How to Install KODI (Docker Version) on Ubuntu Server

KODI is a popular media center software that allows you to organize and access your media files from various sources. It is a versatile and user-friendly application that can be installed on different platforms, including Ubuntu Server. In this article, we will guide you through the process of installing KODI (Docker version) on Ubuntu Server.

Prerequisites

Before we begin, make sure you have the following:

• An Ubuntu Server machine with internet access
• Root or sudo access to the server

Step 1: Update System Packages

First, let's update the system packages to ensure we have the latest updates:

Step 2: Install Docker

KODI can be installed using Docker, a containerization platform that allows you to run applications in isolated environments. To install Docker, follow these steps:

1. Install the required packages:
sudo apt install apt-transport-https ca-certificates curl software-properties-common
2. Add the Docker GPG key:
curl -fsSL https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu/gpg | sudo gpg --dearmor -o /usr/share/keyrings/docker-archive-keyring.gpg
3. Add the Docker repository:
echo "deb [arch=amd64 signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/docker-archive-keyring.gpg] https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu $(lsb_release -cs) stable" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/docker.list > /dev/null
4. Update the package index:
sudo apt update
5. Install Docker:
sudo apt install docker-ce docker-ce-cli containerd.io

Step 3: Run KODI Docker Container

Now that we have Docker installed, we can run the KODI Docker container. Follow these steps:

1. Pull the KODI Docker image:
sudo docker pull linuxserver/kodi
2. Create a directory to store KODI data:
sudo mkdir -p /opt/kodi
3. Run the KODI Docker container:
sudo docker run -d --name=kodi --net=host -e PUID=$(id -u) -e PGID=$(id -g) -v /opt/kodi:/config -v /etc/localtime:/etc/localtime:ro linuxserver/kodi

Step 4: Access KODI

Once the container is running, you can access KODI by opening a web browser on your local machine and entering the following URL:

Replace [SERVER_IP_ADDRESS] with the IP address of your Ubuntu Server machine.

Step 5: Configure KODI

After accessing KODI, you can configure it to suit your preferences. You can add media sources, install add-ons, and customize the appearance. KODI provides a user-friendly interface for managing your media library.

Step 6: Start KODI Automatically on Boot

If you want KODI to start automatically when your Ubuntu Server machine boots up, you can create a systemd service. Follow these steps:

1. Create a systemd service unit file:
sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/kodi.service
2. Add the following content to the file:

[Unit]
Description=KODI Media Center
After=network.target

[Service]
ExecStart=/usr/bin/docker start -a kodi
ExecStop=/usr/bin/docker stop -t 2 kodi

[Install]
WantedBy=default.target
  

3. Save and close the file.
4. Reload systemd:
sudo systemctl daemon-reload
5. Enable the service:
sudo systemctl enable kodi

Congratulations! You have successfully installed KODI (Docker version) on your Ubuntu Server. Now you can enjoy organizing and accessing your media files with ease.

References