Skip to main content

Prowlarr

Unraid indexer management for the *arr media automation stack

Prowlarr Indexer Manager

Video IBRACORP Prowlarr Tutorial

Useful Links

Related Videos Check IBRACORP YouTube channel for latest tutorials

Disclaimer

Thank you for choosing to collaborate with IBRACORP 🙏

Please read our disclaimer https://docs.ibracorp.io/#disclaimer

Credits​

RoleContributor
Writer / ProducerIBRACORP
Video Recording and VoiceIBRACORP
DeveloperProwlarr Team
ContributorServarr Community
Testing / ProofreadingIBRACORP Community

Feature List​

Prowlarr Indexer Management Features:

  • Centralized indexer management for *arr applications
  • Support for Usenet and Torrent indexers
  • Automatic sync of indexers across Sonarr, Radarr, Readarr, and Lidarr
  • Manual searching and browsing of trackers and indexers
  • Indexer health monitoring and status notifications
  • Release pushing directly to download clients
  • Built-in support for popular indexers and trackers
  • Proxy support for VPN and privacy protection
  • API key management and authentication
  • Comprehensive logging and statistics

Prerequisites​

System Requirements:

  • CPU: 2+ cores (1.0GHz or higher)
  • RAM: 1GB minimum (2GB recommended)
  • Storage: 1GB available space for application data
  • Network: Stable internet connection
  • VPN: Recommended for torrent indexer access

Compatible Applications:

  • Sonarr (TV show management)
  • Radarr (movie management)
  • Readarr (book management)
  • Lidarr (music management)

Installation​

Unraid Docker Template​

Prowlarr / LinuxServer or Hotio Repository / Media Management

Installation Steps:

  1. Head to the Community Applications store in Unraid
  2. Search for and click to install Prowlarr (LinuxServer or Hotio)
  3. Configure the container settings:
    • WebUI Port: 9696
    • Config Path: /mnt/user/appdata/prowlarr
    • Network Type: Custom Docker network (recommended for *arr stack)
  4. Configure Environment Variables:
    • PUID: 1000
    • PGID: 1000
    • TZ: America/New_York
  5. Click Apply and wait for the container to pull down and start
  6. Access the WebUI at http://YOUR_SERVER_IP:9696

Docker Compose​

version: '3.8'
services:
  prowlarr:
    image: lscr.io/linuxserver/prowlarr:latest
    container_name: prowlarr
    restart: unless-stopped
    environment:
      - PUID=1000
      - PGID=1000
      - TZ=America/New_York
    volumes:
      - ./prowlarr-config:/config
    ports:
      - "9696:9696"
    networks:
      - arr-network

networks:
  arr-network:
    external: true

Installation Steps:

  1. Save the above configuration as docker-compose.yml
  2. Ensure *arr network exists: docker network create arr-network
  3. Start the container: 
    docker compose up -d
  4. Access Prowlarr at http://YOUR_SERVER_IP:9696

Configuration​

Initial Setup​

First-Time Configuration:

  1. Navigate to http://YOUR_SERVER_IP:9696
  2. Complete the setup wizard:
    • Authentication: Configure if desired (optional for local access)
    • Update Branch: Develop or Master (Develop recommended)
    • Proxy Settings: Configure if using VPN
  3. Base Settings:
    • Set log level (Info recommended)
    • Configure API key (auto-generated)

Authentication Setup​

Security Configuration:

  1. Navigate to Settings → General
  2. Authentication Method:
    • None: No authentication (local network only)
    • Basic: Username/password
    • Forms: Login form with sessions
  3. User Management:
    • Create admin user with secure password
    • Configure session timeout
    • Enable HTTPS if using reverse proxy

Indexer Configuration​

Adding Indexers:

  1. Navigate to Indexers tab
  2. Click "Add Indexer"
  3. Select Indexer Type:
    • Usenet: NZBGeek, NZBHydra2, Newznab
    • Torrent: 1337x, RARBG, Torznab
  4. Configure Indexer Settings:
    • Name: Descriptive name for the indexer
    • Enable: Check to activate
    • Redirect: Enable for automatic redirects
    • Priority: 1-50 (lower number = higher priority)
    • Download Link: Magnet or .torrent preference

Usenet Indexer Example:

indexer_config:
  name: "NZBGeek"
  implementation: "Newznab"
  enable: true
  redirect: true
  priority: 10
  settings:
    base_url: "https://api.nzbgeek.info"
    api_path: "/api"
    api_key: "your_api_key_here"
    categories: [5030, 5040]  # TV HD, TV UHD
    early_download_limit: 3
    daily_api_requests: 100

Torrent Indexer Example:

indexer_config:
  name: "1337x"
  implementation: "1337x"
  enable: true
  redirect: true
  priority: 20
  settings:
    base_url: "https://1337x.to"
    minimum_seeders: 5
    seed_ratio: 1.0
    seed_time: 0
    download_link: "magnet"

Application Sync​

*Connecting arr Applications:

