> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.kernelmedia.tv/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Linux Packages

> Install Kernel as a .deb or .rpm with a systemd service

Kernel publishes `.deb` and `.rpm` packages that install a systemd service, so the server starts on boot and restarts on upgrade automatically.

## Debian / Ubuntu (APT)

```bash theme={null}
curl -fsSL https://apt.kernelmedia.tv/gpg-public.key | sudo gpg --dearmor -o /usr/share/keyrings/kernelmedia.gpg
echo "deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/kernelmedia.gpg] https://apt.kernelmedia.tv stable main" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/kernelmedia.list
sudo apt update
sudo apt install kernelmediaserver
```

## RHEL / Fedora (YUM/DNF)

```bash theme={null}
sudo rpm --import https://yum.kernelmedia.tv/gpg-public.key
sudo tee /etc/yum.repos.d/kernelmedia.repo <<'EOF'
[kernelmedia]
name=Kernel Media Server
baseurl=https://yum.kernelmedia.tv
enabled=1
gpgcheck=1
EOF
sudo dnf install kernelmediaserver
```

## What gets installed

| Path | Purpose |
| - | - |
| `/opt/kernelmediaserver/kernelmediaserver` | Server binary |
| `/opt/kernelmediaserver/binaries/` | Bundled ffmpeg |
| `/opt/kernelmediaserver/data`, `/log` | Database and logs |
| `/etc/systemd/system/kernelmediaserver.service` | systemd unit (preserved across upgrades) |
| `/etc/kernelmediaserver/kernelmediaserver.env` | Environment overrides (preserved across upgrades) |

The package runs the service as a dedicated `kernelmediaserver` system user and enables + starts it automatically:

```bash theme={null}
sudo systemctl status kernelmediaserver
sudo journalctl -u kernelmediaserver -f
```

<Warning>
  `apt purge` (not `remove`) deletes `/opt/kernelmediaserver/data` and `/log`, along with the `kernelmediaserver` user. Use `apt remove` if you want to keep your data.
</Warning>

## Updating

Packages set `KERNEL_MANAGED=apt` (or `yum`), which disables the in-app updater. Upgrade with your package manager instead. See [Updating](/updating#linux-packages).

```bash theme={null}
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade kernelmediaserver
# or
sudo dnf upgrade kernelmediaserver
```


This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.