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Started By
Message
Where should i have my media server running and which one (plex,XBMC)
Posted on 1/20/15 at 9:56 am
Posted on 1/20/15 at 9:56 am
Here is what i have on my network:
Synology DS214+ (where i keep all of my content)
PS4
Gaming computer(i rarely keep on)
2 Laptops on coffee table for surfing
Roku
Amazon Fire TV
Apple TV
PS3 i do not have hooked up anymore
Should i use one of the laptops to run the server and keep it on at all times?
Should i run it on the PS4 and just turn it on when i want to watch something in another room where the PS4 isnt hooked up?
Should i dedicate the Ps3 to just run it?
I do not think my NAS is powerful enough for the encoding.
Synology DS214+ (where i keep all of my content)
PS4
Gaming computer(i rarely keep on)
2 Laptops on coffee table for surfing
Roku
Amazon Fire TV
Apple TV
PS3 i do not have hooked up anymore
Should i use one of the laptops to run the server and keep it on at all times?
Should i run it on the PS4 and just turn it on when i want to watch something in another room where the PS4 isnt hooked up?
Should i dedicate the Ps3 to just run it?
I do not think my NAS is powerful enough for the encoding.
This post was edited on 1/20/15 at 10:31 am
3
Posted on 1/20/15 at 10:12 am to CarRamrod
I would imagine a lot of those devices would be client only devices and would not even be capable of running the server software. You mention running it on the PS3, but I'm not aware of the PS3 having the ability to act as a media server, only a client (perhaps I'm wrong, idk).
Though it may have not been necessary, I built a separate box to run my media server software. I also use that box for ripping and transcoding (MKV->MP4 conversions).
Of all of the machines you listed, I'd think your gaming computer or DS214+ would be your best bets.
Though it may have not been necessary, I built a separate box to run my media server software. I also use that box for ripping and transcoding (MKV->MP4 conversions).
Of all of the machines you listed, I'd think your gaming computer or DS214+ would be your best bets.
Posted on 1/20/15 at 10:21 am to CarRamrod
Kinda dinking around with this myself these days. I think the first thing in choosing which machine is the "media server" should be 1) power consumption, 2) reliability, 3) capacity - not necessarily in that order.
Having said that, I think I really love the Mac Mini. You can pick up a used one for a few hundred $ and they can sit somewhere out of the way, stay on forever and draw a small amount of juice.
Having said that, I think I really love the Mac Mini. You can pick up a used one for a few hundred $ and they can sit somewhere out of the way, stay on forever and draw a small amount of juice.
Posted on 1/20/15 at 10:29 am to LSUDropout
quote:yea idk.
I would imagine a lot of those devices would be client only devices and would not even be capable of running the server software. You mention running it on the PS3, but I'm not aware of the PS3 having the ability to act as a media server, only a client (perhaps I'm wrong, idk).
quote:i dont want to keep the gaming computer on at all times, and im trying to not have to go turn it on everytime i want to watch a movie.
Of all of the machines you listed, I'd think your gaming computer or DS214+ would be your best bets.
FRom what i have read the DS214+ isnt built for transcoding like the DS214play is. I got it mainly for surveillance and storage.
Thats why im kinda leaning to one of the laptops and just have it running the server and nothing else, i can keep it powered on at all times and in the closet.
This post was edited on 1/20/15 at 10:30 am
Posted on 1/20/15 at 10:31 am to Meauxjeaux
quote:gross
Having said that, I think I really love the Mac Mini
Posted on 1/20/15 at 10:54 am to CarRamrod
Will you be able to put the laptop on a wired connection, or will it be wireless? I'm not sure you'll want to run your media server over a wireless connection. It may work ok over wireless, but in most cases you'd want your server on the wire.
Posted on 1/20/15 at 10:59 am to LSUDropout
yes i will be able to, but also i dont think wireless will be too bad since it will only be me accessing it.
Posted on 1/20/15 at 11:23 am to CarRamrod
As far as which to run; a lot of people run Plex and from what I hear, it just works. I rarely hear of people having issues with it.
I've been running Media Browser which I've liked a lot.
