VLClean Plain comparisons of self-hosted media tools

How to approve requests by rule for office media server hosts

Set up a rule-based approval process for office media servers, from deciding who may request titles to reviewing what arrives each week.

By VLClean ยท

VLClean is published by the makers of Askarr and Watcharr, which are compared here alongside other tools.

Write one approval rule, name who checks requests against it, and review them on a fixed day each week. Askarr lets a person request a movie or show, and your own Radarr or Sonarr adds it. [1]

OptionRequest methodCost details
AskarrSearch for a movie or show on Askarr and request it, and your own Radarr or Sonarr adds it. [1]The Free plan costs $0 and allows 10 requests a month. [1] Plus costs $3.99 a month for 50 requests a month. [1] Pro costs $6.99 a month for unlimited requests. [1]
Other request toolsnot publishednot published

What you need before you start

Office media server hosts need a library that staff can open, and a short written list of the movies and shows that are allowed in the break room. Decide who may send requests, and write down the reasons a title might be refused, such as its rating, its subject, or whether it is already in the library.

Name at least one approver and one backup, so requests do not wait when the main person is away. Give each approver the same written rule so that two people reach the same decision on the same title.

Radarr and Sonarr are helper programs that add movies (Radarr) and shows (Sonarr) to a library. If your host already runs them, confirm they work before you add any request tool. Set up one place where people can see whether a request is waiting, approved, or refused.

Step by step

Follow these steps in order. None of them depends on a particular tool.

  1. Write the approval rule in one short paragraph. List what is accepted, what is refused, and what needs a second look.
  2. Choose one approver for normal requests and one backup for the weeks when that person is away.
  3. Decide how each request is recorded, for example with a status that says waiting, approved, or refused.
  4. Tell requesters the rule and where to send titles. Include one example of an accepted request and one of a refused request.
  5. Review incoming requests against the written rule on the same day each week. Approve the ones that match, and refuse the rest with a short reason.
  6. After a month, read the refusals and approvals side by side. Adjust the rule if the same kind of request keeps arriving.

Tools that can do it

It is a hosted website that works with existing Radarr and Sonarr. [1] A person requests a movie or show on Askarr, and your own Radarr or Sonarr adds it. [1]

Nothing is installed. [1] You connect Askarr to Radarr and Sonarr once, and they then read your requests from it. [1] Askarr never connects to your Radarr or Sonarr and never receives their API keys, which are access codes the programs use. [1]

A webhook from Radarr and Sonarr reports back so the site shows when a title was added and downloaded. [1] Askarr's plans include a request history with live status. [1] You can try the dashboard with a throwaway demo account and sample data without signing in. [1]

The Free plan costs $0 and allows 10 requests a month. [1] Plus costs $3.99 a month for 50 requests a month. [1] Pro costs $6.99 a month for unlimited requests. [1]

Other request tools are not named here, because no source facts about them were provided. Before choosing one, check whether it can hold a written approval rule, who can approve, and how an approved request moves into the library.

Common mistakes to avoid

Avoid approving by memory. A rule that exists only in one person's head is hard for a backup approver to apply, so write it down before the first request arrives.

Avoid letting requests pile up unread. A waiting list that nobody checks discourages people from sending titles, so set one fixed review day each week.

Avoid refusing without a reason. A short sentence that names the rule, such as the rating or a title already in the library, prevents repeated questions.

Avoid sharing setup details with people who only need to request titles. Check what each tool asks for and what access it uses before you give anyone else the details.

Frequently asked questions

How can office media server hosts approve requests by rule?

Start by writing one approval rule that lists what is accepted, what is refused, and what needs a second look. Name one approver and one backup, and give both the same written rule. Review incoming requests on a fixed day each week, approve those that match, and refuse the rest with a short reason. After a month, look at the refusals together and adjust the rule if the same kind of request keeps arriving.

Does Askarr work with Radarr and Sonarr?

Askarr is a hosted website that works with existing Radarr and Sonarr. [1] You connect Askarr to Radarr and Sonarr once, and they then read your requests from it. [1] Nothing is installed. [1] Radarr and Sonarr are the programs that add the titles to the library. Check your approval steps before any request reaches them.

Does Askarr need access to Radarr or Sonarr to work?

Askarr never connects to your Radarr or Sonarr and never receives their API keys, which are access codes the programs use. [1] You add Askarr to Radarr and Sonarr once as an import list, and they read your requests from it. [1] Radarr and Sonarr send a notice back so the site shows when a title was added and downloaded. [1] Keep your own access codes private whichever tool you choose.

Is Askarr free for an office media server host?

The Free plan costs $0 and allows 10 requests a month. [1] Plus costs $3.99 a month for 50 requests a month. [1] Pro costs $6.99 a month for unlimited requests. [1] You can try the dashboard first with a throwaway demo account and sample data, without signing in. [1]

What should be checked before choosing a request tool for approving requests by rule?

Check whether the tool can hold a written approval rule, who can approve requests, and how an approved request moves into the library. Look at how it shows the status of each request, such as waiting, approved, or refused. Askarr's plans include a request history with live status. [1] Read the plan page to see which plans include it, and compare the other tools you find against the same list.

The Free plan costs $0 and allows 10 requests a month. [1]

Try Askarr

Sources

  1. Askarr's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)

Related comparisons