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Media Server: Windows or Linux?

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Markfothebeast

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To begin, I have a retired rack mount server (Intel S5000 PALR w/Intel chassis). It's incredibly loud, contains two power supplies, runs several SATA/SCSI drives, and Windows is a pain in my A$$. The fan issue is somewhat cleared up.

I enjoy the Windows Android Remote Desktop Application. However, I don't enjoy the server kicking on the fans at 3am because the task scheduler wants to scan something or send data to Microsoft. MS has little telemetry data holes in every surface that go unnoticed. If it had a microphone and I farted nearby it might advertise constipation products. I continually find data submission IP addresses.

I have very, very little experience with Linux other than using bootable Linux recovery images and such. I run Plex. Lots-o-Plex and only Plex and 1080p. I'd prefer to use a GUI ready Linux set up for a media server. How difficult is it to do this? I'd assume it is much lighter on system resources. I'm just so tired of bangin my head against a wall with Windows on a server.
 
It has been my experience that a well rounded and feature rich Linux based OS is not much lighter on system resources than Windows. Plus it's just a pain in the ass. Networking, sudo this and that, googling commands to get things running, the cli, picking the right OS just to find out it can't do what you want because the devs didn't think it was necessary, ehhhhhhhh.
Perhaps it is time to retire the aging S5000 and replace it with a nice QNAP under Windows10. They generally run cool, quiet, and can run a Plex based server no problem.

You did not mention your storage needs but what is stopping you from installing a large hdd or two in your main desktop and running Plex off that?
 
I have a Windows 7 music jukebox in my home office and I plan to try replacing it with a Linux one over the holiday.

Foobar2000 is the perfect music player for me, but once or twice a day Windows will glitch playback for a split-second while some unkillable telemetry or license validation or who-knows-what fires up. That's with 7 -- with the 10 I use on my work PC you get more always-running stuff, more phone home, plus bonus mandatory restarts for unstoppable updates.

Since Linux isn't a phone-home nanny OS I'm hoping I can avoid that.
 
mxnerd said:
Retire your Intel server and replace it with QNAP/Synology running Plex.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=qnap+synology+plex+media+server
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I've considered that option at the time when I was able to afford it. I was given half a dozen servers and the smallest was the S5000, which is why I use it. It also has six 3.5" SATA bays which I need unless I purchase 2 or 3 8TB HDDs. I also have 2 PCs, one is used for karaoke and the other I prefer not to use as a media server. I'll need to slim down the server a bit.

Other than that, are all Linux server GUIs command line based? I have no problem with that. It's just time consuming to read up on.
 
Actually I'm not familiar with Linux. Yeah, Linux server probably only offer command line interface, I don't know.

But you don't have to use Linux server. You can use Linux desktop as server.
 
run server 2012 or 2016 or go with vmware. install pfsense in a vm, lock everything down from there. then install plex in another vm.
 
Last edited:
mxnerd said:
Just tested installing Plex on Linux VM.

Installed KDE Neon desktop Linux (lightweight & fast) in VMware about a month ago.

https://neon.kde.org/download, User edition

Followed the Linux installation instruction on Plex website. It's up and running now.

https://support.plex.tv/hc/en-us/articles/200288586-Installation

Not difficult at all.

==

Or watch this

Plex Media Server Install: Ubuntu Server 15.10

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Owefw6q4T8
Click to expand...
Me likey. Thank you.
 
AMDisTheBEST said:
Linux unless you wanna update every now and then interrupting your media consumption.
Click to expand...

Linux machines need updates as well, unless you want to run an unpatched system. With Windows you can decide when you want to restart for updates, just like on Linux.
 
owensdj said:
Linux machines need updates as well, unless you want to run an unpatched system. With Windows you can decide when you want to restart for updates, just like on Linux.
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You obviously haven’t used Linux before. It does not need reboot like windows and it does not schedule auto shutdown and it does not interrupt anything while you update. How bout windows? You need to freakin reboot OS before the patch can be apply and update the system.
 
