How to Install Kodi on Fedora 40 or 39

Kodi is a powerful and versatile media center application that allows you to play videos, music, podcasts, and other digital media files from local and network storage media as well as the internet. It supports a wide range of file formats and streaming protocols, making it a go-to solution for setting up a home theater PC. With its extensive add-on library, Kodi can be customized to suit a variety of multimedia needs, including live TV, video on demand, and even gaming.

On Fedora 40 or 39, Kodi can be installed via the RPM Fusion repository, which provides the latest stable build of Kodi, ensuring compatibility and ease of installation. Once installed, setting up Kodi on your system is straightforward, and there are a few tips that can help you get started, such as configuring your media library, installing essential add-ons, and optimizing Kodi’s performance for smoother playback. This guide will walk you through the installation process and provide some tips to get Kodi up and running efficiently on your Fedora system.

Import RPM Fusion Repository for Kodi Installation

You must add the RPM Fusion repository before installing Kodi on your Fedora Linux system. RPM Fusion provides additional software packages that are unavailable in the official Fedora repositories. You can access the Kodi package and its dependencies by enabling RPM Fusion.

To import the RPM Fusion repository, execute the following command in the terminal:

sudo dnf install -y https://mirrors.rpmfusion.org/free/fedora/rpmfusion-free-release-$(rpm -E %fedora).noarch.rpm https://mirrors.rpmfusion.org/nonfree/fedora/rpmfusion-nonfree-release-$(rpm -E %fedora).noarch.rpm

This command downloads and installs the RPM Fusion free and non-free repositories on your Fedora system.

Install Kodi via DNF Command

Now that you have added the RPM Fusion repository, you can install Kodi. Run the following command to install Kodi along with its dependencies:

sudo dnf install kodi

Wait for the installation process to complete.

Configure FirewallD For Kodi

Check if FirewallD is Installed

Fedora Linux defaults to using FirewallD as its firewall management tool. Ensure its installation on your system before you configure it to secure Kodi by executing the following command:

sudo systemctl status firewalld

If your system does not have FirewallD installed, use the following command to install it:

sudo dnf install -y firewalld

After installation, enable and start the FirewallD service with these commands:

sudo systemctl enable --now firewalld

Configure FirewallD For Kodi

When allowing external access to Kodi while keeping security intact, configure FirewallD with specific rules. Since Kodi utilizes multiple ports for different services, such as HTTP, UPnP, and EventServer, create new FirewallD services or modify existing ones to open these ports.

For instance, create a new FirewallD service file named kodi-http.xml to allow HTTP access to Kodi:

sudo nano /etc/firewalld/services/kodi-http.xml

Insert the following content into the file:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<service>
  <short>Kodi HTTP</short>
  <description>Allow access to Kodi via HTTP</description>
  <port protocol="tcp" port="8080"/>
</service>

Save and close the file. Reload the FirewallD configuration and add the new service to your active firewall zone with the commands:

sudo firewall-cmd --reload
sudo firewall-cmd --add-service=kodi-http --permanent
sudo firewall-cmd --reload

Although this example only pertains to HTTP access, you can create additional FirewallD service files for other Kodi services, such as UPnP (kodi-upnp.xml) and EventServer (kodi-eventserver.xml), following the same steps and modifying the port numbers as needed.

Ensure you substitute the port number in the <port> tag with the correct value for each service. After generating the necessary service files, reload the FirewallD configuration and add the services to your active firewall zone, as previously illustrated.

Launching Kodi

CLI Method to Launch Kodi

To launch Kodi using the CLI method, open a terminal window and enter the following command:

kodi

This command will start the Kodi application in a new window. You can now explore its features, customize the interface, and enjoy your media content.

GUI Method to Launch Kodi

Using the GUI method, you can quickly locate and launch Kodi from your desktop. Here’s how:

1. Access the Application Menu: Depending on your desktop environment (such as GNOME, KDE, or XFCE), click on the “Applications” or “Show Applications” icon in the bottom-left corner or the top-left corner of your screen.
2. Search for Kodi: In the application menu, type “Kodi” in the search bar. The Kodi media player icon should appear in the search results.
3. Launch Kodi: Click on the Kodi icon to launch the application. A new window will open, allowing you to access and manage your media content.

Additional Kodi Commands

Update Kodi

To ensure you’re using the latest version of Kodi with all the newest features and security patches, it’s essential to keep it updated. Since you installed Kodi from the RPM Fusion repository, you can use the DNF package manager to update the software with the following command:

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Remove Kodi

If you decide that you no longer need Kodi on your Fedora system, you can remove it using the DNF package manager with the following command:

sudo dnf remove kodi

Conclusion

By installing Kodi on your Fedora system via the RPM Fusion repository, you gain access to a powerful media center that can handle a wide range of multimedia tasks. The RPM Fusion repository ensures that your installation is up-to-date and fully compatible with Fedora. Following the tips provided will help you configure Kodi to suit your needs, from setting up your media library to installing add-ons that expand its functionality. Regular updates and proper configuration will ensure that Kodi runs smoothly, providing you with a robust entertainment hub on Fedora.