Best os for plex server I've used Android TV as well. I only have Windows experience so that's what I'm using. e. txt Jun 25, 2015 · Maybe I’m being lazy, I did a quick search and I cannot see the answer I’m looking for. Retrieve your current IP address with the command: hostname -I. It's really that simple. It is a home server with many apps and plugins to expand its functionality, such as WordPress, Plex Media Server, OpenVPN, Own Could, and more. Updating is as simple as wget the new file, dpkg -i the file. A server is just a computer that runs a program, and shares that program's capabilities with other computers. 04 LTS Desktop. tv to link your server to your account. Feb 14, 2024 · Best Server CPU in 2024🏆(Minecraft,Plex and Home Server) Choosing the best operating system for servers for a small business can be quite challenging Nov 16, 2024 · The best NAS devices for Plex make it easy to access your favorite media across a variety of devices. THE DEFINITIVE ANSWER: The OS you are most comfortable with. net If you’re new to Linux, you’re probably thinking that it takes a lot of work to customize an operating system using just a package manager but that’s not necessarily the case. But a better solution would just be to backup your Plex data folder to a different machine. Nov 29, 2020 · Type in the name for your Plex server, the default is your computer name. I'm running Portainer and Docker on Ubuntu, but there are a lot of Linux Docker setups that are easy to use like unRAID or Oct 17, 2023 · Running a Plex Media Server on a NAS device is a popular option as it allows for an all-in-one device that not only runs the server, but also stores lots of content. But setting up a Plex server is easier said than done, especially when there are so many different devices that can function as a Plex server. Mar 25, 2024 · To begin setting up your Plex server on a Raspberry Pi, the first step is to install Plex Media Server. Graphic card support is one consideration; whether GPU transcoding works or not on it. I currently run my Plex server on my personal PC which is getting a bit old and starts to act up a bit. Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4790K CPU @ 4. Best Plex server overall: The Geekom Mini IT12 is a fantastic Plex media server thanks to its 12th gen Intel CPU capable of handling eight or more 4K transcodes. What are pros and cons? I was thinking about maybe Windows Server 2012, or FreeBSD?? I would like it to run using the least power possible at idle. If you use a USB drive to store your files, you will have the same issue. We're going to go through all the products that you need to set up a Plex server, including a lot of the optional Configuring a Static IP Address for Your Plex Server. Your choice of home server operating system directly impacts performance, security, and ease of management. 306K subscribers in the PleX community. the metadata management of plex alone will incur way more non-sequential rw than caching a video transcode, which is big sequential chunks of data. Feb 9, 2025 · Still, Amahi cannot be considered an accurate NAS operating system; instead of NAS, it is a well-known Home server. However, they serve different purposes. The Plex Media Server is smart software that makes… The best reason for splitting them up though is backup, if something happened to the OS drive it shouldn't affect your Plex drive. I’m seeking recommendations and advice on what components and configurations would be ideal for a low-power, cost-effective Plex server build. Amahi is built on the Fedora Linux distribution with a web-based interface and is regarded as the best free home server OS next to FreeNAS. Lots of support on here and on their forums. My main considerations are: • Power Efficiency: I want to keep energy consumption as low as possible. Published Jul 2, 2019. It houses an Intel Core i3-8100T processor, which is ideal for the transcoding of 4K movies, and there are eight drive I had a Synology and moved to a PC based NAS running Unraid and I love Unraid. I want to be able to run plex, a minecraft server and mass storage for the plex. What Makes the Best Linux Distro for Plex? Jan 22, 2024 · Hyper-V is great for spinning up VMs; easy to copy templates. This page is community-driven and not run by or affiliated with Plex, Inc. Hey there everyone, just wanted to throw this question out as I am new to this. I currently use plex on a little cheep slow freenas box and have now bought a dual xeon server with 16Gb of EEC ram as an upgrade, considering another 16 it’s so cheep! I can get almost any OS I like for it and would like to know which flavour of software would be the best supported, ie the majority Feb 7, 2022 · Raspberry Pi If you like tinkering and saving money, a Raspberry Pi is a great way to get started