Discover how to configure a music server using Airsonic on Windows, macOS, and Linux and access it remotely over Meshnet.
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In today's digital landscape, cloud-based audio services have become the go-to choice for many individuals seeking convenient access to their music. However, these solutions often fall short when providing access to personal audio files stored on separate devices. This limitation emphasizes the importance of finding a solution that grants users full control over their audio streaming experience, leading many to explore the option of setting up their own music servers.
is a self-hosted, free, and open-source application that enables you to easily configure a personal music server. This tool is optimized for various audio formats and large music collections. While self-hosting a server can be an exciting learning experience, setting up secure remote access may be the opposite.
Tinkering with or looking for available domain names can be tedious work. With , you can allow remote connections to your server without any difficult networking configurations. In addition, you do not have to expose any ports on your server.
This guide contains instructions on how you can set up your own Airsonic music server on Windows, macOS, and Linux devices using Docker, and access the server remotely using Meshnet.
To follow this guide, you must have and installed on your device. Instructions on how to download and install these tools can be found on the Docker website:
With Docker and Docker Compose installed, you can begin setting up your Airsonic music server. Running the Airsonic server as a Docker container requires fewer resources than a standalone installation. Besides, you can easily make changes to the server’s configuration by adjusting the Docker Compose file and restarting the container.
First, you need to create a Docker Compose file that contains the deployment instructions for the Airsonic Docker container.
To create a Docker Compose file for Airsonic on Windows:
Open PowerShell.
Run the following command to create a new airsonic folder with a data subfolder, and then navigate to the airsonic folder:
Create a docker-compose.yml file and open it using Notepad with the following command:
When prompted to create the file, click Yes.
Replace the placeholders with the values appropriate for your setup:
Instead of <\path\to\music>, enter the path to your music folder.
Instead of <\path\to\playlists>, enter the path to your playlists folder.
Instead of <\path\to\podcasts>, enter the path to your podcasts folder.
Example
Press Ctrl + S to save changes.
Exit Notepad.
With the Compose file created, while in the airsonic directory, execute the following command in the command line to create your Airsonic instance:
You can run the docker ps command to check if your Airsonic container is up and healthy.
Now that the server is active, you can control all of its settings using the Airsonic web interface. To access the web interface:
Open your internet browser.
Navigate to the following URL:
localhost:4040/login
In the Username and Password fields, enter admin and click Log in.
Upon logging in, you will be redirected to the Airsonic “Getting started” page. You can disable this page by clicking Don’t show this again.
It is essential to secure administrator access to your Airsonic instance with strong credentials. To update the login details for the administrator account:
In the upper-right corner, click admin and select Credentials.
Click Add credentials.
Enter your new password twice, select its expiry date, and click Create.
In the Credentials table, next to the initial entry, select the Delete checkbox and click Save.
The old default credentials are now removed and administrator access to your Airsonic instance is secured with the newly created password.
Using an administrator account for standard access is not recommended, especially if you plan to share the server with your peers. Airsonic allows you to create new accounts with specific permissions. This way, you can be sure that no accidental changes to the server will be made.
To create a new user:
Go to Airsonic Settings and select Users.
Make sure that New user is chosen next to Select user.
Select the appropriate permissions and access to media folders for the new user.
Enter the username, email address, and password of the new user.
Click Save.
The new user account is now created.
With your Airsonic server fully set up, you can use it remotely over Meshnet.
The easiest method to access your audio files stored on the Airsonic server is using an internet browser.
Copy the Nord name of your Airsonic server from the NordVPN application.
Open your internet browser.
In the URL field, paste the copied Nord name followed by :4040/ and press Enter.
Example
secret.meerkat-olympic.nord:4040/
Log in to your Airsonic account.
Now you should have full access to your Airsonic music library while being away from home.
To connect to your Airsonic server using the Ultrasonic app for Android:
In the Welcome to Ultrasonic! pop-up window, tap Take me to the settings.
In the lower-right corner, tap the plus (+) button.
In the Add server screen, fill in the following information:
In the Name field, enter a custom name for your server.
In the Server address field, append the Nord name of your Airsonic server followed by :4040.
In the Username and Password fields, enter the user credentials for your Airsonic server account. Example
Under Advanced settings, enable the Force plain password authentication toggle.
Tap Test connection to ensure that you can reach your server and tap Save.
From the Configured servers list, select your newly added server.
Now you can navigate your music library and play selected recordings directly from the Ultrasonic app.
In the Notepad window, paste the following information containing instructions for the :
Instead of <TimeZone>, enter your .
In the terminal window, paste the following information containing instructions for the :
Instead of <TimeZone>, enter your .
Docker will from Docker Hub and create the container.
If you're hosting Airsonic on a Linux device, you must grant the for the devices connecting to it. For more information, see .
You can also use Airsonic-compatible apps to conveniently access and listen to your audio library. A list of compatible apps is available on the page.
Install Ultrasonic from the and launch it.
Install iSub from the and launch it.
