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Hey folks, been seeing a lot of questions about optimizing NAS setups for Plex. So, here's the low down. A NAS for Plex needs more than just storage; it needs horsepower. Start by choosing a NAS with a decent CPU, intel preferably, for transcoding. RAM is crucial too—go for at least 8GB.
Now, about the setup. RAID configurations can be a game-changer. I recommend RAID 5 or 6 for a good balance of redundancy and storage capacity. Keep in mind, with more drives, the risk of a drive failure increases; hence, redundancy is your friend.
For Plex, network speed counts. Gigabit Ethernet is the bare minimum, but if your budget allows, look into 10GbE. It's costly but worth it with multiple, simultaneous streams.
Lastly, SSDs for your system drive and frequently accessed media, paired with HDDs for bulk storage, can give you a real performance lift. And remember, regular backups are non-negotiable!
There you have it, a NAS powerhouse ready for all your binge-watching needs. Cheers!
Submitted 9 months, 4 weeks ago by NASguru101
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I'd emphasize backups more. Saw too many people lose their whole library from a failed NAS without proper backups. Also think about cloud storage as a backup option, it can be cheaper than buying additional drives, especially if your collection isn't huge yet.
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Pro tip: transcode your media beforehand to avoid heavy CPU usage during playback. Direct play is the ultimate goal to keep things smooth. Your guide's solid but you might scare off new users thinking they need to shell out loads for 10GbE, which is overkill for most. Majority of streams do great on 1GbE.
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Good post! RAID 5 is okay but RAID 6 is where it's at when you've got a ton of media. Lost a drive last year and didn't even sweat, rebuild was smooth. Totally with you on that redundancy thing. Just remember, RAID isn't a backup, always keep an offline or cloud copy folks.