- Joined
- Jun 4, 2019
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Think I might give 4K a try here soon. I got a 3070Ti that does my transcoding so it should be able to handle 4K if it can't direct play it.
I think all the other responses missed the key driver. Go back 10 years ago and look at the TV landscape for HTPC. In one corner, we had Microsoft's MCE that handled cable card/DVR stuff but did zero streaming tricks. Sure, you could put a front end on it (RIP, Meedio) but then you lose the cablecard channels as you need an MCE Extender device. Netflix and other streaming services were starting to become mainstream as well.Yeah, I mean, I've seen Plex be very popular over the years, but I've never understood why.
Unless you want on the fly transcoding (which I don't) why would you install an extra layer of software when network file systems like SMB/CIFS and NFS exist and are built in to their respective operating systems by default?
Thanks, @David_Schroth! Your post alone may have finally sold me on finally setting it up. I was tinkering with the Kodi box yesterday and noticed that somewhere along the lines that with its updates it has now lost the ability to decode AVI streams (some ancient files and who knows what codecs they were using). Since that box has a huge HDD (A WD Red but I don't remember the size, something like 8-10 TB), a gigabit Ethernet port plus a bunch of USB 3.0 ports that surprisingly have shown to get full bandwidth in tests that I've run), it's basically a poor man's NAS waiting to be set up. Looks like a fun project for this holiday weekend! Once that is done all that will be left is getting a 2nd HDD and an external 4K drive this BF.
Good question. I had to look it up because I can’t remember.
The answer is no
Do I need a Plex account to stream locally?
I’m required to sign in? The short answer is: “No.” The longer answer is: “No, it’s not required, but you...support.plex.tv
I think this is true — you just don’t need to set up a DNS or track your IP - the login tracks your external IP for access.You still have to open your own ports for Plex to work outside your network. Unless things have changed since I last setup my PMS.
I think this is true — you just don’t need to set up a DNS or track your IP - the login tracks your external IP for access.
I’m sure that isn’t an issue for the Zara’s of the world, but most people who just want topiratestream content from theirneighboorslocal servers probably don’t.
I see lots of Plex and Kodi accounts bartered around
If you rolled your own VPN you wouldn't need an account at all even for remote access. It's the long way around to take a principled stance, but some people are ... principled.That's exactly it. Plex's way of doing DDNS.
Working in IT I have to assume that the majority of people using Plex aren't skilled enough to setup VPN services on their home router....if it even supports it. Most likely not if they are using the ISP provided hardware. Even then you'd still need some kind of DDNS service if you don't have a static IP.If you rolled your own VPN you wouldn't need an account at all even for remote access. It's the long way around to take a principled stance, but some people are ... principled.
I kinda assumed that if you were rolling your own VPN you kinda knew how to access it.Working in IT I have to assume that the majority of people using Plex aren't skilled enough to setup VPN services on their home router....if it even supports it. Most likely not if they are using the ISP provided hardware. Even then you'd still need some kind of DDNS service if you don't have a static IP.
Plex is kind of a techy solution. But I know some non-techy people that use it.