Plex Media Server and Router/USB setup issues

Server Version#: Version 1.16.6.1592-b9d49bdb7
Player Version#: Version 3.108.2

Hello,
I came to learn about Plex for the first time last month and I’m trying to set it up as I have a large library of video files. Would love to see them all organized. However, I feel like I’m at the very last step and can’t get it to work. I’m not network/tech savvy either so please take it step by step as I’m sure this is the reason I don’t have it working yet.

I have an ARRIS SURFboard SBG6900-AC Wi-Fi Cable Modem/router, and I recently found out that I can connect a large hard drive (Western Digital Passport) to it so I can watch my videos through my Apple TV. It’s nice, but I want to take it one step further with Plex, so I can see the content on my Xbox One as well and switch back and forth.

I started the Plex setup, I created a library and I’m doing all this through my computer (MacBook Pro). So I got to the point where I can add library items but it only looks at my computer for them. I connected to the Arris/router folder to see the files, so yes I was able to add them this way. But I’m not having my laptop on all the time, I want to disconnect and just have the hard drive live connected to the router and see the files on my Apple TV/Xbox One without the laptop having anything to do with it. So when I disconnect my files in the Plex Media Server show as unavailable because it’s looking for them through my laptop connection to the router, I need it to just connect to the router directly.

I searched the forums and found some help files that led me to something like ‘connecting your Plex Media Server to a NAS’, and some instructions that say something like opening a browser and typing something like http://[ip_address_here]:32400/web, which I’ve tried with several IP addresses I’ve found on my router page, but none of them work, no page comes up on my browser.

So questions:

  • When typing this IP address to try to connect my Plex Media Server to my router, does it need to happen on a PC only instead of a Mac?
  • I read A LOT of forum thrfeads about it possibly being a permissions issue, but I don’t know how to allow permission on these files so that the Plex MS can see them on the router. Is this the problem?
  • On my router I have NAS Samba Service enabled as well as DLNA Media Server enabled, which according to some forums they said this would do it, but nothing. When going into my router to mess with settings, I am THE WORST. So if this is the case, please easy step by step instructions (as best you can, I know all routers are different).

Please help!

Hey welcome to the zoo :slight_smile:
I can answer most of your questions in one fell swoop, though I don’t know what a fell swoop is.

The heart of Plex is the Plex Media Server (PMS). You said you installed it on your laptop. The laptop always has to be on when you’re Plexing.

There ya go. See that wasn’t so bad xD
Hair dye avoided.

So what do people do? Instead of putting PMS on a laptop, they get a tiny little Mac Mini to run PMS 24/7, or better yet they get an Intel NUC. Those are excellent. Maybe they get an NVIDIA Shield.

A NAS isn’t needed seeing as your library is small. They end up costing a lot
and using a lot of power to get a mid range one with an i7 processor.

An often overlooked part of Plex: their website Articles. Just the best collection of everything you need to get started, choose hardware, set it up, play 4K, use subtitles, so many things! :slight_smile:

okay g/l

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