PMS on Ubuntu Server setup as an appliance

[chribonn]

Hello,

I have two questions please:

1. Are there “default” (good practice) directories one should use to with PMS on Ubuntu Server
2. Can PMS be set to auto update automatically.

My idea is to have an appliance that is like a VCR

Thanks

[hokierulz]

For the base Plex install I would recommend staying with the default directories, unless there are other factors (e.g. drive space limitations?) that would drive you to to do otherwise. I’ve used the standard directories for my Linux installs, and for my 1.5 years of Plex use have never experienced issues as a result.

The best location for your media libraries is going to be driven by what storage you have available. Many people have dedicated drives to store their media, or put their media on a NAS or remote filesystem. It is common to see the OS installed on a SSD, and then the media libraries on HDD(s) because HDD space is cheaper, and unless you have a very large number of people streaming concurrently the HDD is more than fast enough as a media drive. Separate media drives from the OS (or NAS/remote storage) also makes it easier if you ever want to migrate Plex to a different server.

This article explains how to set up auto updates. I personally don’t auto update so that I can control which updates I apply and when I want to apply. I like to have time to do a test recording and “try out” the release, but this is just personal preference.

[ChuckPa]

Unless you’re proficient with the “server” distribution and willing to add all required packages manually, stay with the base “workstation” distribution.

[chribonn]

Hello,

Thanks for the article. I followed it. My idea is to have a block box as much as possible.

With respect to the directory would it be under /var/lib/plexmediaserver? I was thinking it would be under /home/.

Regards

For me i

[chribonn]

@ChuckPa: I am reasonably comfortable with a command line. I make life easier by using OpenVPN and Putty to use the comforts of Windows tools with the functionality of Ubuntu

[hokierulz]

Part of the default install goes to /var/lib/plexmediaserver, if that is what you mean. There are other additional locations. You can do a “dpkg -c” on the .deb file if you want details.

[chribonn]

Hi @hokierulz ,

Don’t know if I am explaining myself correctly. I am not asking about the installation directories but about the directories where media content that is to be streamed should be located.

Typically, in Windows I would choose C:\ProgramData\Plex (although valid alternatives could be the Public or PMS Service account Music, Video and Photo folders).

In all probability one can choose any folder in ubuntu; my question is whether there is a “norm” for video, audio and photo content is placed.

Thanks

[ChuckPa]

@chribonn

Plex on Linux doesn’t operate that way.

1. Package installation is “batch”. There is nothing interactive about it.
2. If you wish to relocate the PMS metadata directory, default in /var/lib/plexmediaserver, you need to manually move it and tell PMS where you have placed it.

The How-To to accomplish this is:

Moving PMS 'Library'

Moving Plex’s metadata (Library) directory on systemd based systems This information is intended for those systems where cat /proc/1/comm returns systemd. If your system returns init, please see the next post in this thread. While you may change /lib/systemd/system/plexmediaserver.service, it is under the control of the package manager and subject to replacement without warning at any time during an update. To provide stability, systemd allows creation of an override.conf file to customiz…

Are you proficient with Linux and have mastery of the command line?

[hokierulz]

Sorry, I misunderstood. Your actual media can be (almost) anywhere you want, and you specify the location of each library when you create the library. In many cases people are creating a Plex library to point to where they already have existing media, but it can be a blank location where you will be adding media (or recording to if you have a tuner and are recording TV.)

Many people seem to put their media in subfolders of their primary Linux user’s home directory. I view a service like Plex as being outside of an interactive Linux user, so I created a separate folder structure just under root (/). Just make sure you have permissions set correctly.

If you are starting from scratch then create a folder structure that makes sense to you. Does “media” ring true for you? If so, then start with /media and create a subfolder for each of your libraries - e.g. /media/movies, /media/music, /media/TV Shows, etc. Again make sure permission are set correctly.

If this is all on one partition/disk then that is good, but it also supports adding disks or moving media off to a NAS in the future: just copy the media from one of your libraries to the new location/disk, mount the new location using the library folder as the mountpoint (e.g. /mnt/movies), and off you go with more space for that library!

[ChuckPa]

I may have also misunderstood.

1. If you have media already on the same system, please let this serve as a guide with the knowledge you can use any non-conflicting names you wish

Using EXT, NTFS, or other format drives (internal or external) on Linux

This document is of primary interest to anyone who has connected USB drives or has media on other internal drives but user plex can’t access it due to Linux’s default security mechanisms. WARNING: This procedure will not work for SNAP, Docker or other container mechanisms unless expressly handled within the confines of the container. This procedure is intended for use with the dpkg package. We will walk through the steps needed to add these external USB hard drives and internal hard drives…

2. Should your media be stored externally on a NAS, your choices similarly are:

How to mount media from your NAS shares on Linux using NFS

Mounting NFS network shares for Plex use on Linux . The basic checklist A. Prepare the NAS: B. Create a ‘mount point’ directory structure on your Linux machine which will be where all your media shares are grafted and made available for Plex use. C. Create an entry in /etc/fstab for each share you wish to mount. D. Mount and debug as needed A. Prepare the NAS. This is unique to each NAS. In general, you only need grant read permission. Should you desire Read/Write for yourself, …

How to mount media from your NAS shares on Linux using CIFS / SMB

Mounting CIFS network shares for Plex use on Linux . The basic checklist A. Prepare the NAS B. Install , if required, cifs-utils (or appropriate client) on the Plex server system. C. Create the CIFS/SMB credentials file for use in /etc/fstab D. Create a ‘mount point’ directory structure on your Linux machine which will be where all your media shares are grafted and made available for Plex use. E. Create an entry in /etc/fstab for each share you wish to mount. F. Mount and debug as …

[chribonn]

@hokierulz - your answer is spot on. I couldn’t have answered it better myself

[chribonn]

@ChuckPa - Thank you for your interest. @hokierulz’s answer answered my question. I wasn’t interested in the installer but in the location of the media files.

[ChuckPa]

Fair enough.

I figured, since you were asking, it wouldn’t hurt to know the flexibility you have at your disposal.