To run Prowlarr, Radarr, and Sonarr as one coordinated stack, put all three containers in a single Docker Compose project, mount one shared data tree at the same path in every container that touches media, and settle user, group, and umask before the first download starts. Radarr manages movies, Sonarr manages TV, and Prowlarr manages indexers and passes them to the other two. The containers are the easy part. Path and permission mistakes are what cost people time, and they are much cheaper to fix before anything is imported.
What each service does
The Servarr project describes the wider Arr family as applications that automate grabbing, sorting, organizing, and monitoring media collections. Within this stack, each of the three has a distinct job.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
| Service | Role in the stack | Connects to |
|---|---|---|
| Radarr | Manages the movie library: searches for releases, sends them to a download client, and organizes finished files. | Indexers supplied by Prowlarr; a download client; the movie library folder. |
| Sonarr | Manages the TV library with the same workflow for series and episodes. | Indexers supplied by Prowlarr; a download client; the TV library folder. |
| Prowlarr | Manages indexer definitions in one place so you do not configure each indexer separately in Radarr and Sonarr. | Radarr and Sonarr, through its application settings. Indexers sync to compatible apps. |
A download client is a separate piece of software that actually fetches files. It is not one of the three services covered here, but Radarr and Sonarr both depend on it, and it must see the same data tree you give them. That shared visibility is the subject of the path section below.
Why Docker Compose is the coordination layer
Servarr recommends Docker Compose for controlling multiple containers and their dependencies from one file. That matters here because the three services reference each other by address and share storage. A single Compose project lets you start, stop, and inspect them together.
#1 Best Overall
- 12th Intel Alder Lake N95 Processor – The GMKtec G3 S Mini PC is powered by the 12th Gen Intel N95 processor with 4 cores, 4 threads, 6MB cache and a burst frequency up to 3.4GHz. Compared with N100/N5105/N5100/N5095, the N95 delivers up to 36% overall performance improvement. Perfect for routine tasks, office work, and home entertainment, this compact mini desktop is more convenient than traditional bulky PCs.
- 8GB RAM & 256GB SSD Storage – Pre-installed with 8GB DDR4 memory and a fast 256GB M.2 2242 SSD, the G3 S mini desktop offers quicker startup, smoother multitasking, and faster file transfers. Enjoy seamless performance whether you’re working on multiple applications, browsing, or streaming content.
- Rich Interfaces & Connectivity – The G3 S mini computer comes equipped with USB 3.2 (up to 10Gbps), dual HDMI 2.0 (4K@60Hz), and a 3.5mm audio jack. With support for WiFi 5, Bluetooth 5.0, and Gigabit Ethernet (RJ45 1000MbE), it connects easily with monitors, projectors, printers, office equipment, and other peripherals, making it versatile for both home and business use.
- Dual 4K Display Support – Featuring upgraded Intel UHD Graphics (up to 1000MHz), the G3 S supports 4K video playback and AV1 decoding for a smooth viewing experience. With dual HDMI outputs, you can connect two 4K@60Hz displays simultaneously, enabling efficient multitasking for work and entertainment.
- GMKTEC WARRANTY - GMKtec offers a 3-year limited warranty (1 year replacement + 2 years parts replacement) for each mini PC, starting from the date of the purchase effective on all sales starting Oct. 2026. All defects due to design and workmanship are covered. With a professional after sales team always ready to attend to your needs, you can simply relax and enjoy your mini PC
Be careful with the example snippets you find. The Servarr Docker Guide labels its simplified Compose snippet with the warning “The below is not a complete working example!” Treat it as a picture of structure. Take the required environment variables, ports, and tags from the documentation of the image you actually choose, and assemble the file from there.
Plan the data paths before the first container starts
A path problem is the most common reason an automation stack appears to work while silently doing the wrong thing. Radarr and Sonarr each see files through their own container’s view of the filesystem. If your download client writes a finished file to /downloads/movie.mkv while Radarr sees the same file at /data/torrents/movie.mkv, the import step cannot find it without help.
Use one shared tree mounted at the same path
Create one host directory that holds both downloads and the final library, then mount it at the same container path in every service that needs it. The layout below is an example; the directory names are yours to choose.