A buddy of mine runs Media Browser AND Plex on the same box, so truth be told, you're not even really limited to just one.
I've been running Media Browser which I've liked a lot.
A buddy of mine runs Media Browser AND Plex on the same box, so truth be told, you're not even really limited to just one.
Posted on 1/20/15 at 11:45 am to CarRamrod
My setup, which I really like, is to have Plex handle my local media and XBMC handle channels.
Posted on 1/20/15 at 11:47 am to CarRamrod
I built a separate machine to use as my server (needed that core i7 for transcoding, ya dig?). I also use Plex because it goes from installation to watching movies in roughly no time flat. As for the connection, my server is wired to my router but my clients connect via wifi. Your laptop will be fine for running the server if you maintain a library of files all your clients can play natively. This means finding the list of codecs your tv/ps4/roku/what-have-you can play (they won't list things in the manual if they can't be played natively) to eliminate transcoding.
If you don't keep your media in a format your clients can play natively you'll be transcoding and will need a heftier processor. I'm assuming your laptops are old btw, you can use passmark benchmarks to score your laptops processor to see if it can handle any transcoding at all.
If you don't keep your media in a format your clients can play natively you'll be transcoding and will need a heftier processor. I'm assuming your laptops are old btw, you can use passmark benchmarks to score your laptops processor to see if it can handle any transcoding at all.
This post was edited on 1/20/15 at 11:48 am
Posted on 1/20/15 at 1:24 pm to TheJacer
they they are older which is why i would like to try an use one of them, but they aren't ancient. I would guess one would have enough power to transcode if that is all it was doing, going by how some NAS's with transcoding ability dont have some super cpu in them. Ill have to do some benchmark tests to find out.
Posted on 1/20/15 at 2:51 pm to CarRamrod
I don't know how much space you'd have available on that 214, but I'd think you'd be fine using that. I've got the 4 bay version that's a bit older, the DS412+ and I have Plex server running on it and it works just fine. I actually have an HTPC in the living room and I find that playing pretranscoded videos streaming from Plex runs much smoother on that PC than playing them directly from a share and transcoding them locally. You can try it out with minimal effort. Just install Plex from the package center, add a few movies to its repo and give it a go. Then your only issue would be dealing with how much space you'd want to dedicate to your media. It should support an external HD if you'd want to go that route FWIW.
Posted on 1/20/15 at 4:40 pm to LSshoe
well i have 2-3TB HDD setup with 4 volumns. Each HDD has a volume that is roughly 2 TB and 1TB. the 1TB HDD is backed up to the 1TB on the other drive. So i basically have 2 volumes with 2TB each for video storage.
Is Plex in the package center of Synology? I didnt think it was.
Is Plex in the package center of Synology? I didnt think it was.
Posted on 1/21/15 at 8:46 am to CarRamrod
quote:
Is Plex in the package center of Synology?
Yup. They've also got their own video streamer, video station, which works well enough, but I only really use it if I want to stream videos outside of my home network.
Posted on 1/21/15 at 9:34 am to LSshoe
i searched last night and found nothing. 
im still new to it so idk.
ETA: Guess i just missed it cause it is here.
LINK
But it is not under the Applied models. Which is weird cause the DS 213+ is. The Plex forum is saying the 214+ is not supported. Fcuk
im still new to it so idk. ETA: Guess i just missed it cause it is here.
LINK
But it is not under the Applied models. Which is weird cause the DS 213+ is. The Plex forum is saying the 214+ is not supported. Fcuk
quote:
Applied Models
15-series : DS3615xs, DS415play
14-series : RS3614xs+, RS3614(RP)xs, RS2414(RP)+, RS814(RP)+, DS214play
13-series : RS10613xs+, RS3413xs+, DS2413+, DS1813+, DS1513+, DS713+, DS413, DS413j, DS213+, DS213, DS213air
This post was edited on 1/21/15 at 9:40 am
Posted on 1/21/15 at 10:49 am to CarRamrod
Im currently using windows home server and WDTV Live for my media collection.
(yes, I know this doesn't help)
(yes, I know this doesn't help)
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