Why isn't Emby Server installed under "Program Files"

[BajaPaul 2]

In Windows, 10 in my case, why is Emby Server installed in a "Users' personal folder instead of under "Program Files" as almost always done with the installation of any program in Windows and following Microsoft's recommended conventions?

 

Task Manager shows Emby installed at: C:\Users\"User Name"\AppData\Roaming\Emby-Server\System versus being installed in  C:\Program Files\Emby-Server\System.

 

This seems weird.  I want Emby Server to start when anyone logs into the server computer.  For whatever reason, they may end up doing a reboot.  Now I have to sign in first and then switch user to allow them to access the server.  I may be away and don't want to give them access to my account.  So they are locked out until I come back and log in and then lock out so they can sign in and use the server functions.  This seems stupid!

 

Also, why are all recorded PVR TV shows and Movies stored under my user?  Why can't I assign a library folder named "Recordings" on the publicly available media drive that also contains "Movies", "TV", "Music", "Photos", etc.  I don't want all this media to be recorded under my user on a limited system drive when I have a giant media drive setup just for this purpose!

 

With Emby Server installed under my user I don't know if possible to start server if any other user logs into computer after restart.  Can I do that?

Edited May 13, 2017 by BajaPaul

[blade005 185]

@@BajaPaul,

 

Also, why are all recorded PVR TV shows and Movies stored under my user?  Why can't I assign a library folder named "Recordings" on the publicly available media drive that also contains "Movies", "TV", "Music", "Photos", etc.  I don't want all this media to be recorded under my user on a limited system drive when I have a giant media drive setup just for this purpose!

 

You can set your Default Recording path for Recorded TV to any location / path / drive that you prefer in the LIVE TV -- SETTINGS page of Emby Server configurations. Any users created in Emby can be granted access to this library. 

Edited May 13, 2017 by blade005

[BajaPaul 2]

1. blade005, thanks for the reply.  I must be missing something.  I go to "Live TV" under Dashboard as you suggest.  I see no option to redirect the recording path as you have suggested.  I am on Windows Server Version 3.2.16.0.  Would you mind elaborating?

[Logos302 86]

you can activate the service that emby has and set it to run as the user you installed it as.  Which will get around the issue of it only starting for you when you login.  The draw back of that it you need to manually update.  

[BajaPaul 2]

OK, so why is Emby Server being installed under a user's files versus "Program Files"?  That seems completely wrong.  So I need to manually modify my Emby startup service so that it will startup automatically regardless of user logging in.  Answer a bit cryptic...

[bluemonkey07 590]

I think so it can auto update without requiring elevated permissions

Edited May 13, 2017 by Vidman

[Luke 42077]

@@BajaPaul, lucky for you, the download page on our website has a portable version that you can place in the directory of your choosing. enjoy !

[BajaPaul 2]

Curious, where does the portable version store PVR recordings?  Why is a portable version needed?  I can't visualize use.

[ebr 16169]

The portable version exists for advanced users that want to control exactly where Emby resides - and are willing to take on the responsibility of ensuring that proper permissions exist for automatic updates to work (or, alternatively, manage the update process manually).

 

For a more detailed explanation of why we install where we do, see here.

[ebr 16169]

Curious, where does the portable version store PVR recordings?

 

As blade mentioned above, go to the server Dashboard and click "Live TV" on the left bar.  Then click "Settings" at the top.  There is a field for the default recording path.  Set it to whatever you wish.

[BajaPaul 2]

Thanks Bottle Washer.  In Dashboard, I neglected to see the "Settings" menu along top after selecting "Live TV".  I see all the setting now.  Duh!

 

 

Edit:

 

BTW, also thanks for the info and link about server install location.  I am using the default W10 location at ...\AppData\Roaming\ in an administrator account. The KISS principle since I don't want to deal with all the "portable" overhead complications.  All works well and I figured out how to start server on computer boot.  I also have an open/standard account that is for anyone to use like a regular TV.  They don't have access to my private stuff.  I even figured out to have that open account to login without any password or PIN using the "netplwiz" command.  Slick!

 

Basically, Microsoft is installing all their store apps in same location (...\AppData\Local\Packages) probably for many of the same reasons.

Edited May 14, 2017 by BajaPaul

[arrbee99 1815]

Is there any way to maybe just move Metadata and Data to a different drive from the install location ? I only have a 120GB SSD as my C drive and as far as I can see Emby is taking up 20.5GB. Of this Metadata is taking up 7.6GB and Data 10.1GB. Would be nice to avoid fiddling with portable installations. Using it as an excuse for a new SSD would be nice but preferably not.

[Happy2Play 9780]

Is there any way to maybe just move Metadata and Data to a different drive from the install location ? I only have a 120GB SSD as my C drive and as far as I can see Emby is taking up 20.5GB. Of this Metadata is taking up 7.6GB and Data 10.1GB. Would be nice to avoid fiddling with portable installations. Using it as an excuse for a new SSD would be nice but preferably not.

 

You have always been able to set the Metadata path, but you have to manually move the existing one or allow it to regenerate at the new path. Dashboard-Library-Advanced-Metadata path

 

As for "Data" I would have to ask what files/folders are large in that folder?  Maybe really old stuff from when things were moved around (I believe there use to be a metadata folder there).  If you can let us know we can probably tell you what is safe to just delete.   As all of my Emby-Server\data folders are under 1GB.  I guess there is the CameraUpload folder if you use that, but that is customizable also.

Edited May 16, 2017 by Happy2Play

[arrbee99 1815]

Thanks Happy2Play, didn't think of looking under Library. It says 'Specify a custom location for downloaded artwork and metadata' - what goes there if I say to store my stuff in the relevant movie / tv folders ? chapter images, actor images...

 

The Metadata folder inside the Data folder shown below is 9GB 

 

 

Inside the Metadata folder is stuff like this

 

 

The Library folder above is 6.4GB.

 

Maybe its all essential. No idea.

[Happy2Play 9780]

Thanks Happy2Play, didn't think of looking under Library. It says 'Specify a custom location for downloaded artwork and metadata' - what goes there if I say to store my stuff in the relevant movie / tv folders ? chapter images, actor images...

 

The Metadata folder inside the Data folder shown below is 9GB 

 

 

Inside the Metadata folder is stuff like this

 

 

The Library folder above is 6.4GB.

 

Maybe its all essential. No idea.

 

That is a old metadata location that can be deleted, all the information in it is obsolete and already been duplicated in new/current metadata folder \Emby-Server\Metadata

 

 

It says 'Specify a custom location for downloaded artwork and metadata' - what goes there if I say to store my stuff in the relevant movie / tv folders ? chapter images, actor images...

Well chapter images currently only store in Metadata\Library folder, actors in the Metadata\People folder (usually the largest folder).

 

Only artwork (poster, banner, logo, backdrop, ect) and metadata get stored with media with that option.

Edited May 16, 2017 by Happy2Play