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchPC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Rank #2
- 【AMD Ryzen 3 5300U CPU: Outperforms N150 & 3500U】 BOSGAME E5 mini PC is powered by the TSMC 7nm FinFET architecture AMD Ryzen 3 5300U processor (4 Cores, 8 Threads, up to 3.8GHz boost, 6MB total cache). Compared to low-end Intel N150 or 3500U chips which only have 4 single threads and throttle under load, the 5300U delivers over 30% faster multi-core speed. Run 30+ browser tabs, large Excel sheets, and Zoom meetings simultaneously without system lag.
- 【8GB DDR4 RAM & 256GB NVMe SSD Storage】 Installed with high-speed 8GB DDR4 dual-channel memory and a fast 256GB M.2 2280 SSD, eliminating slow boot times and application loading delays. To accommodate growing data requirements, the upgradeable hardware design features dual SODIMM slots that allow you to expand memory up to 64GB RAM, ensuring smooth operation during heavy multitasking.
- 【High-Capacity Dual M.2 SSD Storage Expansion】 Never worry about running out of space for your business files. In addition to the pre-installed 256GB system drive, the motherboard houses an extra empty internal M.2 2280 NVMe PCIe 3.0 slot. This allows you to easily add a second solid-state drive for up to an additional 2TB of storage capacity (upgrades not included) without needing to remove or reinstall the original operating system.
- 【Radeon 6-Core Graphics & Triple 4K Displays】 Integrated with official AMD Radeon Graphics (6 Graphics Cores, 1500 MHz frequency) for casual gaming, photo editing, and crisp 4K media decoding. Featuring 1x HDMI 2.0 port, 1x DisplayPort, and 1x Full-Function Type-C port, the E5 outputs true 4K@60Hz resolution to three monitors at once. This multi-screen setup eliminates constant window-switching for traders, programmers, and office workers.
- 【Dual 2.5GbE LAN Ports for Advanced Networking】 Experience fast wired network transmission speeds up to 2500Mbps without lagging or buffering. The integration of dual 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet ports (powered by Realtek RTL8125 controller) makes this compact computer an exceptional hardware choice for tech enthusiasts. Easily configure it into software routers, hardware firewalls (pfSense, OpnSense), home NAS servers, or local homelabs.
/srv/media-stack/
config/
prowlarr/
radarr/
sonarr/
data/
torrents/
movies/
tv/
media/
movies/
tv/
Mount /srv/media-stack/data to the same container path, such as /data, in Radarr, Sonarr, and your download client. Mount each application’s config folder to the configuration path your chosen image documents. Prowlarr does not need the media tree because it handles indexers only.
Why the same filesystem matters
- Hardlinks let one file appear in both the download folder and the library without storing it twice. They only work when both locations are on the same filesystem.
- Moves within one filesystem are fast because only the directory entry changes. Across filesystems the data must be copied.
- When downloads and the library sit on separate filesystems, Radarr and Sonarr fall back to copying on import. The import still works, but you pay the extra disk space and time.
When the paths differ: remote path mapping
Sometimes the download client reports a path that the Arr container cannot see, for example because it runs on another machine or mounts the data at a different path. In Radarr or Sonarr, open Settings > Download Clients, scroll to the remote path mappings section, and map the client’s path to the path the Arr container sees. The mapping fixes visibility only. It does not put two filesystems on one device, so hardlinks still require a single filesystem.
Set user, group, and umask
Decide ownership before importing media or starting downloads. Servarr recommends a shared group for related containers and enough read and write access to both the download location and the final media location. If one container writes files that another cannot read or move, imports fail with permission errors even when the paths are correct.
Rank #3
- 【MAX 7735U High Performance 】Powered by the AMD Ryzen 7 7735U (8-Core, 16-Thread, boost up to 4.75GHz), this Beelink SER5 MAX mini PC delivers robust performance for daily office tasks, including spreadsheet editing, PPT creation, email management, coding and web browsing. It effortlessly handles photo and video editing via PS, PR and Lightroom, and runs popular esports titles such as LoL, CSGO and DOTA 2 at excellent settings.
- 【High‑Speed Memory & Storage】 Equipped with 24GB high-speed LPDDR5 RAM and a blazing-fast 500GB M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 SSD, this BEELINK 7735U MINI PC supports seamless heavy multitasking. It features expandable storage up to 8TB, letting you store massive project archives and local files without worry.
- 【4K Triple Display & Radeon 680M Graphics】 Built-in AMD Radeon 680M Graphics (12-Core, 2200MHz) brings outstanding graphic performance for design work and buttery-smooth 4K HDR video playback. This BEELINK SER5 MINI PC supports triple 4K monitors via HDMI, DP and USB-C port, allowing you to run trading dashboards, spreadsheets and design drafts side-by-side to boost your productivity.
- 【Cooling & Full Connectivity】 This BEELINK SER5 7735U MINI PC adopts an upgraded dual‑cooling system with heatsink and cooling fan that boosts heat dissipation by 19% while keeping noise below 32dB for quiet operation. Equipped with WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.4 and 2.5G RJ45 Ethernet port, it delivers stable, lag‑free connections ideal for office work, home media and home‑server use.
- 【Lifetime Technical Support】Ryzen 7 mini pc Package Included:1* Beelink Ser5 7735U Mini PC,1* HDMI Cables( 100cm),1* Power adapter,1* User manual,1* Mounting bracket.If you want to set up automatic startup,please contact us.All of our mini pc obtained FCC,CE ROSH Certifications.We Offer 1 Year Free Warranty,and 7 Days/24 Hours Serving,and lifetime technical issue assistance without worrying about quality,just email to our customer service team.
Image conventions differ on this point. Some images expose user ID, group ID, and umask as environment variables; others use different mechanisms. Read the variable names from your chosen image’s documentation and do not copy them from another stack. Before you start the containers, check that:
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →- the host directories are owned by the chosen user ID and the shared group ID;
- the download client writes files with group read and write permission;
- the umask you set leaves new files group-readable and group-writable;
- a test file created by the download client can be read, moved, or linked by Radarr and Sonarr.
Choose the image maintainer
The Sonarr and Prowlarr projects both state that their teams do not offer official Docker images. Prowlarr lists third-party maintained options, including LinuxServer and Hotio. For Radarr, check the current installation page for its own position on images. Whichever you pick, the maintainer determines tags, update cadence, and variable names, so compare them on the axes below rather than assuming they behave alike. The Servarr sources do not establish a best image or a current release tag to use.
| Comparison axis | What to check |
|---|---|
| Maintenance responsibility | Who builds and updates the image, and where that is documented. |
| Supported architectures | Whether the image supports your host CPU architecture. |
| Configuration variables | Names for user ID, group ID, umask, and timezone, which differ between maintainers. |
| Volume conventions | Whether the maintainer documents a configuration path and whether a single data mount at /data is practical. |
| Tag and update policy | Whether tags are pinned versions or rolling, and how upgrades are announced. |
| Shared-path guidance | How closely the maintainer’s mount examples match the shared-path approach described above. |
Deployment sequence
- Create the host directories shown above and set ownership to your chosen user ID and shared group ID.
- Write the Compose file from your chosen images’ documentation. Define one service each for Prowlarr, Radarr, and Sonarr, add the shared data mount and each config mount, and add your download client to the same project if you run it in Docker.
- Start the project in the directory that contains the file with
docker compose up -d. - Confirm the containers are running with
docker compose ps, and check each service’s startup output withdocker compose logs -f radarr, substituting the service name. - Open each web interface on its published port and finish the initial setup, including authentication.
- In Radarr and Sonarr, add your download client and set remote path mappings if the paths differ.
- In Prowlarr, open Settings > Apps, add Radarr and Sonarr, and enter each instance’s address and API key. Use the Compose service name in the address, such as
http://radarr:7878, when the containers share a network; the API key is found under each application’s Settings > General page. Run the test, then save. - Add indexers in Prowlarr and let them sync to the apps.
Validate the indexer sync
Prowlarr syncs indexers according to the capabilities and categories each one claims to support. Not every indexer will appear in every application, and that is expected behavior.