AMDisTheBEST said:
You obviously haven’t used Linux before. It does not need reboot like windows and it does not schedule auto shutdown and it does not interrupt anything while you update. How bout windows? You need to freakin reboot OS before the patch can be apply and update the system.
Click to expand...

I have a laptop running Xubuntu Linux, and it does need to reboot for some updates, just like Windows. Also, my Windows 10 machine never interrupts anything while it's getting updates. It needs to restart for some of them, but it won't force a restart during Active Hours.
 
owensdj said:
I have a laptop running Xubuntu Linux, and it does need to reboot for some updates, just like Windows. Also, my Windows 10 machine never interrupts anything while it's getting updates. It needs to restart for some of them, but it won't force a restart during Active Hours.
Click to expand...
Only kernel update needs reboot and how often do you see that happening? I can get my Linux machine running without shutting down through several weekly update. I am speaking from experience.
 
AMDisTheBEST said:
Only kernel update needs reboot and how often do you see that happening? I can get my Linux machine running without shutting down through several weekly update. I am speaking from experience.
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I fail to see how that's a major factor. Unless you're going to try to claim you're listening to your media 24x7x365.
 
XavierMace said:
Because nobody's talking about commercial servers?
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So getting an update notification nagging you to schedule an update time is okay while your server is streaming movie? What if your server needs to work the entire night like downloading something or transferring a large file or playing a song in your living room the whole day for your guests/clients who came about in any hours?
 
AMDisTheBEST said:
So getting an update notification nagging you to schedule an update time is okay while your server is streaming movie? What if your server needs to work the entire night like downloading something or transferring a large file or playing a song in your living room the whole day for your guests/clients who came about in any hours?
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Reboot the next night?
 
AMDisTheBEST said:
So getting an update notification nagging you to schedule an update time is okay while your server is streaming movie? What if your server needs to work the entire night like downloading something or transferring a large file or playing a song in your living room the whole day for your guests/clients who came about in any hours?
Click to expand...

I’ve run Plex Server on a large Windows 2012 R2 box going on nearly 5 years. Not a single point you’ve made regarding running Plex on Windows is remotely accurate or even a concern.
 
AMDisTheBEST said:
Okay, at least Linux doesn’t have to deal with as many viruses.
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I can count on one hand (after all my fingers have been hacked off) how many viruses have affected my servers in the last 15 years.

Want to know why Windows is targeted more often? Because people actually use it and it is ubiquitous.
 
IndyColtsFan said:
I can count on one hand (after all my fingers have been hacked off) how many viruses have affected my servers in the last 15 years.

Want to know why Windows is targeted more often? Because people actually use it and it is ubiquitous.
Click to expand...
Last 15 years and you never have an issue with malware randomly reconfiguring your browser to serve you ads? Lol, I highly doubt it. This tells me you had been hacked without ever realizing it.

And windows is not the biggest player in the server market so I wouldn’t be using that argument if I were you. Android running on the Linux kernel had already overtaken windows as the most popular OS while google chrome OS(a derivative of a Linux desktop distro) already is storming the low end market.

Also, if you think hackers have no incentive to break into enterprise Linux system, you are wrong. I am just glad Linux for desktops is way more secure than windows can ever be.
 
AMDisTheBEST said:
Last 15 years and you never have an issue with malware randomly reconfiguring your browser to serve you ads? Lol, I highly doubt it. This tells me you had been hacked without ever realizing it.

And windows is not the biggest player in the server market so I wouldn’t be using that argument if I were you. Android running on the Linux kernel had already overtaken windows as the most popular OS while google chrome OS(a derivative of a Linux desktop distro) already is storming the low end market.

Also, if you think hackers have no incentive to break into enterprise Linux system, you are wrong. I am just glad Linux for desktops is way more secure than windows can ever be.
Click to expand...

So far all you've done is prove you have no concept of how servers work or what the server market is like. Nor do you seem to have any idea how to use a Windows computer in general.
 
XavierMace said:
So far all you've done is prove you have no concept of how servers work or what the server market is like. Nor do you seem to have any idea how to use a Windows computer in general.
Click to expand...
wow, that is quite a gratuitous assumption coming from someone who does not even know you dont have to power down Linux to update.
 
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