SABnzbd Usenet Downloader

beginner

Open source binary newsreader with automation features.

Overview

SABnzbd is a mature, open-source binary newsreader designed specifically for automated Usenet downloading. Developed in Python and maintained since 2007, SABnzbd excels at processing NZB files, managing download queues, and automatically handling post-processing tasks like verification, repair, and extraction. Unlike traditional newsreaders that require manual intervention, SABnzbd operates as a background service with a web-based interface, making it ideal for automated media acquisition workflows. This Docker configuration deploys SABnzbd as a containerized service with proper volume mappings for download management and configuration persistence. The setup separates incomplete downloads from completed files, enabling efficient disk usage and reducing corruption risks during the download process. The LinuxServer.io image includes automatic updates and optimized runtime configurations that ensure stable operation across different host systems. Home media enthusiasts and content collectors benefit most from this deployment, particularly those running automated media centers with Sonarr, Radarr, or similar applications. The containerized approach eliminates dependency conflicts while providing consistent performance, making SABnzbd accessible to users who want professional-grade Usenet downloading without complex system administration. The web interface design allows remote management, perfect for headless servers or NAS devices running in closets or basements.

Key Features

Multi-server Usenet connection support with SSL/TLS encryption and automatic failover
Integrated PAR2 verification and repair with automatic damaged file recovery
Queue-based download management with priority controls and bandwidth throttling
Category-based post-processing with customizable scripts and folder organization
RESTful API for integration with Sonarr, Radarr, Lidarr, and other automation tools
RSS feed monitoring for automatic NZB acquisition from indexers
Password-protected archive extraction supporting ZIP, RAR, and 7-Zip formats
Comprehensive logging system with download history and performance statistics

Common Use Cases

1Automated TV show and movie downloading integrated with Plex or Jellyfin media servers
2High-volume software distribution for development teams requiring fast, reliable downloads
3Podcast and audiobook collection management with automatic organization and metadata handling
4Digital magazine and publication archiving for libraries or research institutions
5Backup retrieval system for large datasets stored on Usenet as backup medium
6Content aggregation for digital forensics teams requiring specific file recovery
7Academic paper and research document collection with automated categorization

Prerequisites

Active Usenet provider subscription with server details and authentication credentials
Minimum 2GB RAM for handling large files and concurrent downloads efficiently
At least 10GB free disk space for temporary files during download and extraction processes
Port 8080 available on host system for web interface access and API communication
NZB indexer access or manual NZB files for initiating downloads
Basic understanding of Usenet concepts including retention, completion, and server hierarchies

For development & testing. Review security settings, change default credentials, and test thoroughly before production use. See Terms

docker-compose.yml

1services: 
2  sabnzbd: 
3    image: lscr.io/linuxserver/sabnzbd:latest
4    container_name: sabnzbd
5    environment: 
6      - PUID=1000
7      - PGID=1000
8      - TZ=UTC
9    volumes: 
10      - sabnzbd-config:/config
11      - /path/to/downloads:/downloads
12      - /path/to/incomplete:/incomplete
13    ports: 
14      - "8080:8080"
15    networks: 
16      - sabnzbd-network
17    restart: unless-stopped
18
19volumes: 
20  sabnzbd-config: 
21
22networks: 
23  sabnzbd-network: 
24    driver: bridge

.env Template

.env

1# SABnzbd
2# Change paths to your directories

Usage Notes

1Web UI at http://localhost:8080
2Complete setup wizard
3Add Usenet server details
4Integrates with Sonarr/Radarr
5Category-based sorting

Quick Start

terminal

1# 1. Create the compose file
2cat > docker-compose.yml << 'EOF'
3services:
4  sabnzbd:
5    image: lscr.io/linuxserver/sabnzbd:latest
6    container_name: sabnzbd
7    environment:
8      - PUID=1000
9      - PGID=1000
10      - TZ=UTC
11    volumes:
12      - sabnzbd-config:/config
13      - /path/to/downloads:/downloads
14      - /path/to/incomplete:/incomplete
15    ports:
16      - "8080:8080"
17    networks:
18      - sabnzbd-network
19    restart: unless-stopped
20
21volumes:
22  sabnzbd-config:
23
24networks:
25  sabnzbd-network:
26    driver: bridge
27EOF
28
29# 2. Create the .env file
30cat > .env << 'EOF'
31# SABnzbd
32# Change paths to your directories
33EOF
34
35# 3. Start the services
36docker compose up -d
37
38# 4. View logs
39docker compose logs -f

One-Liner

Run this command to download and set up the recipe in one step:

terminal

1curl -fsSL https://docker.recipes/api/recipes/sabnzbd-nzbget/run | bash

Troubleshooting

Download stalls at 99%: Check PAR2 files availability and run manual verification through web interface
Connection failures with SSL errors: Verify Usenet provider SSL certificate settings and disable SSL if provider doesn't support it
Extraction fails with password errors: Ensure NZB source provides correct passwords or configure automatic password detection
High memory usage during large downloads: Increase article cache size or reduce concurrent connections in server settings
Web interface shows 'Cannot connect to server': Restart container and verify network configuration isn't blocking port 8080
Downloads complete but files missing: Check post-processing scripts and verify download folder permissions match PUID/PGID settings

Community Notes

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