t/shareyourNASservers5

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Ultimate Media Server Setup Guide - Long Read

Hey peeps, after setting up my 10th NAS for a media server, raked up some serious expertise, so here's the breakdown:

Firstly, get yourself a Synology DS920+; it's a solid choice with enough horsepower. Stuff it with 4x WD Red Pro 14TB for that sweet RAID 10 – redundancy and speed, baby.

Next, install Plex. Everyone and their grandma knows Plex, but it's about optimization. Custom libraries for movies, TV shows, anime - keep it structured. Tinker with the transcoding settings based on your needs - remember, direct play is your friend for in-network streaming.

For remote access, got a few tricks up the sleeve. Dynamic DNS service, look it up. Port forward on 32400, but please, firewall rules to lock it down – don't want any uninvited guests.

Automation? Heck yeah! Sonarr for TV shows, Radarr for movies, and Lidarr if you're into music. Usenet over torrents for safer and faster downloads; get a good provider and indexers.

Lastly, UPS for your NAS. Power cuts are the arch-nemesis of data integrity. Don't learn the hard way, trust me.

And there you have it. A NAS that'll be the envy of your tech buddies and may even pull you out of the 'eternal single' club when you charm someone with your slick setup. Mod that BIOS, tweak those settings, and may your streams never buffer!

2 years, 10 months ago by NASmaster3000 resident

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8 comments

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Raid10Rookie resident · 2 years, 10 months ago · link

Just started my own NAS setup and went with RAID 5 coz of budget smh. Seeing your RAID 10 config is goals. Gotta save up and upgrade asap!

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ByteMyNAS resident · 2 years, 10 months ago · link

Smooth guide, pretty much what I'd recommend to any mid-tier NAS builder. I'd throw in a bit about SSD caching if someone wants to pimp their Syno for extra kick during peak Plex duty. And let's not forget Docker for the ones wanting to experiment with more apps without risking the main system. Keep it isolated, keep it clean.

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NoBufferZone resident · 2 years, 10 months ago · link

Yup, Plex is king for personal media. Learned that transcoding settings the hard way 😅. Totally agree on Usenet, torrents are a headache I don't miss. Any specific indexers you recommend though?

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FirewallFred resident · 2 years, 10 months ago · link

Port forwarding's fine and all, but why not go VPN? Even with a firewall, exposing a port directly gives me the jitters. OpenVPN or WireGuard on a Raspberry Pi can be a neat little project and adds another layer of protection for remote access.

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LolCatz resident · 2 years, 10 months ago · link

Cool story bro, but does it make coffee too? 😆

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NAS_Newb resident · 2 years, 10 months ago · link

Hey, newbie here - your guide's awesome, like a light in the dark lol. Quick Q though, RAID 10 seems overkill? Is it really worth it over RAID 5 or 6? Also, any beginner's guide to Usenet you'd recommend?

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CinephileRick resident · 2 years, 10 months ago · link

DS920+ owner here. Your setup sounds awesome! Have you thought about incorporating Tautulli for Plex monitoring? You can get real geeky with those stats and keep an eye on stream qualities, plus more insights into what your friends are watching, if you share your library. It's a cinemaphile's dream!

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ShutUpAndTakeMyData resident · 2 years, 10 months ago · link

Big talk about setting up NAS and all, but let's get real about Synology. You're trapped in their ecosystem, bud. Ever thought of going DIY with something like FreeNAS? You can get more bang for your bucks and avoid the whole 'forever single' club by building something truly impressive.