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--- media:plex [2025/12/20 17:17] – privacyl0st
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-====== Plex Media Server (Physical Host) ======
-This server is the **media hub** of the Trash Panda ecosystem. It manages media libraries, handles streaming, and performs transcoding. While the server is largely internet-adjacent for remote access, it is designed to separate storage and network duties across dedicated interfaces to maximize performance and stability. Proper hardware configuration ensures **reliable media delivery and predictable transcoding performance**.\\
-This page covers **OS installation, NIC configuration, storage setup, Plex Media Server native installation, and initial configuration**. Detailed library management, remote access, and advanced Plex configuration are covered in their own guides.\\
-===== Role of This Server in the Ecosystem =====
-The Plex Media Server:\\
-  * Hosts all media libraries
-  * Streams content to internal and remote clients
-  * Performs video/audio transcoding, leveraging GPU acceleration
-  * Connects to the NAS via NFS for media access
-By dedicating this physical server to Plex, we:\\
-  * Reduce impact on other services
-  * Centralize media management
-  * Ensure predictable performance for streaming and transcoding
-  * Simplify troubleshooting and scaling
-This server is the backbone of media access — it should be **quiet, performant, and reliable**.
-===== Base Operating System =====
-  * **Ubuntu Server 24.04 LTS or newer**
-  * Minimal installation (no desktop environment)
-  * Automatic security updates enabled
-Ubuntu LTS provides:\\
-  * Long-term security support
-  * Strong community documentation
-  * Stability for long-running media workloads
-This server should run **headless** and be administered via SSH.
-===== Storage Configuration =====
-  * **OS SSD:** NVMe SSD1 for OS and system packages
-  * **Data SSD:** NVMe SSD2 partitioned:
-    - 60% mounted at `/transcoder` for Plex transcoding
-    - 40% mounted at `/cache` for Plex cache
-This separation ensures:\\
-  * Transcoding operations do not impact OS performance
-  * Cache and temporary files are isolated for efficiency
-  * Disk I/O to the NAS remains optimized
-===== Network Configuration =====
-This server requires **two physical network interfaces**, following established NIC rules.\\
-==== NIC 1 — DMZ VLAN ====
-Purpose:\\
-  * Administrative access (SSH)
-  * Plex web interface and remote streaming
-  * Outbound access for updates
-Characteristics:\\
-  * Routed
-  * MTU 1500
-  * Static IP recommended
-==== NIC 2 — NFS VLAN ====
-Purpose:\\
-  * High-speed access to NAS for media libraries
-  * Dedicated file I/O for transcoding and caching
-Characteristics:\\
-  * Layer 2 only
-  * Jumbo Frames enabled (9000 MTU)
-  * No routing to LAN or internet
-Segregating traffic ensures:\\
-  * Predictable streaming and transcoding performance
-  * Reduced network contention
-  * Isolation of critical media operations
-===== Plex Media Server Installation =====
-Install Plex **natively on Ubuntu** as a system service. Do **not** use Docker.\\
-Follow these steps on the bare-metal server:
-==== 1. Add the Plex Repository ====
-<code>
-# Install HTTPS transport and necessary packages
-sudo apt update
-sudo apt install curl apt-transport-https -y
-# Add Plex repository key
-curl https://downloads.plex.tv/plex-keys/PlexSign.key | sudo apt-key add -
-# Add Plex repository
-echo deb https://downloads.plex.tv/repo/deb public main | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/plexmediaserver.list
-</code>
-==== 2. Install Plex Media Server ====
-<code>
-# Update package lists and install Plex
-sudo apt update
-sudo apt install plexmediaserver -y
-</code>
-==== 3. Verify and Enable Service ====
-<code>
-# Check Plex service status
-sudo systemctl status plexmediaserver
-# Enable Plex to start at boot
-sudo systemctl enable plexmediaserver
-# Start Plex service if not already running
-sudo systemctl start plexmediaserver
-</code>
-==== 4. Configure Firewall (if applicable) ====
-<code>
-# Allow default Plex port 32400 TCP
-sudo ufw allow 32400/tcp
-sudo ufw reload
-</code>
-==== 5. Access Plex Web Interface ====
-Open a web browser and go to: <server-ip>:32400\\
-\\
-**Notes:**
-  * Plex runs as the ''plex'' user by default.
