Recommendations on server set up?

General Discussions
1

TL;DR
is there any downside to storing my server library off an external desktop drive so I can have a compact PC like the HP Pavilion Wave (only has one 2.5" HDD slot in it which is limiting), or should I opt for a more traditional size like a Corsair 250D?

Hey there, just wanted to get some advice on some options I’m thinking of for my server.

Currently I have my plex server running off my desktop and I am wanting to shift it onto a second PC into my family’s lounge so it’s running all the time and can be accessed by all. I’m a fan of wanting to get a compact PC so I bought a Corsair 250d to make a second windows pc and plex server combo but it’d be nice to get an even smaller PC like the HP Pavilion Wave.

The downside of this though is that the Wave only has one 2.5" HDD slot which would limit my storage to 5TB and I’m already past 3TB used on my desktop (the largest 2.5" HDD I can find in New Zealand which is the Barracuda 5TB). I could however just have my library on an external desktop drive like a Seagate or WD 8TB drive which would be a lot more future proofed.

Is there any downside in terms of harddrive life, USB based storage, etc by having my movies on an external drive over an internal storage solution?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated :slight_smile:
(also I should note that I don’t want a NAS since having windows on it would be awesome for steam streaming, and web surfing on the TV)

Thanks!

EthanNZ

2

I’ve used numerous external HDD for my server. For most the time it was on my laptop and I never had a problem (now it’s on a mac mini). I currently use a Drobo 5C DAS - which has 5 3.5" HDD slots.

3

Buy a 4BAY Nas, (or DAS) put it on your network and have the wave serving Plex only

Also look at intel NUCs for your server if size it important!

4

@adamstewiegreen said:
I’ve used numerous external HDD for my server. For most the time it was on my laptop and I never had a problem (now it’s on a mac mini). I currently use a Drobo 5C DAS - which has 5 3.5" HDD slots.

Ah that’s good to hear :slight_smile: I guess it’s just up to whether I’m fine with a annoying external hard drive out in the open to see as well.

@spikemixture said:
Buy a 4BAY Nas, (or DAS) put it on your network and have the wave serving Plex only

Also look at intel NUCs for your server if size it important!

ooh that’s an interesting way to do it! would I need to make sure that my internal network speed wasn’t super crappy?
I’d imagine the speed of reading files with my average ISP supplied modem might be a bottleneck?

5

If you’re running your clients wired to the router/server it won’t be a problem. I was using only wifi and my bluray rips were buffering, I put in 2 powerline adapters (which is probably the worst - as far as wired connections go): problem solved. And I’m going through a crappy optus router.