> ## 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.

# Quickstart

> Run Kernel with Docker and finish the setup wizard

The fastest way to run Kernel is Docker. This gets you a running server in a few minutes; see [Install & Update](/install/docker) for Linux packages and release zips, [Homebrew](/install/homebrew) if you're on a Mac, and [Remote Transcoder](/transcoder/install) if you want to offload transcoding to another machine.

## Prerequisites

* Docker (or Docker Desktop)
* A folder for your media library, and optionally an IPTV/Xtream Codes, M3U, or HDHomeRun source for Live TV

## Get started

<Steps>
  <Step title="Run the container">
    ```bash theme={null}
    docker run -d --name kernel-server \
      -p 9014:9014 \
      -v kernel-data:/app/data \
      -v kernel-log:/app/log \
      -v /path/to/your/media:/media \
      kernelmedia/server:latest
    ```

    The container embeds ffmpeg, so there's nothing else to install. `/app/data` holds the database and config; `/app/log` holds logs. Keep both as named volumes or bind mounts so they survive upgrades.

    Have an NVIDIA GPU? Use `kernelmedia/server:latest` with [NVIDIA Container Toolkit](https://docs.nvidia.com/datacenter/cloud-native/container-toolkit/latest/install-guide.html) and add `--gpus all`. See [Docker install](/install/docker#nvidia) for the full command.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open the setup wizard">
    Go to `http://<server-ip>:9014` in a browser. Since this is the first run, Kernel takes you straight into the setup wizard:

    1. **Database**: SQLite (default, no setup needed), or point at Postgres/MySQL/MSSQL
    2. **Server**: basic server settings
    3. **Admin account**: your first login
    4. **Preferences**
    5. *(Optional)* **Live TV source**, **EPG/channel mapping**, **Library**
    6. **Third-party API keys** (e.g. TMDB)
    7. **Review & finish**

    See [First Run Setup](/setup/first-run) for details on each step.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Sign in on a client">
    Install one of the [apps](/apps/index) and sign in with the server URL (`http://<server-ip>:9014`) plus the admin username and password you just created. See [Signing In](/apps/signing-in).
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Tip>
  Need to add a remote transcoder node later, or move to Postgres? Both are covered in [Install & Update](/install/docker) and [Remote Transcoder](/transcoder/install). You don't need to redo the wizard.
</Tip>


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