Autoscan

Intelligent real-time media library scanner for Plex, Emby, and Jellyfin

Autoscan - Smart Library Scanner

Autoscan is an intelligent media library scanning tool that replaces the default file system monitoring behavior of Plex, Emby, and Jellyfin. Instead of slow periodic scans, Autoscan uses webhooks and real-time notifications to detect new media instantly, making your library updates lightning-fast.

What is Autoscan?

Autoscan integrates with your media automation stack to provide:

• Instant Library Updates - New media appears immediately after download
• Webhook Integration - Connects with Sonarr, Radarr, Lidarr, and more
• Cloud Storage Support - Works with Google Drive and RClone mounts
• Smart Scanning - Only scans what changed, not your entire library
• Multi-Server Support - Trigger scans across Plex, Emby, and Jellyfin simultaneously

Installation

Install Autoscan

Install Autoscan for a specific user:

qb install autoscan -u username

Installation Process

During installation, Autoscan will automatically:

1. Detect Installed Media Servers - Finds Plex, Emby, and/or Jellyfin
2. Configure Webhooks - Sets up triggers for Sonarr, Radarr, and Lidarr
3. Extract API Tokens - Retrieves authentication credentials automatically
4. Map Library Paths - Discovers your media library locations
5. Setup RClone Integration - Configures inotify monitoring if RClone is installed

CLI Commands

Basic Operations

Usage Examples

Install Autoscan:

qb install autoscan -u myuser

Update Autoscan:

qb update autoscan -u myuser

Reinstall (fix corrupted installation):

qb reinstall autoscan -u myuser

Remove Autoscan and clean up:

qb remove autoscan -u myuser

How It Works

Architecture Overview

Autoscan operates as a webhook receiver that listens for notifications from your media automation tools:

Sonarr/Radarr → Download Complete → Webhook to Autoscan → Plex/Emby/Jellyfin Scan

Traditional Scanning:

1. Media server checks entire library every 5-15 minutes
2. High disk I/O and CPU usage
3. 5-15 minute delay before new media appears

Autoscan Scanning:

1. Download completes in Sonarr/Radarr
2. Webhook sent to Autoscan immediately
3. Autoscan triggers targeted scan of only the new file
4. Media appears in 5-10 seconds

Supported Integrations

QuickBox Pro automatically configures Autoscan with your installed applications:

Enhanced Features

Autoscan on QuickBox Pro includes several advanced features:

Configuration

Configuration File Structure

Autoscan’s configuration is located at:

Key Configuration Options

Scan Timing:

minimum-age: 2m30s  # Wait time before scanning (prevents incomplete files)
scan-delay: 15s     # Delay between scan requests (batch similar events)

Authentication:

authentication:
  username: your_username
  password: your_password

Webhook Port:

port: 3070  # Port for receiving webhooks

Setting Up Webhooks

Sonarr Webhook Configuration

1. Open Sonarr → Settings → Connect
2. Click the + icon → Select Webhook
3. Configure:
   • Name: Autoscan
   • URL: http://localhost:3070/triggers/sonarr
   • Method: POST
   • Username: Your Autoscan username
   • Password: Your Autoscan password
4. Select triggers: On Import, On Upgrade
5. Click Test then Save

Radarr Webhook Configuration

1. Open Radarr → Settings → Connect
2. Click the + icon → Select Webhook
3. Configure:
   • Name: Autoscan
   • URL: http://localhost:3070/triggers/radarr
   • Method: POST
   • Username: Your Autoscan username
   • Password: Your Autoscan password
4. Select triggers: On Import, On Upgrade
5. Click Test then Save

Lidarr Webhook Configuration

1. Open Lidarr → Settings → Connect
2. Click the + icon → Select Webhook
3. Configure:
   • Name: Autoscan
   • URL: http://localhost:3070/triggers/lidarr
   • Method: POST
   • Username: Your Autoscan username
   • Password: Your Autoscan password
4. Select triggers: On Import, On Upgrade
5. Click Test then Save

Service Management

Autoscan runs as a systemd service for reliable operation:

Check Service Status

systemctl status autoscan@username

Restart Service

systemctl restart autoscan@username

View Live Logs

journalctl -u autoscan@username -f

Stop Service

systemctl stop autoscan@username

Start Service

systemctl start autoscan@username

Advanced Features

RClone + inotify Integration

When RClone is installed, Autoscan automatically configures inotify monitoring for cloud storage:

Benefits:

• Real-time detection of files uploaded to Google Drive
• Instant library updates for cloud-based media
• Reduced API polling (better for API quotas)

Configuration:

triggers:
  inotify:
    - priority: 0
      include:
        - ^/home/username/rclone/gmedia/
      exclude:
        - '\.(srt|pdf|jpg|bmp|png|ico|nfo)$'

Manual Triggers

Trigger a scan manually via HTTP request:

curl -X POST http://username:password@localhost:3070/triggers/manual \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"path": "/path/to/media/folder"}'

Priority System

Autoscan uses a priority queue for scan requests:

Lower numbers = higher priority = scanned first.

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Webhooks not triggering scans:

# Check if Autoscan is running
systemctl status autoscan@username
 
# View recent logs for errors
journalctl -u autoscan@username -n 50
 
# Test webhook manually
curl -X POST http://username:password@localhost:3070/triggers/manual \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"path": "/home/username/media/Movies"}'

Scans taking too long:

Check your minimum-age setting - if it’s too high, scans will be delayed:

nano /home/username/.config/Autoscan/config.yml
# Adjust: minimum-age: 2m30s (or lower)

Authentication errors:

Verify webhook credentials match your config:

cat /home/username/.config/Autoscan/config.yml | grep -A 2 authentication

Media server not responding:

Check if your media server is running and accessible:

# For Plex
systemctl status plexmediaserver
 
# For Emby
systemctl status emby-server@username
 
# For Jellyfin
systemctl status jellyfin@username

Debug Mode

Enable verbose logging for troubleshooting:

# Stop service
systemctl stop autoscan@username
 
# Run manually with debug output
cd /opt/username/Autoscan
./autoscan --config=/home/username/.config/Autoscan/config.yml --verbosity=debug

Performance Tips

Scan Delay Optimization

Recommended Settings

Aggressive (instant updates, higher load):

minimum-age: 30s
scan-delay: 5s

Balanced (recommended):

minimum-age: 2m30s
scan-delay: 15s

Conservative (batch updates, lower load):

minimum-age: 5m
scan-delay: 30s

Exclude Unnecessary Files

Reduce unnecessary scans by excluding metadata files:

triggers:
  inotify:
    - exclude:
        - '\.(srt|sub|idx|nfo|jpg|png|txt|md)$'
        - '/._'
        - '\.DS_Store$'

Use Cases

Automated Media Pipeline

Create a fully automated media delivery system:

1. Sonarr/Radarr monitors shows/movies
2. Download client fetches media
3. Autoscan detects completion via webhook
4. Plex/Emby/Jellyfin scans only the new file
5. Media appears in your library within seconds

Cloud Storage Integration

Perfect for users with Google Drive or other cloud storage:

1. Upload media to Google Drive
2. RClone mounts drive locally
3. Autoscan’s inotify detects new files
4. Media server scans immediately
5. Stream your cloud library instantly

Multi-Server Setups

Run Plex and Jellyfin simultaneously:

• Autoscan triggers scans on both servers
• Single webhook from Sonarr/Radarr updates all libraries
• Perfect for users transitioning between platforms

Related Applications

Autoscan works seamlessly with these applications:

Resources