with Plex. Open the cmdline. It is a community version built around the commercial version. However, if you want to run Plex, you should go for Ubuntu Desktop or Ubuntu Server. Jan 26, 2014 · I decided to build a small computer server to use Plex to play my movies. With Plex's proprietary media server software and apps, you can store, catalog, and stream all kinds of media — music, movies I’m looking to set up a Plex server on a budget and with a focus on power efficiency. Im really happy with the setup. . Plex Server: Mar 25, 2025 · Our testing methodology for the best Plex server. It takes two commands to install (wget the . tv/web Ive been running Plex on Debian headless for years, no issues, the tie-in to using plex. Follow Followed Like Link copied to clipboard. Plex Server vs Plex Client Overview: When we talk about Plex, we cannot talk about the Plex Server without also talking about the Plex Clients. Get any linux operating system that is lightweight (i. Final Steps. Both sides are equally important. 1. It has the mighty Intel Celeron N5105/N5095 processor, which is more than capable of transcoding 4K content with four physical cores, a burst speed of 2. Plex Media Server is the software that allows you to organize and stream your media collection. Most PC’s will have enough power and memory to store all of your media in one centralized location. The Plex Media Server comes with the Plex Web App, which allows you to control Plex and access your media through any browser. I was thinking of swapping drives with a machine running Ubuntu but it got me wondering if I should maybe just change the OS out as well to Ubuntu Mar 17, 2025 · In addition to Windows, Mac OS X and Linux, To test for the best NAS & media server distros, we downloaded each piece of software and set it up on an external server. If you're looking to combine a media server and client in one box, then I suggest the NVIDIA Shield, which is Android TV. Mar 14, 2025 · Operating System Compatibility. I have try Ubuntu and tried to follow directions to install Plex, some of the commands work some don’t, bottom line can’t get Plex to work, so tried other OS, Deb, CentOS7, manjaro, and LXLE. All of the major OS's have server platforms and builds for enterprise servers (e. 1tb Samsung 870 for boot, 1tb Samsung 970 nvme for cache and an 8TB WD-Red plus nas. I am already in the process of getting a bunch of my DVD's ripped and running to my Roku box (as MKS files). Whether you need virtualization, storage solutions, containerization, or simply a reliable backup system, selecting the right OS is crucial for your home lab success. Which OS do you guys suggest to run it? I own a copy of Windows 8. Users of the software are encouraged to write and use plugins and Dec 23, 2024 · The best way to set up a Plex Server is by using a PC that many already have in their homes. I use CentOS for my Plex Media Server (PMS) and different devices as Plex clients. 1 Ubuntu server VM (Plex) 1 Windows 10 VM (Sonarr, NZBGet, CouchPotato, etc) Ubuntu server is one of the best OSes for Plex server. Apr 29, 2024 · QNAP's TS-464 is an impressive four-bay NAS with a striking design, powerful internal specs, and IR support for a remote control. Mar 3, 2025 · In this comprehensive 2,500 word guide, we‘ll carefully review the top 10 Linux distributions for powering Plex based on key selection criteria. Here’s how you can install it: Start by opening the terminal on your Raspberry Pi. Use jellyfin clients instead of browser and you are golden. Most modern NAS have Plex in their application collections, and once installed, it can take media content stored on that device and stream it to your media Dec 9, 2019 · Looking for the best Plex server? Here are some of the best budget, prebuilt, and DIY ways to run a Plex server! Dec 16, 2012 · What's the current answer to this question?Hi, I just joined the forum today, and just became aware of Plex yesterday. This PC will only be used for plex and its applications (sonarr, radarr, transmission, etc) For questions and comments about the Plex Media Server. Run plex using the plugin and jail support they have. You can spend very little on a NAS enclosure that will happily store and stream all your favorite music and movie files, but should you need to transcode content, you may need something a Jan 27, 2022 · On a side note, in the case of a Plex Server running on a Windows machine, you need to log in to that machine for Plex Server to run. Now before we install the Plex Media Server software to the Raspberry Pi, we need first to ensure our operating system is entirely up to date by running the following two commands. Related. debian 8 generic image. Enter the Plex Claim Token from plex. Feb 14, 2024 · QNAP’s TS-464 is a compelling enclosure for running Plex Media server. These