Configure NZB streaming

NZB Streaming allows you to watch content directly from usenet without downloading the entire file first. This guide covers setting up and using this powerful feature.

What is NZB Streaming?

Traditional usenet workflow requires downloading the entire NZB before playback:

1. Download NZB to client (SABnzbd/NZBGet)
2. Wait for full download completion
3. Extract and repair files
4. Import to library
5. Play file

NZB Streaming workflow:

1. Mount NZB as virtual filesystem
2. Stream segments on-demand as you watch
3. Start playback immediately - no waiting
4. Optional: Keep cache for re-watching

How It Works

NZB Streaming uses several technologies working together:

Player Request
    ↓
Cinephage Streaming Server
    ↓
NZB Mount (Virtual Filesystem)
    ↓
Segment Cache (Downloaded pieces)
    ↓
NNTP Server (Usenet provider)

Key Components:

• NNTP Connections - Direct usenet server connections for fetching segments
• Segment Caching - Downloaded pieces stored temporarily for efficiency
• RAR Extraction - On-the-fly decompression without full download
• FFmpeg Probing - Media info extracted without downloading entire file
• HTTP Streaming - Standard video streaming protocols (HLS/DASH)

Requirements

Usenet Provider Requirements

Your usenet provider must support:

Requirement	Specification	Why It Matters
Standard NNTP	Port 563 (SSL) or 119	Required for communication
Long Retention	1000+ days recommended	Older content still available
Sufficient Bandwidth	50+ Mbps	Smooth streaming requires speed
High Completion	99%+ article availability	Missing segments interrupt playback
No Strict Limits	Unlimited or high data caps	Streaming uses significant bandwidth

Provider Recommendations

Look for providers with:

• 3000+ days retention
• Multiple backbone connections
• SSL support on port 563
• Unlimited plans or high data caps

System Requirements

Component	Minimum	Recommended
CPU	2 cores	4+ cores
RAM	2 GB	4+ GB
Disk (Cache)	10 GB free	50+ GB free
Network	25 Mbps	100+ Mbps
Disk Speed	Any SSD/HDD	SSD for cache

Setup Guide

Step 1: Add NZBMount Download Client

First, configure NZBMount as a download client:

1. Go to Settings > Integrations > Download Clients
2. Click Add Download Client
3. Select NZBMount from the dropdown
4. Configure settings:

Setting	Value	Description
Name	"NZBMount" or "Streaming"	Display name
Enable	Checked	Enable the client
Priority	1	Priority for automatic search

5. Click Test to verify configuration
6. Click Save

No Credentials Required

NZBMount doesn't require host/port credentials like other download clients. It uses the NNTP server configuration (set up in Step 2).

Step 2: Configure NNTP Server

Add your usenet provider for streaming:

1. Go to Settings > Integrations > NNTP Servers
2. Click Add Server
3. Configure connection settings:

Required Settings:

Field	Description	Example
Name	Display name	"UsenetServer"
Host	NNTP server address	news.usenetserver.com
Port	Connection port	563 (SSL) or 119
Username	Your account username	your_username
Password	Your account password	your_password

SSL Configuration:

Setting	Recommended Value	Notes
SSL	Enabled	Always use SSL (port 563)
Verify Certificate	Enabled	Ensures secure connection

4. Configure performance settings:

Setting	Description	Default	Recommended
Connections	Concurrent NNTP connections	8	16-32
Timeout	Connection timeout (seconds)	30	30-60
Priority	Server priority order	1	1 (primary)

Connection Count

More connections = faster streaming, but:

• Watch your provider's connection limit
• More connections use more memory
• Diminishing returns after 16-32 connections

5. Click Test to verify connection
6. Click Save

Step 3: Configure Cache Settings

Set up segment caching for optimal performance:

1. In the NNTP Server settings, expand Cache Settings
2. Configure:

Setting	Description	Default	Recommended
Cache Size	Maximum disk space for cache	10 GB	20-50 GB
Cache TTL	How long to keep segments	24 hours	24-72 hours
Prefetch	Download segments ahead	Enabled	Enabled
Prefetch Segments	How many ahead to download	5	5-10

3. Click Save

Cache Location:

• Default: data/nzb_cache/ inside Cinephage directory
• Docker: /config/data/nzb_cache/ inside container

