I looked for this info but didn’t really see a thread about it, if there is one, a link is sufficient :)
I have a win 11 off-shelf mediocre pc for my Plex/jellyfin servers (basically nothing else on that pc; it also functions as a playback device, but it has all the libraries on it so does not matter at all how I access them) and fuck windows and stuff… it was a temporary replacement for my mobo-dead Ubuntu tower, but knowing more things than I did back then, I don’t want to ‘buntu either.
So I’m looking for a good stable distro with really good file management options; bulk rename with rules is a must even if it’s an additional program (built in to Ubuntu, very very nice utility for my exact use).
I’m thinking about trying pop, tbh mostly because I’ve heard of it and mostly good things, but idk if that’s good for the use case I have, and I do NOT want to distro-hop this specific computer. Whatever it gets has to be good enough to be a long-term stable choice (to the best of anyone’s knowledge), because I’m not going to change it later; that’s almost certainly too much work. I’ve tried a few Debian-based distros, and whatever Mint is (I do not like mint at all, please don’t suggest it) on a real old enterprise tower with 16 USB ports and 4gig ram (literally nothing, including antixlinux, runs well on it and I don’t really know why…). and plan to convert a laptop with touchscreen for gaming down the line, but this specific machine is not meant for change. Ever. That’s why it’s taken me 2 years to be willing to go back to Linux. Because change means a lot of work.
Edit to add: I know zero about docker. That apparently matters, and I didn’t think to mention it. It’s… probably beyond my capabilities at this point, but even if it isn’t, fucking stop, omg. Shut the fuck up about docker. I know I need to learn it eventually, but while it’s on my to-do list, I’m not there yet. And importantly, I -do not want- to have to learn docker for this relatively minor self-host project when I’ve been managing it for over a decade without docker bullshit. I am sure it’s “super easy” like all you tech bros say, but I’m not ready for that level of unnecessary complication. I don’t use docker now, I don’t really -want- it to be necessary for what I’m doing (because it isn’t necessary).
Skill level: meh? Not a total noob, learned how to split tunnel just to keep my server up while VPN was active back when that was necessary, and figured out how to solve most of the issues I had with it (fucking nvidia…). Prefer CLI for program management and GUI for everything else. Worked windows tech support dealing with sql and winservers for SaaS, but no official skills or training. Only used windows, Ubuntu, and antix for any significant time.
Bonus round: anyone who’s ever transferred Plex servers from win to Linux (insert flavor), is it actually possible to keep my collections and playlists and stuff? I haven’t really messed with my jelly stuff because nobody but me ever uses it, but Plex is sort of a thing for like a dozen people I know, as “home” users. The last time I went from windows to Linux, in 2019, nothing transferred other than the files… but my library is 30tb now, not 10, and has a lot more curation than it used to, so that’s a much bigger problem than it used to be.
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good stable distro
Debian
long-term stable choice
Debian
this specific machine is not meant for change. Ever.
Debian
Bonus round: anyone who’s ever transferred Plex servers from win to Linux (insert flavor), is it actually possible to keep my collections and playlists and stuff?
Yes, it’s relatively simple, especially with Docker. Back up the Plex folder from your windows machine. Once your new OS is set up, put the folder where you wanna store it and point Docker to that folder in the compose.yaml.
Does the docker container have gpu access for transcoding?
Yes, if you pass the gpu into the container
pass the gpu into the container
Man, if the “Download more RAM!” scammers of old could see us now.
It is possible to pass transcoding - I’ll share my compose file when I’m at my computer
Let’s just say that I know nothing about docker and don’t plan to learn before I do this is swap (because these are both true things, and I edited the main post because everyone assumed I know docker and I absolutely don’t)
How does that change your reply, if at all?
As a person who has been managing Linux servers for about a decade now, trust me that a few hours or days of learning docker now will save you weeks if not months in the future. Docker makes managing servers and dealing with updates trivial and predictable. Setting everything up in docker compose makes it easy to recover if something fails, it’s it’s self documenting because you can quickly see exactly how your applications are configured and running.
I would recommend using Docker first on the windows machine as a step in the transition. I did exactly this when I was transitioning to debian from windows. It made the official switch insanely easy because all I had to do was set up the Docker filesystem to what it already knew and it started up without any issues.
My lessons learned:
Keep the database on an SSD. I put mine on a HDD and it corrupted.Keep the database on an SSD. I put mine on a HDD and it corrupted.
