$ 12 on Hulu . $ 17 on Max . $ 14 on Disney+ . $ 23 on — await , twenty - three dollars ? ! — on Netflix . I ’m not the only one who ’s reluctantly pulled up a bank statement to see the revolving door of streaming subscriptions lento draining my score . I have a massive collection of Blu - rays , a treasure trove of digital movies and TV show , and even more boxful set than I care to matter . And yet , I ’ve been spending anywhere from $ 50 to $ 100 each month to view that same message , all so I do n’t have to get off my lazy butt and pop in a disc .
I decide to finally do something about it by building a Plex server .
Plex has been around for old age , and I ’ve dabble with it in the past times . But this time , I wanted to go all out . I desire to build a rain cats and dogs subroutine library of moving picture and TV show I already own , easily lend to that depository library , and swarm from it anywhere I wanted . And ideally , I wanted to do all of this without bring forth another desk to go under up a personal computer that I would rarely ever interact with . I require to front - load the work so I could sit down at any gimmick , load up the Plex app , and pelt what I wanted .
After stack of legwork , I achieved what I set out to do . I ’ve canceled Netflix and Hulu , at least , and my Crunchyroll subscription is on its way of life out the door . I ca n’t entirely give up on cyclosis , but since setting up my Plex host properly , it ’s the only app I ’ve load up when I sit down to relax .
What we’re not covering
I ’m not covering the staple of how to set up Plex here . We have an extremely detailed pathfinder onhow to utilize Plex Media Server , and if you ’re a complete beginner , I suggest keeping that bookmarked . I ’m focusing on what I found to be the elementary , most cost - effective way to build a Plex waiter that you do n’t need to perpetually keep tabs on , and that you may use to swarm from anywhere with any equipment .
The second thing I ’m not covering is how you get your media . The right way of life to do it is to rive your strong-arm medium with a disc drive and software system like MakeMKV , but as long as you have a data file in one of Plex ’s support single file types , it ’ll pour . I ’ll lease you calculate out how to go about getting those files . And we ’re not even scratching the surface of all thefree , ad - supported live channelsavailable on Plex .
I also demand to add a disavowal . There are a lot of ways to set up a Plex waiter , and proper server hardware and technical know - how will see reliability and security . remember of this as the pathetic man ’s Plex waiter . It ’ll work for personal use , but keep in mind that the fashion I croak about it is only one of many potential ways to set up a Plex server . If you have the money to give up , building a massive NAS with a bunch of drive and a brawny CPU is the way to go — I just do n’t think that ’s hardheaded for most personal streaming purpose .
The brains of the operation
You might be deter by the idea of a Plex “ server , ” but do n’t vex . A server is n’t fix by hardware . It ’s determine by computer software . All you need is a personal computer with a CPU muscular enough for transcoding . There are a long ton of options , from government agency headroom sales where you’re able to score a pile on a mini microcomputer all the room up to a custom tower . I chose awith an Intel N100 , 16 GB of memory , and 500 GB of store , which run me about $ 120 . If you want something more sinewy , you may get something like thefor $ 400 , but you really do n’t necessitate to invest that much .
Transcoding support is important if you want to access your server outside of your local connection . Plex will seek to directly toy medium files from your server on your local web . But outside your electronic connection it ’ll need to transcode those files . In summation , Plex will sometimes “ burn off - in ” subtitle tracks , which requires transcoding , as well .
After you have a PC to run your server , you need to make a choice — Linux or Windows ? Plex is usable for both , and Linux is doubtlessly the ideal pick . But unless you ’re familiar with SSH and generally getting around Linux , I ’d recommend Windows . The Windows 11 instalment you find on most off - the - shelfmini - PCsis mulct , but I take toflash an look-alike of Tiny11to make the OS a bit more efficient . It ’s just Windows 11 with some of the extras disabled .
The main reason I recommend Windows for most people is remote direction . The goal with this Plex host is to run it “ headless , ” meaning we never need to hook up a keyboard , shiner , or monitor after ab initio setting it up . Even after going through two powerfulness outage , I have n’t had to do that .
Going headless
There are a net ton of way to remotely carry off a personal computer . But the easiest and most convenient isChrome Remote Desktop . It run from your web browser app , you do n’t postulate to manually configure each gimmick that wants to remotely connect , and it ’s splice to your Google news report . To get start out , hook everything up to your mini PC , install Chrome , and sign into your Google explanation .
maneuver to the remote desktop site ( linked above ) and select the download button on your server . It will download an .msi file . Run it , and then hark back back to your internet browser . Give your server a name , rig a PIN phone number you may easily remember , and chooseStart . Before unhooking everything , use another microcomputer to sign into your Google account and go to the Chrome Remote Desktop page to try out that you may access your server remotely .
You ’re not done quite yet . Windows 11 requires a login , and Chrome Remote Desktop wo n’t start unless you ’re logged in . That means if your waiter goes down for any reason , you ’ll have to unhook it and reconnect all of your computer peripheral just to ratify in again . gratefully , there ’s a way to bypass the Windows login filmdom so you do n’t take to signalize back in .
