Plex Server - Linux vs Windows (10 or 7?)

Plex Media Server Desktops & Laptops
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Server Version#: Version 1.14.1.5488
Player Version#: Version 3.69.1

Hi Fellow Plexers,

I have what I hope is fairly simply question, or poll of sorts and looking for advice from the users of this forum.

I have been running Plex on a Windows 10 server for quite some time now, and over the years have found that when a server update happens things can go wrong, or when Windows updates happen things will also go wrong.

So I would like to hear from users experience (Server/PMS only) on what server they prefer and what version.

If Linux then why? And what version of Linux and what issues if any have you had??

If Windows then why? And what version of windows you use and again if any issues what have they been and were they recoverable.

I am rebuilding my Plex server onto a Xeon server, and before I dive too deep into it I would like to get some direction as to the best pathway.

I am considering the following:

  • Running up Proxmox
  • Allocating 4 of the 8 Cores to VM instance
  • Allocating 8 of the 16Gb of Ram (Or should I do more?)
  • 4X 8TB Spindle Sata Drives in a raid 5/6 formation, but Install will run on a 10 or 15K SAS drive

The other Option I am considering is the full paid version of Unraid, really keen to hear from others who might be using this option as it appears it can auto install a version of it as an app?

Are Visualised environments too much of an overhead for Plex?

Looking forward to any feedback :slight_smile:

Cheers,

David.

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David,
Both Linux and Proxmox have a learning curve.
The worst thing you want to battle when trying to setup a new PMS system is learning the OS itself and all its nuances.
I always recommend you go with what you know best.

If you want to learn Linux or Proxmox, great. Go for it. Once you have a level of mastery, then take a shot at starting up a second server. Don’t give up your primary until you’re 100% comfortable.

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I prefer the Linux version since that OS is more efficient than Windoze. I ended up buying a Qnap TS231+ and am very pleased with the PMS performance. Also I ran PMS on my wife’s Imac and it was very fast and problem free. The Mac runs linux natively so you may want to get a used Imac and run PMS if you don’t want to mess with learning Linux!

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Thanks Chuck :slight_smile:

I am familiar with both Linux and Proxmox, I am just not sure what overheads going virtual would have on Plex, that is unfamiliar territory for me :slight_smile:

But I thank you for participating and giving feedback, exactly what I wanted :smiley:

@spacehound - I am fairly certain that Mac’s use BSD not Linux right?

I have looked at a NAS and considering that as an option even, was considering a HP Microserver but I don’t think and ATOM chip will cut it.

Thank you both for the feedback so far, truly appreciate it.

Cheers,

David.

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Any VM carries costs. There are type 1 and type 2 VMs. I don’t know which type Proxmox employs.

Running native Linux on the machine is indeed lean.
Trying to set my Linux experience aside for a moment, Backing up, restoring, or moving you Linux installation to another machine is trivial. You only need tar, chown, in addition to root access and the native package installer (dpkg or dnf)

I have a Synology DS1815+ with the Atom C2538. It can’t do video transcoding. Not even close. :slight_smile:
The newer Atom CPUs can do more but still lack the ASIC (GPU) for HW transcoding.

The J3455 CPU and above in the J-class have that ASIC. It gives you the 4K capability.

I can confirm, MacOS comes from BSD Unix. It’s not Linux based. The two are close but just enough different that source code changes are required for PMS to move from one OS to the other .

I’ve heard of people running Linux on it but never paid any attention to the details.

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