Cache Strategy

• Larger cache = smoother re-watching
• Longer TTL = less re-downloading
• Prefetching prevents buffering

Step 4: Set Up Streamer Quality Profile

Configure a quality profile optimized for streaming:

1. Go to Settings > Profiles > Quality
2. Find the Streamer profile (built-in)
3. Click to edit or create a new profile:

Streamer Profile Settings:

Name: "Streamer"
Qualities:
  - 1080p WEB-DL
  - 1080p BluRay
  - 720p WEB-DL
  - 720p BluRay
Upgrades Allowed: Yes
Cutoff: 1080p WEB-DL
File Type: .strm (streaming files)

4. Save the profile

STRM Files

The Streamer profile creates .strm files instead of video files. These are small text files containing streaming URLs that media servers can play directly.

Using NZB Streaming

Method 1: Automatic Streaming Mode (Recommended)

Set movies/series to use the Streamer profile:

1. When adding content to library:
   • Select Streamer quality profile
   • Enable monitoring
2. Cinephage creates .strm files instead of downloading
3. When you play the file, it streams directly from usenet

How It Works:

• Cinephage searches for NZB releases
• Selects best quality based on Streamer profile
• Creates .strm file with streaming URL
• No full download required
• Playback starts instantly

Method 2: Manual Stream from Search

Stream individual releases on-demand:

1. Search for content via Discover or Search
2. In the search results, find an NZB release
3. Click Stream button (instead of Download)
4. Select quality if multiple options available
5. Playback starts immediately

When to Use

Use manual stream when:

• You want to preview before adding to library
• Testing streaming setup
• Streaming one-time content

Method 3: NZB-Mount Import

For existing NZBs you want to stream:

1. Add NZB to NZBMount client manually:
   • Go to Activity > Queue
   • Click Add NZB
   • Select NZBMount as client
2. Cinephage mounts the NZB automatically
3. Access via:
   • .strm file in library
   • Direct streaming URL
   • Media server import

Stream Quality and Performance

Adaptive Quality Selection

Cinephage probes NZBs to determine available qualities:

Detected Attributes:

• Video Quality - 480p, 720p, 1080p, 4K availability
• Audio Tracks - Stereo, 5.1, 7.1 channel options
• Subtitles - Embedded or external subtitle availability
• Codecs - H.264, H.265, AV1 support

Bandwidth Requirements

Choose quality based on your connection:

Quality	Bandwidth	Best For
480p	2-4 Mbps	Mobile devices, slow connections
720p	4-8 Mbps	Standard HD streaming
1080p	8-15 Mbps	Full HD quality
4K	25+ Mbps	Best quality, fast connections

Automatic Quality

Enable adaptive quality in settings:

Settings > Integrations > NNTP Servers > Adaptive Quality: ON

Cinephage automatically adjusts based on connection speed.

Performance Optimization

Connection Tuning

Increase connections for better performance:

NNTP Connections: 16-32
→ Better for high-bandwidth providers
→ More parallel segment downloads
→ Smoother playback

Provider Limits

Don't exceed your provider's connection limit:

• Check provider documentation
• Typical limits: 10-50 connections
• Exceeding limits may cause bans

Segment Prefetching

Enable prefetch for smoother playback:

Prefetch: Enabled
Prefetch Ahead: 5-10 segments
→ Downloads upcoming segments
→ Reduces buffering
→ Uses more bandwidth

Provider Selection

Choose providers optimized for streaming:

Feature	Ideal Spec
Speed	50+ Mbps to your location
Latency	< 50ms to server
Retention	3000+ days
Completion	99.9%+

Cache Management

How Segment Caching Works

NZBs are split into small segments (typically 500KB-1MB each):

1. First Request - Downloads segments from usenet
2. Cache Storage - Segments saved to disk temporarily
3. Subsequent Requests - Served from local cache
4. Auto-Cleanup - Old segments deleted automatically

Cache Settings Reference

Setting	Description	Default	When to Increase
Cache Size	Max disk space	10 GB	Re-watch same content
Cache TTL	Retention time	24 hours	Want longer retention
Prefetch	Download ahead	Enabled	Buffering issues

Cache Location

Default Paths:

# Native install
data/nzb_cache/

# Docker
/config/data/nzb_cache/

Custom Location:

Set via environment variable:

environment:
  - NZB_CACHE_PATH=/custom/path

SSD Recommended

Cache benefits significantly from SSD storage due to frequent small random reads/writes.

