Intel-media-sdk has become deprecated

guusvanmeerveld · July 20, 2025, 11:24pm

Last week the intel-media-sdk was deprecated since it had many CVE’s and is supposedly replaced by vpl-gpu-rt. It’s build is now also failing on hydra, presumably since its dependencies have updated and have become incompatible. The problem being, I am using an older intel i5 8th gen CPU that seems to be unsupported by the new library. Whenever my Jellyfin server tries to transcode now, I get the following log:

ffmpeg version 7.1.1-Jellyfin Copyright (c) 2000-2025 the FFmpeg developers
  built with gcc 14.3.0 (GCC)
  configuration: --disable-static --prefix=/nix/store/eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee-jellyfin-ffmpeg-7.1.1-7 --target_os=linux --arch=x86_64 --pkg-config=pkg-config --enable-gpl --enable-version3 --disable-nonfree --disable-static --enable-shared --enable-pic --disable-thumb --disable-small --enable-runtime-cpudetect --enable-gray --enable-swscale-alpha --enable-hardcoded-tables --enable-safe-bitstream-reader --enable-pthreads --disable-w32threads --disable-os2threads --enable-network --enable-pixelutils --datadir=/nix/store/d9c71109nlv3kci593g2x378k33i0jzj-jellyfin-ffmpeg-7.1.1-7-data/share/ffmpeg --enable-ffmpeg --enable-ffplay --enable-ffprobe --bindir=/nix/store/eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee-jellyfin-ffmpeg-7.1.1-7-bin/bin --enable-avcodec --enable-avdevice --enable-avfilter --enable-avformat --enable-avutil --enable-postproc --enable-swresample --enable-swscale --libdir=/nix/store/eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee-jellyfin-ffmpeg-7.1.1-7-lib/lib --incdir=/nix/store/eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee-jellyfin-ffmpeg-7.1.1-7-dev/include --enable-doc --enable-htmlpages --enable-manpages --mandir=/nix/store/eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee-jellyfin-ffmpeg-7.1.1-7-man/share/man --enable-podpages --enable-txtpages --docdir=/nix/store/eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee-jellyfin-ffmpeg-7.1.1-7-doc/share/doc/ffmpeg --enable-alsa --enable-amf --enable-libaom --enable-libaribb24 --enable-libaribcaption --enable-libass --enable-avisynth --enable-libbluray --enable-libbs2b --enable-bzlib --enable-libcaca --enable-libcdio --enable-libcelt --enable-chromaprint --enable-libcodec2 --enable-cuda --enable-cuda-llvm --disable-cuda-nvcc --enable-cuvid --enable-libdav1d --enable-libdc1394 --enable-libdrm --enable-libdvdnav --enable-libdvdread --disable-libfdk-aac --enable-ffnvcodec --enable-libflite --enable-fontconfig --enable-libfontconfig --enable-libfreetype --enable-frei0r --enable-libfribidi --enable-libgme --enable-gnutls --enable-libgsm --enable-libharfbuzz --enable-iconv --enable-libilbc --enable-libjack --enable-libjxl --enable-libkvazaar --enable-ladspa --enable-liblc3 --enable-liblcevc-dec --enable-lcms2 --enable-lzma --disable-metal --disable-libmfx --enable-libmodplug --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libmysofa --disable-libnpp --enable-nvdec --enable-nvenc --enable-openal --enable-opencl --enable-libopencore-amrnb --enable-libopencore-amrwb --enable-opengl --enable-libopenh264 --enable-libopenjpeg --enable-libopenmpt --enable-libopus --enable-libplacebo --enable-libpulse --enable-libqrencode --enable-libquirc --enable-librav1e --enable-librist --enable-librtmp --enable-librubberband --enable-libsmbclient --enable-sdl2 --enable-libshaderc --enable-libshine --enable-libsnappy --enable-libsoxr --enable-libspeex --enable-libsrt --enable-libssh --enable-librsvg --enable-libsvtav1 --disable-libtensorflow --enable-libtheora --enable-libtwolame --enable-libv4l2 --enable-v4l2-m2m --enable-vaapi --enable-vdpau --enable-libvpl --enable-libvidstab --enable-libvmaf --enable-libvo-amrwbenc --enable-libvorbis --enable-libvpx --enable-vulkan --enable-libvvenc --enable-libwebp --enable-libx264 --enable-libx265 --enable-libxavs --enable-libxcb --enable-libxcb-shape --enable-libxcb-shm --enable-libxcb-xfixes --enable-libxevd --enable-libxeve --enable-xlib --enable-libxml2 --enable-libxvid --enable-libzimg --enable-zlib --enable-libzmq --enable-libzvbi --disable-debug --enable-optimizations --disable-extra-warnings --disable-stripping --extra-version=Jellyfin --disable-ptx-compression
  libavutil      59. 39.100 / 59. 39.100
  libavcodec     61. 19.101 / 61. 19.101
  libavformat    61.  7.100 / 61.  7.100
  libavdevice    61.  3.100 / 61.  3.100
  libavfilter    10.  4.100 / 10.  4.100
  libswscale      8.  3.100 /  8.  3.100
  libswresample   5.  3.100 /  5.  3.100
  libpostproc    58.  3.100 / 58.  3.100
libva info: VA-API version 1.22.0
libva info: User environment variable requested driver 'iHD'
libva info: Trying to open /run/opengl-driver/lib/dri/iHD_drv_video.so
libva info: Found init function __vaDriverInit_1_22
libva info: va_openDriver() returns 0
[AVHWDeviceContext @ 0x37d2c680] Error creating a MFX session: -9.
[AVHWDeviceContext @ 0x37d2c680] Error initializing an MFX session: -3.
Device creation failed: -1313558101.
Failed to set value 'qsv=qs@va' for option 'init_hw_device': Unknown error occurred
Error parsing global options: Unknown error occurred

