Is installing Plex on Ubuntu with an external hard drive really hard?
July 25, 2015 3:44 AM Subscribe
I'm medium-capable with computer stuff; not afraid of a command line, but not a lot more sophisticated than mkdir and mv commands. I've got an ECS LIVA box that I'd like to try putting a Plex server on. I've installed Ubuntu 14.04, and connected it to a 5TB external drive, but I'm getting a bit nervous. Is Plex on this setup within my skill range?
...essentially, I'm wondering if Ubuntu + a networked USB drive + Plex will be too much for me to take on. I was thinking Ubuntu because the LIVA is a 32 GB SSD with 2 GB of RAM, which is pretty tight, and Windows is a lot more resource-intensive.
The idea is that the LIVA and external drive will be a single-purpose media server, sitting mute (no monitor, keyboard, mouse) with me adding and managing content via Plex or over the home network.
On the other hand, setting up the external drive to auto-mount in 14.04 has already been a bit of a challenge for me, and I'm not a Linux native in general. I've already run into some problems with the home network (Samba is new to me, and trying to add large files over the wifi network to the external HD is failing for reasons I don't understand).
Before I sink too much time into the Ubuntu install and trying to make Plex work... am I setting myself up with a part-time hobby, or is Plex + Ubuntu + an external HDD a fairly painless combo?
Our goals:
- A central repository of our music, with remote access a bonus but not absolutely required
- Music streaming to various computers around the house (remote a bonus but not required) and various devices (iPhones, iPads)
- Video file sharing and streaming to various computers and two iPads
- TV streaming isn't something we've ever really had before, but would be a bonus
...essentially, I'm wondering if Ubuntu + a networked USB drive + Plex will be too much for me to take on. I was thinking Ubuntu because the LIVA is a 32 GB SSD with 2 GB of RAM, which is pretty tight, and Windows is a lot more resource-intensive.
The idea is that the LIVA and external drive will be a single-purpose media server, sitting mute (no monitor, keyboard, mouse) with me adding and managing content via Plex or over the home network.
On the other hand, setting up the external drive to auto-mount in 14.04 has already been a bit of a challenge for me, and I'm not a Linux native in general. I've already run into some problems with the home network (Samba is new to me, and trying to add large files over the wifi network to the external HD is failing for reasons I don't understand).
Before I sink too much time into the Ubuntu install and trying to make Plex work... am I setting myself up with a part-time hobby, or is Plex + Ubuntu + an external HDD a fairly painless combo?
Our goals:
- A central repository of our music, with remote access a bonus but not absolutely required
- Music streaming to various computers around the house (remote a bonus but not required) and various devices (iPhones, iPads)
- Video file sharing and streaming to various computers and two iPads
- TV streaming isn't something we've ever really had before, but would be a bonus
Its pretty easy you can do it all point and click. You shouldn't even need the command line.
posted by bitdamaged at 7:51 AM on July 25, 2015
posted by bitdamaged at 7:51 AM on July 25, 2015
Plex is great! And it's pretty simple to set up. I'd say getting the drive working is harder than installing Plex. The Plex install is self-contained and doesn't really need administration. You download plexmediaserver, install it, configure it once to point its media scanners to your hard drive with all your files on it, and you're pretty much done. Here's their quick start.
There's one wrinkle though; Plex is not distributed as an Ubuntu package, which means you can't use apt to install it. Instead you have use dpkg to install the .deb file you download. I've only done this on the command line and it's very easy, it's just a nuisance because it means there's no automated updates. You have to manually download and upgrade. In practice I just don't bother, you can run year-old versions of the server and it's fine.
bitdamaged, I'd love to hear more about the point and click install option!
posted by Nelson at 8:10 AM on July 25, 2015
There's one wrinkle though; Plex is not distributed as an Ubuntu package, which means you can't use apt to install it. Instead you have use dpkg to install the .deb file you download. I've only done this on the command line and it's very easy, it's just a nuisance because it means there's no automated updates. You have to manually download and upgrade. In practice I just don't bother, you can run year-old versions of the server and it's fine.
