How To Install SABnzbd On Linux
If you’re on Linux and find yourself relying on Usenet for content, you’ll want to install SABnzbd. It’s a super simple, easy to use newsgroup reading tool that makes downloading files easier than ever. Best of all, because of the nature of the software, you’ll be able to use it on any device that can communicate with your Linux PC or server.
Install SABnzbd
In this guide, we’ll focus on installing both SABnzbd, as well as SABnzbd plus. The reason for this is that not every Linux distribution has a regular release, and instead provides a “plus” version.
To use SABnzbd/SABnzbd Plus you’ll need Ubuntu, Debian, Arch Linux, Fedora, OpenSUSE or Gentoo.
Ubuntu
SABnzbd Plus isn’t on Ubuntu by default. Luckily, there’s a PPA available for anyone to install. To get it, open up a terminal and enter the following commands. Keep in mind that if you’re installing this on Ubuntu server, and not Ubuntu desktop, you’ll need software-properties-common as well, or PPA software repositories will not install.
Ubuntu Desktop
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:jcfp/nobetas sudo add-apt-repository ppa:jcfp/sab-addons
Ubuntu Server
sudo apt install software-properties-common sudo add-apt-repository ppa:jcfp/nobetas sudo add-apt-repository ppa:jcfp/sab-addons
Now that the PPAs are on the system, you’ll need to refresh the Ubuntu software sources. This is done with the apt packaging tool.
sudo apt update
Next, install any pending software updates for Ubuntu. This will ensure that SABnzbd runs with the absolute latest software.
sudo apt upgrade -y
Finally, install the program.
sudo apt install sabnzbdplus python-sabyenc
Debian
Debian users can install SABnzbd Plus without much effort, provided contrib is enabled. To enable the contributor software repository on Debian, open up a terminal and use the Nano text editor to edit Debian’s software sources.
sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list
Find the main software mirror that Debian uses. For example, for Debian USA users, the main software mirror is likely ftp.us.debian.org/debian/. After the main software mirror, by default, it should say main. Add contrib after it to enable the contributors.
Save the edits made with the Nano text editor by pressing Ctrl + O. Press Ctrl + X to exit Nano. Once the Nano text editor is closed, update the Debian software sources to reflect the changes.
sudo apt-get update
Be sure to also install any software updates available for Debian, before continuing:
sudo apt-get upgrade -y
Lastly, install SABnzbd Plus using apt-get.
sudo apt-get install sabnzbdplus
Arch Linux
SABnzbd plus is available to use on Arch Linux via the Arch AUR. To start off, open up a terminal and use the Pacman package manager tool to install the latest version of the Git package.
sudo pacman -S git
With Git installed, grab the latest package build for SABnzbd Plus.
git clone https://aur.archlinux.org/sabnzbd.git
CD into the sabnzbd folder.
cd sabnzbd
Use the makepkg tool to build the program and install any missing dependencies. Keep in mind that if some dependency files fail to install, you’ll have to install them by hand before building the program.
makepkg -si
Fedora
Thanks to the OpenSUSE build service, Fedora users do not need to compile the program from scratch. Instead, there are RPM files available for Fedora 27 and 28. Open up a terminal and use the DNF tool to install the packages.
Fedora 27
sudo dnf install https://anorien.csc.warwick.ac.uk/mirrors/download.opensuse.org/repositories/home:/stefan_van_der_eijk/Fedora_27/noarch/SABnzbd-2.3.3-1.1.noarch.rpm
Fedora 28
sudo dnf install https://downloadcontent.opensuse.org/repositories/home:/stefan_van_der_eijk/Fedora_28/noarch/SABnzbd-2.3.3-1.1.noarch.rpm
OpenSUSE
The SABnzbd Plus website has no instructions for Suse, so it’s assumed they don’t support it officially. However, users can still install the program no-problem thanks to the OBS. As of now, Leap 42.3, as well as Tumbleweed, are supported. Select your OS version and then click the “install” button. Soon after YaST should open and take you through the installation process.
Gentoo
There’s an eBuild of SABnzbd available to use on Gentoo. To install it, open up a terminal, gain root access and use the emerge packaging tool to install it.
Note: ensure you meet the correct USE Flags requirements before attempting to install (7za, rar, unzip).
emerge net-nntp/sabnzbd
Using SABnzbd
Even though SABnzbd installs locally, it runs in the web browser and is a web application. This is good because it means that any computer correctly configured can also access your SABnzbd installation.
To start using the program, search for SABnzbd, or SABnzbd+ in the application menu and click on the icon. As you click on it, your default web browser will launch and take you through a setup wizard.
The first step is to select your language. Check the correct language, then click “Start Wizard”.
On the next page, you’ll need to fill out information relating to your Usenet provider. Enter it in the host box, as well as your username and password too. Feel free to click the “SSL” box if your provider supports it.
When all information is filled out, click “Test Server” to check the connection.
After all user information is entered, the setup is complete. SABnzbd will go to the download page and should be ready to use!
When installing the way I mentioned one is left with figuring out ownership permissions. You are not able to browse to the home directory to say set your watched foloder to you ~/Downloads folder.
I’m still trying to figure it out.