four products offer you a great way to build your own server and upgrade your streaming game. The many strengths of Linux provide an ideal operating system for hosting Plex. There are a few things I consider when deciding what NAS servers to recommend for Plex streaming. Nov 2, 2024 · If you’re new to headless Plex servers, Raspberry Pi computers, Terminal and command-line interface tools, I would recommend beginning with our Complete Guide to creating a Headless Plex Server with Plexamp endpoints using a Raspberry Pi. The Plex Media Server is smart software that makes playing Movies, TV Shows and other media on your computer simple. g. Streaming media fragmentation can give you a headache trying to jump between services and devices. 6 Easy Ways For questions and comments about the Plex Media Server. I'm trying to find the best OS for what I want to have happening on this server which would be: Plex Media Server on and available 24/7 Home security cameras (around 4-6 in 720p, x264 format, and saving up to 10 days at a time with 24/7 recording) Jan 31, 2023 · The freemium software Plex offers one of the best solutions for managing your media collection. but others may have other solutions. and then run game servers using either a ubuntu or windows vm inside truenas ubuntu vm can run docker if thats what you want. Jul 2, 2019 · The Best Devices to Use as a Plex Media Server. ” Plex Media Server can run on a Raspberry Pi and on a 60 core Xeon CPU. Ubuntu Server and Ubuntu Desktop are similar in many ways. Sep 16, 2022 · Bottom line: The best value NAS enclosure for Plex goes to the DS920 from Synology. See full list on pocnetwork. thanks! For questions and comments about the Plex Media Server. If you have all your files under /home, let’s say in the “Movies” subfolder, Plex won’t have access to them. I wanted to ask if there is a real advantage to install Windows Server OS on a Plex Server? I am currently playing with the latest Windows Server 2022 and I see there is for sure a Performance different and less resource usage between Windows 10 OS and Windows Best OS for running Plex Media Server? Ok, so im looking to upgrade my server soon to a bigger and better system but im having a hard time deciding on what OS I want to use. Mar 26, 2024 · To help you decide which offering best suits your needs, here is a comparison of the top 10 Linux distros for powering Plex Media Servers based on over 100 hours of testbench analysis and streaming stress tests. If you are comfortable with a distro of Linux, then that one is best for you. 9. It’s meant to help anyone who is generally tech-savvy but doesn’t know in-depth IT Apr 27, 2022 · Bottom line: The QNAP TVS-672XT is the best NAS for Plex in our collection. May 24, 2023 · Here's how to install Plex server on a Raspberry Pi, configure it, and start streaming movies, TV shows, music, and more. Right now I just have an old gaming PC, with a couple NAS Sep 13, 2024 · Personally my Plex VMs (as well as most other VMs) have always just run Ubuntu Server since it's fairly light and stable, I'm fairly comfortable on Debian-based distros, and it has some of the best server documentation out there for beginners if you don't know how to do something. Click “Allow me to access my media outside my home” if you wish to access your media from outside of your network Dec 29, 2021 · Raspberry Pi OS Lite（with no desktop environment） OMV for NAS file server; Plex media server providing streaming service; It is important to note that NAS servers are generally headless systems without a keyboard, mouse, or monitor. Dec 27, 2024 · Why the Right Home Server OS Matters. Jan 22, 2024 · Between Ubuntu and Windows 10, which is the better OS to run the PMS? I’ve been on Windows 10 for years without issue but either my hardware has become a problem or the software because we can’t play movies with subtitles anymore, it just fails. Unraid has amazing docker/VM support (I run Plex, sonnar, tautulli, Jellyfin and game server docker containers), support for up to 30 drives, you can use mixed drive sizes, 2 parity drives, ssd cache drives, unlike unraid the files aren't striped so you can detach a drive and still read the data on it. Click here to Download the Plex media server for Windows, Mac, Linux FreeBSD and more free today. May 17, 2024 · Some other tips about your newly formed Plex server… I would make sure that the IP address to your PI is static (lots of places on the web with “how tos” down that rabbit hole). It’s really easy to setup and maintain. What operating system should I use? Jan 9, 2024 · Choosing the best NAS for running Plex Media Server can prove a little tricky compared to choosing the best server for storing files and running other tasks. They have many versions of the operating system that you can choose from. i run MQTT for my home esp stuff in a jail too. think there is a home assistance plugin aswell. The best OS for Plex is the one you understand and are comfortable using. 