I really want to get started.

I have a big library of files on a HDD. I will run it off my home computer, and it will be exclusively for my home network.

Question 1: Is it fine to run my desktop computer as a server and a client? I don’t actually know how Plex works yet, so I may be describing it wrong. Currently I watch things on my Desktop Computer. I want to continue this but through Plex instead of just using VLC. If I do add more clients, only one will be viewing at a time. I do have a Raspberry Pi available, but was hoping to use it as a client at a later time instead of a server,

Question 2: Can I scan my media folder in Plex to get started, and then later rescan my Plex library after I rename files? I haven’t reorganised all my files yet, a lot of them should be fine but I don’t have time to do it all now. Some of them I may never bother renaming or reorganising. I don’t mind Plex having to do all the posters and stuff again.

Question 3: What does Plex do for the re-encoding? I think I read that Plex encodes the video files. Does this create new files on the HHD? My drive is pretty full. I don’t have enough space for duplicates in another codec. Does this process replace the files? Will I have to have my Plex drive only contain converted videos? Is there a process to encode from my storage drive to my Plex drive without disturbing my storgate drive? Space is at a premium and I don’t want to risk Plex altering my media on my storage drive.

Thank you.

  • @CouldbealeotardOPEnglish
    1•1 year ago

    So a RPi is good enough to be a server and client at the same time?

    I’ll look into sonarr an radarr, thanks

    • @jws_shadotakEnglish
      1•1 year ago

      Yes, and everything can be ran on the raspberry pi! I’d recommend using docker with Portainer.

      The pi itself absolutely cannot do transcoding, though. Everything must play natively. Depending on what device you’re streaming on and what the media format is, you may run into troubles. Most clients should be fine, though.

    • @jws_shadotakEnglish
      1•1 year ago

      Actually the pi itself may not play the media all that well. You’d be better off using the pi for Plex and all the *arr apps and then streaming to a computer or something.