Running Plex Media Server on my ReadyNAS

The duo v2 processor won't handle transcoding, but there is a version of plex that does not transcode, for the arm architecture here:

https://plex.tv/downloads

Click on NAS, select netgear then arm.

I don't have a duo v2 so don't know how well it works.

Cheers vandermerwe

Your straightforward answer has given me all the information I have been missing about my Duo V2 NAS and has lead me to decide that "Plex" is not the way for me to go.

You see, although I want to stream movies from my NAS to my Samsung TV the streaming quality just would not be good enough.

UK Bob

ukbobboy wrote:
...although I want to stream movies from my NAS to my Samsung TV the streaming quality just would not be good enough.

Transcoding reduces the streaming quality, it never improves it.

There are two benefits:
(a) transcoding in the server can be used when the player isn't capable of decoding the original file
(b) transcoding in the server can improve delivery (reduce or eliminate pauses) when the network isn't fast enough.

Either way, the audio and video quality drops some. The changes might be small, and and in some cases not easily perceived. But the output can't be higher quality than than the original input.

I'm not sure if either applies to your Samsung TV.

Hi StephenB

Yes, I understood that transcoding reduces picture quality because my research, which vandermerwe lead me to, made this clear and, reading between the lines, the ReadyNAS Duo v2 was never designed with "transcoding" in mind. Therefore, if I wanted a media server I would have had to buy an x86 enabled NAS, which cost much more than the Duo v2.

Mind you, I did not know any of this when I bought my Duo v2, simply because I was thinking primarily of buying a backup and storage unit.

UK Bob

Do you need transcoding because the TV won't play your media? You can of course install the plex server on a PC, and still have the media on the NAS.

Hi (again) StephenB

"Transcoding" is something I have never heard of until a few days ago when looking into the possibility of using Plex, but first let me list out what I was thinking of before purchasing my Duo V2:-

My priorities, listed in order of importance, are:

1) Full Backup for my PC.

2) Restore full backup to new PC.

3) Off loading my non-important files to (which are taking up space on my PC).

4) Ability to retrieve files as and when required.

5) The ability to stream stored films to my TV, so that the rest of the family can watch them.

6) Allow my son, with my permission, access certain stored files.

As you can see, streaming films was number 5) on my list of priorities, so now 20 months later I am looking into the possibility of streaming films to my TV. Plex requires more power than the Arm chip can deliver so I am looking for solutions elsewhere.

BTW, 1) - 4) had been achieved (not actually tried no. 2 yet), 6) is a non-starter because the "permissions" do not work and so I just have no. 5) to sort out.


UK Bob

If you want to see your movies on TV from a relatively slow ARM based NAS, simply avoid the transcoding by using a decent media streamer... I have a Mediator, it streams 40GB bluray movies from my RN104 without a single stutter...
Just share the movies through SMB...


Sent from my A700 using Tapatalk

Your Samsung SMART TV plays content using DLNA. With the duo, the way to start is to enable the ReadyDLNA server and have it scan the media folder then see if the Samsung can (a) "see" the NAS and (b) play your content.

If that works, then you could install plex with effort (I have it running on my RN102 which has similar horsepower to your V2). The only real reason to do that would be that you like the TV presentation / navigation better. It might not make any difference at all.

If you have media that won't play, then you have basically three options:
(a) buy a more powerful NAS that supports transcoding. This is the most expensive approach!
(b) Buy a media streamer that is spec'd to play your files. WDTV Live is an inexpensive model that plays most formats. Some media streamers support either NFS or Windows file sharing, others only do DLNA. Personally I like to use NFS or Windows Sharing, though all can be made to work. DON'T get an Apple TV - they can't access content on linux NAS boxes like ReadyNAS.
(c) find a way to convert media that won't play, and store the converted media on the NAS. This is free, but time consuming.