Manual Cache Management

View Cache Status:

Settings > Integrations > NNTP Servers > Cache Statistics

Shows:

• Current cache size
• Number of cached segments
• Hit/miss ratio
• Cleanup schedule

Clear Cache:

If experiencing issues:

1. Go to NNTP Server settings
2. Click Clear Cache
3. Confirm deletion
4. Cache rebuilds on next stream

Advanced Configuration

Multiple NNTP Servers

Configure backup providers for redundancy:

1. Add primary provider with priority 1
2. Add backup provider(s) with priority 2, 3, etc.
3. Cinephage automatically:
   • Uses primary for all requests
   • Falls back to backup if primary fails
   • Distributes load across providers

Example Configuration:

Server 1 (Priority 1):
  Host: news.primary.com
  Connections: 16
  
Server 2 (Priority 2):
  Host: news.backup.com
  Connections: 8

PAR2 Repair

Enable automatic repair of missing segments:

1. Go to NNTP Server settings
2. Enable PAR2 Repair
3. Configure:
   • Repair blocks to download
   • Auto-repair threshold

How It Works:

• Downloads parity files (PAR2)
• Repairs missing/corrupt segments
• Prevents playback interruptions
• Uses additional bandwidth

When to Enable

Enable PAR2 repair if:

• Provider has completion issues
• Streaming frequently fails mid-playback
• You have bandwidth to spare

Stream URL Caching

Stream extraction URLs are cached to avoid re-processing:

• Cache Duration: 1 hour default
• Auto-Refresh: Before expiration
• Manual Refresh: Click "Refresh Stream" button

Benefits:

• Faster subsequent plays
• Reduced usenet connections
• Lower provider bandwidth usage

SABnzbd Mount Mode

Cinephage supports SABnzbd Mount Mode - a WebDAV-based approach for streaming NZB content with STRM/Symlink import support.

How SABnzbd Mount Mode Works

Cinephage → SABnzbd WebDAV → NZB Streaming → STRM File Generation → Media Server

Key Features:

• WebDAV-mounted NZB streaming
• On-the-fly STRM file generation for media servers
• Direct streaming from SABnzbd's working directory
• Supports Jellyfin, Emby, Plex import

Configuring SABnzbd Mount Mode

Step 1: Enable WebDAV in SABnzbd

1. Open SABnzbd Config > General
2. Enable Enable Web Interface if not already enabled
3. Note the WebDAV port (default: 8080 + 1 = 8081)

Step 2: Configure SABnzbd in Cinephage

1. Go to Settings > Integrations > Download Clients
2. Select SABnzbd as the client type
3. Enable Mount Mode option

Setting	Description	Example
WebDAV Port	SABnzbd WebDAV port	8081
Mount Path	Path to SABnzbd watched folder	/downloads/nzb
STRM Template	Template for STRM file generation	Default Cinephage template

Step 3: Set Up Import Path

1. Configure SABnzbd to watch the mount path
2. NZBs in this folder trigger STRM generation
3. STRM files point to streaming URLs

Using SABnzbd Mount Mode

Workflow:

1. Add NZB to SABnzbd (via Cinephage or directly)
2. SABnzbd processes the NZB
3. Cinephage detects processed files
4. STRM files are generated automatically
5. Media servers import via STRM links
6. Playback streams directly from SABnzbd

Benefits:

• No intermediate file storage
• Works with media servers that support STRM
• Lower disk usage than traditional downloading
• Instant availability after processing

Troubleshooting

Stream Won't Start

Check NNTP Server:

1. Verify credentials are correct
2. Test connection in settings
3. Check if at connection limit
4. Verify account is active

Check NZB Health:

1. Articles may be missing from provider
2. Try different NZB for same content
3. Check provider retention
4. Enable PAR2 repair

Check Cache:

1. Verify disk space available
2. Check cache directory permissions
3. Clear cache and retry
4. Monitor cache during stream attempt

Buffering/Stuttering

Reduce Quality:

1. Try 720p instead of 1080p/4K
2. Lower bandwidth requirements
3. Check actual connection speed

Increase Connections:

1. Add more NNTP connections (if provider allows)
2. Enable prefetch with more segments
3. Consider upgrading provider plan

Check Bandwidth:

