Install NZBGet on Raspberry Pi - Lightweight Usenet Downloading

Leveraging NZBGet on Your Raspberry Pi for Usenet Access

Previously, we detailed the process of configuring a Raspberry Pi as a consistently running Usenet server utilizing the comprehensive SABnzbd client. This guide will now demonstrate the setup and utilization of NZBGet, a streamlined and resource-efficient alternative for Usenet downloads.

Understanding NZBGet's Advantages

While SABnzbd offers a wealth of features, NZBGet distinguishes itself through its minimal resource consumption and focused functionality. This makes it particularly well-suited for deployment on the Raspberry Pi, where optimizing performance is crucial.

NZBGet is designed to be a highly efficient download manager specifically for Usenet. It excels at handling numerous downloads concurrently while maintaining a small footprint.

Installation and Initial Configuration

The installation process for NZBGet is straightforward. It typically involves utilizing the package manager available on your Raspberry Pi’s operating system.

Once installed, initial configuration requires specifying download directories and potentially adjusting settings related to download speed and connection limits. These settings can be tailored to your specific internet connection and preferences.

Integrating with NZB Search Tools

To effectively utilize NZBGet, integration with an NZB search tool is essential. These tools locate the desired files on Usenet and provide NZB files to your download manager.

NZBGet can be configured to automatically import NZB files from various sources, initiating downloads without manual intervention. This automation streamlines the entire Usenet experience.

Optimizing NZBGet for Raspberry Pi

Several adjustments can be made to optimize NZBGet’s performance on a Raspberry Pi. These include:

Reducing the number of concurrent connections.
Adjusting the disk I/O scheduler.
Utilizing a lightweight database backend.

Implementing these optimizations can significantly improve download speeds and overall system responsiveness.

Monitoring and Maintenance

Regular monitoring of NZBGet’s activity is recommended to ensure optimal performance. This includes checking download speeds, error logs, and resource utilization.

Periodic maintenance, such as cleaning up completed downloads and updating the software, will contribute to the long-term stability and efficiency of your Usenet setup.

By following these steps, you can successfully deploy and maintain a robust and efficient Usenet downloading solution on your Raspberry Pi using NZBGet.

The Benefits of Switching to NZBGet

Should you have previously implemented our guide on transforming a Raspberry Pi into a consistently active Usenet machine and are satisfied with the outcome, this tutorial may not be necessary.

Conversely, if you've experienced performance issues with the demanding SABnzbd software on your Raspberry Pi – particularly when running it concurrently with a BitTorrent client – transitioning to NZBGet presents an effective solution for reducing system load.

While this switch involves sacrificing certain features, the essential functions remain intact. These include importing NZB files, downloading content, extracting archives, and coordinating with applications such as SickBeard and CouchPotato.

Installation Complexity

It's important to note that installing NZBGet is considerably more complex than SABnzbd.

The process necessitates compiling both NZBGet itself and modified versions of the supporting applications.

Essential Prerequisites

This guide details the installation of NZBget on a Raspberry Pi. We presume a working Raspbian installation is already in place, and that you’ve consulted our earlier guides.

If you’ve previously followed our instructions for SABnzbd and are simply looking to switch to NZBget, proceed directly to the next section.

Understanding Usenet

If you are new to Usenet, a foundational understanding is crucial. Consider reviewing this tutorial:

The How-To Geek Guide to Getting Started with Usenet

A reliable Usenet account is essential. Unlike torrenting, free and dependable public Usenet servers are unavailable.

Acquiring an account from a reputable provider is necessary. Our guide offers information about Usenet and provider selection advice.

Without a valid Usenet subscription, downloading will not be possible.

NZBget is a lightweight download client, ideal for resource-constrained devices like the Raspberry Pi.

Updating Apt-Get and Installing UNRAR

Please note: If you have recently completed the SABnzbd installation guide, this section can be skipped, as the apt-get tool has already been updated and UNRAR installed.

Initially, it is necessary to update and upgrade the apt-get installer. If you’ve previously followed another Raspberry Pi guide and performed these updates, this step can be omitted.

Execute the following commands in the terminal:

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get upgrade

A potentially lengthy upgrade process should be anticipated if updates haven’t been run for some time.

Similar to the SABnzbd installation process, an additional tool is required for handling file archives.

To enable automated file extraction, we will compile the free, though somewhat obscurely named, unrar-nonfree application. A resourceful user on the RaspberryPi.StackExchange forum has already detailed the procedure for Raspbian.

Use the following command in the terminal to modify your sources.list file and incorporate the repository containing unrar-nonfree:

sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list

Within the nano editor, append this line to the .list file:

deb-src http://archive.raspbian.org/raspbian wheezy main contrib non-free rpi

Press CTRL+X to exit nano, then Y to confirm saving and overwriting the existing .list file. Return to the command prompt and update your sources list to apply the changes:

sudo apt-get update

Following the update’s completion – which should be relatively quick if performed earlier – create a working directory and navigate into it:

mkdir ~/unrar-nonfree && cd ~/unrar-nonfree

Now, download the dependencies required by unrar-nonfree:

sudo apt-get build-dep unrar-nonfree

Once this process finishes and you are back at the prompt, download the source code and build the installation package using this command:

sudo apt-get source -b unrar-nonfree

The package installation can now proceed. If you are following this tutorial after a new version of unrar-nonfree has been released, ensure the filename is current. Verify the version number by listing the downloaded files with the command “ls”:

sudo dpkg -i unrar_4.1.4-1_armhf.deb

Upon successful installation, verify the “unrar” command is available to the system by typing “unrar” at the prompt. A list of available switches and their descriptions will be displayed if the installation was successful. If the installation completed without errors, clean up the temporary files with:

cd && rm -r ~/unrar-nonfree

With the UNRAR application now installed, we can proceed with the installation and configuration of NZBGet.

