How to Set Up a Plex Server on Ubuntu: A Comprehensive Guide

Welcome to our comprehensive guide on how to set up a Plex server on Ubuntu. If you’re not familiar with it, Plex is a popular media server that allows you to stream your favorite content across multiple devices. It’s an ideal solution for those who want to organize their personal media collections and access them from anywhere.

While setting up a Plex server on Ubuntu might seem daunting, it’s actually quite simple if you follow the right steps. In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to get started, from why you should use a Plex server to the minimum system requirements for Ubuntu and the step-by-step installation process. We’ll also cover how to create libraries, add media, and customize your Plex server with plugins and channels.

So, whether you’re a media enthusiast or just looking for a better way to organize your digital media, this guide is for you. Let’s get started!

Why Use a Plex Server?

Streaming content from your personal media library has never been easier with the help of a Plex server. Whether you have a large collection of movies, TV shows, music, or photos, Plex can help you organize and access your media from any device connected to the internet.

One of the best things about using a Plex server is that you don’t have to worry about the storage capacity on your device. With a Plex server running on Ubuntu, you can store all of your media files in one location and access them from any device with the Plex app installed.

Another great benefit of using a Plex server is the ability to share your media with friends and family. Simply invite them to your Plex account and grant them access to your libraries. This makes it easy to share your favorite movies or TV shows with loved ones who live far away.

Finally, using a Plex server also provides a clean and user-friendly interface for accessing your media. With customized artwork, metadata, and descriptions, your media is displayed in a visually appealing way that makes it easy to navigate and find the content you want to watch or listen to.

Stream Your Media on Any Device

1. Convenience: One of the biggest advantages of using a Plex server is the convenience it offers. You can easily access your media library from any device with an internet connection, including phones, tablets, laptops, and smart TVs.

2. Compatibility: Plex supports a wide range of devices and operating systems, including Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, Roku, and many more. This makes it easy to access your media from virtually any device.

3. Quality: With Plex, you can enjoy your media in high quality, up to 4K resolution. Plex automatically adjusts the quality based on your internet connection to ensure smooth playback without buffering or stuttering.

4. Customization: Plex allows you to customize your media library with artwork, metadata, and more. You can create playlists, set up parental controls, and even share your library with friends and family.

5. Offline Viewing: You can also download media from your Plex library for offline viewing on supported devices. This is especially useful for travel or when you don’t have a reliable internet connection.

6. Security: Plex takes your security and privacy seriously. You can password-protect your library and even set up two-factor authentication for added security.

Overall, Plex is an incredibly powerful media server that offers a wide range of features and benefits. Whether you’re a movie buff, a music lover, or just looking for a convenient way to access your media on any device, Plex is definitely worth considering.

Access Your Media from Anywhere

With a Plex server, you can access your media from anywhere with an internet connection. Whether you’re on a business trip, visiting family, or just out and about, you can connect to your Plex server and stream your media on any device with the Plex app installed. This means you can keep up with your favorite shows, movies, and music, no matter where you are.

With remote access, you can securely connect to your Plex server from outside your home network. You can set up remote access with a Plex Pass subscription, which also includes other features like early access to new features and apps, live TV, and DVR.

Multiple users can access your Plex server simultaneously from different locations, each with their own personalized media libraries and viewing history. This makes it easy to share your media with family and friends, without giving them physical access to your media storage device.

• Stream from any web browser: With the Plex web app, you can stream your media from any web browser on any device with an internet connection.
• Stream on mobile devices: The Plex app is available on iOS and Android, so you can easily stream your media on your smartphone or tablet.
• Stream on TV devices: The Plex app is available on a variety of TV devices, including Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and more.
• Download media for offline playback: With the Plex mobile app, you can download your media for offline playback, so you can enjoy it even when you don’t have an internet connection.
• Automatic quality adjustment: Plex automatically adjusts the quality of your stream based on your internet connection speed, so you can enjoy your media without buffering or lagging.
• Secure connections: Plex uses SSL/TLS encryption to secure your remote connections, so you can connect to your Plex server with peace of mind.

Setting up remote access is easy, and once you’ve done it, you can enjoy all the benefits of accessing your media from anywhere.

Share Your Media with Friends and Family

One of the biggest advantages of a Plex server is that it allows you to share your media with others. You can easily invite your friends and family to create their own accounts and access your media library. This means that you can share your favorite movies, TV shows, and music with your loved ones no matter where they are located.

With Plex, you can also control who has access to your media library. You can create different user accounts with different levels of access, such as allowing some users to only view certain content while others have full access to everything. This means that you can keep your private content separate from the content that you are comfortable sharing with others.

In addition, Plex makes it easy to share your media with others outside of your home network. You can use the “Plex Sharing” feature to allow your friends and family to access your media library from anywhere in the world. All they need is a Plex account and an internet connection.

