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Hello wonder if anyone has experience of utilising Plex to distribute media?
I currently have 7TB of .mkv files stored across 2 external hdd. My projector setup runs via hdmi to a Sony PS3 and audio from there via optical in/out to an amp. Great for blu-ray, netflix and gaming. A non starter for .mkv files.
Therefore I have setup Plex software on a T420 laptop and was able to view media on the projector via the Plex app for Sony PS3 and elsewhere in the house using Plex iPhone app and Apple TV connected to a non-smart TV.
I very soon came across the performance issues that transcoding causes and realised that the cpu isn't upto the task. Coupled with having external HDD's which clutter the setup and only having 1 power supply to share between them means I am looking into buying a NAS system to both store and transcode my media.
Have seen various reviews the synology / qnap brands seem to be leaders for Plex transcoding and I'm a fan of a raid 5 setup with 3x 4tb being sufficient (famous last words).
Does anyone run a specific NAS model for Plex - do all of the current range of NAS from these pair have sufficient cpu horsepower to deal with Plex? Dependent on the jump in spec and pricing an option for which models can run 1 transcoding session for 1 device and which could run 2 would be helpful.
Beyond this, day to day, the NAS needs to handle cctv footage recordings for wireless battery powered motion detecting cameras which I'm yet to buy. I did look at a cloud recording setup but my internet download/upload speeds make grown men weep and even Netflix has a hard time.
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Thank for taking the time to read this. Has been a long journey for a non AV guy this year to come to terms with projectors/amps/speakers specifications and doing all wiring and setup myself. Now I have come across Plex and it currently seems too good to be true!
I currently have 7TB of .mkv files stored across 2 external hdd. My projector setup runs via hdmi to a Sony PS3 and audio from there via optical in/out to an amp. Great for blu-ray, netflix and gaming. A non starter for .mkv files.
Therefore I have setup Plex software on a T420 laptop and was able to view media on the projector via the Plex app for Sony PS3 and elsewhere in the house using Plex iPhone app and Apple TV connected to a non-smart TV.
I very soon came across the performance issues that transcoding causes and realised that the cpu isn't upto the task. Coupled with having external HDD's which clutter the setup and only having 1 power supply to share between them means I am looking into buying a NAS system to both store and transcode my media.
Have seen various reviews the synology / qnap brands seem to be leaders for Plex transcoding and I'm a fan of a raid 5 setup with 3x 4tb being sufficient (famous last words).
Does anyone run a specific NAS model for Plex - do all of the current range of NAS from these pair have sufficient cpu horsepower to deal with Plex? Dependent on the jump in spec and pricing an option for which models can run 1 transcoding session for 1 device and which could run 2 would be helpful.
Beyond this, day to day, the NAS needs to handle cctv footage recordings for wireless battery powered motion detecting cameras which I'm yet to buy. I did look at a cloud recording setup but my internet download/upload speeds make grown men weep and even Netflix has a hard time.
. Thank for taking the time to read this. Has been a long journey for a non AV guy this year to come to terms with projectors/amps/speakers specifications and doing all wiring and setup myself. Now I have come across Plex and it currently seems too good to be true!
Plex will run on just about anything, your problem will be either the machine you're running it on or a bottle-neck somewhere in the data flow; if your external harddrives are not on USB3, I suspect they're the issue rather than the computer. Could also be a network speed problem.
I have a Plex server running on a 3 year old HP microserver - there's a thread on here all about them - it's relatively slow as computers go, but handles pretty big files very well. I don't know the max quality I've run through it, but I've used mkv files up to about 3Gb per hour without issue.
If I were in your position I would get one of the HP servers, put a fast USB memory stick in it and install a Linux variant such as Ubuntu. Add a Samba server programme to give you direct file access from your other devices, then add Plex server. You could either take your external things to bits and plug the hard drives into the server, or buy new ones and copy the data across.
Plex works really well with Chromecast for getting it onto your TV, but you can use the Plex Home Theater software on a PC, possible even the PC you've been using as a server. The difference is that Plex Home Theater uses a remote control to control it, Chromecast you just use the Plex app on your phone/tablet to bounce stuff to TV/Projector/whatever. Chromecast is by far the simplest way to do it.
I have a Plex server running on a 3 year old HP microserver - there's a thread on here all about them - it's relatively slow as computers go, but handles pretty big files very well. I don't know the max quality I've run through it, but I've used mkv files up to about 3Gb per hour without issue.
If I were in your position I would get one of the HP servers, put a fast USB memory stick in it and install a Linux variant such as Ubuntu. Add a Samba server programme to give you direct file access from your other devices, then add Plex server. You could either take your external things to bits and plug the hard drives into the server, or buy new ones and copy the data across.
