seperis | how to plex

( personal stuff )

I think I picked up a mild cold, which ick. But whatever.

Now, more about Plex! Specifically some useful tools once your server is up and running.

( quick review of command line from earlier tutorial )
( ssh )
( ssh continued: optional configuration for port )
( RDP, an alternate method of remote access with GUI )

Now, on to Plex itself.

Plex client apps--like the Plex app in FireTV, or the one in your SmartTV, or in Roku, or your browser, etc--are the ones that actually play the media locally and remotely. For reasons, they sometimes have problems with some kinds of files, some resolutions, and some audio streams. Your TV or sound system may also only be able to play certain resolutions and audio. Especially for remote access, you're going to want multiple resolutions. Why?

Transcoding, the thing we must avoid. I'll explain.

( Plex and Multiple Versions )

Happy plexing!

Thanks to my birthday, I finally got to experiment with creating a Raspberry Pi Plex Server. I've only been dreaming of this for two years, so here we are.

If you don't know what Plex Media Server is, I wrote about it before, but it's pretty much the standard for home media servers. It's out of box easy to use with any operating system; it's all point and click; it can run on anything at all. It's free. Right now, it's the best option right now for usability, ease of access, and features, and honestly, it doesn't have a lot of rivals that match it on any of these and none on all fronts. Kodi's comes second, but by quite a bit; I tried it, I liked it, but it needs more seasoning and some understanding on how people use media servers.

This is, right now, the best place to put your movies, tv shows, and fanvids. Though with fanvids, some work will definitely be involved, it's worth it for the sheer organization and tagging and linking you can do to associated shows and movies.

It runs on literally anything, but as I got the pi up, if you don't have an old computer and want to do some comparison shopping, I thought I'd break down the price point on building an economy Home Media Server that can play anything--even 4K, I'm doing it now--and won't break your budget and how to install and run it.

Pi Plex Media Server: Hardware

We'll start with what you need for your new Pi Plex Media Server.
( Raspberry Pi )
( Raspberry Pi: Required Components )
( Raspberry Pi: Installing NOOBS on a microSD Card )
( Your Media: Hard Drives and Storage )
( Pi Media Server: My Configuration )
( Pi Media Server: Alternate Configuration Examples For Your Budget )

Pi Plex Media Server: Software

Now, installing Plex: I read three tutorials to put this together. Here are the two most useful to me.

Links:
How to Setup a Raspberry Pi Plex Server
How to Turn a Raspbery Pi into a Plex Server

These will work fine, but I did run into some differences. At first, I was going to just write here my changes, but making you jump between if you don't want to may be confusing, so I'm reproducing the instructions they gave--or both if they differ--and adding my changes for Pi 4 and the latest OS update.

Note: This will all be in command line; don't be afraid. This will be very exact and I'll be telling you not only what to do but why and what it means. You cannot do this wrong, I promise; I'll be with you the entire time.

This will be in four parts.
( Before You Install Plex )
( Install Plex Media Server )
( Configure Plex Media Server Run Options )
( Now, To Make Your Plex Life Easier: A Bash Script )

Now, enjoy your new media server.

ETA: Edited for readability.

Quotes

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. -- Unknown, on feedback
BTS List
That's why he goes bad, you know -- all the good people hit him on the head or try to shoot him and constantly mistrust him, while there's this vast cohort of minions saying, We wouldn't hurt you, Lex, and we'll give you power and greatness and oh so much sex...
Wow. That was scary. Lex is like Jesus in the desert.
-- pricklyelf, on why Lex goes bad
LJ
Obi-Wan has a sort of desperate, pathetic patience in this movie. You can just see it in his eyes: "My padawan is a psychopath, and no one will believe me; I'm barely keeping him under control and expect to wake up any night now to find him standing over my bed with a knife!"
-- Teague, reviewing "Star Wars: Attack of the Clones"
LJ
Beth: god, why do i have so many beads?
Jenn: Because you are an addict.
Jenn: There are twelve step programs for this.
Beth: i dunno they'd work, might have to go straight for the electroshock.
Jenn: I'm not sure that helps with bead addiction.
Beth: i was thinking more to demagnitize my credit card.
-- hwmitzy and seperis, on bead addiction
AIM, 12/24/2003
I could rape a goat and it will DIE PRETTIER than they write.
-- anonymous, on terrible writing
AIM, 2/17/2004
In medical billing there is a diagnosis code for someone who commits suicide by sea anenemoe.
-- silverkyst, on wtf
AIM, 3/25/2004
Anonymous: sorry. i just wanted to tell you how much i liked you. i'd like to take this to a higher level if you're willing
Eleveninches: By higher level I hope you mean email.
-- eleveninches and anonymous, on things that are disturbing
LJ, 4/2/2004
silverkyst: I need to not be taking molecular genetics.
silverkyst: though, as a sidenote, I did learn how to eviscerate a fruit fly larvae by pulling it's mouth out by it's mouthparts today.
silverkyst: I'm just nowhere near competent in the subject material to be taking it.
Jenn: I'd like to thank you for that image.
-- silverkyst and seperis, on more wtf
AIM, 1/25/2005
You know, if obi-wan had just disciplined the boy *properly* we wouldn't be having these problems. Can't you just see yoda? "Take him in hand, you must. The true Force, you must show him."
-- Issaro, on spanking Anakin in his formative years
LJ, 3/15/2005
Aside from the fact that one person should never go near another with a penis, a bottle of body wash, and a hopeful expression...
-- Summerfling, on shower sex
LJ, 7/22/2005
It's weird, after you get used to the affection you get from a rabbit, it's like any other BDSM relationship. Only without the sex and hot chicks in leather corsets wielding floggers. You'll grow to like it.
-- revelininsanity, on my relationship with my rabbit
LJ, 2/7/2006
Smudged upon the near horizon, lapine shadows in the mist. Like a doomsday vision from Watership Down, the bunny intervention approaches.
-- cpt_untouchable, on my addition of The Fourth Bunny
LJ, 4/13/2006
Rule 3. Chemistry is kind of like bondage. Some people like it, some people like reading about or watching other people doing it, and a large number of people's reaction to actually doing the serious stuff is to recoil in horror.
-- deadlychameleon, on class
LJ, 9/1/2007
If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then Fan Fiction is John Cusack standing outside your house with a boombox.
-- JRDSkinner, on fanfiction
Twitter
I will unashamedly and unapologetically celebrate the joy and the warmth and the creativity of a community of people sharing something positive and beautiful and connective and if you don’t like it you are most welcome to very fuck off.
-- Michael Sheen, on Good Omens fanfic
Twitter, 6/19/2019
Adding for Mastodon.
-- Jenn, traceback
Fosstodon, 11/6/2022

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