plex

DIY HOME SERVER 2021 – Software – Plex

1. DIY HOME SERVER - Plex - Prepare VM

When creating a home lab server based on Proxmox, one of the most common projects is to install Plex as a local media server. An easy way todo this is to add the TrueNAS Plex Plugin to an already installed TrueNAS Core VM.

But I like to keep things separated and therefore will install Plex Server in an Ubuntu Server virtual machine. Let’s go.

In Proxmox, select local (storage) → ISO Images.

Download the latest Ubuntu Server (LTS) ISO image and upload it to your ISO images collection.

Click the Create VM button to create a new VM.

On the General tab, specify the name.

Click Next.

On the OS tab, select the latest Ubuntu Server LTS version.

Click Next.

On the System tab, there’s nothing to change.

Click Next.

On the Hard Disk tab, set the Disk size to 20 GB.

Click Next.

On the CPU tab, select an appropriate number of cores.

Click Next.

On the Memory tab, set the Memory size to 4 GB.

Click Next.

On the Network tab, there’s nothing to change.

Click Next.

On the Confirm tab, check the Start after created option.

Click Next.

The VM will be installed.

Select the newly created VM and click Options → Start at boot → Edit.

Set the Start at boot option and click OK.

2. DIY HOME SERVER - Ubuntu Server - Installation

Start the newly created VM and select the Console.

Select your language.

Select Done.

Set your keyboard layout.

Select Done.

Set up a fixed IP address.

Select Done.

If needed, specify a proxy server.

Select Done.

Keep the defaults.

Select Done.

Keep the defaults.

Select Done.

Confirm.

Set up your credentials.

Select Done.

Select the install OpenSSH server option.

Select Done.

Select Done.

Wait for the installation to finish, then reboot.

3. DIY HOME SERVER - Plex - Installation

SSH into the new server by using your favorite SSH client. Install Plex by entering the following commands :
echo deb https://downloads.plex.tv/repo/deb public main | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/plexmediaserver.list
curl https://downloads.plex.tv/plex-keys/PlexSign.key | sudo apt-key add -
sudo apt update
sudo apt install plexmediaserver -y
sudo apt upgrade -y
After installation, you should be able to open Plex in a browser tab by going to http://xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx:32400/web.

Now we have to connect to a SMB network share on our TrueNAS CORE server to access our media.

sudo mkdir /PlexMedia
sudo nano /etc/fstab

Add the line at the bottom :

//PATH-TO-FILE-SERVER /PlexMedia cifs username=########,password=******** 0 0

Press CTRL + O and confirm to save.
Press CTRL + X to exit.

Then reboot the VM or enter

sudo mount -a

Check the content of /PlexMedia to see if the mount was successful.

4. DIY HOME SERVER - Plex - Update

While using Flex Media Server, when the system states there’s a new update available, follow this guide to implement the update.

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