Plex media server -Windows 7 or Ubuntu?

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I’ve been using Plex for about 2 years on a Ubuntu server. But the more I use it, the more I realize Ubuntu is painfully tedious and difficult to use\learn. Any time I’m having a problem, it’s completely illogical and even Linux users look at me like I’m crazy. I’ll admit, I’m not great with command line, but I try. So I’m starting to debate Windows 7. I’m running an i3 dual core 3.1 with 4gb RAM and an SSD. I was curious if anyone had experience with Windows and Plex Server. How does it run? Does it cause many issues or give you any trouble. I want something headless I can just set and forget. How hard is it to boot Win7 headless and remote in (I use team viewer right now). Would love to hear some opinions.

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I run it on XP pro.

Run it on whatever OS you’re most comfortable with. There is no gain in running it on an OS you’re aren’t familiar with or simply don’t like.

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Plex is not going to run as a service out of the box. So if set it and forget it is what you want, then Ubuntu is the way to go.

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I’m running it under windows 7. Autologin to the desktop so Plex starts, and it runs headless in the basement. I RDP to it if I need to manage something locally. I share the media drive and drop files to it over the network, and run Deluge and HMA VPN on it for file downloading. Also running Sickbeard for TV shows and PlayOn for my Roku for more content.

I’ve had no problems.

5

I use Lubuntu. It is simple, fast, and I just set it up and it works. I also use Teamviewer to access mine most of the time and it works great. What problems do you have with your current Ubuntu setup?

If you are more comfortable with Windows and don’t mind paying for a license, I would say go for it. I’ve tried it and they run pretty much the same. I’m not sure about booting headless though.

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My setup isn’t headless (it’s an HTPC), but I have 0 problems with PMS in Win7.

I have several other headless boxes though, and it’s not a big deal to manage them with VLC, RDP, etc

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I run my Plex server on a Windows 8.1 machine. I would assume Windows 7 is no different as far as stableness. I heard 8 required less resources so thats why I went with it. I used to use team viewer also, but it does require a lot of resources to run and is generally laggy. I now do port forwarding on my router and just remote desktop into my machine when I need to get into it remotely. The nice thing about Plex is you can do everything from a browser unless you need to get into the guts. Plex runs very well on the windows 8 machine. Its an old gateway laptop with 3 gigs of RAM. Also my movie library is on a seagate NAS. It streams it flawlessly locally and through the web. I tried Ubuntu a few times and it just frustrated me. It took me a half hour to map a network drive. I said screw it and “acquired” windows 8. I would definitely suggest getting rid of team viewer though is its a hog. Hope this helps

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I would suggest running PMS on what you know, and it sounds like you know W7.

Personally, I run PMS on Windows Home Server 2011.

If you’re interested in running PMS as a service, I did find a work around. Before running as service, know that PMS needs an instance of explorer.exe to be running (it needs the system tray icon). I set up Task Schedule to run explorer.exe on boot, then set Task Schedule to run PMS with a 30 second delay (to allow the system + explorer.exe to get up and running.

When you log on to your Win7, PMS will probably load again. You’ll want to disable it from the system tray, as now you’ll have 2 instances of it running.

Check these links for more options:

EDIT: a word

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I run Plex on Ubuntu fixed with a ZFS Pool and 9TB of redundant storage. That way if a drive fails, unmount - mount - rebuild

ZFS so I don’t to pay $1000 for a decent raid card yet still achieve RAID

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Running on Windows 7 with no issues other than Plex Media Scanner app sucks down memory and doesn’t let it go - even if you stop the Plex Server. Only a reboot will free it up. I have 8 gig and Plex will suck down over 5g of it and never let it go. Even so, have been running it since May of last year and love it - not a single issue.

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I run PMS on my primary HTPC, which is an older SandyBridge i3. It runs great.

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Let me know if you need a hand

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Im running it on both. Runs fine on either so basically pick the OS you’re more comfortable in.

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I was running Ubuntu for about a year, installed Win7 over it and ran that for about two weeks and reversed my decision. I had more stuttering with Win7 issues with the machine I run Plex on and that MAY have been the factor. It’s a lower end machine (2Gb / AMD @3.2 Ghz) and I suppose that’s why. Could have been other things, though, so don’t take that as a benchmark. Certainly, the Ubuntu box has been harder to setup and keep up.

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Thank you everyone for all the feedback. I’m moving all my content to a new drive (was having drive issues this time, hence the move). Once done, I’ll be going Win7 tonight. Thank you to all those offering help. IF I need it, I’ll shoot up a flare here. Hopefully it goes smoother than it has been. Thank you all again!

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Ya, no doubt about it. If it has to transcode it can only do one stream at a time.

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Just come across this thought I’d add my 2 cent seen as I use both.

Plex runs the same on both systems I’ve used it on, Headless ubuntu 12.04.4 and Windows 7 Black Edition. It was slower on Windows 7 but that was due to lesser hardware i think, than it been solely due to the OS.

I’d say use what your comfortable with, I prefer using putty to ssh into ubuntu and don’t find using command line a problem. Then again I don’t wanna pay for multiple watch accounts so I needed a second server to seperate watched lists for me and my mother. Which is why I just put it on my windows desktop that’s mostly on as well.

If you feel comfortable using windows then go for it, there are options to set it up headless just the same.

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I realized I never updated this either. So everyone knows what happened, I dumped Ubuntu for Windows. It’s been great since. Much happier world. I’m using Stablebit DrivePool for massive storage. Couldn’t be happier.

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I’m currently running it in windows 7 and wish I’d gone with Ubuntu… Pled in windows 7 is beyond terrible, it hangs constantly if I can get it to launch at all, and forget about every trying to shut it down. That doesn’t even mention the issues with IR remotes most users are having. All that and if you try posting about issues to the forums, you’ll either get no help or a finger pointed at you as the reason it’s not working right.

Do yourself a favor and go with Ubuntu if you aren’t planning to game on the system much.

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Just an FYI for anyone reading: Running applications as services in windows is easy. Here is a pretty straightforward howto: http://www.howtogeek.com/50786/using-srvstart-to-run-any-application-as-a-windows-service/