• Invite Friends and Family: Share your media with those closest to you.
• Control Access: Manage who has access to your media library.
• Private Content: Keep your private content separate from shared content.
• Plex Sharing: Access your media library from anywhere in the world.
• Easy to Use: Share your media with just a few clicks.
• Safe and Secure: Protect your media with secure user accounts and encrypted connections.

Sharing your media with others is one of the best things about having a Plex server. Whether you want to watch a movie with a friend who lives in another state or share your favorite TV show with your family, Plex makes it easy to do so.

Minimum System Requirements for Plex Server on Ubuntu

To run a Plex server on Ubuntu, you need a computer or a virtual machine that meets the minimum system requirements. The following are the hardware requirements you need:

• CPU: A dual-core CPU or better
• RAM: At least 2 GB of RAM
• Storage: A minimum of 5 GB of free space for the installation of the Plex server software, and additional space for storing media files

In addition to the hardware requirements, you also need to have the following software installed on your Ubuntu machine:

1. Ubuntu: Plex supports Ubuntu 16.04 LTS or later versions
2. Java: OpenJDK 8 or Oracle Java SE 8 or later
3. Plex Media Server: The latest version of the Plex Media Server software, which you can download from the official website
4. Network Connection: A stable network connection is essential to ensure smooth media streaming

It is important to note that these are the minimum system requirements for running a basic Plex server. If you plan to stream high-quality media files, such as 4K videos, or have multiple users accessing your server simultaneously, you may need a more powerful machine to handle the load.

By ensuring that your Ubuntu machine meets the minimum system requirements, you can set up a stable and reliable Plex server that will allow you to stream your media files with ease.

Processor and Memory Requirements

Plex Media Server is a CPU-intensive application, and it requires a modern processor with at least 2.0 GHz clock speed. A multi-core processor is preferred for optimal performance. At least 2 GB of RAM is required for running the server and transcoding media files.

Transcoding refers to the process of converting media files from one format to another on the fly. Plex Media Server can transcode media files to optimize them for playback on different devices. Transcoding requires a lot of processing power, so it’s important to have a powerful CPU and enough RAM.

Hardware Acceleration can be used to offload some of the transcoding tasks to a dedicated hardware component, such as the GPU. Plex Media Server supports hardware acceleration on many platforms, including Intel Quick Sync, NVIDIA NVENC, and AMD VCE.

Step-by-Step Guide to Installing Plex on Ubuntu

Step 1: Update Your System

Before installing Plex on your Ubuntu system, it is important to make sure that your system is up-to-date. You can do this by running the command:

sudo apt update sudo apt upgrade 

Step 2: Download the Plex Media Server Package

The next step is to download the Plex Media Server package from the official Plex website. You can do this by visiting the following URL:

https://www.plex.tv/media-server-downloads/#plex-media-server

Step 3: Install the Plex Media Server Package

After downloading the package, navigate to the directory where it was saved and run the following command to install it:

sudo dpkg -i plexmediaserver_1.x.x.xxxxxxx_amd64.deb

This will install Plex Media Server on your Ubuntu system.

Install Required Dependencies

To install Plex on Ubuntu, we first need to install some dependencies. Open the terminal on your Ubuntu system and enter the following commands:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install apt-transport-https ca-certificates curl gnupg-agent software-properties-common

curl https://downloads.plex.tv/plex-keys/PlexSign.key | sudo apt-key add –

The first command updates the package list on your system. The second command installs the necessary dependencies. The third command adds the Plex repository key to your system. With these dependencies installed, we can now move on to installing Plex.

Download and Install Plex Media Server

Now that the dependencies are installed, you can download and install the Plex Media Server. Visit the Plex download page and choose the Linux version of the server.

Once downloaded, open the Terminal and navigate to the directory where the Plex Media Server package is stored. Use the following command to install it: sudo dpkg -i plexmediaserver_1.23.2.4625-721f8555e_amd64.deb

After installation, start the Plex Media Server with the following command: sudo systemctl start plexmediaserver.service

Configure Plex Media Server on Ubuntu

Once you have installed Plex Media Server, you need to configure it to ensure it works properly. Follow these steps:

1. Open a web browser and navigate to the Plex Media Server’s web interface by typing the IP address of your server followed by “:32400/web” in the address bar.
2. Create a Plex account or sign in to your existing account.
3. Add your media library by clicking on “Add Library” and selecting the appropriate media type (Movies, TV Shows, Music, Photos, etc.) and the folder where your media is stored.
4. Configure your server settings by clicking on the gear icon in the top-right corner of the web interface and selecting “Settings.” Here you can configure options such as Remote Access, Server, Library, and more.
5. Set up remote access if you want to access your media from outside your home network. You can do this by clicking on the “Remote Access” tab in the server settings and following the prompts.
6. Install the Plex client on your preferred device to start streaming your media.

Following these steps will allow you to configure your Plex Media Server on Ubuntu and start streaming your media to any device.

