GPU Transcoding

Plex Media Server NAS & Devices
4

On QNAP, already built into the package is a “PlexData” shared folder mechanism.

This PlexData shared folder links the QPKG internal storage to FileStation.

All you need to do is:

  1. Stop PMS
  2. Create a shared folder, anywhere you want, named PlexData (exact case)
  3. Start PMS
  4. Open FileStation → PlexData
  5. You will see a Plex Media Server folder link.

When you click Plex Media Server, it will actually open the storage location under .qpkg/PlexMediaServer.

This mechanism makes it easy to do backups, fix what’s broken, and make custom edits of your “Preferences.xml”

  1. After PMS starts up ok, you can stop it

  2. Make certain the QNAP Text Editor app is installed.

  3. In FileStation, open PlexData/PlexMediaServer

  4. Right-click ‘Preferences.xml’ → Open with Text Editor

  5. go to the last line , before the closing />

  6. This is where we specify which GPU to use.
    a. /dev/dri/renderD128 is the QSV ASIC in the CPU
    b. /dev/dri/renderD129 is the first Nvidia GPU card you have installed.

  7. To the Preferences.xml file, add HardwareDevicePath="/dev/dri/renderD129"
    (be certain to have a space before and after the preference)
    It will look like:
    SomePref="Value" HardwareDevicePath="/dev/dri/renderD129" />

  8. SAVE the file

  9. Start PMS

  10. To change back to the QSV ASIC (with PMS stopped), either -
    a. Change 129 → 128 and save
    b. Remove the entire preference=value and save

Secondary reference: