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How to run request software in a virtual machine or container for Proxmox homelab admins

Proxmox homelab admins can run request software in a VM or container. Steps, what to prepare, and how Askarr fits with Radarr and Sonarr.

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

Set up the request software in a virtual machine or container on your Proxmox host, give it a fixed address, and connect it to your Radarr and Sonarr. Then test one request before you share the page with anyone else.

OptionRequest methodCost details
AskarrSearch for a movie or show and request it; 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]
Request formPeople submit titles through the chosen form.not published
Shared request listPeople add titles to the chosen shared list.not published

What you need before you start

Start with a Proxmox host that has enough free memory and storage for the virtual machine or container you plan to use. Decide which of the two you want. A full virtual machine keeps its own separate operating system, while a container shares the host's system and is usually lighter. Write down the fixed network address you will give it, so the other programs on your network can always reach it.

Have your Radarr and Sonarr running and know their web addresses, because any request software you choose has to work with them. Keep the API keys for both programs somewhere only you can read them. Decide who will use the request page and whether each person needs a separate sign-in.

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]

Step by step

The steps below work the same whichever request software you choose, so you can follow them in order.

  1. Create the virtual machine or container on your Proxmox host, give it the fixed address you wrote down, and check that its web page opens from another computer on your network.
  2. Set up the request software you picked by following its own setup page, and sign in with an account only you control.
  3. Connect the request software to your Radarr and Sonarr so that requests can reach them.
  4. Send one test request for a title that is not in your library yet, then check that it appears in Radarr or Sonarr.
  5. Write a short note for the people who will use the page, with its address and how to request a title.
  6. Look at the setup again after a few days, and fix anything that stopped working.

If you choose Askarr, you add it to Radarr and Sonarr as an import list, and they read your requests from it. [1]

Tools that can do it

Askarr is made by the team that publishes this site. It lets you search for a movie or show and request it, and your own Radarr or Sonarr adds it. [1] A webhook from Radarr and Sonarr reports back, so the site shows when a title was added and downloaded. [1] A bookmark run on your Radarr or Sonarr page saves the list and webhook there for you. [1] Askarr does not connect into your Radarr or Sonarr, and does not see their keys. [1] You can try the dashboard with a throwaway demo account and sample data without signing in. [1]

The table lists the request methods covered by this page, with the cost details that are published for each.

Common mistakes to avoid

Avoid giving the host an address that can change after a restart. If the address moves, your other programs lose the connection and requests stop arriving.

Avoid skipping the test request. A setup can look finished while requests never reach Radarr or Sonarr, and the problem shows up only when someone asks for a title.

Avoid storing API keys in a note that others can read. Keep them with your other private settings instead.

Avoid assuming the connection works because a page loads. Check that a title shows up in Radarr or Sonarr, and check again after any update to the host.

Avoid changing the setup without a copy of your settings. Save a copy somewhere safe before you make changes.

Frequently asked questions

How do you run request software in a VM or container on Proxmox?

Create a virtual machine or container on your Proxmox host with a fixed address, then set up the request software you picked and test it. Connect it to your Radarr and Sonarr, send one test request for a title you do not have, and check that it arrives. Keep the address and the sign-in details in a safe place, and recheck the setup after a few days.

Does Askarr need to run on the Proxmox host?

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] Askarr never connects to your Radarr or Sonarr and never receives their API keys. [1] Check that the list is saved in both programs before you test a request.

Can Askarr show whether a request was added to Radarr or Sonarr?

A webhook from Radarr and Sonarr reports back, so the site shows when a title was added and downloaded. [1] A bookmark run on your Radarr or Sonarr page saves the list and webhook there for you. [1] If the status stops changing, check that the webhook is still saved in both programs.

How much does Askarr cost for requests from a Proxmox setup?

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] The prices above cover Askarr only, and the cost of running your own Proxmox host is not included.

Can Askarr be tried before signing up?

You can try the dashboard with a throwaway demo account and sample data without signing in. [1] The site shows each request's status. [1]

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)

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