My current graphics config:

systemd.services.jellyfin.environment.LIBVA_DRIVER_NAME = "iHD"; # Or "i965" if using older driver
environment.sessionVariables = {LIBVA_DRIVER_NAME = "iHD";}; # Same here
hardware.graphics = {
    enable = true;
    extraPackages = with pkgs; [
      intel-media-driver
      libvdpau-va-gl
      # OpenCL support for intel CPUs before 12th gen
      # see: https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/issues/356535
      intel-compute-runtime-legacy1
      vpl-gpu-rt # QSV on 11th gen or newer
      intel-ocl
    ];
  };

VAinfo:

Trying display: wayland
Trying display: x11
error: can't connect to X server!
Trying display: drm
libva info: VA-API version 1.22.0
libva info: User environment variable requested driver 'iHD'
libva info: Trying to open /run/opengl-driver/lib/dri/iHD_drv_video.so
libva info: Found init function __vaDriverInit_1_22
libva info: va_openDriver() returns 0
vainfo: VA-API version: 1.22 (libva 2.22.0)
vainfo: Driver version: Intel iHD driver for Intel(R) Gen Graphics - 25.1.4 ()
vainfo: Supported profile and entrypoints
      VAProfileNone                   : VAEntrypointVideoProc
      VAProfileNone                   : VAEntrypointStats
      VAProfileMPEG2Simple            : VAEntrypointVLD
      VAProfileMPEG2Simple            : VAEntrypointEncSlice
      VAProfileMPEG2Main              : VAEntrypointVLD
      VAProfileMPEG2Main              : VAEntrypointEncSlice
      VAProfileH264Main               : VAEntrypointVLD
      VAProfileH264Main               : VAEntrypointEncSlice
      VAProfileH264Main               : VAEntrypointFEI
      VAProfileH264Main               : VAEntrypointEncSliceLP
      VAProfileH264High               : VAEntrypointVLD
      VAProfileH264High               : VAEntrypointEncSlice
      VAProfileH264High               : VAEntrypointFEI
      VAProfileH264High               : VAEntrypointEncSliceLP
      VAProfileVC1Simple              : VAEntrypointVLD
      VAProfileVC1Main                : VAEntrypointVLD
      VAProfileVC1Advanced            : VAEntrypointVLD
      VAProfileJPEGBaseline           : VAEntrypointVLD
      VAProfileJPEGBaseline           : VAEntrypointEncPicture
      VAProfileH264ConstrainedBaseline: VAEntrypointVLD
      VAProfileH264ConstrainedBaseline: VAEntrypointEncSlice
      VAProfileH264ConstrainedBaseline: VAEntrypointFEI
      VAProfileH264ConstrainedBaseline: VAEntrypointEncSliceLP
      VAProfileVP8Version0_3          : VAEntrypointVLD
      VAProfileVP8Version0_3          : VAEntrypointEncSlice
      VAProfileHEVCMain               : VAEntrypointVLD
      VAProfileHEVCMain               : VAEntrypointEncSlice
      VAProfileHEVCMain               : VAEntrypointFEI
      VAProfileHEVCMain10             : VAEntrypointVLD
      VAProfileHEVCMain10             : VAEntrypointEncSlice
      VAProfileVP9Profile0            : VAEntrypointVLD
      VAProfileVP9Profile2            : VAEntrypointVLD