00GHz 4. Are there any advantages to using Windows 10 vs Ubuntu Bionic for a Plex Media Server. I have an i5-9600k, 64gb of 3200mhz ddr4 and some various drives. If you're looking for the best-equipped NAS for running Plex (or Aug 22, 2018 · Hi All I want the best Homelab OS for things like Plex, Docker, and some VM’s - in the future I might even throw in a Virtual Game server? Criterias: A) Stable and with a okay UI B) Intel CPU based server (Hyper-V; Quick sync) C) NO NAS NO real storage needed! thats all running on a seperate NAS D) SPEED - Main porpose is for the PLEX server (Just SSD/M2 for max performance OS, Docker and VM In this video, we'll take a closer look at the operating system that you might want to run on your home server, such as Linux, Windows, Hypervisors or NAS Sy In my opinion, the Best OS for Plex Server - is the OS you are most familiar with, there is nothing worse than a disruption to your media, that causes you to have to google the issue! Best Operating System Tips Was wondering if anyone had an tips on the best OS to run a plex server on. (now let rumble begin!) I run my plex server on unraid. However, most NAS devices have some limitations when it comes to running a Plex Media Server, so it may not be the best choice for everyone. I have a set of Thunderbolt storage arrays as my media storage; over 200TB using Stablebit Drivepool with Snapraid. For questions and comments about the Plex Media Server. These “OS” solutions are platforms you install on your Linux server distribution of choice, except for Raspberry PI OS, an operating system you Dec 25, 2024 · Configure variables like User ID (UID), Group ID (GID), Timezone, Plex Version, and Claim Token. Temporarily enable SSH on your NAS and retrieve these values using an SSH client like PuTTY. 9GHz, and hardware-accelerated transcoding support. txt file for editing: sudo nano /boot/cmdline. Best budget Plex server: The Beelink MINI S12 Pro‘s N100 processor is a great choice for 1080p transcoding and a handful of 4K transcodes Here’s what you need for a Plex server for local content (assuming a “good” playback device) and for some remote streaming (assuming a “good” internet upload rate). Note: further down the line, I will refer to Plex Media Server as Plex Server and Plex Client Apps as Plex Client(s). Regarding h265 content. But it's not the case Linux; Plex natively runs as a Service Oct 4, 2020 · Ubuntu is undoubtedly one of the best Linux distros for Plex Media Servers. Currently on Windows Server 2022. Basic install of Windows 10 w/ Plex Server running at startup. Feb 1, 2024 · Plex is a global streaming media service and a client-server media player platform created by Plex, Inc. Fetch UID and GID. Unraid is a proprietary Linux-based operating system designed to run on home media server setups that operates as a network-attached storage device, application server, and virtualization host. Another important factor to consider when choosing a mini PC for Plex is the operating system compatibility. By Dan Price. I’ll go over exactly what this means, what you get, and what you need to buy. I'm currently on Windows Server 2012 R2 as thats what i am familiar with but i want to change maybe to a slightly lighterweight OS. This software can run on a PC, but it is equally at home in the NAS environment. Ubuntu 20. Working through those articles in sequence will introduce you to the tools and concepts you’ll need to May 26, 2024 · Learn how to build a relatively cheap custom Plex Server with the best hardware (CPU & GPU) for streaming and transcoding. Find out how to use HDR tone mapping, docker containers, and other features with Plex on different OS. Jul 5, 2017 · A Server Operating System Comparison This is a comparison of different OS options for Plex Media Server. deb file, and dpkg -i the deb file). We then tested it using Best OS for Plex server? Do any of you have experience from running Plex servers on multiple OSs? I've run Plex on Windows for a few years, and my experience is that auto-updates often break things, and that there's no guarantee that Plex will work if I reinstall Windows. Unraid is proprietary software developed and maintained by Lime Technology, Inc. It's got four drive bays for plenty of storage capacity, a rather reliable Intel Celeron processor, and plenty For questions and comments about the Plex Media Server. 