HP Microserver : Plex

[Dolby]

So now that I've finally selected the hardware and space requirement for Plex - I need to work on the software.

I plan to keep all media (photos, music and movies) on the internal HDD - so nothing will be streamed across the network. Everyone seems to recommend XBMC - but I like fact that my S3, iPad and the TV can 'resume' etc with Plex.

My question is - am I right in saying I need the server and client installed on the server (on the 250GB) - so the server points to the other HDD media and the client being in the interface?

What OS do I need for the above - surely not full out Windows or anything? People at work tell me OpenELEX is XBMC only ...

Is there an iOS/Android app to run as a remote over the wireless?

Lastly - any driver issues with things like IR receiver or Wifi dongle (only things I don't have)?

Thanks

 

[DrJohnZoidberg]

Wouldn't recommend running both the server and client ends on the Microserver. If you want to stream HD streams to your iPad for instance it is going to kill the CPU. Should be fine for non-HD streams though.

And yes, you must install full on Windows or Mac OS X to run the client. Sucks. There is an experimental Linux client but it is not stable and doesn't run everything like it should.

 

[DrJohnZoidberg]

Ah, the other questions.

OpenElec is XBMC that runs on a light install of Linux, but you don't know that there is Linux underneath as it boots straight in to XBMC.

There are Remotes built in to both the official iOS and Android Plex apps.

Shouldn't have any issues with IR, if it works in Windows you should be gold and you can always reprogram buttons if needed.

 

[DominionZA]

I used the Microserver for Plex and it choked with multiple streams.
Plex now runs on another machine and I turned my Microserver into a 10TB NAS box. Perfect...

 

[DrJohnZoidberg]

I used the Microserver for Plex and it choked with multiple streams.
Plex now runs on another machine and I turned my Microserver into a 10TB NAS box. Perfect...

Ye, I'm running the media server on my main desktop PC. It's a entry level Pentium Dual core 3 GHz and Plex uses a good deal of resources to transcode 1080p.

Screenshot of it chowing my CPU:



Streaming to the iPad btw.

 

[DominionZA]

Ye, I'm running the media server on my main desktop PC. It's a entry level Pentium Dual core 3 GHz and Plex uses a good deal of resources to transcode 1080p.

Screenshot of it chowing my CPU:

View attachment 22856

Streaming to the iPad btw.

I ran Plex on my Core2Duo which is really just a download server. Same as you. Resource hog. And it got bad when the kids started using Plex on their notebooks and tablets. My Core2Duo struggled then.
I now run Plex on my dev machine which is an i7 3rd Gen with 16GB RAM. Whole house is gigabit ethernet. All streams are 100% now and I don't even notice the machine working while I am coding.