Running PLEX server on NAS

[roryson]

Could anybody recommend a good NAS which is fast enough to run a Plex server on instead of having to keep my pc on to run the server. Thanks..!!

[happy_highlander]

None. Most nas units can run plex nowadays but the arm processor used in many nas can't transcode, so as long as you can watch a direct stream you will be fine within your own network but to watch anything outside your network on a direct stream is going to seriously chew up your upload bandwidth making any other Internet use at the same time very slow. Build a cheap headless tower pc (linux works well) job done and will probably cost less than a nas

[roryson]

yeh I just wan to play on my home network on my roku 3

[roryson]

I just want to play files on my home network to my roku3

[roryson]

sorry for the 2 posts. it didn't look like my posts were posted

[happy_highlander]

Have a look on the plex site and find out which nas plex support natively (Zyxel need some modification of synology app) and pick the best spec nas you can afford. I still say build a headless unit. I was running a Zyxel nas for all my media with serviio on it. I decided to change to Plex and build a headless unit so as to be able to fully utilise plex capabilities. I share my media with family it is working so well nowadays. My setup is amd fx6300 hex core 3.4ghz cpu, gigabyte mobi, 16gb corsair vengence ram, antec liquid cooling (on board graphics, i don't use it for gaming) 120gb ssd for operating system. All running Debian with sickrage and couch potato amongst other things for automation. That cost me ?370. You will pay that for a decent nas. I haven't listed the 12 tb of western digital Red drives in the cost of the setup as you will always need to upgrade your media storage anyway. I don't use raid as a backup because it's not all it's made out to be. What I do have is rsync set up to back up weekly with the most important files also backed up to my zyxel nas using rsync as well. For me there were just to many limitations with the nas and the little home server is the best thing I've ever spent 400 quid on

[roryson]

so if I convert all my media to mp4 which the roku 3 supports before I put them on my nas then I wouldn't need to transcode. would that be ok?

[happy_highlander]

Yes that would work but will take hours per movie, which was why I changed from serviio to plex. But I'm sure the roku will play .mkv will it not.

[roryson]

yes the roku 3 will play MKV files but the audio has to be 5.1 DTS I think

[roryson]

just done some reading and plex direct play wont play MKV files with 5.1 audio. so either stick with MKV and change the audio or go to MP4 with stereo audio

[happy_highlander]

Remux the audio. It's much quicker than a full conversion of video and audio

[roryson]

Hi, while im here I have a question about plex. because you have to register with plex it has me wondering. do they receive data from the server or client with about what you are watching or listening to.?

[happy_highlander]

I would assume so because i can see which of my family members are watching what from my server. They all have their own free accounts and are invited to my server as a friend, i also have friends who have plex servers and we share libraries between each other with the same result of the server owner being able to see what is being watched and by whom.

[roryson]

ok thanks for that, in that case I think I will give Plex a miss. Pitty, but saved some money I guess... Thanks for your help bud...

[happy_highlander]

ok thanks for that, in that case I think I will give Plex a miss. Pitty, but saved some money I guess... Thanks for your help bud...

Haha you must have some seriously dodgy content if that's a concern.