That seems very odd to me, and a very serious bug, no? 🤨 I feel like the storage medium shouldn’t matter as long as it can keep up with data throughput (or eventually keep up, with some help with buffering via the kernel or some other mechanism).
Millions of database have run on hdds for decades just fine. They didn’t know what they’re talking about.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I put it on a larger HDD because my SSD was running out of space and it corrupted about a week later.
Nothing to do with it being an hdd.
When you say database, do you mean the OS and the server install? That’s my current setup; ssd for OS and anything that needs installing, with hdds for the actual content.
I’m sure docker is easier if you know it… that’s like the point, afaik, but while basic use might be easy, it’s… never ever that easy for me, something always goes wrong, which is why I haven’t bothered yet. I know I should, I know it’ll make things easier (hypothetically), but it feels like a huge undertaking for someone with no skills. I’ve been looking for a super noob friendly instruction guide, and have not found one that I can work with, tbh, without a bunch of other know-how that I don’t have. (If you know of any I’d be eternally grateful!!!)
Without docker you still just copy your files from Windows to Linux, though you have to find the right directories for that. Jellyfin can be installed directly on Debian. Just add their repo and go
Is there a reason you’re not considering running this in a VM?
I could see a case where you go for a native install on a virtual machine, attach a virtual disk to isolate your library from the rest of the filesystem, and then move that around (or just straight up mount that directory in the container) as needed.
That way you can back up your library separately from your JF server implementation and go hog wild.
That’s too much work; I don’t know how to do it and have it work; I don’t want to put forth that much effort to learn an entire new dynamic for something literally nobody actually cares about but me… I mean there’s tons of reasons I wouldn’t want to do that.
As a self-host community that should be like… understood…? But I was apparently wrong to make that assumption. Most of this community can’t even suggest anything that doesn’t involve docker. Which is super lame for low-level hosts.
Take a distro with a package manager you are familiar with. Debian should do it.
And try out docker it’s really easy to learn and straight forward.
Jellyfin has a well documented docker compose.yml which is just a textfile that points out the facts like used versions, environment and volume paths.
I did a transition from my docker compose tools to a new system in under an hour yesterday. All I had to do was backup the volumes or data paths. Firing up the containers looks like a new install but it’s just downloading the container and everything runs like before without losing any config.
Standard answer: Debian.
If you really don’t want Debian, the next answer is Rocky or Alma.
really good file management options; bulk rename with rules is a must even if it’s an additional program
This has nothing to do with the distro. Powerful rename tools are available everywhere. Personally, I just let Radarr etc. handle the importing and renaming of files and I never touch them (well, hardly ever).
I do my downloads manually at the moment because everything I’ve seen for radarr, sonarr, overseerr, etc. require docker and I’m nowhere near docker level skills.No idea where to even start. I view my servers as a zen curation effort. It makes me happy to do, so I don’t mind (tho I don’t want to redo it if I can avoid it), but some stuff, like original doctor who and lots of the educational stuff I like, are an absolute disaster for Plex… the season/episode naming is just very different… so I want it for stuff like that.
I don’t mind the idea of raw Debian but I’ve heard it’s a pain to set up if you don’t already know what you are doing with it? And I’m not sure I know what I’m doing with it.
Docker is pretty easy to use, and is easy to play with either on your own system (linux or windows) or in VM guest system. The learning curve isn’t that high and Jellyfin for example has a clear set up guide for docker on their wiki.
But radarr, sonarr etc can be installed directly within linux without docker. The Servarr wiki (that these projects use officially to share information as they’re so similar) has lots of straight forward guides for set up on Linux, Windows, Mac etc as well as Docker.
I have a Linux guest VM set up with a Radarr, Sonarr etc set up, VPN and torrent set up. It was easy to do and means its network activity is all securely contained away from my host system. The tools let me set naming rules and file preferences. The library is a shared n folder in my host system, and that is included in my Jellyfin library. So all I have to do is subscribe to something i am interested in and it will just appear in my library once downloaded. The servarr tools are extremely convenient and worth looking at if you’re adding to that 30tb library over time.
That sounds pretty easy. I guess maybe docker is just this… like… monolithic thing everyone says you need to know and I… don’t…? So having the vm option is probably chill, thanks!
I’m sure it’s not as big as it seems, but it just… seems super overwhelming.
