How to install Jackett on Docker using Kitematic GUI?

We already shown how to install Jackett on Docker commandline, which works on all platforms: Windows, Linux, and Mac. For people who don't prefer commandline, we presented Kitematic Docker GUI for Windows. In this post, I will show you how simple it is to install Jackett on Docker using Kitematic GUI for Docker engine. Unfortunately, at this point, there is no Kitematic like tool for non-Windows environment. Therefore, you can only install Jackett using Kitematic on Windows systems.
Must Read: Docker Media Server Ubuntu: Compose for 23 Awesome Apps

Install Jackett on Docker using Kitematic

If you still do not know about Docker, I strongly recommend our guides on what is Docker and its installation on Windows and Ubuntu. In short, Docker allows installing home server apps such as Jackett as self-contained containers, making it easy to install and manage them. No complicated Jackett setup procedures. So, without further ado let's see how to install Jackett using Kitematic Docker GUI.

If you have not setup Kitematic yet, follow our Kitematic Windows Guide to set it up first.

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1. Search for Jackett Docker Hub Container

Once Kitematic is open and connected to your Docker engine. Search for "Linuxserver Jackett" in the search box as shown in the picture below.

There are several Jackett container images available on Docker hub. We are going to install LinuxServer's container. If you want to see all available Jackett containers, search for just "Jackett". I typically get the containers with high like and download numbers. LinuxServer's containers are widely used (needo and timhaak are other good ones). You may certainly try other containers. Remember, one of the advantages of Docker is that it isolates containers from the base OS and therefore you cannot damage your OS. [Read: AtoMiC ToolKit – Automate your Media Center]

2. Create New Jackett Container

Once your figure out which Jackett container image you want to use (in this case LinuxServer's), hit the "Create" button as shown in the picture above to install Jackett on Docker. The Jackett container image will start to download as shown below.

3. Setup Jackett using Kitematic

Once Jackett Docker Hub container image is downloaded, Kitematic will use the image to create a new container with Jackett. Wait for the container setup to complete.

When done, you will see the "RUNNING" status and the Jackett web access link or URL and port, as shown in the picture above.

4. Setup Docker Volumes for Jackett

You want Jackett to be able to download to your torrents folder. By default, Docker containers will save any data in the containers folder in C Drive (User's folder) and Jackett won't have access to folders outside that. This may or may not be the right place or have enough space, depending on your situation. But you may have a specific download folder outside C Drive. Hit the "CHANGE" button and setup the path for "downloads" folder, as shown below.

Do not setup a folder for "config" as this often leads to Jackett database corruption. Once done, hit "RESTART" for the new settings to take effect.

5. Change Jackett Port Number

Before accessing Jackett, I recommend changing MAC IP:PORT. Under Settings -> Ports for the Jackett container, you can change the access port to the default port number or anything of your liking. If I let Docker decide the port number, I noticed that sometimes the container does not start, possibly due to port conflicts. While manually changing, if you choose a port number that is already being used by another service, Kitematic will notify you. You will then have to choose a different port number. In this case, I set the MAC IP:PORT to the same as DOCKER PORT for Jackett (ie. 9117). This allows you to set port forwarding on your router and access Jackett from outside your home network. Make sure to restart your container after making the port change.

Access Jackett Container on Docker

You may then access Jackett on your web browser using the URL or Link displayed in the "Home" tab or under "Ports".

If Jackett opens up in your browser as shown above, you are all set. Notice how much more simple it is to setup Jackett using Kitematic than commandline? Now you can go ahead integrate Sonarr, SickRage, or CouchPotato to Jackett proxy and search multiple sources for the same file. Sounds exciting? Go ahead install Jackett on Docker using Kitematic GUI and make your home server better.