Hardware recommendations

[kscrib]

Server Version#: 1.29.1.6276
Player Version#: 4.92.0

I am looking to solve multiple issues in my media sharing configuration. Currently running an old PC and a USB connected SSD. Simply stated - slow with no redundancy. Redundancy is important because we have a large number of old photos that we could never replace.

I am wanting to build a complete new system, one that provides redundancy (raid-5) and one that can transcode a couple of streams at a time.

I have a strong technical mindset, but have not played with Linux. But that is more of a challenge than a fear. From my research, Ubuntu seems like the right flavor of Linux for a PMS. Is that right?

Should I add a NAS as just a redundant storage device to get Raid-5? And then add a Linux server to run PMS? What is a good GPU to use? Which processors works well? How much memory?

I would prefer to over build then under build.

Should I convert all movies to h.265?

Main clients are hardwired TVs with either Roku, Nvidia Shield TV or Samsung local app. Home network is good (commercial grade Cisco PoE switch (1 GB, but can pair ports), pFSense Netgate 5100), 500Gbs upload ISP, etc. But I also have a couple of use cases that are remote with slower ISP.

I have been researching all day and have decided to ask the forum for advise. If you could build you PMS system from scratch, what would you do? I am not afraid to spend $$, but want to be smart.

I have a network rack where most of my gear is at. So if NAS is the way to go, I would want it rack mounted.

CPU model/speed?
RAM?
GPU?
Local raid-5 or NAS for the library (likely 4 drives to improve redundancy)?
Flavor of Linux (assuming Linux is best O/S for PMS)?
Format to store movies in? (H.265 or H.264)

[OttoKerner]

@kscrib

. Redundancy is important because we have a large number of old photos that we could never replace.

I can only quote the old mantra of IT : “RAID is no backup”.
RAID is an “availability solution” which can keep important data available in the event of some types of hardware failure. But it won’t cover all failure scenarios.

You will certainly survive not being able to look at these files for a few days.
But you can not lose them forever.

Which means what you need is not RAID, but a double backup. (First copy in an offline drive, stored in a different part of the house, second copy stored off-site – maybe online in the cloud)

If you get a RAID array, be certain to have a backup as well.
Get the backup first, then if you still want it the RAID (as a quality of life improvement).

[kscrib]

I agree that Raid-5 only gets me protection from a hardware failure, but does not protect from something like a house fire that destroys the storage.

A cloud backup solution would protect against both hardware failure and something environmental.