Install FlexGet on Ubuntu 15.x

Install FlexGet on Ubuntu 15.x for content automation. We have already showed you how to install FlexGet on Ubuntu 14.x using upstart script. For little more details, please read the introduction of that guide. Now we cover the Ubuntu 15.x versions that use systemd instead of upstart script. At the moment of writing this guide the latest LTS (Long Term Release) of Ubuntu Server is 14.04.3 LTS Trusty Tahr, and unless you don't have an explicit reason to use a non LTS release for your (home) server, it is probably the smartest choice to stick with the LTS release. Ubuntu Server 16.04 LTS Xenial Xerus is scheduled for release in April 2016, once available, it might be a good choice to upgrade, and then you will need systemd. In this guide we will install FlexGet on Ubuntu 15.x. Got a question? Feel free to drop by to our forum section where we are happy to help you. Of course, also check out FlexGet’s board, where most likely you will be able to find your answer in no time. Most probably your question is already answered, if not, don't hold yourself back.

Install FlexGet on Ubuntu 15.x

Start with the usual system update:

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade -y

Check if you have Python 2.6.x – 2.7.x available

python -V

It should return the installed version of Python, in my case on Ubuntu Server Vivid 15.04 it is Python 2.7.6. If for some reason Python is not available on your system, you should type:

sudo apt-get install python2.7 -y

Now we have the required Python installed, let’s proceed. The next step is to install pip, enter:

sudo apt-get install python-pip

This will install pip, together with all the required packages. Before we proceed with installing FlexGet with pip, we need to upgrade pip and six to never version, as it requires six>=1.9.0.

To do this, tpye:

sudo pip install --upgrade pip
sudo pip install --upgrade six

Since more and more sites tend to use secure https instead of insecure http for their RSS feed and torrent file link (which is a very good practice), we need to make sure FlexGet can actually access these. All we need to do is to enter the following:

sudo pip install pyopenssl ndg-httpsclient pyasn1

Now we have everything configured to install the latest version of FlexGet, type the following:

sudo pip install flexget

Once installed, run the following to check the FlexGet version:

flexget -V

If everything went fine, it should return the FlexGet version installed, in my case it is:

1.2.447
You are on the latest release.

Congratulations, FlexGet is now installed!

Now we need to create the systemd to run FlexGet in daemon mode automatically on system start. Since Ubuntu 15.x, we need to use a systemd, if you are running any version of Ubuntu prior 15.x versions, head over to our Install FlexGet on Ubuntu 14.x guide.

FlexGet Systemd for Ubuntu 15.x

Create the FlexGet service file:

sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/flexget.service

Copy and paste the following, and change the user and group highlighted in red to match yours:

[Unit]
Description=Flexget Daemon
After=network.target

[Service]
Type=simple
User=htpcguides
Group=htpcguides
UMask=022

ExecStart=/usr/local/bin/flexget daemon start
ExecStop=/usr/local/bin/flexget daemon stop

Restart=Always
TimeoutStopSec=300

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

Hit Ctrl+X, Y and enter to save.

To make FlexGet start on boot:

sudo systemctl enable flexget.service

You can start and/or stop FlexGet using:

sudo systemctl start flexget
sudo systemctl stop flexget

Since we don't have a configuration file yet, FlexGet process will not start properly without it. You will need to create one. Of course, we will provide you with a guide for configuring FlexGet, just keep on reading!

Now reboot your system and check if FlexGet was installed properly:

flexget -V

If everything went fine, it should return the FlexGet version installed:

1.2.447
You are on the latest release.

Upgrading FlexGet

New version of FlexGet is released quite frequently. These can include small improvements and bugfixes, but as with every update, there are times where critical errors are fixed (hopefully without introducing new ones), and exciting new features are added, improved. You can check the Change Log any time at FlexGet's page and decide if you would like to upgrade to the newer version or not. As a general principle, I always say: if it is working, don't touch it. Of course, keep an eye on the above change log site, and you should upgrade if you feel an important change, improvement, new features had been added.

Before upgrading, stop the FlexGet service:

sudo systemctl stop flexget

To upgrade FlexGet, just run:

sudo pip install --upgrade flexget

After the upgrade completed, you can start the service again with:

sudo systemctl start flexget

Configuring FlexGet with Transmission or Deluge Bittorent client

Now that you have FlexGet installed, it is time to create the configuration file. We will give you guides for FlexGet with Transmission and FlexGet with Deluge Bittorent clients, proceed to the download client of your choice to complete the FlexGet configuration.