NAS/Plex Server setup

rubberduck

rubberduck

rubberduck

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Wasn't sure where to post this but decided to take a punt here as I know many will have experience with what I plan to implement.

I plan to buy a HP microserver to act as a plex and torrent client along with NAS storage. I want to use the NAS to store pictures, videos etc and my hope I that I can access these over the internet via a VPN. I hope to be able to achieve a single 1080p stream when using plex over the internet. Furthermore, I'd like to be able to log in to the server using my windows phone over the internet and use a remote desktop to start a torrent downloading (for example). I would like to run the server headless but can have it plugged in to a nearby tv while setting it up. Other information is that I will be running the server on Win 7 and my internet connection is provided by a BT homehub

So, a few questions. Does this sound a reasonable setup for what I wish to achieve? Can anyone offer any pointers or advice if they have a similar setup. My knowledge of networks is only slightly above that of the layperson so if anyone can recommend some guides or background reading that'd be great.

Thanks
 
Can't help on the server remote access, but on Plex, you do not need a server to run efficiently. A decent dual core modern intel will be able to handle the processing. The better your CPU the more streams and the quicker the transcoding.

You can attach as much storage as you want, when you then setup the config for plex you attach drives or folders to a category, be it movies, tv shows, music videos or photo libraries.

Your home hub is not an issue, but your upstream is. this needs to be good enough to get the media out of the house to your phones etc.

Once setup, and auto updates disabled and various other quirks that would restart the system, you can leave as a headless box quite happily.
 
That's the setup I use. A Synology DS214 for storage, with a Core i5 4690k mini ITX machine to handle Plex transcoding.

It's a little overkill, but I wanted something that'll last.
 
It depends on where he wants the streams. If hes viewing on local devices he doesn't need anywhere near that power.

A rough guide is a 1080p stream needs a cpu with around 1800-2000 on PassMark. It then depends on whether you want a really high transcode away from the home or on your iPad in the bedroom. You can edit the settings on the media server to restrict the horsepower required for local network or external transcoding.

Obviously more modern CPUs are more powerful than older ones and I think that my i5-750 overclocked at 4.4ghz is only just better than the pentium G something I use in the plex box.

Any which way, its not an argument about specific power, not meaning to contradict you wellibob, but the posters server setup without the specific tech maybe overkill if he's buying new
 
lab4 said:
It depends on where he wants the streams. If hes viewing on local devices he doesn't need anywhere near that power.

A rough guide is a 1080p stream needs a cpu with around 1800-2000 on PassMark. It then depends on whether you want a really high transcode away from the home or on your iPad in the bedroom. You can edit the settings on the media server to restrict the horsepower required for local network or external transcoding.

Obviously more modern CPUs are more powerful than older ones and I think that my i5-750 overclocked at 4.4ghz is only just better than the pentium G something I use in the plex box.

Any which way, its not an argument about specific power, not meaning to contradict you wellibob, but the posters server setup without the specific tech maybe overkill if he's buying new
Click to expand...

Understand totally. Until last weekend i ran a 4130 i3 quite happily in my server and i do indeed have it set so my "cpu hurts" in trans-coding and set to the highest quality. Recently i re-encoded some larger file batches into hevc(x265) codec and found the i3 struggled with 2 x 1080p trans-codes from these hevc videos (never had any issues prior).

I agree that you can easily use a new pentium and plex will work fine but it all boils down to how many users will attack the plex server at the same time (a lot in my house). I find now i can easily hit upto 6 simultaneous hevc trans-codes to my roku boxes. Its a different story if your plex client supports more direct stream inputs however like a Fire TV. Sadly Roku boxes only support a extremely small amount of codecs direct.
 
mid_gen said:
That's the setup I use. A Synology DS214 for storage, with a Core i5 4690k mini ITX machine to handle Plex transcoding.

It's a little overkill, but I wanted something that'll last.
Click to expand...

This is what I'm doing. I have a small NAS and when I upgrade my main rig the 3570/ITX board are going into an HTPC/Media server

OP - do you have a main rig yo can ru Plex from? If not is an HTPC a more flexible, useful solution? I'm sure you could use a remote desktop on that too?

This is all my subjective analysis though.
 
Jae-So said:
This is what I'm doing. I have a small NAS and when I upgrade my main rig the 3570/ITX board are going into an HTPC/Media server

OP - do you have a main rig yo can ru Plex from? If not is an HTPC a more flexible, useful solution? I'm sure you could use a remote desktop on that too?

This is all my subjective analysis though.
Click to expand...

Yes I have a main rig but I don't want that left on 24/7. The idea of the microserver is that it can take care of all my plex/NAS/torrent needs while being left on 24/7 sat next to the homehub with minimal power usage.
 
i use a microserver for plex also.

currently reencoding all my media to MP4/AAC to take out the stress of plex transcoding (microserver struggles sometimes) MP4/AAC seems to direct play on the majority of devices.
 
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