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Is it possible to run the MB Server Service in Non-Admin Account?


sa2000

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Would like to try out MediaBrowser server and compare to Plex Media Server,

 

My requirement is that it should run in a non-admin user account,. On Plex I use an admin Account to install but run the service in a non-admin account

 

I have not been able to see how i can make that distinction between install and run for MediaBrowser. From what I have read it appears the service needs to run in an admin account. 

 

I did search the forum and read a number of topics and have not been able to find one that showed I could achieve what I want to do

 

Thanks

Edited by sa2000
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FrostByte

It just needs the right to log in as a service is all.  You can use the default system account as long as you don't have media on another computer such as a NAS

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Thanks - I do actually have my media on NAS units and I would be using UNC Paths for the service. Anyway use of SYSTEM would defeat the object of my requirement which is for the application not to have administrator rights

 

What I found confusing is that the install is linked to the setup of the user environment. In Plex Media Server i can install with one account - the admin account and then when i launch it in the non-admin account it sets up the user environment, I have not worked out how to split those 2 functions in MediaBrowser

 

So do I launch the setup file in my non-admin account - the account I want to use for MB? and give an admin account password when prompted by UAC to do that ?

Or do I run the setup in the admin account but then abort it somehow and continue in the non-admin account?

 

The appdata area I would want to use is the non-admin account area

 

I do not wish to use SYSTEM in anycase for the service.

Edited by sa2000
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FrostByte

Yes, all the files are installed in the user environment of the userid which installed instead of a common area.  I don't recall why, but the developers have explained why they have it set up that way in previous threads. 

 

I would install using the primary account you want to use with MB, can be the same one you use for the service.

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mediacowboy

@@sa2000, I have not tested this but I do it in my job all the time. Grant the user you want it to run as a local administrator. Install the software and then remove the administrator privileges.

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@@sa2000, I have not tested this but I do it in my job all the time. Grant the user you want it to run as a local administrator. Install the software and then remove the administrator privileges.

 

That will probably work.  We install into the first Admin account.  If the user you use to install is Admin, then it should go there.

 

We install into the user area because that is the only way to guarantee the ability to auto update which is integral to our design.

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That will probably work.  We install into the first Admin account.  If the user you use to install is Admin, then it should go there.

 

We install into the user area because that is the only way to guarantee the ability to auto update which is integral to our design.

 

OK so i will download the setup file using my non admin account

I right click on the setup download file and select 'Run As Administrator' or

I just run it and when an aciton needs admin access, i get a prompt and enter the admin account username and password to permit the action?

which of the two options?

 

The local app data must not be in the admin user area because the non-admin user has no access to that area during normal running after the install

 

From your statement about auto update - it sounds like it has to be running in an admin account if it is going to update the installed application. Updating the local data should not need admin 

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I don't understand those questions.  If you do what mediacowboy suggested then the account into which you are installing will be an admin account at the time of install.  So none of that other stuff should be necessary.

 

We install the server into an admin account for ease of setup but also because we aren't anticipating multiple servers being installed on the same machine so this makes sure that future installs go to the same place if someone tries it from a different windows user account.

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  • 1 year later...
Karlsson

I don't understand those questions.  If you do what mediacowboy suggested then the account into which you are installing will be an admin account at the time of install.  So none of that other stuff should be necessary.

 

We install the server into an admin account for ease of setup but also because we aren't anticipating multiple servers being installed on the same machine so this makes sure that future installs go to the same place if someone tries it from a different windows user account.

You want to run the server as a non-admin user since then you can set the permissions on the files to read only, so that Emby or someone (mis)using Emby won't be able to delete your files. Emby is after all just a glorified media player and shouldn't be allowed to delete, remove or change files.

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Once installed, you can pick up the Emby-Server folder and move it where ever you want.  Just be sure to have proper permissions so that updates, etc. will work.

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