  1. Navigate to Settings → Apps
  2. Click "Add Application"
  3. Configure Application:
    • Application Type: Sonarr, Radarr, Readarr, or Lidarr
    • Name: Descriptive name
    • Sync Level: Full Sync (recommended)
    • Server: http://sonarr:8989 or IP address
    • API Key: Application's API key

Sonarr Configuration:

app_config:
  name: "Sonarr"
  implementation: "Sonarr"
  sync_level: "fullSync"
  settings:
    prowlarr_url: "http://prowlarr:9696"
    base_url: "http://sonarr:8989"
    api_key: "your_sonarr_api_key"
    sync_categories: [5030, 5040, 5045]  # TV categories

Radarr Configuration:

app_config:
  name: "Radarr"
  implementation: "Radarr"
  sync_level: "fullSync"
  settings:
    prowlarr_url: "http://prowlarr:9696"
    base_url: "http://radarr:7878"
    api_key: "your_radarr_api_key"
    sync_categories: [2000, 2010, 2020]  # Movie categories

Advanced Configuration​

Indexer Profiles​

Creating Custom Profiles:

  1. Navigate to Settings → Indexer Proxies
  2. Click "Add Indexer Proxy"
  3. Configure Profile:
    • Name: Profile description
    • Type: HTTP, SOCKS4, SOCKS5
    • Host: Proxy server address
    • Port: Proxy port
    • Username/Password: If required

Proxy Configuration:

indexer_proxies:
  - name: "VPN Proxy"
    type: "Http"
    host: "proxy.vpnprovider.com"
    port: 8080
    username: "vpn_user"
    password: "vpn_password"
    bypass_proxy_for_local_addresses: true

Download Client Integration​

Adding Download Clients:

  1. Navigate to Settings → Download Clients
  2. Click "Add Download Client"
  3. Configure Client:
    • Type: qBittorrent, Transmission, SABnzbd, etc.
    • Host: Download client address
    • Port: Client port
    • Credentials: Username/password if required

qBittorrent Configuration:

download_clients:
  - name: "qBittorrent"
    implementation: "QBittorrent"
    enable: true
    priority: 1
    settings:
      host: "qbittorrent"
      port: 8080
      username: "admin"
      password: "admin_password"
      category: "prowlarr"
      initial_state: "start"
      sequential_download: false
      first_and_last_first: false

Categories and Mapping​

Category Configuration:

categories:
  movies:
    - 2000  # Movies
    - 2010  # Movies/Foreign
    - 2020  # Movies/Other
    - 2030  # Movies/SD
    - 2040  # Movies/HD
    - 2050  # Movies/UHD
    - 2060  # Movies/BluRay
    - 2070  # Movies/3D

  tv:
    - 5000  # TV
    - 5010  # TV/WEB-DL
    - 5020  # TV/Foreign
    - 5030  # TV/SD
    - 5040  # TV/HD
    - 5045  # TV/UHD
    - 5050  # TV/Other
    - 5060  # TV/Sport
    - 5070  # TV/Anime
    - 5080  # TV/Documentary

  audio:
    - 3000  # Audio
    - 3010  # Audio/MP3
    - 3020  # Audio/Video
    - 3030  # Audio/Audiobook
    - 3040  # Audio/Lossless

Monitoring and Maintenance​

Health Monitoring​

Indexer Health Checks:

  1. Navigate to System → Status
  2. Review indexer status indicators:
    • Green: Healthy and responding
    • Yellow: Warning or rate limited
    • Red: Failed or unavailable

Health Check Configuration:

health_checks:
  indexer_status_check: true
  rss_sync_check: true
  download_client_check: true
  update_check: true
  check_for_finished_download_client_task: true

Logging and Statistics​

Log Configuration:

  1. Navigate to Settings → General
  2. Log Level Options:
    • Trace: Most verbose (debugging)
    • Debug: Detailed information
    • Info: General information (recommended)
    • Warn: Warnings only
    • Error: Errors only

Log Analysis:

# View container logs
docker logs prowlarr

# Follow logs in real-time
docker logs -f prowlarr

# Search for specific indexer errors
docker logs prowlarr 2>&1 | grep -i "indexer.*error"

# Check sync status
docker logs prowlarr 2>&1 | grep -i "sync"

Performance Monitoring​

Statistics Dashboard:

  1. Navigate to Statistics tab
  2. Review metrics:
    • Indexer Performance: Response times and success rates
    • API Usage: Requests per indexer
    • Search Statistics: Success/failure rates
    • Sync Status: Last sync times and results

Performance Optimization:

settings:
  rss_sync_interval: 60  # minutes
  maximum_size: 0        # MB (0 = unlimited)
  minimum_age: 0         # minutes
  retention: 0           # days (0 = unlimited)
  indexer_priority_threshold: 10
  preferred_indexer_flags: []

Troubleshooting​

Common Issues​

Indexer Connection Problems:

# Test indexer connectivity
curl -I "https://indexer-url.com"

# Check DNS resolution
nslookup indexer-url.com

# Verify API key
curl -H "X-API-Key: your_api_key" "https://indexer-url.com/api"

Application Sync Failures:

  • Verify API keys are correct
  • Check network connectivity between containers
  • Confirm application URLs are accessible
  • Review sync category mappings

Search Issues:

