How to Install Plex on the Raspberry Pi 4

Making a Raspberry Pi Plex server is fairly simple. It's all you need is the Raspberry Pi board, microSD card, case, and peripherals like a keyboard or mouse, and an internet connection. In addition, you'll have the installation of software such as Plex media server to run on the Pi. 

How to Install Plex on the Raspberry Pi 4

Its Raspberry Pi, with its small dimensions and reduced power usage, makes the ideal network-attached storage (NAS) gadget. There are many ways of creating a Raspberry Pi media server, but my preferred choice is Plex. The powerful media server software choice comes with a broad set of features that are simple to use and highly customizable. Learn how to create a Raspberry Pi Plex server for an inexpensive Plex streamer!

Plex is a multimedia server program that is an offers. It is thought of as a kind of DIY Netflix. In contrast to streaming services such as Hulu and Netflix provide content but with Plex you can provide the content you want to watch, including television shows, movies and songs. After that, Plex scrapes your libraries and incorporates box art as well as metadata to create a rich user interface. Apart from audio and videos, Plex can host photos too. In addition to a Raspberry Pi Plex runs on Docker, Linux, macOS, Windows, and FreeBSD.

The Reasons to Use Plex to host the Raspberry Pi Media Server

My Plex journey started in 2016 when I started ripping my Blu-Rays and DVDs. At first, I operated an initial Plex server using an old AMD A10 CPU-powered HP laptop prior to upgrading to a Xeon-powered Lenovo ThinkServer TS140. Although I'm still a committed user of the physical medium such as VHS tapes, LaserDiscs to DVDs, BluRays and even vinyl I find having my entire movie television show, music collection stored on the Plex server is an enormous advantage. Disks can be scratched or have disc rot issues and rot, so having a backup digital copy is a way to ensure redundancy. True hard drives aren't invincible. However, you can backup your digital media collection onto online storage devices as well as cloud-based storage services.

Additionally, I enjoy the ease of being able to access my library of media from anywhere. If I'm away on vacation and want to catch the latest movie, I could just pull it up on an Plex client like my tablet, phone, or laptop. Additionally, Plex evolved into the ideal application for cord-cutters. Although it started out with a focus on media servers, Plex added features such as podcasts, web series streaming news, Tidal integration DVR support, and finally ads-free movies and TV shows, making it an ultimate cord-cutting destination.

  • Watch your favorite music, or TV collection to compatible devices
  • The features that cut cords include ad-supported streaming of TV and streaming movies and Tidal integration. shows and podcasts
  • Simple to use, yet completely customizable

Are there any possibilities for you make the Raspberry Pi Run as a Plex Server?

Given its small specifications, you may wonder whether the Raspberry Pi can even run an actual Plex server. Although you could create an raspberry pi-based Plex server, its performance will not be as good as dedicated servers or even a desktop or laptop. The price-to-performance ratio is amazing. Furthermore that the Pi uses energy to run, while an energy-efficient server that's always on will increase your power bill by an inch.

While technically you can transcode using the Raspberry Pi Plex media server but you won't be able to transcode efficiently. This project is designed for streaming at home using direct-play Plex clients. Anyone with a Raspberry Pi 2 or higher board should be able manage Plex server usage. I'd suggest, however, at minimum an Raspberry Pi 3 B+ or, if you want using a Raspberry Pi 4 Plex server.

  • Great for in-home streaming
  • It is possible to transcode, but not very well.
  • Excellent for direct play
  • Power is low
  • Small footprint
  • Cheap Plex server solution

How do I Make a Raspberry Pi Plex Server

Making a Raspberry Pi Plex server is fairly simple. It's all you need is the Raspberry Pi board, microSD card, case, and peripherals like a keyboard or mouse, and an internet connection. In addition, you'll have the installation of software such as Plex media server to run on the Pi. Based on the amount of media you have it is likely that you will require a flash drive with a huge capacity or an external harddrive. Additionally, you'll need an Plex client or other device you can use to stream Plex to. It could be an Windows, macOS, or Linux PC, or a gaming console such as one like the PlayStation 4 or Xbox One or a streaming device that is specifically designed for streaming like Roku, or a Roku or a Raspberry Pi board.