Plex works really well with Chromecast for getting it onto your TV, but you can use the Plex Home Theater software on a PC, possible even the PC you've been using as a server. The difference is that Plex Home Theater uses a remote control to control it, Chromecast you just use the Plex app on your phone/tablet to bounce stuff to TV/Projector/whatever. Chromecast is by far the simplest way to do it.
Thanks, I've been able to discount network speed and the external HDD performances. The CPU(i5-2520M) is upto the task for 8 in every 10 seconds until it spikes and playback pauses to then recontinues 1 to 2 seconds later. Network and memory performance are fine regardless of if the media is on the external HDD or local.I agree Linux OS is way forward with a RAID configuration to aid restore. Chromecast sounds similar in functionality to the Apple tv setup which I already own. Will take a look at the HP offerings..
paulrockliffe said:
I have a Plex server running on a 3 year old HP microserver
Me too, running Xpenology (clone of Synology software) on a HP N54L microserver.It was a little fiddly to set up but works really well now. If you value time over money, go for a Synology DSxxxPlay instead.
Don't bother running Plex server on a NAS, keep the NAS free of apps and focused on what it's for, storing your files. Run Plex on a HP Microserver or similar. I'm running it on a 7 year old Shuttle PC together with Sonarr, Couchpotato and SabNZB. No delays and runs flawlessly when viewing with a Roku as the player. This all runs through CAT6 back to a 24/port GB switch. I'm also just about to migrate to a new Synology - RS815+ as run out of space on the DS211j!
JulietRomeo said:
......RAID.......... Chromecast sounds similar in functionality to the Apple tv setup which I already own. Will take a look at the HP offerings..
RAID - I haven't bothered with it. For media files I hotswap the drives with my brother occasionally so I've access to another copy if a drive fails. If anything is missed I can get it back pretty quickly. I put a new drive in every 3-4 years and swap out the oldest one too. For personal documents that can't be replaced, Iv'e got those on my PC, but they backup to two drives on the server every day. That's enough for me and is a better fit than messing about with RAID and doubling the cost of new drives. Yes, ATV does the same thing, but I've not used it to know how well it works with Plex? It might need Jailbreaking to get everything to play, but others will have a better idea.
You might also consider this for combined NAS/transcoding duties:
http://www.serversplus.com/servers/tower_servers/d...
Great deal by Dell at the moment, makes it £210 after cash back inc vat, free delivery also. Not much more than the cpu would cost by itself.
I would get one but my N54 serves my NAS needs and plex runs on my iMac which is on all the time anyway
http://www.serversplus.com/servers/tower_servers/d...
Great deal by Dell at the moment, makes it £210 after cash back inc vat, free delivery also. Not much more than the cpu would cost by itself.
I would get one but my N54 serves my NAS needs and plex runs on my iMac which is on all the time anyway
maccas99 said:
Don't bother running Plex server on a NAS, keep the NAS free of apps and focused on what it's for, storing your files.
I agree with this.My Synology ds213j doesn't have the processing power to run Plex. Others do but even they have their limitations such as not supporting all required frame rates.
When I use my Boxee media player to play mkvs on the Synology it's fine.
R32 said:
Look into Unraid... fantastic solution for NAS, docker apps (including Plex) and virtual machines all in one.
I use mine for Plex, Sonarr, SabNZBd, Deluge along with multiple windows/linux virtual machines. All running on one server which is also my NAS.
I run Plex on an HP Microserver, running UnRAID. Works beautifully.I use mine for Plex, Sonarr, SabNZBd, Deluge along with multiple windows/linux virtual machines. All running on one server which is also my NAS.
If you going to spend money anyway don't bother going down the transcoding route, just get a device that can natively stream the files. It should be cheaper and better quality to play back directly rather than transcoding video that has already been transcoded (usually blu ray to mkv to whatever plex decides for your playback device) as this is less than optimal.
Transcoding is only useful if you are pushing content to a device that can't support modern video formats or you want to push content over the internet to a mobile device. For the former I'd still recommend buying something.
I recommend the Nvidia Shield TV, can support Kodi @ 4k for video playback. Kodi can play pretty much everything from a NAS as long as you set it up as a file share on the NAS.
Having said that, if you are using a PC with Plex on it, unless the PC is complete rubbish you should be able to run kodi or VLC on the PC and play the content directly that way.
Transcoding is only useful if you are pushing content to a device that can't support modern video formats or you want to push content over the internet to a mobile device. For the former I'd still recommend buying something.
I recommend the Nvidia Shield TV, can support Kodi @ 4k for video playback. Kodi can play pretty much everything from a NAS as long as you set it up as a file share on the NAS.
Having said that, if you are using a PC with Plex on it, unless the PC is complete rubbish you should be able to run kodi or VLC on the PC and play the content directly that way.
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