Video Optimize file location

General Discussions
1

Hello, I am new to Plex I have been a long time Kodi user.

I run my Library off Dell servers and only share media files as “read only” I do not allow any writing or higher level permissions to the media servers for any reason. I do not have backups of my media but instead rely on Raid 6 to reduce my drive costs. This does protect me against multiple drive failures but will not protect my media from encryption ransom ware or other awful dangers. That being said I will never allow the media server files to be accessed other than “Read Only”.

Now to my problem. I am trying to optimize a file but I am unable to do so because Plex cannot write to the media server drive. I tried to setup special permissions for the “Plex Versions” folder but then I have to create a second mapped drive. That causes me to have to create a special library for this folder and Plex will not optimize to a file location other than the location of the Library.

Am I missing something here? There has to be another way.
Some of my media files are massive. 80GB and there is no way for my ipone or ipad to play them! Let alone stream them while on vacation.

Thanks for your assistance.

PS. I would consider myself an advanced Kodi user. Have a fully operational SQL server and multiple clients around the house and property. I just started using Plex in the past few days and I absolutely love it. I purchased the lifetime membership within a few hours! It is much easier to navigate and use. Plex hands down blows Kodi out of the water. The only thing keeping Kodi on the map is illegal streaming which I am not interested in.

So far the only things that are lacking is Plex does not work on my Android tv boxes. I would love to hear what you guys recommend for a low cost set top box that is easy to operate. I am more than willing to replace them all. Plex is absolutely amazing and much easier to use. I feel like I am already up to speed and have remote access working. This file optimization snag is the one problem I have yet to cross.

2

You need to add another folder, to which plex has write permissions, to the respective library, than you can select this folder as target when you choose to optimise a file.

3

The share is the entire media folder drive. Not the folders. I did change the security settings on the “Plex Versions” folder to allow full access however because the media drive share is Read Only this did not work. If I change the share to anything but Read Only I am at risk.

I suppose I could create a special account just for Plex and specify it’s permissions. Are users able to delete media through Plex or just library’s? My Plex server is only used for Plex and I trust it not to be compromised.

4

If you use windows, substitute /media/hdd for c:\ or whatever :wink:

Plex needs permissions to write, otherwise it can’t write anything :wink:
You can set that no deleting is allowed through plex in the options.

Normally it runs like that as an example:
Library folder 1: /media/hdd/movies (this is where your files live and it could be read-only)
Library folder 2: /media/hdd/optimise (can be empty at beginning, needs write permission)

You add both folders and specify folder 2 when you optimise as target.

Btw: you should add subfolders to the libraries. e.g. not /media/hdd if it contains movies AND tv shows, but /media/hdd/movies to movies library and /media/hdd/tvshows to TV Shows library.

5

So within a single Libary I can have multiple shares and folders?

6

Yes, just edit the library and add another folder.

7

OMG! I am such a dork! I just figured that out. This is much easier than the files you have to load in Kodi. That folder can even be located on another server!

Thank you so much. I feel quite stupid for not figuring this out on my own!

It is converting now! So happy!

8

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