SABnzbd Use and Troubleshooting Guide

This guide covers common SABnzbd issues and how to resolve them when using Newshosting. From startup errors to speed anomalies, here are the key problems and what steps to take.

SABnzbd Won't Start

If SABnzbd fails to launch, it's often due to a port issue. Here are the most common causes:

Port already in use: Another application might be using the same port. You can either stop the conflicting program or assign SABnzbd to a different port. See the SABnzbd installation guide for more details on which ports you can use..
Blocked by security software: Some antivirus programs or firewalls may interfere with SABnzbd's attempt to open a port. To fix this, add SABnzbd to the whitelist of your security application. Microsoft Security Essentials, for example, works without issues.
Insufficient permissions: On Linux systems, opening ports below 1024 (e.g., port 80) requires root access. Use a port above 1024 or run SABnzbd with appropriate permissions.

To diagnose the issue further:

On Windows, run SABnzbd-console.exe from the installation directory.
On macOS, run /Applications/SABnzbd.app/Contents/MacOS/SABnzbd --console in Terminal.

If host or port settings have changed, reset them by starting SABnzbd in Safe Mode on Windows or editing sabnzbd.ini directly on other systems.

SABnzbd Reports Slow Speeds and Long ETAs

When SABnzbd shows very slow progress and high estimated completion times, but seems to finish post-processing quickly, the cause is likely missing articles.

To confirm:

Hover over the item in the queue while it's running. A high number of missing articles typically indicates the post is not available on the current news server.

Consider adding another Usenet server.

Upgrading SABnzbd

Upgrading SABnzbd is straightforward and retains your settings:

On Windows, run the installer for the new version. It will overwrite the old one without affecting your configuration.
On macOS or Linux, replace the existing SABnzbd folder with the new version. Your queue and settings are stored separately and will remain intact.

When upgrading between major versions (e.g., from 0.4 to 0.5), finish any queued jobs first. The new version might change how the queue is handled.

Does Closing the Browser Stop SABnzbd?

No. Closing the browser does not stop SABnzbd. It continues running in the background. Reopen your browser and visit the SABnzbd Web interface to reconnect.

To stop SABnzbd, either:

Use the shutdown option in the Web interface.
Manually stop the process through Task Manager or terminal commands.