Is it just for local usage on their network or will their be remote access via the internet? What OS are they installing on? Are they familiar with installing the OS?

In my experience Jellyfin is an easy install and easy to manage.

I run a few servers on an old laptop and I’ve messed up some random other shit on the laptop then wiped it one time, moved to another OS one time, moved to another machine another time. So I’ve setup Jellyfin I think 4 times now.

Overall it’s pretty easy in my opinion.

1. Find your ip- ifconfig 2.Log into router and reserve that IP so it stays with the device
2. If using it local punch a firewall hole for 8096 so you can get to it from say your Android/Roku TV, LG TV, phone, computer, whatever.
3. Terminal command listed here for the install: jellyfin.org/docs/general/installation/linux/

If you like using docker like many do then you may prefer to do it in a container.

Anyways that should bring it up. Then go to the.ip.address.found:8096 and go into the dashboard to set up users, pick what access they have.

Also where you’ll like libraries, so say “Movies” and point it to where you store them… you can point it to multiple directories

Oh and if a laptop change the close lid settings to keep machine on when plugged in and lid closed. Set all power settings to not go to sleep.

On an aside I set my VPN up as a split tunnel, easy, just Google your VPN and split tunnel, should only take a few clicks. I set qbittorrent and firefox traffic to go through the VPN, then I have everything else stay on local network.

I install Rustdesk on my phone and laptop, then remotely access the device wherever I’m at. Use the search function in qbittorrent, tell it to download sequentially, and download to the movies directory I want, launch the jellyfin app on my phone, hold my finger down on the movies folder, tell it to refresh meta-data and then launch the jellyfin fin app on one of the tvs.

Some time from “do you want to watch ____” to starting to watch it is ~3 minutes. If the movie downloads faster than you watch it, should have no hiccups