Setup Subsonic with Raspberry PI 3 – Media Streaming Server

There are several media server options today. You can use Plex Media Server which we covered in our previous article where we showed you how to setup Plex Media Server with Raspberry Pi. In the past, we also covered Subsonic on Ubuntu, which is a great application to manage and stream your media. Today I will show you how you can setup Subsonic with Raspberry Pi 3 and have your own Raspberry Pi Subsonic Media Server.

Raspberry Pi Subsonic Media Server with Diet Pi OS

Before starting to setup Subsonic download server with Raspberry Pi 3, we first need to install an operating system. DietPi is one of the lightest operating systems available to date made specifically for low powered devices like the Raspberry Pi and Odroid. It has optimized software installers compiled specifically for the Raspberry Pi 3 that automate the install process, making the setup a simple process.

Before proceeding, you must follow and complete the Raspberry Pi 3 Diet Pi installation guide.

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Next, connect the power cable to the Raspberrry Pi and the DietPi boot process will begin which takes about 2 minutes. Now all you need to do is wait for DietPi to display the IP where you can connect via SSH. You are now ready to setup Subsonic with Raspberry Pi.

Connect to your Raspberry Pi 3 via SSH

Connecting to your Raspberry Pi 3 via SSH is really easy. You just need to use a SSH Client and enter the IP of the SSH device you want to connect to.

First, make sure you download Putty on your computer and open it. [Read: 10 best SSH Clients for Windows: free alternatives to PuTTY]

Next, type the IP for your device, the port (22 is the default port for SSH), and select SSH, then click on the Open button to start the connection.

Setup Subsonic Server With Raspberry Pi - Ssh Connection
Putty Connection Via Ssh

A link to the Raspberry Pi will be made and the Login prompt will appear. For DietPi the default username is root and the password is dietpi.

Subsonic Server On Raspberry Pi - Ssh Login
Ssh Login

If the credentials used are correct, DietPi will start it's automatic update process, to make sure you are using the latest version. This process usually takes about 5 minutes, so wait patiently until you get the confirmation that the update has been completed then press enter to reboot the device.

Dietpi Update Process
Dietpi Update Process Finished

Setup Subsonic with Raspberry Pi

Now that everything is prepared, we are ready to install our Raspberry Pi Subsonic Media Server. The DietPi Installation System will start automatically, so just press Enter to begin.

Diet Pi Installation System
Dietpi Installation System

Next, choose if you want to setup a USB drive now or not. As the image shows, USB drive gives a better performance and generally more storage space than a SD card. We have separate guide on how to setup USB drive for storage on Diet Pi. Therefore, we will choose NO, with the assumption that you have already setup a USB drive following that. If not, select YES and setup the USB drive as described in the above guide. You may also select NO to use SD card for storage (not recommended).

Setup Usb Drive For Dietpi Subsonic Server
Usb Dedicated Drive For Dietpi

On the next screen, press Enter to start the DietPi Software menu. Select the Software Optimized row then press Enter.

Diet Pi Software List For Rpi - Subsonic Installation
Software Optimized Section Ready For Installation On Your Device

Navigate down to find Subsonic Media Server. Select it by pressing the Space button on your keyboard, then press Enter to go back on the main menu.

Subsonic 6 - Install From Diet Pi
Select Subsonic 6 To Automatically Install It
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Next, select the Install option to start the setup process.

Diet Pi Software Selection - Install Subsonic
Automatically Install All Your Selected Software Packages

Check the list that contains the software ready to install and confirm it  by selecting OK, then press Enter.

Subsonic Service List - Diet Pi
Ready To Install Subsonic Service List

Raspberry Pi Subsonic setup process should begin. All you have to do now is wait for about 10 minutes until you get the Installation Completed message, and the system reboots.

Setup Subsonic With Raspberry Pi - Instalation Completed Message In Ssh
Subsonic - Instalation Completed Message

After the system reboots, open your browser and enter the IP of the Raspberry Pi and use port 4040 to in order to start the Subsonic Setup Wizard. In my case, the IP for the Subsonic Media Server installation is 10.1.10.111:4040.

Raspberry Pi Subsonic Media Server - Dietpi Installation
Subsonic Homepage After Installation

Raspberry Pi Subsonic Media Server is now installed. What do do next?

Congratulations! You managed to setup Subsonic with Raspberry Pi 3 and you now have a dedicated Raspberry Pi Subsonic Media Server. Next, make sure you check our guide on how to setup Sickrage with Raspberry Pi, in order to automatically populate your Subsonic Media Server with new media for your watching pleasure. In our future articles, we will show you how you can setup other services next to your Raspberry Pi Subsonic Media Server, so make sure to check back soon for more.

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Ciprian

Ciprian is an enthusiast, always up to date with the latest and greatest in the IT field. Passionate about computers, mobile devices and gadgets. In his spare time, he is a gamer.