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.

  • (╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻English
    1•1 year ago

    1. you can set the server and watch it in the same computer. You can also have other clients like fire tv or Roku sticks and connect them to your server.

    2. I wouldn’t rename them, Plex has “agents” that scan the files and find the closet match even if the name of the file is similar to THE.simpsons.S09E8.the.vengance.of.apu.byMEGUSTA.mpeg, if it detects the wrong match you can adjust it. It does a decent job.

    3. it reencodes while are watching the file, it won’t save it, it uses a cache. Here are two schools of thought, you set a small raspberry pi and get nothing fancy but at least a 3 year or less old stick as client(s) and watch everything directly without encoding because the sticks can handle it, or get a fancy server, get Plex pass to use the video card and encode everything you want to 4K. Your choice.

    Take into account that if the server is too small it will have issues encoding. I had an 12 year old PC as server and a 4 years old fire sticks playing directly without issues. But when I tried to use an old Roku stick it would keep buffering.