Rather than having to install Plexamp headless on a separate computer/device or install Plexamp additionally, it would be great if Plex Media Server computer could advertise as a player for Plexamp.
Would you mind sharing what use case you have in mind?
Do you want to connect speakers to the machine hosting your server?
You should already be able to run some regular Plex client (e.g. Plex HTPC, Plexamp, Plex for Mac/Windows/Linux, even Plex Web) on the server machine and have them act as streaming targets.
So my current setup is PMS is running on a headless Ubuntu Server 20.04.1 LTS. I was recently using a Raspberry Pi for headless Plexamp which was plugged into my receiver. Recently found out that the Headless Plexamp was released for amd64 processors so I was able to install it directly onto my server vs. tying up a Raspberry Pi. My server outputs the audio into my receiver via a rca to cat5 balun (due to proximity) https://www.amazon.com/Audio-2-Pack-Stereo-Extender-UIInosoo/dp/B09FLGC3SP/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=3G8UCENIWPOQH&keywords=rca+to+cat5&qid=1671401170&sprefix=rca+to+cat5%2Caps%2C243&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzTFRUMzNVNElVVFBZJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMTU2Njk5MjFNOEZGVkpMQ1FFWCZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNjI4MzA0UlZIUlMxSUtQMUwxJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==
Obviously this is analog sound, and could use an audio digital out if I wanted, but analog is fine in my case.
Anyways, this setup works great, but takes some additional steps to get Headless Plexamp installed like installing node and a few other setup things.
Just thought it would be nice since PMS is already running, if it could advertise itself as a player, maybe even a feature you could turn on/off in the settings if you don’t want it.
Yes, with the addition of Headless Plexamp installed on my server, I can.
I think I understand where you’re coming from… though by design Plex is working as a server/client setup. If you want a device to act as a client, you’ll need to install that client.
I’m not sure it’s all that common that users run their server connected to their receiver… and if they do it’s probably an easy enough task to install either Plex HTPC or the headless Plexamp client. That being said – it’s a fair suggestion; let’s see if it gets any attention/traction (that’s what the feature suggestion category is here for anyway 
)
yep, I get it. Thanks for the response. I really appreciate it. I know it’s first world problems when I’m talking about how many computers to run haha!
Plex Media Server is not a client so it won’t play anything.
Why not just install PlexAmp on the same computer.
I did install plexamp on the server as my 2nd post stated. I was looking to see if it could be avoided as it’s not always straightforward process. Just figured if a player could be incorporated into the server, it would save the hassle of having to install node and everything else required to get plexamp running headless.
I believe that the PlexAmp base code was rewritten from the ground up sometime after the 1.0x series to accommodate lots of newer capabilities to keep it stable, reliable, and packaged with all the bells and whistles needed to have a consistent experience, some in which include Sweet Fades and Gapless Playback.
More on the WHY can be read on the blog
As for a possible explanation… the server itself comes packaged with a casting agent that lives within the Web UI but is severely limited to its usefulness.
Using the Web version that’s incorporated on the Plex.tv and with Plex Server can be very nuanced as the battle for the developers is to make sure everything stays the same across many different web browsers, which is no easy task.
It’s been already noted that Sweet Fades and Gapless Playback are a non-starter using our web browsers. All in all, trying to ask for PlexAmp code base to be shoved into the Web version is asking for trouble.
It’s best for them to live independently. PlexAmp is a complementary client app that should continue to be on its own.
There is, Plex Web. Unfortunately, you can’t control it from another client.
Yes, PlexWeb is where I actually got the idea from. Then just took it a step further and thought it would be wonderful to control it from other devices like plexamp. Basically just a more streamlined system, but I understand the programming hassle and limitations of server vs. client.
Again, I can do everything I want to be able to do by installing plexamp separately. So not a big deal. Maybe as plexamp headless matures more, it can come with a more streamlined install or package management. I feel as it stands now, you need some Linux know how to get it to work, especially if you are not using a pi.
That’s true for anything with Linux, especially when running headless. 