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\PasswordLess\gadget .
There , discover theDevicePasswordLessBuildVersionentry , right - click it , and chooseModify . Change theValue datafield to 0 . restart the waiter , and once you ’re back in Windows , get to the configurations app and header toAccounts . ChooseSign - in optionsand uncheck theFor improved security , only appropriate Windows Hello star sign - in for Microsoft accounting on this deviceoption . Only one more step .
Finally , use theWindows + Rcombination to open up the Run utility and enternetplwiz . In the window that opens , uncheck theUsers must go in a user name and password to use this computeroption and hitApply . You’ll be require to enter your password , and then you ’re done .
This will load directly into Windows when you resume your server . This is not safe at all . It flies in the font of right cybersecurity practices , so I ’d strongly recommend setting the parole on your host to something completely different from any other PC or account . Ideally , you ’ll also coiffe up your serverwithout a Microsoft explanation — just a local score — to avoid your Microsoft account potentially being exposed . you’re able to bypass the requirement for a Microsoft invoice during apparatus — we havea manoeuvre just for that .
at long last , you want to configure your server to stay live at all times . It ’ll put itself to sleep by default . Open up the Control Panel — never think you ’d get around that back out , did you ? — and head toSystem and Security . ChoosePower optionsand thenChange plan settingsnext to your selected mightiness plan . Finally , selectChange modern power mise en scene .
Expand theSleeptab . There are four option here . TurnAllow cross sleepto off , and set bothSleep afterandHibernate afterto 0 . That ’ll make it so your PC never sleeps or hibernates unless you tell it to .
It ’s a wad of frame-up , but this will make it so your Plex server is always bouncy . You ’ll seldom have to utilize Chrome Remote Desktop , and you certainly wo n’t have to split up out a keyboard and computer mouse . At this point , you may set up and set up Plex on your server , but I did one more matter before setting up my server .
Mapping the network
medium files are big , so you likely are n’t going to store everything at once on your server . I ’m using an 8 TB international hard drive , but any external storage works so long as you have enough space . Plug it into your waiter , countersink up your Plex folders there , and you ’re off to the race . The problem comes up when you require to transfernewfiles to your Plex waiter . you may utilize some other form of portable storage and manually imitate over your files using Chrome Remote Desktop , but that will endure down your hard driveway . And let ’s be honorable — it ’s just a hurting in the laughingstock .
Thankfully , you do n’t have to manually shift your file . You just need to make your host library usable on your meshing . On your server , head to My microcomputer in File Explorer and the right way - click whatever cause you contrive to determine up your Plex server on . SelectPropertiesand guide to theSharingtab . Then , chooseAdvanced sharing . In the window that opens , check theShare this folderbox and give the drive a name — I just chose “ Plex . ” I also limited the figure of simultaneous users to 2 . ClickApply , thenOK , and come together the window .
Back in the properties window , you ’ll now see a internet path — the name of your PC ( however Windows sees it ) and the name you gave your drive . Copy to this route down somewhere .
On whatever personal computer you ’ll be using to get your media files together , open up My personal computer and choose the ellipsis in the toolbar . Then , chooseMap electronic internet driving force . In the windowpane that opens , give the parkway a letter and enter the web path of your share drive precisely as it appear on your waiter , including the dashes and capitalization . It should look something like what you see above . SelectFinish , enter the username and password of your server , and you ’re good to go . You ’ll now be able to get at your drive from another personal computer .
Finishing touches
At this point , you could disconnect your host and you should n’t have to ever reconnect it to a monitor again if you followed along here . Make certain to connect the server directly to your router with an Ethernet cable — if you do n’t have a bare interface , you’re able to pick up — and power it on . If all went correctly , you could link via Chrome Remote Desktop to set up Plex properly , importing your media , creating libraries , and assigning all of the proper metadata .
The Plex - specific thing you need to do isenable distant accessso you may access your program library away from your home meshing . you’re able to do all of this without drop any money on Plex , though I extremely urge a Plex Pass subscription . It ’s $ 5 a month , but the existent put-on is to await for a deal on a life pass . you may usually nock it for under $ 100 , and it opens up hardware transcoding , HDR tone mapping , downloads , and feature like the power toskip intros and credits .
I ’ve been using my Plex waiter for a few months , and I ’ve seldom touched another streaming app . It ’s chop-chop become the only means I watch movies , TV show , and anime . It ’s a lot of work to get your Plex waiter set up in this way , but once it ’s done , the experience is unlined .
I do n’t want to pretend like this solution is perfect . As mention , there are security concerns if someone can physically get admission to your waiter , and using an external hard private road is n’t the most reliable way to store a gravid program library . This is a good start point , though , and you may easily seat some time in check SSH and setting up a RAID array if you need well security measure and reliably down the route .
