Can my Intel NUC run Kodi AND Plex??

StevieP

StevieP

StevieP

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I've currently got a Synology DS213 which I store all of my video media on and then I use OpenElec (Kodi) to play content through my TV - no complaints here and I love the Kodi eye-candy and subtitle feature etc (along with some other features! :p)

My issue is that to stream content to my tablet or phone around the house I've been using Plex but because the DS213 (running the Plex server) isn't powerful enough to transcode the files, I've had to use a bit of a workaround in enabling Plex on the device to use an external player.

Basically it works but is a bit fiddly!

So I got to thinking that my NUC (i3 processor, 8GB RAM and a 64GB SSD) is probably more than capable of being the server itself and then I wouldn't have to worry about messing with the device in order to get the media to play! (the only downside is I'd have to leave it on but that's not a huge issue!)

So my question is, can I somehow "dual-install" a Plex server on the NUC but leave the OpenElec/Kodi system on there too for the purposes of playing to the hard-wired TV? (and yes, I'm aware that Kodi and Plex do roughly the same job, I just don't want to give up all the presentation and bells & whistles that you get with Kodi!)
 
Although I can't comment on the OpenElec/Kodi version I have very recently taken a NUC used as a Plex server and installed Kodi (Windows) on it but as I was setting it up for a friend who has children I found a program called Launcher4Kodi which boots straight into it on startup and has other settings should you tab out to refocus Kodi after x number of seconds etc

I don't know about the OpenElec version as said but the above is possibly another option for you to try. As Windows is running in the background the Plex server will be fine.
 
Ah, this may be the issue then - my NUC doesn't have Windows on it at all - OpeneElec is essentially it's own OS!

What I was hoping for was the Plex server running "in the background" as it were while still leaving Kodi available for use with the main TV!
 
I was going to go Openelec on My NUC as I have it on my Arctic Media System and still works fantastic. But I have a spare W10 licence so I am going to use that then I can stream from my Main PC with Steam as well as From my Xbox One that is upstairs.
 
ZXSpectrum said:
I was going to go Openelec on My NUC as I have it on my Arctic Media System and still works fantastic. But I have a spare W10 licence so I am going to use that then I can stream from my Main PC with Steam as well as From my Xbox One that is upstairs.
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This is exactly what I have done. Used OpenELEC for years but then decided to put W10 on the NUC in my bedroom. Boots directly into Kodi and using SteamLauncher I can launch Steam Big Picture, stream a game from my rig downstairs then exit back into Kodi all seamlessly. Guess I could do the same with my Xbox One once I have it setup.
 
ubern00b said:
Kodi has a built in uPNP (DLNA) server which is essentially what Plex is, if that is any good to you?

Otherwise there is this: https://forums.plex.tv/discussion/87943/openelec-plex-home-theater-the-all-in-one-pht-distro
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My only issue with using Kodi as the UI on the phone or tablet is that it's very small and fiddly to scroll and select things! Is the server automatically enabled or is it something I'd have to "turn on"??

In terms of the OpenElec/Plex package, would installing the Plex Home Theater not still suffer from the issue of the NAS server not being powerful enough to transcode though? (or would this include the server itself?)
 
The i3 should manage transcoding, maybe not high bitrate 1080p though. Seems from some googling that you can install Plex Media Server on Openelec....worth looking into.
 
mid_gen said:
The i3 should manage transcoding, maybe not high bitrate 1080p though. Seems from some googling that you can install Plex Media Server on Openelec....worth looking into.
Click to expand...

Maybe I'm reading things wrong here but PlexBMC appears to be the Kodi "front end" but using a Plex Media Server (presumably located on a different device)

What I'd like is for the actual Plex server running in the background on the NUC but still retain the OpenElec/Kodi UI (simply reading the file structure through NFS)

I might see how enabling the uPNP bit works to see if I can get on with the smaller UI on a tablet!
 
Have you tried kodi on the devices and a phone/tablet friendly ui? It's only when out of the house that transcoding should be required assuming your devices are relatively powerful. Otherwise upnp is an option. As a last resort a cut of Linux (like ubuntu) then you can install both.
 
FerretBoy said:
Have you tried kodi on the devices and a phone/tablet friendly ui? It's only when out of the house that transcoding should be required assuming your devices are relatively powerful. Otherwise upnp is an option. As a last resort a cut of Linux (like ubuntu) then you can install both.
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I didn't realise you could choose a "friendly" UI for Kodi to be honest - all I've ever seen is the standard skin where you have quite small and fiddly text to press - how would you use/choose a different one?

Not overly fussed about needing to access content away from the house to be honest - it's nice that with Plex it's as easy as it is but in reality I can't see too many circumstances where I'd use it to be honest!
 
Last night I realised that I'd previously bought the full version of Yatse, which actually does allow you to watch content locally on a phone/tablet.

It appeared to work fine - a nice UI with all the box art etc, until it froze after 10 minutes or so streaming a 720p film! :confused: The thing is I don't know if it's a software issue with Yatse, a playback issue (I was using BS Player as it seems to handle most formats!) or a network speed issue (I've not got the greatest position for my router in among all my other TV electronics, but I was in the same room when it froze!)

The other issue is that this seemed to work (or at least start) before I'd enabled the uPNP option within Kodi!?!?
 
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