bitdamaged, I'd love to hear more about the point and click install option!
posted by Nelson at 8:10 AM on July 25, 2015
Best answer:
Move that to your external and symlink it.
posted by Brian Puccio at 8:46 AM on July 25, 2015
I was thinking Ubuntu because the LIVA is a 32 GB SSD with 2 GB of RAM, which is pretty tight, and Windows is a lot more resource-intensive.plexmediaserver isn't large. Your media files (which can easily go on the external you mention) won't fit and there's a good chance your plexmediaserver library won't either.
plex# du -csh /var/lib/plexmediaserver/
13G /var/lib/plexmediaserver/Move that to your external and symlink it.
Is Plex on this setup within my skill range?Yes!
¶ There's one wrinkle though; Plex is not distributed as an Ubuntu package, which means you can't useI've been using this repo for at least two years for automagic updates viaaptto install it. Instead you have usedpkgto install the.debfile you download.
apt.posted by Brian Puccio at 8:46 AM on July 25, 2015
Plex Media Server is just the backbone. So unless you're connecting the LIVA to your TV as a HTPC*, you'll need a web enable device (roku, firetv, chromecast, etc.) in order to stream to your TV.
Some smart TVs have installable Plex apps available. If your TV is connected to your network, the TV itself will act as your Plex client and play anything on the server.
posted by zachlipton at 1:13 PM on July 25, 2015
Some smart TVs have installable Plex apps available. If your TV is connected to your network, the TV itself will act as your Plex client and play anything on the server.
posted by zachlipton at 1:13 PM on July 25, 2015
Response by poster: Thanks for the encouragement and details -- it's working well so far, and I'm excited about the possibilities here, even without ever investing in the paid stuff (other than the iOS apps). I've got the home network down, and Internet streaming will be the next major hurdle.
posted by Shepherd at 9:28 AM on July 30, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Shepherd at 9:28 AM on July 30, 2015 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Another follow-up to say that I am just thrilled to death with this -- listening to my home music at the office right now, and it's been running since July 30 without fail. Making it work at home involved Plex, Samba* (to share the drive on my home Windows network for ease of media transfer) and the external HDD, and that's about it.
*which is great for small file transfer (like music) to the server over wifi, but video needs to either be loaded directly on the Plex box or transferred via the computer wired to my router -- Samba is crazy slow at managing large file transfers, it turns out.
posted by Shepherd at 10:38 AM on August 20, 2015 [2 favorites]
*which is great for small file transfer (like music) to the server over wifi, but video needs to either be loaded directly on the Plex box or transferred via the computer wired to my router -- Samba is crazy slow at managing large file transfers, it turns out.
posted by Shepherd at 10:38 AM on August 20, 2015 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Another small addendum for anyone reading this and considering the same: setting up SSH and limiting it to a single user/pass was pretty easy on the Ubuntu box, and PUTTY on Windows now means I don't have to lug a keyboard and mouse around and unplug and plug in monitors to apt-get updates and upgrades, and update the Plex client manually, when it needs doing. It's well worth the effort.
posted by Shepherd at 5:40 AM on September 23, 2015
posted by Shepherd at 5:40 AM on September 23, 2015
This thread is closed to new comments.
As for your goals.
- A central repository of our music, with remote access a bonus but not absolutely required
Remote access can be a little tricky but, again, there are plenty of tutorials available.
- Music streaming to various computers around the house (remote a bonus but not required) and various devices (iPhones, iPads)
- Video file sharing and streaming to various computers and two iPads
Music and video streaming is what Plex is all about. However, video streaming can be CPU intensive, so you probably won't be able to stream HD to multiple devices at once (if at all). While you can access and play content with a web browser, some Plex apps aren't free.
- TV streaming isn't something we've ever really had before, but would be a bonus
Plex Media Server is just the backbone. So unless you're connecting the LIVA to your TV as a HTPC*, you'll need a web enable device (roku, firetv, chromecast, etc.) in order to stream to your TV.
*OpenElec is pretty good for this, excepting Netflix.
posted by zinon at 6:41 AM on July 25, 2015