-  * Ensure that ''/transcoder'' and ''/cache'' directories have proper permissions for the ''plex'' user.
-  * If using GPU acceleration, verify that NVIDIA drivers are installed and accessible by Plex (e.g. RTX 3060).
-===== Initial Plex Configuration =====
-**Builder's choice unless otherwise noted**
-==== Plex Account & Online Services ====
-Builder's choice for:
-  * Account login
-  * Online media sources
-  * Authorized web devices
-  * Watchlist
-  * Webhooks
-  * Streaming services
-  * Plex Home
-  * Manage Library Access
-  * Privacy settings
-==== Plex Web ====
-**General Section:**
-Builder's choice
-**Quality Section:**
-  * Video Quality: 8 Mbps, 1080p
-  * Check "Play smaller videos at original quality" (Internet Streaming)
-  * Check "Use recommended settings" (Home Streaming)
-**Debug Section:**
-  * Debug Level: Disabled
-  * Check Direct Play
-  * Check Direct Stream
-**Player Section:**
-  * Check "Normalize Multi-channel Audio"
-  * Remaining options: Builder's choice
-==== Settings ====
-**General:**
-  * Enter Plex Server friendly name
-  * Leave all checkboxes unchecked
-  * Server Update Channel: Public
-**Remote Access:**
-  * Plex behind a reverse proxy may show "Not available outside your network" -- this is normal
-  * Uncheck "Manually specify public port"
-  * Internet Upload Speed: 90% of ISP allocation
-  * Limit remote stream bitrate: 8 Mbps (1080p)
-**Agents (Legacy):**
-Builder's choice
-**Library:**
-  * Scan my library automatically
-  * Run a partial scan when changes are detected
-  * Include music libraries in automatic updates (if applicable)
-  * Scan my library periodically (15 minutes)
-  * Empty trash automatically after every scan
-  * Allow media deletion
-  * Database Cache Size: 256MB
-  * Remaining options: Builder's choice
-**Network:**
-  * Client Network: IPv4 Only
-  * Secure Connections: Preferred
-  * Certificates: configure only if installed locally
-  * Preferred network interface: DMZ VLAN NIC (do NOT select NFS NIC)
-  * Uncheck Strict TLS configuration
-  * Uncheck Enable local network discovery (GDM)
-  * Remote streams allowed per user: 3
-  * LAN Networks: comma-delimited list of local subnets
-  * Terminate sessions paused longer than: 10 minutes
-  * Uncheck Treat WAN IP as LAN bandwidth
-  * Check Enable Relay
-  * Custom server access URLs: https://plex.mydomain.com
-  * Leave allowed IPs without auth blank
-  * Webhooks unchecked unless actively used
-**Transcoder (baseline: NVIDIA RTX 3060):**
-  * Transcoder Quality: Make my CPU hurt
-  * Transcoder temporary directory: ''/transcoder''
-  * Downloads temporary directory: ''/transcoder/temp_d''
-  * Transcoder throttle buffer: 120 seconds
-  * Background transcoding preset: Fast
-  * Uncheck Enable HDR tone mapping
-  * Uncheck Disable video stream transcoding
-  * Check Use hardware acceleration when available
-  * Check Use hardware-accelerated video encoding
-  * HEVC encoding: Never
-  * Hardware transcoding device: explicitly select GPU
-  * Max simultaneous GPU transcodes: 5
-  * Max CPU transcodes: Unlimited
-  * Max background video transcodes: 1
-**Languages:**
-  * Automatically select audio and subtitle tracks
-  * Remaining options: Builder's choice
-**DLNA:**
-Builder's choice
-**Scheduled Tasks:**
-  * Start time: 02:00
-  * Stop time: 05:00
-  * Backup database every 3 days
-  * Optimize database weekly
-  * Remove old bundles weekly
-  * Remove old cache files weekly
-  * Refresh local metadata every 3 days
-  * Update all libraries during maintenance
-  * Upgrade media analysis during maintenance
-  * Uncheck Refresh library metadata periodically
-  * Perform extensive media analysis during maintenance
-**Extras:**
-Builder's choice
-**Libraries:**
-Use the Add Libraries button to point to media paths.