Let's talk about Plex baby

M

marzbars

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So, I have been a longtime user of Kodi, not for the Exodus/Apollo use but more for the metadata and covers for my existing content.

Since we bought the UA55JS7200 Samsung TV last year and donated our 40" to the kids/living room I had lost my one raspberry pi used to run OpenElec.

I contemplated on changing the one currently used as a firewall into a "HTPC" and let it dangle from the TV, powered by the TV's USB, but read that the on and off from the TV will cause the SD card to go corrupt, also using 2.5" USB powered drives on the pi will not work as it does not have enough current so a powered hub would be needed. Scrap that 'tucked away' idea.

I have a few faulty towers at home that I intend to combine this weekend into a new HTPC, will still play the 4K/1080 stuff straight on the TV as network lag makes it impossible to watch.

The smart TV has Plex (client) installed already so that is the reason for going this route.

What I wan to know is :
a. Minimum Requirements for PLEX?
b. Is there a standalone version similar to OpenElec that I can install on a flash drive? Or do I need to install windows first on a drive and then install PLEX on that?
c. I do not have access to my router, it is located in the hallway of our beach flat next to the elevator, so running a LAN/RJ45 to the router would be impossible, will wifi to wifi be enough?
d. Everything I can see of plex online is that "you can access your content anywhere on any device" [read data usage], is PLEX by default a LAN service? Can you disable "broadcasting"
e. Any definitive install guide to follow, most of the ones I have looked at on the youtube is tailored to offsite streaming and how to set that up.

If the above has already been discussed in detail, please post a link, search results shows hundreds of mentions on accounts etc but no more.
 
alqassam

alqassam

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Plex online is a paid for service.

Wi-Fi should be ok depending on strength and type of movie. 4k and Wi-Fi might not work well together.

Where will you have the plex server?
 
Neoprod

Neoprod

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a. Minimum Requirements for PLEX?
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It runs on many platforms (Windows, Linux, FreeNas). CPU needs are hard to gauge...your TV will decode X265 on its own so the media server won't need to transcode. However, as more people stream concurrently from the server, things may get choppy if you have an under-powered CPU. Go here for more detail - https://support.plex.tv/hc/en-us/articles/200375666-Plex-Media-Server-Requirements

b. Is there a standalone version similar to OpenElec that I can install on a flash drive? Or do I need to install windows first on a drive and then install PLEX on that?
Click to expand...
Don't think so...at least I haven't seen any. There are a couple of different Linux builds as well as NAS builds but they need the underlying OS installed first.

c. I do not have access to my router, it is located in the hallway of our beach flat next to the elevator, so running a LAN/RJ45 to the router would be impossible, will wifi to wifi be enough?
Click to expand...
For 4K content, I would say probably not. What kind of Wi-Fi gear do you have available?

d. Everything I can see of plex online is that "you can access your content anywhere on any device" [read data usage], is PLEX by default a LAN service? Can you disable "broadcasting"
Click to expand...
The streaming through the internet is off in the free version...you need to buy a PlexPass for that. So no worries there.

e. Any definitive install guide to follow, most of the ones I have looked at on the youtube is tailored to offsite streaming and how to set that up.
Click to expand...
It's pretty straight-forward...I suggest just downloading the Windows version now and taking a look at it. It's a pretty small download.
 
M

marzbars

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Thanks for the info, will see if I have an 80GB hdd laying around for the OS.
As for wife equipment, my ISP is MikroTik, they connect the entire block of flats via a dish on the roof.
Decent speeds, and connection in the house is pretty strong, but not always very stable.
 
SauRoNZA

SauRoNZA

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marzbars said:
a. Minimum Requirements for PLEX?
Click to expand...

Really depends on the need and how many streams.

I run it on a Microserver N36L and it's quite happy as long as the clients are Native Plex clients and don't require transcoding.

When I play movies that can't overlay subtitles then it's a mess because it needs to transcode.

b. Is there a standalone version similar to OpenElec that I can install on a flash drive? Or do I need to install windows first on a drive and then install PLEX on that?
Click to expand...

Rasplex.

But you can also run PlexBMC on top of OpenELEC.

There is an official Plex add-on for Kodi coming, but it's in testing right now.

c. I do not have access to my router, it is located in the hallway of our beach flat next to the elevator, so running a LAN/RJ45 to the router would be impossible, will wifi to wifi be enough?
Click to expand...

I run only Ethernet on my server, all clients are Wifi and it's no issue. I would imagine if you are on 802.11n at the very least you would be fine.

d. Everything I can see of plex online is that "you can access your content anywhere on any device" [read data usage], is PLEX by default a LAN service? Can you disable "broadcasting"
Click to expand...

Yes it's a LAN service by default and the Remote functions require firstly that you have open firewall access but more so that you can login remotely using your Plex account. It's very secure and not really something you need to disable, you can just not use it.

e. Any definitive install guide to follow, most of the ones I have looked at on the youtube is tailored to offsite streaming and how to set that up.
Click to expand...

No guide required really. Install Plex Media Server and off you go.

Only time you would need a guide is if you are trying to build a Plex Media Server on say a Linux box and you have no idea how Linux works in which case I wouldn't recommend it anyway.
 
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Unpopular Prawn

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Just on this, if I have my server PC, with PLEX installed, and my PS4 downstairs, with PLEX, I can then stream whats on the Server right?
 
rubber_otter

rubber_otter

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marzbars said:
d. Everything I can see of plex online is that "you can access your content anywhere on any device" [read data usage], is PLEX by default a LAN service? Can you disable "broadcasting"
Click to expand...

You don't have to disable that. You need to enable it to work, and it's quite a process if you are not familiar with port forwarding.

I have enabled mine so I can have access to my Plex from outside my network, and it is fantastic. And I don't have a Plex pass. The only thing I ever paid for was the unlimited android streaming (Like R15 or something) that gives you the ability to play content on an android device for longer than only 1 min.

Also, should you want to stream content outside your network, make sure your internet upload is up to scratch. My upload was hitting close to 9mbps the other night.
 
Mike Hoxbig

Mike Hoxbig

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Keep in mind that even though you can use Plex over your local network, your Plex client still needs internet access to authenticate...
 
A

Ancalagon

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Is nobody else thinking about that old song?

the one that goes:
Let's talk about sex baby
 
SlinkyMike

SlinkyMike

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Mike Hoxbig said:
Keep in mind that even though you can use Plex over your local network, your Plex client still needs internet access to authenticate...
Click to expand...

I haven't tested it specifically but I seem to remember situations where as long as the network is up, even if the internet isn't connected, you can stream.

Open to correction, I'm about 90% sure.
 
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