What do you require to build an HTML0 Raspberry Pi Plex server:

Cost:$35plus USD. The basic Raspberry Pi 4 for a only $35 for the stand-alone 1GB Raspberry Pi board. The 2GB RAM model costs $45, and it's 4GB Raspberry Pi model is priced at $55. If you're only beginning your journey it's highly recommended to purchase the full Raspberry Pi kit. Particularly if you're streaming and making use of it as a Raspberry Pi as a NAS and storage device, you'll need to ensure that your device is kept cool. A case with a heatsink will go well in this. In addition the majority of Raspberry Pi kits come with microSD cards.

How to Setup the Raspberry Pi Plex Server - Install Plex Media Server on the Raspberry Pi

Before you can use the Raspberry Pi as an Plex server, like any other software installation, you should make sure you update. In the new terminal, type:

sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get upgrade

In the next step, you'll have for you to download Plex Media Server on your Raspberry Pi. Visit Plex.tv to download the correct edition that comes with Plex Media Server. It is recommended to select Linux. Then, Choose Distribution. If you're using Raspberry Pi, choose the Raspberry Pi, select either the installer for ARMv8 or ARMv7. If you're running an OS that is 32-bit select an ARMv7 Plex Media Server option. However, for a 64-bit OS system, select ARMv8. This will download an DEB file. After you have the PMS to Plex DEB file has been downloaded, you can launch it. You'll be asked to input your password. You'll be able navigate to http://localhost/32400/web to your Pi or [RASPBERRY Pi IP]:32400/web in another machine that is on the same network, where you'll be able to begin configuring Plex for Raspberry Pi. Raspberry Pi.

Setting a static IP for the Raspberry Pi

While you Raspberry Pi Plex media server is technically ready to start streaming however, it's best to set up an IP address that is static on the Raspberry Pi. To establish an IP address that is static on the Raspberry Pi, enter the command:

hostname hostname

Next, open cmdline.txt:

sudo nano /boot/cmdline.txt

In the case where there's a line IP, type in the IP address of your computer:

ip=RASPBERRY PI IP ADDRESS

Once you've entered the Raspberry Pi's IP address After that, press CTRL + X, and then click Y, to store. After you've set up an IP address with a static address in the Raspberry Pi Plex server, restart your device:

sudo reboot

Addition of External Media to the Raspberry Pi

If, as I do, you have a huge collection of media, your Raspberry pi microSD may not be enough to store all of your media library. Therefore, you'll have to make use of an external drive like USB flash drive, or a hard drive.

To find out the location of drives, start:

sudo cat /proc/mounts

This is a list of connecting USB drives. For example my 1TB external harddrive was listed under the device /dev/sda1.

If you prefer, you can opt to mount the drive manually USB drive to your Raspberry Pi. It's possible to do this quickly by setting up the drive within the Fstab file. When you're working with the NTFS drive, you must install the NFTS 3G program:

sudo apt-get install ntfs-3g

If you are familiar with the UUID, then you can enter it. To determine the UUID you can find an inventory of all connected drives that have:

ls -l /dev/disk/by-uuid

Find a drive that has the address that starts with a /sda address, for example "/dev/sda1/". Then, you'll be able to see a string that is the UUID.

Then, create a brand new directory to connect your USB. Mount the USB to:

sudo mkdir /media/usb1

Discover the GID by:

id -g pi

Locate the UID by using:

id -g pi

Then, you can modify the file in fstab:

sudo nano /etc/fstab

Include a note with the information you require about your external drive

UUID=NAME OF DRIVE /media/usb1 auto nofail,uid=your_uid_here,gid=your_gid_here,noatime 0 0

Save and exit using CTRL + X followed by Y. You'll have to unmount the drive:

sudo umount /dev/sda1

You can then mount your drives using:

sudo mount -a

You can also restart you Raspberry Pi Plex server to ensure the drives' status. been mounted:

sudo reboot

After rebooting the external drives will automatically mount.

Install Configure Plex using the Raspberry Pi

Once you have Plex installed and the external drives installed now is the time to configure Plex for your Raspberry Pi and direct it to your library of media. Go to http://localhost:32400/web where you'll be able to see the Plex log-in screen.

The first step is to identify your server. I chose RasPlexPi however you can name your Pi server any name you want. Click the next button and then point the Plex server software to those media libraries. My external hard drive I have an media folder located at the base of my drive, with subfolders for music, TV shows and other. Choose on Add Library to select the type of library you want to add that you want to add, like television shows, films and music, photographs, or any other video. Find the folder in which your media files reside and they'll be added your library.