# Plex on a headless Linux Distro **URL:** \ **Category:** Plex Media Server\ **Tags:** server-linux\ **Created:** [May 3, 2025, 3:52am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-on-a-headless-linux-distro/916483 "2025-05-03T03:52:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![f3ish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5f8ce5/32.png) [@f3ish](https://forums.plex.tv/u/f3ish)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2025, 3:52am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-on-a-headless-linux-distro/916483/1 "2025-05-03T03:52:38Z")
I am thinking of buying a BeeLink N150 to run a Plex server on a headless Linux distro. I have no plans to connect to Plex remotely, or sharing my film library. Is it possible to locally access the Plex server from my Windows laptop through the Plex client running on the laptop, or will I need to run some version of a remote desktop application on both machines (more than likely I am asking a stupid question)? Thanks in advance ---
**Author:** ![pshanew](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/pshanew/32/160555_2.png) [@pshanew](https://forums.plex.tv/u/pshanew)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2025, 4:24am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-on-a-headless-linux-distro/916483/2 "2025-05-03T04:24:28Z")
~~Once you have Plexamp headless installed, claimed, and running, it can be controlled in a few ways:~~ - ~~It has a web interface available at `http://ip_address:32500`, where ip\_address is the IP of the Plexamp headless host system.~~ - ~~It can be controlled by other Plexamp clients on your network.~~ - ~~Certain other Plex clients can see it as well and cast to it.~~ ~~Configuring Plexamp headless requires using the web UI. You can also use the web UI to control playback. Once you have it configured to your preferences, you would normally just use another Plexamp client (on your phone, for example) to control the headless client.~~ Apologies. I must have had Plexamp on the brain last night when I read the original post and replied to a question which wasn’t asked. Derp. ---
**Author:** ![OttoKerner](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/ottokerner/32/10079_2.png) [@OttoKerner](https://forums.plex.tv/u/OttoKerner)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2025, 8:47am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-on-a-headless-linux-distro/916483/3 "2025-05-03T08:47:58Z")
> [@f3ish](#): > > Is it possible to locally access the Plex server from my Windows laptop through the Plex client running on the laptop Once it’s set up and running, you can do pretty much all administrative tasks using the web app or the dedicated Plex Desktop app from any computer. > [@f3ish](#): > > I have no plans to connect to Plex remotely, or sharing my film library. You still need an internet connection for both clients and server. User authentication, licensing, metadata acquisition etc. is all dependent on it. > [@f3ish](#): > > will I need to run some version of a remote desktop application on both machines If you are planning on running Linux, you will need at least a terminal app to do the occasional operation on the headless machine. You will very much need it at the beginning when you are installing and setting up the server. You can certainly also set up a remote control app which allows you to use a graphical user interface on the Linux server. A word of warning: if you are ready for a steep learning curve and really want to dive into Linux, then go ahead. If you however only want a type of “appliance” that runs your server, stay away from Linux and particularly from a headless device. ---
**Author:** ![tom80H](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/tom80h/32/19753_2.png) [@tom80H](https://forums.plex.tv/u/tom80H)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2025, 8:56am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-on-a-headless-linux-distro/916483/4 "2025-05-03T08:56:43Z")
> [@OttoKerner](#): > > If you are planning on running Linux, you will need at least a terminal app to do the occasional operation on the headless machine. @f3ish … there’s some nice options to manage your headless machine (talking of the host / Linux). You can e.g. install the app Cockpit which gives you a web admin interface to manage updates, mounted storage etc. > **[Running Cockpit](https://cockpit-project.org/running)** > > Cockpit makes it easy to administer your Linux servers via a web browser. # I agree with Otto. Linux can be hard if you’ve never dealt with it. But there’s excessive guides on most topics. Specifically when it comes to „properly mounting drives“ and handling permissions when dealing with your PMS. > [@Linux Tips](https://forums.plex.tv/t/linux-tips/276247): > > Tips & Tricks of the Linux trade. Below, you’ll find a collection of tips, tricks, and how-to’s to help make setting up, administrating, and using Plex Media Server on Linux a little easier. [Reporting problems](https://forums.plex.tv/t/linux-tips/276247/20)[Using other hard drives (Windows or Linux) with PMS](https://forums.plex.tv/t/linux-tips/276247/2)[Customizing your Plex configuration on systemd based systems](https://forums.plex.tv/t/linux-tips/276247/3)[Using other EXT4, NTFS, or other drives (internal or USB)](https://forums.plex.tv/t/linux-tips/276247/2)[Mounting CIFS + SMB network shares for Plex use](https://forums.plex.tv/t/linux-tips/276247/4)[Mounting NFS network shares for Plex use](https://forums.plex.tv/t/linux-tips/276247/5)[Moving…](https://forums.plex.tv/t/linux-tips/276247/6) ---
