docker and Traefik. It’s designed to take you from a fresh Ubuntu server to a fully functioning, remote-accessible media powerhouse in under 30 minutes.
All of these are pre-configured to talk to each other. No manual API key entry, no "add indexer to Sonarr" steps. One of YAMS's most valuable features is its forced use of hard links . In 2024–2025, YAMS has become the recommended starting
If you have 30 minutes and a fresh Ubuntu install, you can have a media server that rivals a Netflix backend. That's the promise of YAMS – and it delivers.
When you download a torrent, the file sits in your "downloads" folder. When Sonarr imports it to your "TV" folder, it normally copies it—doubling the disk space until the torrent seeds fully. By forcing best practices (hard links, VPN separation,
| Service | Purpose | |---------|---------| | | The media player & server frontend (can be swapped with Jellyfin if desired). | | Traefik | Reverse proxy + automatic SSL (Let's Encrypt). | | Radarr | Automated movie downloading & quality management. | | Sonarr | Automated TV show downloading & quality management. | | Prowlarr | Indexer manager (feeds all *arr apps with torrent/usenet indexers). | | Overseerr (or Jellyseerr) | Request system – allows users to request movies/shows that get auto-downloaded. | | qBittorrent (or Transmission) | Torrent client. | | SABnzbd | Usenet downloader. | | Jackett (optional) | Alternate indexer proxy. | | Watchtower | Auto-updates Docker containers. | | Gluetun | VPN kill-switch container (ensures downloads go through VPN). |
Start here: https://yams.media Last updated: 2025. YAMS version 1.6+.
