Optimal distribution for your Plex server?
Optimal distribution for your Plex server?
Hey Linux enthusiasts! I’m not very comfortable with Linux myself, mostly because my job requires Windows. I run a home Plex server, but whenever I try to connect it from work, it gets blocked. I have a small spare PC – an A Lenovo ThinkCentre M75n – with an AMD Ryzen 3 3300U, 8GB DDR4 RAM (it can’t be upgraded). I’m keen on using Linux for Plex because of its reliability and I don’t want to spend money on another Windows license. The machine will only support 2-3 devices at a time, and it’s rarely used together. What do you all think? Any suggestions? I was considering Mint, but what are your thoughts?
The choice of distribution shouldn't really matter, though I'm using Fedora myself. The main factor is whether the computer can handle the job—whether you're just streaming directly or need to convert content for clients. Transcoding usually performs best on Intel graphics cards, which might cause issues elsewhere.
You can operate Windows without a license, but a watermark will appear in the bottom corner only on the server side—no content will show it. This could be a good choice if you prefer not to learn Linux. Personally, my Plex VMs and most similar setups run Ubuntu Server because it's lightweight and reliable. I’m comfortable with Debian-based systems and they offer excellent documentation for beginners. If you need a graphical interface, Mint is an alternative, though at that stage I’d stick to Windows with a watermark.
Connecting to the Ubuntu server is straightforward. You won’t face any issues since resources and manuals are typically available for Ubuntu/Debian directly at the beginning.
If you want to just launch it without overthinking, pick the most common distro you know about. Fedora makes sense if you've used it before, or Ubuntu if you haven’t. The advantage of Ubuntu LTS is that developers and real users have tested it thoroughly, which usually means fewer issues. You might start with Plex, but soon you could be managing a whole suite of self-hosted apps. Choosing Ubuntu LTS works whether you run just Plex or multiple services yourself.