00 GHz RAM: 16GB Graphic: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 The disk space is on a separate NAS, so the Plex server does not have its own storage, apart from the system drive. Define what you mean by a “full-function Media Server. This is part 1 of a 3 part series dedicated to building a home multimedia Jan 15, 2025 · It is also difficult to determine which devices are most optimal for implementing a full-function Media Server. The "wear and tear" SSD argument is old and not really valid, especially for low iops like plex and modern SSD architecture that doesn't rely on trim functions in userspace drivers anymore. You don't need to transcode it. Preparing your Pi for Plex. The cornerstone of this success is based on two main components: the Plex Media Server application, which brings together all kinds of audio-visual media files in a single library, and the Plex Media Player, which allows you to call on and stream those files. Windows Server, Red Hat Linux, CentOS) Plex totally runs fine on headless servers, the token expired you are getting is on plex. Oct 28, 2022 · Find Plex Media Server; Double-click it; Launching Plex on Linux. That your router allows port 32400 to this PI to be available (useful if you want devices other than your browser to have access). The Plex server runs with the “plex” user, while you are using another user on your system (maybe “pi” or the one you created on first boot). Learn which operating systems are compatible with Plex and why the choice of OS doesn't matter for performance. You can't run Plex as Service on Windows machines natively (Plex running as Service on Windows can't utilize GPU for processing like HW Rendering). 8. These single board computers cost under $100, and you can install various Linux distros Nov 9, 2023 · Final Thoughts – Achieving Media Bliss with a Linux Plex Server. Aug 28, 2024 · Best Plex servers in 2024 at a glance. Need hep. For most flavors of Linux: Open a Command prompt; Type sudo systemctl start plexmediaserver; Accessing Plex Media Server via the Plex Web App. If you don't know Linux, then a Windows 7/8/10 server will be the best one for you. The clients include: Apple TV, iPad/iPhone, and Roku. It is completely awesome so far! I've been googling, and I have found various answers to this question, but it seems like maybe the situation has evolved over the past For questions and comments about the Plex Media Server. Hard to make any recommendations without knowing what you are trying to accomplish. Feb 16, 2021 · No hassle, no fuss, just dump all your media in the server and stream it to any device. Mar 2, 2025 · If you want to run a slim version of the operating system, you should take a look at installing Raspberry Pi OS Lite. Whether you‘re a Linux veteran or just getting started, you‘ll discover the perfect match to unlock Plex‘s full potential based on your needs. Amahi can do what a Linux Server distribution can do but with a much simpler and easier user interface designed for newbies. I’ll also go over what is unnecessary spend, and why some people spend. Oct 19, 2017 · I’m having a problem installing Plexmediaserver, can’t seem to get it working. This poses some challenges for the installation, configuration, and tuning of hardware and software systems. Jan 16, 2024 · Amahi is the most stable and simple server OS you can try. To ensure consistent access to your Plex server, it’s advisable to use a static IP address. It’s a Lite OS. However, not all mini PCs support all operating systems. At this basic definition, any OS you can think of can act as a server. Its one of the best option for running Plex Media For questions and comments about the Plex Media Server. Plex is compatible with a variety of operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Linux, and some NAS devices. Nvidia is pretty successful. Ubuntu server or something) and run it headless. Plex Docker container is the best solution I have found - keeps everything isolated, good performance, easy to update, and portable. This includes home movies, pictures, downloaded content, and more. Media Server. Sep 21, 2023 · The home server OS is a great way to get up and running quickly with self-hosted services that allow you to run media servers, storage servers, web servers, remote access, and many other solutions. At least not if all you need is a distro capable of running Plex Media Server. Take back control and simplify your life with a centralized Plex server running on Linux. Jul 25, 2024 · The Plex media server has become a popular media management tool. tv for authentication is annoying as hell when im working locally but it is what it is. First up is the CPU; I run a few synthetic tests Oct 30, 2021 · Ubuntu has different versions of operating system but most popular ones are ubuntu desktop and ubuntu server. Tons of good setup videos. I'm currently building a whitebox server for my new plex server, and I'm interested to hear what the best OS for my needs is. mkodrefy ipu bgmom gnalrxt yjlm qovq kohy mrlf fufh mana zkzn cpns pzc blcqgij nyxxk