Sorry to post this, but I’m looking into software to cut the cord and Plex doesn’t provide an email address where one can ask questions.
I tried searching to see if Plex can use a Time Capsule as an NAS, but every topic that was returned as being “locked for 90-days with out activity” even though many of the topics were created in Dec 2019 (I guess their 90-days is different than mine).
Second, if it can’t use TC, can it use the built-in drive on a HDHomeRun?
You cannot run Plex Media Server on those devices.
If you can mount them as storage on a supported platform, then you could use them to store your media.
For example, if a Time Capsule can be used as a NAS, not just a Time Machine backup target, you could store your media there, and run Plex Media Server on a Mac.
See documents linked below.
PMS Requirements and NAS Devices & Limitations have information on supported platforms.
Okay, I think I’m beginning to understand. I use the TC as a drive to hold my media, not as a backup, but it can’t actually run software off of it, it’s just a drive. So, if I run PMS on another device it will see the media there.
Can PMS run on Apple TV?
If so, can it record TV to the Time Capsule?
See Intro to Plex. Specifically, What is Plex?
There are two parts to Plex: Plex Media Server, aka PMS, and the Plex Client.
PMS is where your media (movie/tv show/songs/etc) is processed and streamed to the client. If you use Live TV/DVR, PMS records the video from the 3rd party tuner.
The Plex Client is what plays the movie/tv show/etc.
See previously linked documents for supported server platforms.
The Plex client can run on many platforms, including an Apple TV 4th Gen and AppleTV 4K. See Player Apps and Platforms.
Live TV / DVR requires a Plex Pass. See Plex: Free vs Paid.
See Live TV & DVR documentation.
PMS does not care where the storage location is located. It does not care if the storage is a NAS, a USB drive, a SSD, etc. It just needs a read/write access, like any other application. It relies on the underlying operating system to handle access to the storage location.
If the system where you have PMS installed can use the Time Capsule for file storage (not backup), like a NAS or other network drive, then yes, Plex Media Server should be able to record TV to that location.
Okay. From what I am gathering, PMS does not run on Apple TV but needs something intelligent (ex: a Mac) to run on that has access to the storage device. That intelligent device needs to be running anytime the Plex client wants access to PMS’s recordings.
Short of leaving my MBP running 24/7, what do Mac users typically do?
Correct.
Yes. Supported platforms previously supplied.
Yes.
Edit: If using the DVR capability, PMS must also be running whenever you want to record a show.
Run PMS on any supported platform. Whether or not it is on 24x7 is up to you.
Examples:
I’m not trying to be difficult, but you have a lot of options.
If you will be sharing Plex with people outside your home and/or using the DVR capability, you may want a system that runs 24x7.
If you are the only person using Plex, then you may not care if it is running 24x7.
A family member runs PMS on her desktop Windows machine and streams to her AppleTV 4th Gen. She typically does not leave it on 24x7 since she does not share Plex outside her household.
I run PMS on a Synology DS918+. It runs 24x7 because the power draw is very low and I do not want to bother with turning it on/off. I stream to an Nvidia Shield, FireTV stick, and Android phone & tablet, but that really doesn’t matter. An AppleTV 4K would work as well.
Yes, I will have to look into another device to act as a server.
Even if I am the only person I still see that it needs to run 24/7 to record shows that may be broadcasted at times when I’m not home or awake. At this point I am seeing (some) advantage to software that uses a cloud based storage system. Eliminates one home device. Of course, there are advantages to the home device as well (and disadvantages to the cloud storage).
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