I have some basic questions that are probably very simple for many of you but I can’t seem to find straightforward answers anywhere.
I simply want to watch my PLEX media on my AppleTV on demand, regardless of whether my MacBook is on or asleep.
I assume this means I need to store the server and the media on an NAS. However, how exactly does that work? Does the AppleTV stream directly from the NAS? I can’t decipher how the media from the NAS gets to the AppleTV/iPhone if not via WiFi.
It will stream from your Router either WiFi or Ethernet (NAS must be plugged into your router)
I would recommend a small laptop as your server (I7 with SSD is preferred) and put you media on USB HDDs
(Possibly buy an HDD eclosure to put your drives in)
Simplest, Easiest, Straight Forward. and superior performance / scalability… Works practically out of the box.
Unless you enjoy messing with Linux, Permissions, and Distros… ETC.
OK so I can buy an NAS and connect it right to my router and use that to stream to my AppleTV. Understood.
Are you saying I should use a small laptop INSTEAD of an NAS? If so, don’t I need that laptop to be powered on/connected to WiFi at all times to access the media?
I seriously need this to be put in layman’s terms for me because for some reason I am not grasping how it works.
Well without getting into the bits, bytes, ports, or IPs…
It basically works like this.
Your Plex Media server is an application that runs on a network connected device.
The Application accesses your media either dicrect connect (USB… etc.) or over the network (NAS)
Since this Application is ON the network, it can be accessed and/or controlled by other devices on the network.
The Plex Client (Player) application runs on just about any platform you can think of.
This Plex Client accesses the Plex Media Server over the network
This is how you at are able to select, control, and play media.
Did that help??
BTW unless the NAS you select has the Plex Media Server on it, you will have to enter the Linux world and install the server yourself.
I use the synology DS1812+ and am super happy with it. Yes it is always on and connected to my router (wired)… use it for plex but also as a backup for many other things… super happy with it… always willing to answer more questions… by the way the plex media server is very easy to install on a synology NAS but probably also on other NAS brands. I like the UI of the synology ones.
A NAS is nothing more than a small computer with a lot of storage. You can do pretty much anything a NAS does with any PC as long as it’s running the appropriate operating system.
