ray/hermes-config

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Private Tracker Seedbox

Deploying a Docker seedbox for private trackers with gluetun (VPN) + qBittorrent, plus tracker-specific tooling for IP authorization when the torrent client's IP differs from the browser's IP.

Gluetun + qBittorrent Base Setup

Docker Compose Pattern

services:
  gluetun:
    image: qmcgaw/gluetun:latest
    container_name: gluetun
    cap_add:
      - NET_ADMIN
    devices:
      - /dev/net/tun:/dev/net/tun
    ports:
      - 127.0.0.1:11893:8080    # qBittorrent WebUI
      - 127.0.0.1:6881:6881     # torrent port (optional, qBittorrent uses forwarded port)
      - 127.0.0.1:6881:6881/udp # (optional)
      - 127.0.0.1:5010:5010     # Mousehole WebUI (if used)
    volumes:
      - ./gluetun:/gluetun
    environment:
      VPN_SERVICE_PROVIDER: "private internet access"
      VPN_TYPE: "openvpn"
      OPENVPN_PROTOCOL: "tcp"
      OPENVPN_ENDPOINT_PORT: "443"
      OPENVPN_USER: "your-username"
      OPENVPN_PASSWORD: your-password
      UPDATER_PERIOD: "0"
      SERVER_HOSTNAMES: "nl-amsterdam.privacy.network"  # PIA server
      VPN_PORT_FORWARDING: "on"                          # PIA port forwarding
      PORT_FORWARD_ONLY: "true"                          # only allow port-forwarded ports
      FIREWALL_VPN_INPUT_PORTS: "8080,5010"              # comma-separated allowed ports
    restart: unless-stopped

  qbittorrent:
    image: lscr.io/linuxserver/qbittorrent:latest
    container_name: qbittorrent
    network_mode: "service:gluetun"
    depends_on:
      gluetun:
        condition: service_healthy
    volumes:
      - ./qbittorrent:/config
      - /path/to/downloads:/downloads
    environment:
      - PUID=1000
      - PGID=1000
      - TZ=America/Chicago
      - WEBUI_PORT=8080
    restart: unless-stopped

Key Config Points

qBittorrent uses network_mode: "service:gluetun" — shares gluetun's network stack
depends_on: gluetun: condition: service_healthy — waits for VPN tunnel before starting
qBittorrent's listening port (from Session\Port in qBittorrent.conf) must match gluetun's forwarded port from the VPN provider
Port 11893 on host maps to qBittorrent WebUI at port 8080 inside gluetun's stack

Compose Gotcha: `restart` vs `up -d`

docker compose restart <svc> restarts the existing container with its ORIGINAL config. It does NOT pick up changes to port mappings, environment variables, or volumes. To apply compose changes, use:

docker compose up -d

This recreates any container whose config has changed. If you need to force even when the config hasn't changed:

docker compose up -d --force-recreate <svc>

Port Binding: localhost-only vs All Interfaces

127.0.0.1:5010:5010 — binds ONLY to localhost; accessible from host only
5010:5010 — binds to 0.0.0.0 (all interfaces); accessible from LAN and other Docker containers (e.g., KasmVNC Chrome)

When running Chrome in a KasmVNC container that's on a different Docker network, the browser uses its own network namespace. localhost inside KasmVNC refers to KasmVNC itself, not the host. Use the host's LAN IP (e.g., 192.168.50.98:5010) and ensure the port is bound to all interfaces.

To verify actual Docker port bindings:

docker port <container>

PIA Port Forwarding

PIA port forwarding with gluetun:

Set VPN_PORT_FORWARDING: "on" and PORT_FORWARD_ONLY: "true" on gluetun
Gluetun logs show the forwarded port (e.g., port forwarded is 36590)
The forwarded port is written to /tmp/gluetun/forwarded_port inside gluetun
qBittorrent must use this port — set Session\Port=<forwarded port> in qBittorrent.conf

Check forwarded port:

docker exec gluetun cat /tmp/gluetun/forwarded_port

MAM (MyAnonaMouse) — Dynamic Seedbox / Mousehole

The Problem

MAM compares your browser's IP against your torrent client's IP. If they don't match (e.g., browser on home IP, torrent client on VPN IP), you get:

"Unrecognized host/PassKey. (client IP here)"

Step 1: Get Staff Approval

Open a ticket with MAM staff explaining you use a VPN for your torrent client. Per MAM rule 1.2, VPN use must be authorized.

Step 2: Deploy Mousehole as a Sidecar

Mousehole is a background service that periodically calls MAM's Dynamic Seedbox API to register your current VPN IP.

Add to your docker-compose.yml:

services:
  # ... gluetun and qbittorrent as above ...

  mousehole:
    image: tmmrtn/mousehole:latest
    container_name: mousehole
    network_mode: "service:gluetun"
    depends_on:
      gluetun:
        condition: service_healthy
    environment:
      TZ: America/Chicago
      MOUSEHOLE_AUTH_PASSWORD: your-strong-password
    volumes:
      - mousehole:/var/lib/mousehole
    restart: unless-stopped

volumes:
  mousehole:

Also add - 127.0.0.1:5010:5010 to gluetun's ports: and add ,5010 to FIREWALL_VPN_INPUT_PORTS.

Step 3: Configure Mousehole

Browse to http://localhost:5010
Log in with the password set in MOUSEHOLE_AUTH_PASSWORD
Get your MAM session cookie:
- Log in to MAM in your browser
- DevTools → Application/Storage → Cookies → myanonamouse.net
- Copy the session cookie value
Paste it into Mousehole's web UI
Click Update Now to immediately register your current VPN IP

Mousehole will now automatically keep MAM updated with your VPN IP on a schedule.

MAM Tracker Info

Allowed qBittorrent: from 5.0.1 to latest 5.2.x line
qBittorrent Anonymous Mode will break tracker communication
The tracker returns bencoded responses; HTTP 200 + "failure reason" means the tracker accepted the request but rejected the client/IP/credentials
Passkey is embedded in the announce URL, not sent as a GET parameter

Port Blacklist Notes

MAM (and many private trackers) block common P2P ports (6881-6889, etc.). Configure qBittorrent to use the VPN's forwarded port instead of defaults.

Troubleshooting

Tracker returns "Non-Whitelisted client or version"

Check the MAM Allowed Clients page: the client version may not be whitelisted yet
Even if the web page says it's allowed, the tracker filter may lag behind
Verify qBittorrent is not in Anonymous Mode

Tracker returns "Unrecognized host/PassKey"

Browser IP ≠ torrent client IP
Use Mousehole (Dynamic Seedbox API) to register the torrent client's IP

qBittorrent logging shows no tracker announcements

Check that the torrent isn't paused
Verify qBittorrent's listening port matches the VPN forwarded port
Confirm disable_dht = 0 is set correctly in the fastresume for private torrents (private torrents should have DHT disabled)

Torrent stalled with no peers

Confirm port forwarding is active via docker exec gluetun cat /tmp/gluetun/forwarded_port
Test tracker reachability: docker exec qbittorrent curl -s -o /dev/null -w "%{http_code}" <tracker_url>
Verify the passkey in the announce URL is correct (check fastresume via strings)

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