1. Run speed test during streaming
2. Check for other network usage
3. Verify not hitting provider speed limits
4. Consider QoS on router

"Article Not Found" Errors

Missing Segments:

1. Check Provider Completion - Not all providers have 100% completion
2. Try Different NZB - Same release, different upload
3. Enable PAR2 Repair - Repairs missing segments
4. Use Backup Provider - Configure multiple NNTP servers

Retention Issues:

1. Content may be older than provider retention
2. Check upload date vs. provider retention days
3. Try different usenet provider
4. Consider download instead of stream

High Memory Usage

Streaming can use significant memory:

Reduce Memory Footprint:

1. Lower Connection Count - Reduce NNTP connections
2. Disable Prefetch - Less aggressive caching
3. Reduce Cache Size - Smaller on-disk cache
4. Close Other Streams - One stream at a time

Monitor Usage:

# Check Cinephage memory usage
docker stats cinephage

# Or native
ps aux | grep cinephage

Poor Video Quality

Stream Quality vs. Download:

Aspect	Stream	Download
Startup Time	Seconds	Minutes-hours
Quality	Same as source	Same as source
Seeking	May buffer	Instant
Bandwidth Usage	Every play	Once

If Quality Seems Low:

1. Check actual NZB quality - streaming doesn't degrade quality
2. Verify media player settings
3. Check if transcoding is occurring
4. Compare with direct download

Comparison: Download vs Stream

Aspect	Traditional Download	NZB Streaming
Startup Time	Minutes to hours	Seconds
Disk Usage	Full file size	Cache only (~10GB max)
Bandwidth	Download once	Stream every time
Quality	Full quality	Full quality
Rewatching	Instant (local file)	Re-stream from usenet
Storage	Requires library space	Minimal storage
Best For	Keep forever	Watch once
Provider Load	Download once	Stream per view

Security Considerations

SSL/TLS Encryption

Always use SSL for NNTP connections:

Port: 563 (not 119)
SSL: Enabled
Verify Certificate: Enabled

Why SSL Matters:

• Encrypts data between Cinephage and provider
• Prevents ISP from seeing content
• Protects credentials
• Standard for modern usenet

VPN Compatibility

NZB streaming works with VPNs:

Setup Options:

1. VPN on Cinephage Host - All traffic through VPN
2. VPN on Router - Network-wide protection
3. VPN on Client Only - Player through VPN

Considerations:

• VPN adds latency (may affect streaming)
• Provider sees VPN IP address
• Some VPNs block usenet ports
• Test speed with VPN enabled

Privacy Tips

• Use providers that don't log downloads
• Enable SSL on all connections
• Consider VPN for additional privacy layer
• Regularly clear cache if concerned about local storage

Best Practices

For Casual Viewing

• Use Streamer quality profile
• Enable auto-add for Smart Lists
• Set moderate cache size (10-20 GB)
• Monitor bandwidth usage

For Power Users

• Configure multiple NNTP providers
• Enable PAR2 repair
• Set larger cache (50+ GB)
• Use prefetch aggressively
• Set up backup streaming sources

For Limited Bandwidth

• Use lower quality profiles
• Disable prefetch
• Reduce NNTP connections
• Download instead of stream for favorites
• Cache management critical

For Quality Enthusiasts

• Use 1080p/4K Streamer profile
• Ensure fast provider (100+ Mbps)
• Enable PAR2 for perfect playback
• Set large cache for re-watching
• Consider download for favorites

Integration with Media Servers

Jellyfin

1. Cinephage creates .strm files
2. Add Cinephage library folder to Jellyfin
3. Jellyfin recognizes .strm files
4. Plays streams directly
5. Works with Jellyfin apps and clients

Emby

Similar to Jellyfin:

1. Point Emby to Cinephage library
2. .strm files appear in Emby
3. Direct streaming playback
4. Works with Emby apps

Plex

Plex supports .strm files:

1. Add Cinephage library to Plex
2. Enable "Prefer local metadata"
3. .strm files stream on play
4. Note: Plex may transcode - configure appropriately

Kodi

Best integration via STRM files:

1. Add Cinephage library as video source
2. Scrape with TMDB scraper
3. Play .strm files directly
4. Works with all Kodi skins

See Also

• Configure Download Clients - Set up NZBMount
• Set Up Quality Profiles - Configure Streamer profile
• Configure NNTP Servers - NNTP settings reference