Creating Libraries and Adding Media to Your Plex Server

Step 1: Create a Library

After you’ve set up your Plex Media Server, it’s time to create your first library. Plex allows you to create libraries for movies, TV shows, music, and more. Simply click on the “Add Library” button in your Plex dashboard, select the type of media you want to add, and follow the prompts.

Step 2: Add Media to Your Library

Once you’ve created your library, it’s time to add media to it. You can do this by clicking on the library and then clicking on the “Add Media” button. From there, you can select the files or folders that contain your media.

Step 3: Organize Your Media

Plex offers a variety of tools to help you organize your media. You can edit metadata, add posters and artwork, and create playlists. This helps make your media library look professional and easy to navigate.

Step 4: Enable Sharing

Plex allows you to share your media with others. To enable sharing, click on the “Sharing” tab in your Plex dashboard. From there, you can invite friends and family to create their own accounts and access your media library.

Step 5: Enjoy Your Media

With your library created, media added, and sharing enabled, you can now sit back and enjoy your media. Plex makes it easy to stream your content to any device, whether it’s a computer, TV, or mobile device.

Adding Media to Your Library

Once you have created a library, you can start adding your media to it. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Select the Library: From the main Plex screen, click on the library you want to add media to.
2. Click on the “Add” button: This is located at the top left of the screen.
3. Select the type of media: You can choose from movies, TV shows, music, photos, and more.
4. Select the folder: Choose the folder where your media is stored. You can also add multiple folders.
5. Click “Add Library”: Plex will start scanning the folder for media and add it to your library once it’s done.

It’s important to ensure that your media is properly named and organized for best results. Plex uses metadata to identify and display your media, so if your media files have incorrect or missing metadata, they may not be properly displayed.

You can also add media to your library using the Plex web interface. Simply go to the library you want to add media to, click on the “…” icon at the top right of the screen, and select “Add to Library”.

Adding media to your Plex library is easy and allows you to enjoy your media from anywhere. With Plex, you can also access your media on multiple devices, including your TV, computer, tablet, and smartphone.

Organizing and Naming Your Media

Create a Logical Folder Structure: Organize your media into logical folders so that it is easy to find and navigate. For example, create folders for movies, TV shows, music, etc.

Name Your Files Consistently: Use a consistent naming convention for your media files to make them easier to recognize. Consider including the title, year, and quality of the media in the file name.

Use Metadata: Plex uses metadata to display information about your media. To ensure that this information is accurate, use a metadata manager like FileBot to add metadata to your media files.

Consider Extras: Extras like trailers, behind-the-scenes footage, and interviews can add to the viewing experience. Consider including them in your library.

Use Collections: Collections allow you to group related media together. For example, you can create a collection for all the Marvel movies in your library. This can help make your library more organized and easier to browse.

Customizing Your Plex Server with Plugins and Channels

If you want to enhance your Plex experience, you can customize your server with plugins and channels. These are essentially add-ons that provide additional features and content for your Plex library.

Plugins are third-party software that allow you to add new features to your Plex server. Some popular plugins include Trakt.tv, which helps you keep track of what you’ve watched and syncs your progress across devices, and Sub-Zero, which automatically downloads subtitles for your media.

Channels are similar to plugins, but they offer curated content from various sources. For example, the Plex FilmStruck channel provides access to classic films, while the BBC iPlayer channel lets you watch shows from the BBC.

Installing and Managing Plugins

Plex offers a wide range of plugins to enhance your media experience. To install a plugin, you’ll need to download it first. Once you have the plugin file, go to the “Plugins” folder in your Plex Media Server installation directory and place the file there.

To manage your plugins, go to the Plex Web App and click on the “Plugins” menu. From there, you can see a list of installed plugins and their status. You can also enable, disable, or uninstall plugins as needed.

When installing plugins, it’s important to be aware of potential security risks. Only download plugins from reputable sources and make sure they are compatible with your version of Plex Media Server.

Discovering and Adding Channels

If you’re looking for more content to stream on your Plex server, you can easily discover and add channels. Plex has an extensive list of official channels that you can browse through and add to your library.

To discover and add channels, simply navigate to the “Channels” section on the left-hand menu of your Plex server. Here, you can browse through the official channels or search for channels using keywords.

Once you’ve found a channel that you’d like to add, click on it and then click the “Install” button. After the installation process is complete, the channel will be added to your Plex library and you can start streaming its content.

Customizing the User Interface

By default, Plex has a clean and simple user interface that is easy to navigate. However, you can customize it to your liking by changing the settings and installing themes.

To change the settings, click on the gear icon on the top right corner of the screen and select “Settings”. Here you can customize various aspects of your Plex experience such as the language, playback settings, and more.

If you want to change the look and feel of your Plex server, you can install themes. Plex has a variety of themes available that you can download and install for free. To install a theme, go to “Settings” > “Web” > “General” and select “Plex Web Tools”. From there, you can browse and install themes.

Frequently Asked Questions