Installing and Configuring NZBget

The installation of NZBget, unlike that of SABnzbd, is a more involved and time-consuming process. Be prepared to dedicate a significant amount of time to working at the command prompt. Furthermore, anticipate some delays during the compilation of applications using the "make" command.

Initial Setup

To begin, a temporary directory needs to be created, mirroring the approach used for the UNRAR installation. As with UNRAR, building an installer will require direct interaction with the system. Execute the following commands at the prompt:

sudo mkdir /temp-nzbgetcd /temp-nzbget

Downloading and Extracting NZBget

Next, the NZBget software must be downloaded and extracted. As of the current date, version 10.2 represents the stable release. However, it is recommended to verify the NZBget website for the most up-to-date stable version before proceeding.

sudo wget http://sourceforge.net/projects/nzbget/files/nzbget-10.2.tar.gzsudo tar -xvf nzbget-10.2.tar.gzcd nzbget-10.2

Installing Dependencies

Because NZBget lacks a prepackaged installer, manual installation of all necessary dependencies is required. Refer to the prerequisites list on the NZBget website for detailed information regarding the purpose of each dependency. At the prompt, enter these commands:

sudo apt-get install libncurses5-devsudo apt-get install sigc++sudo apt-get install libpar2-0-devsudo apt-get install libssl-devsudo apt-get install libgnutls-devsudo apt-get install libxml2-dev

Patching libpar2

A small patch operation on libpar2 is necessary. While technically optional, applying this patch enables setting a time limit for the par-repair process, which is beneficial for slower devices like the Raspberry Pi.

If the patch is not applied, an error may occur during configuration unless the configure command is appended with --disable-libpar2-bugfixes-check.

To patch libpar2, use these commands:

sudo wget http://sourceforge.net/projects/parchive/files/libpar2/0.2/libpar2-0.2.tar.gzsudo tar -xvf libpar2-0.2.tar.gzcd libpar2-0.2cp /temp-nzbget/nzbget-10.2/libpar2-0.2-*.patch .sudo patch < libpar2-0.2-bugfixes.patchsudo patch < libpar2-0.2-cancel.patch./configuresudo makesudo make install

Compiling and Installing NZBget

Now, the compilation and installation of NZBget can proceed:

cd /temp-nzbget/nzbget-10.2./configuresudo makesudo make install

Creating Directories

Upon completion of the previous step, creating a set of directories for NZBget is essential. This assumes the directory structure used in previous Raspberry Pi tutorials. Adjust the directories accordingly if a different structure is employed.

Enter the following commands at the prompt to create the necessary directories:

sudo mkdir /media/USBHDD1/shares/NZBgetsudo mkdir /media/USBHDD1/shares/NZBget/dstsudo mkdir /media/USBHDD1/shares/NZBget/nzbsudo mkdir /media/USBHDD1/shares/NZBget/queuesudo mkdir /media/USBHDD1/shares/NZBget/tmpsudo mkdir /media/USBHDD1/shares/NZBget/post-proc

While the naming structure can be altered, corresponding changes must be made within the configuration files, which is generally not recommended.

Editing the Configuration File

The NZBget configuration file must now be edited. Execute the following command:

sudo cp /usr/local/share/nzbget/nzbget.conf /etc/nzbget.confsudo nano /etc/nzbget.conf

The configuration file is well-documented with comments. Within the ### PATHS section, modify the following line:

MainDir=/media/USBHDD1/shares/NZBget

In the ### NEWS-SERVERS section, input your Usenet Server login credentials:

Server1.Host=yourserver.comServer1.Port=119Server1.Username=usernameServer1.Password=passwordServer1.JoinGroup=yesServer1.Encryption=noServer1.Connections=5

Save the changes by pressing CTRL+X.

Copying Post-Process Scripts

Before launching NZBget, copy the necessary post-processing files:

cp /temp-nzbget/nzbget-10.2/nzbget-postprocess* /media/USBHDD1/shares/NZBget/post-proc

Launching and Testing NZBget

Launch the NZBget daemon to verify functionality:

sudo nzbget -D

Access the WebUI by navigating to the IP address of your Raspberry Pi with port 6789:

http://[Your Pi's IP]:6789

The default username is "nzbget" and the default password is "tegbzn6789".

Test the installation by adding an NZB file (available from sites like binsearch.info).

Configuring NZBget to Start at Boot

To ensure NZBget starts automatically upon system boot, edit the init.d file:

sudo nano /etc/init.d/nzbget

Paste the following code into the file:

#!/bin/sh### BEGIN INIT INFO# Provides:          NZBget# Required-Start:    $network $remote_fs $syslog# Required-Stop:     $network $remote_fs $syslog# Default-Start:     2 3 4 5# Default-Stop:      0 1 6# Short-Description: Start NZBget at boot# Description:       Start NZBget### END INIT INFOcase "$1" instart)   echo -n "Start services: NZBget"/usr/local/bin/nzbget -D;;stop)   echo -n "Stop services: NZBget"/usr/local/bin/nzbget -Q;;restart)$0 stop$0 start;;*)   echo "Usage: $0 start|stop|restart"exit 1;;esacexit 0

Save the file (CTRL+X) and then execute these commands:

sudo chmod 755 /etc/init.d/nzbget
sudo update-rc.d nzbget defaults

Reboot the system to confirm automatic startup.

With this installation complete, you are prepared to proceed with automation. Refer to the guide, How to Automate Your Always-On Raspberry Pi Download Box, for further instructions. All tools compatible with SABnzbd are also compatible with NZBget, requiring only adjustments to the settings menus.

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