I have a NAS server (Synology 218+), a windows 10 pc and a samsung TV. I have PLEX acces via the PC to the content of my server (films series etc.) On my TV I only have access to the content when my pc is on and plex is open on my PC…
When my pc is off and I try to start plex on my TV there is a red cross before my server . I really cant solve this problem. I Hope somebody can help me!
From what you describe - it sounds like you might have installed the PLEX server software on your PC with your content residing on your NAS?
If that is the case, then it is your PC that is providing the “server function” to devices not your NAS with the NAS only being relied upon by the PLEX server software on your PC for the supply of content.
If that is correct, you will need your PC on at any time you wish to access PLEX from a device. If you don’t want to keep your PC on for these time, you need to uninstall PLEX server software from your PC and install it directly on your Synology NAS so that your NAS runs the server software not your PC. If you already have plex server software installed on your nas NOT on your PC then the following may not assist.
You can download the software and install it using Synology package centre, by clicking on “manual install” and uploading the package you download from the following link. Alternatively you can search for PLEX on the package centre but the version Synology carries is significantly out of date as it is updated much less frequently than PLEX updates:
https://www.plex.tv/en-gb/media-server-downloads/
You need to select Synology and choose the right package for your server which I believe for yours is the Intel 64 bit.
On your PC you having uninstalled the Plex server software you need to install “Plex for Windows” (not the plex server for windows) if you want to be able to watch content on your PC which you can also get from the above link in the “apps & devices” tab.
Hello Josh,
I understand what I did wrong. I deleted the mediaserver on the PC, I installed manually the plex media server, and now my server is known.
So I created libraries, i feel stupid, but adding items does not work.
I add /volume1/videos, which is the directory on the NAS, but scannen is finished immediatly and nothing is added.
You have solution for that too??? Would be great!!
Put the server back on the PC - and leave it on.
Running a server on a NAS - ain’t easy.
it must be possible to get it done on the NAS. I have these problems since I bought a new NAs. It worked fine on my old NAS …
The DS 218+ makes a fine Plex Media Server as long as you are aware of its limitations.
Read these two documents:
Installation and Setup of Plex Media Server on Synology
They will save you time, trouble, and headaches.
For example, do not use the /video shared folder. It is reserved for Synology applications such as Video Station. Using it for Plex will lead to wasted time, trouble, and headaches.
You also need to be aware of the limitations of the DS 218+. Primarily, without a Plex Pass, it will struggle to transcode video. This is noted in the NAS Comparability List (spreadsheet linked in document). If your clients cannot direct play or direct stream the video, you can expect buffering and stuttering as the NAS CPU struggles to transcode in real time.
You can view playback status via the Plex Dashboard.
Make sure you follow Plex guidelines for media organization and naming. This is especially important with TV shows. Plex may import & match your media otherwise, but in reality you’re just getting lucky. Spending the time up front to correctly organize & name your media will save you time and headaches down the road.
Glad it worked up to a point. Suspect it may be to do with ensuring Plex has “permissions” to see your files. I think there was a security change by Synology a while back which means you have to give Plex specific permission to read your files or it can’t see them. Chuck posted instructions here (follow them slowly step by step). After that it should work.
ps - running Plex off a Synology works great in my opinion. I run it off the 918+. The only thing you’ll need to consider is adding plex pass if you need to to do any transcoding because it almost certainly won’t be powerful enough to transcode video without the hardware transcoding which requires plex pass. If you can direct play everything though this won’t be an issue.
You are great Josh, problem solved!!!
Thanks a lot !!
thank you for the links to the usefull documents
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