Rank #4
- MINI PC COMPUTER OFFICE LIGHT GAMING - GMKtec Nucbox G10 Series is equipped with the Ryzen 5 3500U, a 64-bit quad-core mid-range performance x86 mobile microprocessor. This processor is based on AMD's Zen+ microarchitecture and is fabricated on a 12 nm process. The 3500U operates at a base frequency of 2.1 GHz with a TDP of 15 W and a Boost frequency of 3.7 GHz. This APU supports up to 32 GB of dual-channel DDR4-2400 memory and incorporates Radeon Vega 8 Graphics operating at up to 1.2 GHz. 20% Multi-core Performance increase over previous Ryzen 3 models such as 4300U. 35% performance increase over the Intel N-series N95/N97/N150.
- RYZEN 5 3500U vs RYZEN 3 4300U COMPARISON - Why Choose Ryzen 5 3500U: Better multi-threaded performance: More threads, better suited for multitasking and demanding applications. Better graphics: With Vega 8, it's superior for casual gaming, video playback, and GPU-intensive tasks. Overall higher performance: Higher boost clock and better ability to handle a variety of workloads, from light gaming to productivity tasks. So, if you're looking for a more balanced processor with stronger multitasking capabilities and better GPU performance, the Ryzen 5 3500U would be the clear choice.
- 16GB DUAL CHANNEL DDR4 + 512GB SSD - Installed with DDR4 16GB SO-DIMM RAM Dual Channel (2x8GB) and a 512GB SSD, the Nucbox G10 mini pc supports memory expansion to 64GB RAM. Featured with Dual M.2 2280 PCIe 3.0 slots, supports dual storage slot expansion to 16TB SSD (2*8TB). (Upgrades not included) This model supports a configurable TDP-down of 12 W and TDP-up of 35 W.
- UNLEASH RAW PERFORMANCE MODE 25W - Dominate demanding tasks with the AMD Ryzen 5 3500U processor. When switched to Performance Mode in the BIOS (press "Esc" key repeatedly during boot, save then exit), this mini PC delivers superior multi-core processing power, significantly outperforming Intel N-series chips in CPU-intensive applications, multitasking, and creative workloads.
- MINI DESKTOP COMPUTER WITH TRIPLE DISPLAY SCREEN - Nucbox G10 integrates AMD Radeon Vega 8 1200 MHz GPU to deliver powerful graphics processing power to easily handle video editing, and playback, or casual gaming. And it can connect to 3 display screens simultaneously via HDMI 2.1 TMDS/ DPv1.4/ TYPE-C.
- Both Radarr and Sonarr appear in Prowlarr’s application list and their tests succeed.
- An indexer that claims movie categories appears in Radarr’s indexer list.
- An indexer that claims TV categories appears in Sonarr’s indexer list.
- An indexer missing from one app is usually one whose categories do not match that app, so check its category support before assuming a fault.
Troubleshooting common failures
- Imports copy instead of hardlinking: the download folder and library are on different filesystems, or they are mounted under different roots. Put both under one mount.
- Permission denied during import: the user ID, shared group, or umask does not match across containers. Recheck ownership and the umask variable from your image’s documentation.
- Radarr or Sonarr cannot find a completed download: the client reports a path the Arr container cannot see. Add a remote path mapping.
- Prowlarr fails to test an app: the address points to
localhost, which inside a container means that container itself, or the API key is wrong. Use the service name and copy the key again.
Scope and legal boundaries
This article covers deployment and configuration. It does not address which indexers or content sources you should use. Laws on downloading and on accessing indexers vary by jurisdiction, and this article does not cover them. Check the rules that apply where you live before connecting any source.
The steps reflect the project documentation described above rather than one tested host. Exact tags, variable names, and networking details can change, so confirm them against your chosen image and the current Docker documentation before you write production configuration.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a NAS to run this stack?
No specific hardware is required. The stack runs on any Docker host you control. What matters is that downloads and the final library share one filesystem and one mount path, so a NAS is only useful if it lets you do that.
The Bottom Line
Settle the data layout and ownership before anything else. The containers are quick to start, but moving a library later means relocating files and reconfiguring every application that touches them.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