CLinfo:

Number of platforms                               2
  Platform Name                                   Intel(R) OpenCL Graphics
  Platform Vendor                                 Intel(R) Corporation
  Platform Version                                OpenCL 3.0 
  Platform Profile                                FULL_PROFILE

My Nix info:

 - system: `"x86_64-linux"`
 - host os: `Linux 6.12.34, NixOS, 25.11 (Xantusia), 25.11.20250716.6e98748`
 - multi-user?: `yes`
 - sandbox: `yes`
 - version: `nix-env (Nix) 2.28.4`
 - nixpkgs: `/nix/store/3abvz230bn897gbja4y653jx152m9fqw-source`

Any ideas on how to get the new driver to work or the old one to build again?

Frontear · July 21, 2025, 12:38am

Looks like it’s time to grab the old derivation. You can either override the derivation and fill in some old info, like the old version and hash. Alternatively, you can grab the old derivation file from Nixpkgs and use it via pkgs.callPackage ./file.nix {}

aloop · July 21, 2025, 2:03am

Which API are you using in Jellyfin’s transcoding settings? intel-media-sdk is required for QSV on older chips, but you shouldn’t have any problem using VAAPI. I’m currently using VAAPI on my server without intel-media-sdk on a UHD 630 iGPU with no issues. You may also have to disable VPP tone mapping (not 100% sure) as well if that is enabled (normal tone mapping should work fine with intel-compute-runtime-legacy1).

guusvanmeerveld · July 21, 2025, 9:55am

This works, thanks you. I was so focused on getting quick sync to work again that I completely forgot about VAAPI.

1ts4 · August 4, 2025, 10:07am

I’ve got the same chipset and unfortunately according to the intel doco it doesn’t support h264 encoding with vaapi? When I enable hardware encode on vaapi jellyfin cant play anything (and ffmpeg errors out). Do you know if hardware encoding is working for you with vaapi? Otherwise I’ll need to spend some time trying to get intel media sdk working again.

aloop · August 4, 2025, 10:10pm

I’m not sure what documentation you’re looking at that states that, but it’s working fine for me. The UHD 630 definitely supports hardware encode for h264, though it may not support hardware decoding for 10-bit h264? Not sure what kind of media you’re converting.

This is from Jellyfin converting from high bitrate 8-bit h264 to lower bitrate h264:

My intel graphics config is essentially just:

{ pkgs, ... }:

{
  boot = {
    kernelParams = [
      # Only needed for low-power encoding modes. Not 100% sure but I think
      # that the UHD 630 only supports low-power encode for h264
      "i915.enable_guc=2"
    ];
  };

  hardware.graphics = {
    extraPackages = with pkgs; [
      intel-media-driver
      libva-vdpau-driver
      intel-compute-runtime-legacy1
    ];

    extraPackages32 = with pkgs.driversi686Linux; [
      intel-media-driver
      libva-vdpau-driver
    ];
  };
}

My output from vainfo is as follows:

Trying display: wayland
Trying display: x11
error: can't connect to X server!
Trying display: drm
libva info: VA-API version 1.22.0
libva info: Trying to open /run/opengl-driver/lib/dri/iHD_drv_video.so
libva info: Found init function __vaDriverInit_1_22
libva info: va_openDriver() returns 0
vainfo: VA-API version: 1.22 (libva 2.22.0)
vainfo: Driver version: Intel iHD driver for Intel(R) Gen Graphics - 25.2.6 ()
vainfo: Supported profile and entrypoints
      VAProfileNone                   : VAEntrypointVideoProc
      VAProfileNone                   : VAEntrypointStats
      VAProfileMPEG2Simple            : VAEntrypointVLD
      VAProfileMPEG2Simple            : VAEntrypointEncSlice
      VAProfileMPEG2Main              : VAEntrypointVLD
      VAProfileMPEG2Main              : VAEntrypointEncSlice
      VAProfileH264Main               : VAEntrypointVLD
      VAProfileH264Main               : VAEntrypointEncSlice
      VAProfileH264Main               : VAEntrypointFEI
      VAProfileH264Main               : VAEntrypointEncSliceLP
      VAProfileH264High               : VAEntrypointVLD
      VAProfileH264High               : VAEntrypointEncSlice
      VAProfileH264High               : VAEntrypointFEI
      VAProfileH264High               : VAEntrypointEncSliceLP
      VAProfileVC1Simple              : VAEntrypointVLD
      VAProfileVC1Main                : VAEntrypointVLD
      VAProfileVC1Advanced            : VAEntrypointVLD
      VAProfileJPEGBaseline           : VAEntrypointVLD
      VAProfileJPEGBaseline           : VAEntrypointEncPicture
      VAProfileH264ConstrainedBaseline: VAEntrypointVLD
      VAProfileH264ConstrainedBaseline: VAEntrypointEncSlice
      VAProfileH264ConstrainedBaseline: VAEntrypointFEI
      VAProfileH264ConstrainedBaseline: VAEntrypointEncSliceLP
      VAProfileVP8Version0_3          : VAEntrypointVLD
      VAProfileVP8Version0_3          : VAEntrypointEncSlice
      VAProfileHEVCMain               : VAEntrypointVLD
      VAProfileHEVCMain               : VAEntrypointEncSlice
      VAProfileHEVCMain               : VAEntrypointFEI
      VAProfileHEVCMain10             : VAEntrypointVLD
      VAProfileHEVCMain10             : VAEntrypointEncSlice
      VAProfileVP9Profile0            : VAEntrypointVLD
      VAProfileVP9Profile2            : VAEntrypointVLD

Another thing to check would possibly be to verify whether or not /dev/dri/renderD128 exists and if it is the right device

1ts4 · August 4, 2025, 10:36pm

This is the page that says it doesn’t support h264 encode via vaapi: https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/developer/articles/technical/linuxmedia-vaapi.html
My vainfo looks like yours and the renderer was in place but enableing hardware decoding prevented jellyfin from being able to play files.

I managed to get it working by adding VDPAU_DRIVER = “va_gl”; to the jellyfin env vars.

I noticed you’re using low power encoding so maybe ill give that a go and compare. Thanks for sharing your config

1ts4 · August 4, 2025, 11:07pm

Ok it turns out it was the presence of this config:

  systemd.services.jellyfin.environment = {
    LIBVA_DRIVER_NAME = "iHD"; # Or "i965" if using older driver
  };

that was causing me grief. Removing jellyfin environment config entirely resolves the issue. Copied this from the nix doco on jellyfin config which implies that it’s necessary for CPUs post broadwell but evidently not.

Here are relevant snippets of the ffmpeg command args from the jellyfin log:
with that env var present:

-init_hw_device vaapi=va:,vendor_id=0x8086,driver=iHD -init_hw_device  
 qsv=qs@va -filter_hw_device qs -hwaccel vaapi -hwaccel_output_format  vaapi

Without it:

 -init_hw_device vaapi=va:/dev/dri/renderD128,driver=iHD

so it looks like setting that was causing it to still try to use QSV in some capacity and then failing?

aloop · August 5, 2025, 12:37am

Interesting, not sure why it would still be trying QSV if you have it set to VAAPI. I don’t have LIBVA_DRIVER_NAME or VDPAU_DRIVER explicitly set in my configuration at all.