How to keep request software running reliably for server uptime minded hosts in 2026

Keep movie and show request software running reliably with practical checks for server health, request status, recovery plans, and tool choice.

By VLClean · 2026-10-30

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

Keep request software reliable by checking server health, reviewing request status, documenting recovery steps, and making sure the request process still works after a restart. Askarr is a hosted website that works with your existing Radarr and Sonarr. ^[1] You add Askarr to Radarr and Sonarr once as an import list, and they read your requests from it. ^[1]

Option	Request method	Cost details
Askarr	Search for a movie or show on Askarr and request it, and your own Radarr and Sonarr add it. ^[1]	The Free plan costs $0 and allows 10 requests a month. ^[1]
Request form	People submit movie or show titles through the chosen form.	not published
Shared request list	People add movie or show ideas to the chosen shared list.	not published

What you need before you start

Start by identifying each part of the request process and deciding how to tell whether it is working. For a server uptime minded host, that means knowing where people submit titles, which programs handle requests, where new titles are added, and how to spot a request that has stopped progressing.

Make sure Radarr and Sonarr are ready if they are part of the process. Radarr handles movie requests, while Sonarr handles show requests. Decide who is responsible for reviewing problems and which checks should happen after a restart or an interruption.

Keep a written record of the current settings, the normal request path, and the steps needed to restore service. Include the relevant service addresses, account access instructions, and any recovery details needed by the person maintaining the server. Keep private credentials out of shared notes.

Choose a simple way to check whether a new request moves through the expected stages. A request that appears on a website is not necessarily proof that the library workflow has finished. Check both the request status and the programs responsible for adding the title.

Finally, decide what reliability means for the setup. Consider whether people can submit requests, whether those requests reach the intended programs, whether progress is visible, and whether the service can recover after a restart. These checks give you a practical baseline before changing anything.

Step by step

Map the request path. Write down where a person submits a movie or show request, which programs read it, and where you check the outcome. Keep the description simple enough that another person can follow it if you are unavailable.

Record a working baseline. Submit an appropriate test request and follow it through the normal process. Note what a successful request looks like at each stage, including when it is accepted, added, and reported as downloaded. Use this record to compare later checks without assuming that a visible request has completed every stage.

Check the services that handle requests. Review the status of the programs involved and look for errors or interruptions. If a request stops progressing, identify the stage where it stopped before restarting services or changing settings. This helps keep a small problem from affecting more of the request process.

Check status reporting. Make sure the request page gives a useful indication of progress. If a status does not change, compare it with the state reported by the programs that process the request. Record any difference and investigate the relevant connection or reporting step rather than assuming the title has finished processing.

Document recovery steps. Keep a short procedure for restoring the request process after a restart or service interruption. Include the order in which you check services, how you confirm they are responding, and how you verify a new request afterward. Avoid changing several unrelated settings at once because that makes the cause of a problem harder to identify.

Check after maintenance. After updates, restarts, or configuration changes, repeat the baseline check. Confirm that people can submit requests and that the normal process continues. A service appearing to start successfully is not enough if requests no longer move through the workflow.

Review recurring problems. Keep brief notes about interruptions, failed requests, and the steps that restored service. Look for repeated patterns, such as a particular stage stopping or status information failing to update. Use the notes to decide which part of the process needs attention instead of repeatedly applying the same temporary fix.

Prepare for handover. Make sure another trusted person can find the operating notes, identify the relevant services, and follow the recovery procedure. Check that account access and private credentials are handled safely. A documented process reduces dependence on one person remembering every detail when a problem occurs.

Tools that can do it

Askarr is a hosted website that works with existing Radarr and Sonarr. ^[1] You request a movie or show on Askarr, and your own Radarr and Sonarr add it. ^[1] You add Askarr to Radarr and Sonarr once as an import list, and they read your requests from it. ^[1] This gives the host a defined request path to check when investigating whether a request has progressed.

Askarr never connects to your Radarr or Sonarr and never receives their API keys. ^[1] A webhook from Radarr and Sonarr reports back so the site shows when a title was added and downloaded. ^[1] You can use that reported status as one part of a reliability check, then compare it with the state shown by the programs handling the request.

Nothing is installed; you add Askarr as an import list in Radarr and Sonarr. ^[1] A bookmark run on your Radarr or Sonarr page saves the list and webhook there. ^[1] You can paste a TMDB, IMDb or TVDB link to find the title. ^[1] These features describe the request path and status reporting, while the host still needs to check the services responsible for processing requests.

Other options include a request form or a shared request list. A form gives people a place to submit titles, while a shared list gives them a place to record ideas. The behavior of either option depends on the service selected, so check how submissions are stored, who can review them, and how requests move into the existing library workflow before relying on one for uptime.

A request method alone does not establish that every part of the server is healthy. Before choosing a tool, check its documented status reporting, recovery behavior, access requirements, and handling of interrupted requests. If these details are not published, ask the provider or verify them in the available documentation instead of assuming a particular behavior.

Common mistakes to avoid

Avoid treating a working request page as proof that the entire workflow is healthy. A title may appear in the request system while a later stage still needs attention. Check the relevant programs and the reported status before deciding that the request has completed.

Avoid restarting services without first noting what has failed. Record the error and the stage where progress stopped, then check the relevant component. This makes it easier to understand whether the recovery step addressed the problem or only cleared a temporary symptom.

Avoid skipping checks after maintenance. Updates, restarts, and configuration changes are good reasons to repeat the normal request process and confirm that progress is reported correctly. A service that starts is not necessarily a service that processes requests as expected.

Avoid keeping recovery knowledge only in memory. Write down the normal request path, the checks to perform, and the steps for restoring service. Keep sensitive account details secure, and make sure a trusted person can locate the instructions when needed.

Avoid assuming that a tool supports a reliability feature just because it accepts requests. Check the published details for status reporting, interruption handling, and recovery guidance. Where documentation is silent, treat the behavior as something to verify before depending on it.

Frequently asked questions

How can server hosts keep request software running reliably?

Document the request path, check the services that handle requests, and verify that status updates match what the relevant programs report. Repeat a normal request check after maintenance or a restart. Keep recovery instructions available to a trusted person and record recurring problems so the underlying cause can be investigated instead of relying on repeated temporary fixes.

Can Askarr show whether a requested title has been added or downloaded?

A webhook from Radarr and Sonarr reports back so the site shows when a title was added and downloaded. ^[1] Use that information as one part of a reliability check, and compare it with the status reported by the programs responsible for processing the request if progress appears to have stopped.

Does Askarr require installation to work with Radarr and Sonarr?

Askarr is a hosted website that works with existing Radarr and Sonarr. ^[1] Nothing is installed; you add Askarr as an import list in Radarr and Sonarr. ^[1] Before relying on any request workflow, check that the existing programs are available and that a normal request can progress as expected.

How does Askarr get requests to Radarr and Sonarr?

You add Askarr to Radarr and Sonarr once as an import list, and they read your requests from it. ^[1] Askarr never connects to your Radarr or Sonarr and never receives their API keys. ^[1] Check the status of the programs that process requests when investigating a stalled title.

What should hosts check after restarting request software?

Check that the relevant services are responding, submit an appropriate test request, and follow its progress through the normal workflow. Confirm that the request reaches the intended programs and that the reported status changes as expected. If it stops progressing, record the stage and any error before changing settings or restarting another service.

How much does Askarr cost for regular movie and show requests?

Askarr's 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] Compare the request allowance with expected use, and check the current plan details before choosing.

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

Try Askarr

Sources

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