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qBittorrent

qBittorrent is the torrent client on TrueNAS @ 192.168.2.203. Completed downloads are imported by Sonarr, Radarr, or Lidarr into the media library that Jellyfin and Navidrome scan.

The Windows PC @ 192.168.2.200 accesses qBittorrent only through the Web UI (browser) — nothing torrent-related runs locally.

Web UI access

Access How
LAN Browser → TrueNAS app port (check Apps → qBittorrent for host port mapping, e.g. http://192.168.2.203:<port>)
Public Only if a Cloudflare Tunnel hostname is configured — prefer LAN for admin
Credentials Stored in Vaultwarden

Default path from the PC: open the LAN URL on the same subnet (192.168.2.0/24). No VPN required on the client for Web UI access on LAN.

First login checklist

  1. Confirm container is Running in TrueNAS Apps
  2. Open Web UI from LAN
  3. Log in with credentials from Vaultwarden
  4. Verify Connection status (green) and that queue accepts test magnet if needed

Download folder

Incomplete and complete torrents use a single download root on the TrueNAS pool (configured in qBittorrent Options → Downloads inside the container mount).

Typical pattern:

<pool>/downloads/          ← qBittorrent default incomplete + complete
    ├── incomplete/
    └── complete/          ← *arr apps import from here (exact path in Sonarr/Radarr settings)

Sonarr/Radarr Remote Path Mappings must align if qBittorrent sees a different path inside its container than Sonarr sees. Mismatch = imports stuck at “cannot find file”. Fix on TrueNAS app volume mounts, not on Windows.

Imported media ends up under the same tree as A:/Media — see Windows network drive.

Categories (Sonarr / Radarr / Lidarr)

Categories tell qBittorrent which app added a torrent and keep the queue organized. They must match what each *arr app sends.

Category Used by Purpose
tv-sonarr Sonarr TV downloads
movies-radarr Radarr Movie downloads
music-lidarr Lidarr Music downloads
(manual) You Optional personal category for Aither grabs not via *arr

Configure in each arr app under Settings → Download Clients → qBittorrent* — category field must match qBittorrent exactly (case-sensitive).

Why categories matter

  • Import rules — Sonarr/Radarr filter completed jobs by category
  • Seeding — you can see what is seeding for ratio vs what failed import
  • Cleanup — remove completed imports without touching unrelated torrents

If grabs land in uncategorized, check Prowlarr/Sonarr/Radarr download client config and test with a manual search.

Typical workflow

  1. Find a release on Aither (or let Sonarr/Radarr search via Prowlarr)
  2. Torrent appears in qBittorrent with the right category
  3. When progress hits 100%, arr Activity → Queue* shows import
  4. Files move/rename into Media/Shows, Media/Movies, or music library
  5. Jellyfin/Navidrome scan — see Adding media

Manual add from Aither in browser:

  1. Download .torrent or copy magnet
  2. qBittorrent Web UI → Add torrent link / Add torrent file
  3. Set category if not automatic; choose save path if overriding defaults

VPN

Not configured yet

qBittorrent is not running through a VPN or proxy container yet. Traffic exits via the home ISP connection. Document provider, kill-switch, and split-tunnel rules here when configured.

TODO when VPN is added:

  • VPN container or Gluetun sidecar in TrueNAS stack
  • qBittorrent bound to VPN network only (kill switch)
  • Verify Web UI still reachable on LAN
  • Test leak check (whatismyip from container)
  • Update Sonarr/Radarr host if qBittorrent hostname changes inside Docker network

Until then, treat qBittorrent as LAN-trusted admin and rely on private tracker rules + seeding from home IP.

Seeding and ratio

Keep torrents seeding after import for Aither ratio. Sonarr/Radarr copy or hardlink files; removing the torrent too early hurts upload stats.

  • Do not “Delete torrent and files” after import unless you know hardlinks/seeding are unaffected
  • Prefer Remove torrent only only when the *arr app uses hardlinks and the torrent is a duplicate
  • See Aither and trackers for ratio maintenance

If downloads stall

  1. qBittorrent Running in TrueNAS Apps?
  2. Free space on pool? (TrueNAS)
  3. Tracker status in torrent Trackers tab (not banned / not 0 seeds forever)
  4. Disk permissions on download path
  5. VPN section above — N/A until configured