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Thread: Plex - Media Server

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    Default Plex - Media Server

    Have seen a few members here mention Plex.
    After googling it a while ago, seems they are getting ready for a Retail version of Plex.

    As much as i hate bloated softwares, i loaded it last night on a MacBook Pro to share files to XBMC and Samsung Smart TV.

    I found it incredibly slow, and not a great experience, yet so many recommend it?
    I totally took up all the resources on my MacBook.... crippling it.

    Its also crashed and stopped serving when i tried to "STOP" a playing file on my Samsung TV.
    I also use PS3 Media Server, which is light weight, but also suffers from similar issues when you make too many commands with the TV remote.

    I didn't use the Plex Client App on the Samsung TV, just DLNA....

    Anyone here like Plex?
    Is it good once you sort it out?
    Does it crash to stop serving?
    Last edited by ol' boy; 18-07-14 at 06:10 PM.



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    LSemmens
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    Not a good start......
    I found XMBC too "top heavy" to run on a windoze box, not that there was anything wrong with it, it's just me.

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    i tried xmbc
    i tried smart tv stream movies
    they all fail sadly in my books
    id rather just dl the movies i want
    but i have fox backup for when only 1 eye is working
    (most nights)
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    Sad, the WDTV Streams movies from anyway just fine, no matter what is serving the media up.

    I find both PS3 Media Server and Plex fail once you starts jogging around with buttons.
    I had better Streaming 8 years ago when i was using a Mediagate MG350.

    How can technology move on and things get worse

    BTW: I am talking about files that are local files, not streaming from the net.
    These files are on my laptop, all i wish to do is have hassle free streaming to XBMC and Samsung TV.
    Last edited by ol' boy; 18-07-14 at 08:00 PM.

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    Serviio works just fine for me, serving from w7 and w8 to sony blu ray using dlna....

    even 4k works perfectly...

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    Quote Originally Posted by hoe View Post
    Serviio works just fine for me, serving from w7 and w8 to sony blu ray using dlna....

    even 4k works perfectly...
    Is that on a totally wired LAN hoe?
    What is "seeking" like, X2, X4, X8, X16 etc?

    Thanks mate

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    Seeking is fine on mpeg and avi. Haven't tried with 4k.
    Wireless ac 5ghz from laptop to router, gigabit wired from router to Blu Ray.

    Only way i have found to watch from windows server with perfect seeking on all formats is popcorn hour c200 as it doesn't use dlna.
    Just need to share folders via windows.

    Actually the Sony Blu Ray does it all so well I'm probably going to sell the popcorn hour, roku 3, roku 2, mag 250 and 2 x m8 boxes...
    Last edited by hoe; 18-07-14 at 08:24 PM.

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    isnt your lappy a mac?
    maybe you need more ram lol
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    isnt your lappy a mac?
    maybe you need more ram lol
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    Quote Originally Posted by Philquad View Post
    isnt your lappy a mac?
    maybe you need more ram lol
    Yes it is.

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    mac = maybe a computer?
    joking
    i dunno, really
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    Strangely enough, all I use is VLC on a PC connected to the TV in the Lounge, SWMBO has the same in the bedroom. I have numerous other PCs on the network and they can all watch any of the movies on the network without any issues. All I have done is set up a peer-peer network and file shares using Windoze tools. (Lounge PC = W7, several TB movies, bedroom PC = XP, 1TB of movies. I'm looking at throwing Linux into the mix in the not too distant future. Why add another layer if it is not necessary?

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    I can also use windows media player to play files directly from w8 or w7 pc to smart TV. Digital audio out from TV to amp passes through dolby digital etc.
    Buts it's nice to be able to browse files from the TV or Blu Ray.

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    Have given Serviio a try thanks hoe...

    Seems ok, although it didn't load my entire library of files? Just some of them?
    I will use it for a while and see how it goes.

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    Quote Originally Posted by oceanboy View Post
    Have given Serviio a try thanks hoe...

    Seems ok, although it didn't load my entire library of files? Just some of them?
    I will use it for a while and see how it goes.
    there is a 'standard' for naming files to ensure they are recognised properly in dlna and other media servers.
    if files are not named correctly they may not appear in the expected location.

    with serviio, have a look in the 'folders' err, folder and files will be where they are located on your respective physical hard drive.
    if they are not named 'correctly', you can still browse them as you would on the physical pc, assuming servio recognises them as compatible media files.

    edit:

    just done an extensive rum fuelled test, found some flac formats serviio didnt like, apart from that, all good....
    and found a couple of avi files no media player, including the popcorn hour, would play that played perfectly via serviio....
    Last edited by hoe; 19-07-14 at 06:03 AM.

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    Sorry to drag up an old post, but I just added Plex to my unraid server, I find it excellent, and thought I would share a few things.

    Plex looks great, makes it easy to find what your looking for.


    As long as the movie is named correctly (Lone Survivor (2013).mkv), Plex will scrape all the info for you.


    Same for TV shows (The Walking Dead - s01e01.mkv).


    Handles music as well.


    If the device you are viewing on, can't handle the video/audio stream, Plex will transcode it into something compatible. Of course this means your old laptop is probably not going to cut it as a Plex Media Server. I'm running it on a 3.2ghz quad core system, and it's having no problem streaming four different videos to two WDTV live's and two Android devices at the same time.

    When ever I add new content, Plex automatically scrapes the data and adds it to the library.

    Plex media Server runs on most systems, and several NAS's. There is mobile apps for Android, IOS and Windows, plus apps/addons for several TV's and streaming devices.

    I like it so much, I'm going to replace both my WDTV live's with Roku's, which have a Plex app available, the WDTV live's work with Plex, but only as DLNA, which is missing a lot of the nice Plex enhancements.

    Don't let the replies in this thread put you off trying Plex, everyone that has seen it running here has liked it.

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