  • Check indexer status and health
  • Verify category mappings
  • Review search filters and limits
  • Monitor rate limiting

Rate Limiting​

Managing API Limits:

rate_limiting:
  daily_api_requests: 100
  hourly_api_requests: 10
  request_delay: 1000  # milliseconds
  burst_size: 5
  respect_indexer_rate_limits: true

Rate Limit Monitoring:

# Check API usage statistics
docker exec prowlarr cat /config/logs/prowlarr.txt | grep -i "rate"

# Monitor indexer response times
docker exec prowlarr cat /config/logs/prowlarr.txt | grep -i "response.*time"

Error Resolution​

Common Error Solutions:

  1. "Indexer not available":

    • Check indexer website status
    • Verify proxy/VPN configuration
    • Update indexer URL if changed

  2. "API key invalid":

    • Regenerate API key from indexer
    • Update key in Prowlarr configuration
    • Check key format and length

  3. "Connection timeout":

    • Increase timeout values
    • Check network connectivity
    • Review firewall settings

Integration Examples​

Complete *arr Stack​

Docker Compose for Full Stack:

version: '3.8'
services:
  prowlarr:
    image: lscr.io/linuxserver/prowlarr:latest
    container_name: prowlarr
    environment:
      - PUID=1000
      - PGID=1000
      - TZ=America/New_York
    volumes:
      - ./prowlarr-config:/config
    ports:
      - "9696:9696"
    networks:
      - arr-network

  sonarr:
    image: lscr.io/linuxserver/sonarr:latest
    container_name: sonarr
    environment:
      - PUID=1000
      - PGID=1000
      - TZ=America/New_York
    volumes:
      - ./sonarr-config:/config
      - /path/to/tv:/tv
      - /path/to/downloads:/downloads
    ports:
      - "8989:8989"
    networks:
      - arr-network

  radarr:
    image: lscr.io/linuxserver/radarr:latest
    container_name: radarr
    environment:
      - PUID=1000
      - PGID=1000
      - TZ=America/New_York
    volumes:
      - ./radarr-config:/config
      - /path/to/movies:/movies
      - /path/to/downloads:/downloads
    ports:
      - "7878:7878"
    networks:
      - arr-network

  qbittorrent:
    image: lscr.io/linuxserver/qbittorrent:latest
    container_name: qbittorrent
    environment:
      - PUID=1000
      - PGID=1000
      - TZ=America/New_York
      - WEBUI_PORT=8080
    volumes:
      - ./qbittorrent-config:/config
      - /path/to/downloads:/downloads
    ports:
      - "8080:8080"
      - "6881:6881"
      - "6881:6881/udp"
    networks:
      - arr-network

networks:
  arr-network:
    driver: bridge

Backup and Recovery​

Configuration Backup:

#!/bin/bash
# prowlarr-backup.sh

BACKUP_DIR="/backup/prowlarr"
CONFIG_DIR="/path/to/prowlarr-config"
DATE=$(date +%Y%m%d_%H%M%S)

# Create backup directory
mkdir -p "$BACKUP_DIR"

# Backup configuration
tar -czf "$BACKUP_DIR/prowlarr-config-$DATE.tar.gz" "$CONFIG_DIR"

# Keep only last 14 backups
find "$BACKUP_DIR" -name "prowlarr-config-*.tar.gz" -mtime +14 -delete

Database Backup:

# Backup Prowlarr database
cp /path/to/prowlarr-config/prowlarr.db /backup/prowlarr-db-$(date +%Y%m%d).db

# Restore database
cp /backup/prowlarr-db-20241218.db /path/to/prowlarr-config/prowlarr.db
docker restart prowlarr

Security Best Practices​

VPN Configuration​

VPN Setup for Indexers:

# VPN container example
services:
  vpn:
    image: dperson/openvpn-client
    container_name: vpn
    cap_add:
      - NET_ADMIN
    devices:
      - /dev/net/tun
    volumes:
      - ./vpn-config:/vpn
    environment:
      - VPN_CONFIG=/vpn/config.ovpn

  prowlarr:
    image: lscr.io/linuxserver/prowlarr:latest
    network_mode: "service:vpn"
    depends_on:
      - vpn

Access Control​

Reverse Proxy Configuration:

# Nginx configuration
server {
    listen 443 ssl http2;
    server_name prowlarr.yourdomain.com;

    ssl_certificate /path/to/cert.pem;
    ssl_certificate_key /path/to/key.pem;

    location / {
        proxy_pass http://prowlarr:9696;
        proxy_set_header Host $host;
        proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
        proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for;
        proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-Proto $scheme;
    }
}

Special Thanks​

  • Prowlarr Team for their excellent indexer management application
  • Servarr Community for comprehensive documentation and support
  • To our fantastic Discord community and our Admins DiscDuck and Hawks for their input and documentation (as always)

Please support the developers and creators involved in this work to help show them some love. ❤️

Final Words​

We hope you enjoyed this guide. It was conceptualized, written, and implemented by our Admin Sycotix.

Support Us​

Our work sometimes takes months to research and develop.

If you want to help support us please consider:

Thank you for being part of our community!