**Author:** ![f3ish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5f8ce5/32.png) [@f3ish](https://forums.plex.tv/u/f3ish)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2025, 1:18pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-on-a-headless-linux-distro/916483/5 "2025-05-03T13:18:22Z")
Thanks to all for the invaluable comments. I have had some experience with Ubuntu, so I do understand some of the differences. I’m not looking for more work, it just seems from comments that Linux is more stable than Windows. Your great answers have generated more stupid questions, so here goes: I have been running Plex on my laptop for a couple of years and have been content to leave well enough alone. But I’m getting ambitious as recently with no changes to Plex setting videos have started to stutter (especially when I’m watching a film and working on the computer) so I thought I would separate these activities using the BeeLink. I installed the Plex Client as an experiment, and this works as it should. I had also in the past been able to control Plex in a web browser from the laptop where the Plex Server is installed using 127.0.0.1:32400 address. More recently, this only opens the Plex splash screen. I can log in to Plex using the Private IP address shown in Plex Settings \> Remote Access \> Private. So really no problem here, just odd why things changed. From the comments, it is now apparent to me that I should be able to control Plex from ANY computer on the network; so I tried using my wife’s laptop, I entered 127.0.0.1:32400, and nothing, I entered the other IP address and still nothing. Clearly I am missing some detail but can’t see what it is. In case anyone wants to ask, yes I do have a VPN but turning it off and rebooting made no difference. ---
**Author:** ![OttoKerner](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/ottokerner/32/10079_2.png) [@OttoKerner](https://forums.plex.tv/u/OttoKerner)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2025, 1:20pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-on-a-headless-linux-distro/916483/6 "2025-05-03T13:20:57Z")
> [@f3ish](#): > > I had also in the past been able to control Plex in a web browser from the laptop where the Plex Server is installed using 127.0.0.1:32400 address You are missing the subfolder where the local `/web` app is located. [https://support.plex.tv/articles/200288666-opening-plex-web-app/](https://support.plex.tv/articles/200288666-opening-plex-web-app/) The pure address + port number will only give you a XML response which is meant for client apps. ---
**Author:** ![f3ish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5f8ce5/32.png) [@f3ish](https://forums.plex.tv/u/f3ish)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2025, 1:43pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-on-a-headless-linux-distro/916483/7 "2025-05-03T13:43:02Z")
Doh! Thanks 10^6 ---
**Author:** ![ChuckPa](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/chuckpa/32/79710_2.png) [@ChuckPa](https://forums.plex.tv/u/ChuckPa)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2025, 3:51pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-on-a-headless-linux-distro/916483/8 "2025-05-03T15:51:57Z")
To add to Tom, I also found Webmin an excellent tool to use ![Screenshot from 2025-05-03 11-51-06](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/4X/9/6/3/9633e1a211e56704ae87cd8d7ec06e569ffc76af.png) ---
**Author:** ![f3ish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5f8ce5/32.png) [@f3ish](https://forums.plex.tv/u/f3ish)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2025, 4:28pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-on-a-headless-linux-distro/916483/9 "2025-05-03T16:28:59Z")
Anyone have thoughts on the relative merits (stability, etc.) of running Plex on Linux vs a debloated Win 11? ---
**Author:** ![FordGuy61](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/22d042/32.png) [@FordGuy61](https://forums.plex.tv/u/FordGuy61)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2025, 5:14pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-on-a-headless-linux-distro/916483/10 "2025-05-03T17:14:01Z")
Linux won’t auto download updates, auto install them, and then auto reboot your system. ---
**Author:** ![ChuckPa](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/chuckpa/32/79710_2.png) [@ChuckPa](https://forums.plex.tv/u/ChuckPa)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2025, 6:40pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-on-a-headless-linux-distro/916483/11 "2025-05-03T18:40:19Z")
No wasted resources because the OS isn’t being “Zen” 😉 ---
**Author:** ![f3ish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5f8ce5/32.png) [@f3ish](https://forums.plex.tv/u/f3ish)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2025, 7:49pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-on-a-headless-linux-distro/916483/12 "2025-05-03T19:49:45Z")
I feel better now, thanks 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![f3ish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5f8ce5/32.png) [@f3ish](https://forums.plex.tv/u/f3ish)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2025, 8:53pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-on-a-headless-linux-distro/916483/13 "2025-05-03T20:53:35Z")
Thanks for taking the time to reply. I figure I will give Linux a go, it may take me a bit longer to get it setup, but in the end I think it will just be better. Again thanks f ---
**Author:** ![ChuckPa](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/chuckpa/32/79710_2.png) [@ChuckPa](https://forums.plex.tv/u/ChuckPa)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2025, 9:08pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-on-a-headless-linux-distro/916483/14 "2025-05-03T21:08:28Z")
Linux does have a big learning curve. Google search is extremely helpful. The “Ask Ubuntu” and “Stack Exchange” sites are very helpful Here are how-to’s for PMS on Linux > [@Linux Tips](https://forums.plex.tv/t/linux-tips/276247/20): > > How to best report Linux server problems This Tip/How-To, while tagged for Linux, is applicable to all PMS platforms. By providing this information with your initial post, you save yourself and us a great deal of time otherwise wasted in asking for the pieces. We can see the post, examine all the information provided, and give a better reply (possibly complete solution) in the first reply. Preparation Verify DEBUG logging is enabled (Settings - Server - General - Advanced) Verify V… ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/2/a/2acb9765406f63293d357b4ec509ec39aa28f2ad.png) [@system](https://forums.plex.tv/u/system)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2025, 9:09pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-on-a-headless-linux-distro/916483/15 "2025-08-01T21:09:18Z")
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