I’ll do some looking into that. It’s just been this… albatross. I’d love to have the rrs set up. I appreciate a non-docker starting point! Thank you!
everything I’ve seen for radarr, sonarr, overseerr, etc. require docker
Back when I was using Sonarr a couple years ago before that really good free tracker died, I wasn’t using docker at all. Just a systemd unit for the server and one for the web interface I believe, or maybe just the one for both. I’m on Arch.
I hope that helps.
That does help, thank you!
I’m not ready to dive into docker, so very helpful. :)
You should stop listening to whoever told you Debian is hard to set up or keep running immediately, and never go to them for advice, ever again, about anything.
If you can install Plex on Windows, U until, or MacOS you can install it on Debian. It’s not fucking Arch ffs.
Debian
If you use docker, it doesnt matter the distro. And to use docker, you dont really need to understand how/why it works. As long as you can take an example compose file and spin it up (docker compose up) it’ll be less complicated in the long run than managing plex on the host machine (or most software for that matter, which is why containerization is so popular.)
I don’t know anything about docker, unfortunately. And I want this swapped before I have time to learn it.
It’s on my to-do to learn, but I haven’t found any good intro guides that make it accessible, and my uhh… “workflow” heh, works with that limitation. It’s very manual. Not ideal, but I haven’t yet had the energy to teach myself docker.
I really think the learning curve will be less than you think. Please consider at least reading the installation instructions. Here’s the page for linuxserver.io’s maintained plex docker container. I’ve linked to the usage section, where you can copy the compose file to deploy it. https://github.com/linuxserver/docker-plex?tab=readme-ov-file#usage
Adding to the Docker chorus. I started using Docker before even using the command line. My route in was to use Unraid but that may not be best for you. I use Portainer in another install but I think the way it handles storage is a bit obtuse. In any case, as many others have said, using Docker is a piece of cake once you understand the basic ideas. Those being that a container is like a portable self contained machine that runs a specific service and any persistent storage needs to be outside the container. Containers are always my first idea when running a service as you know they will work on your system, you don’t have to worry that there will be conflicts or whatever.
Debian is always the answer for a stable, easy to set up server OS.
You don’t need to use Docker if you don’t want to, you can install Plex/Jellyfin using their normal apt repos instead.
Bonus round: anyone who’s ever transferred Plex servers from win to Linux (insert flavor), is it actually possible to keep my collections and playlists and stuff?
Yes, transfer your plex database and that will come with it.
Acronyms, initialisms, abbreviations, contractions, and other phrases which expand to something larger, that I’ve seen in this thread:
Fewer Letters More Letters LTS Long Term Support software version NAS Network-Attached Storage Plex Brand of media server package RAID Redundant Array of Independent Disks for mass storage SBC Single-Board Computer SSD Solid State Drive mass storage VPN Virtual Private Network
[Thread #849 for this sub, first seen 4th Jul 2024, 02:55] [FAQ] [Full list] [Contact] [Source code]
OpenSuSE is a good distro with nice tools like Yast that have a decent CLI interface, and has server releases. The leap edition is stable but relatively up to date.
But there are lots of viable alternatives, and if you’re going to use Docker then the host distro is probably not as important as you think.
Simplest route may be to set up a demo server within a VM and see which one chimes the most with your style of use and maintenance. You could have a functioning demo server with docker and deploy both jellyfin and Plex in 20mins.
No docker knowledge at all. So I appreciate the info, genuinely :)
I actually know someone who used to use opensuse years ago. They are the ones that turned me on to Ubuntu, but despite (or because of) being a big-wig security pro, I doubt they remember much of it. :) so I’m just assuming I’m on my own with it.
I do flash media booting to test stuff, but I refuse to test on the actual host pc because there’s too much chance of fucking up (any chance is too much; I have no RAID backup, no backup at all, can’t afford that many drives and I’m playing fast and loose with it)… I don’t even plan to keep my drives installed when I swap, juuuust in case I fuck it up monumentally. Some of what I have is wildly difficult to find and came from the actual library in town…
Then I’d definitely set up a test system in a VM on your own PC (I.e. not the actual server machines). Even if you don’t want to use Docker, you can set up a complete version of your new server and practice deploying Jellyfin and Plex, and then test accessing it “remotely” to manage it. You can then decide whether switching away from Win11 is worth it.
If you’re not familiar with the process of setting up a linux server then I’d actually suggest Debian instead of OpenSuSe. Looking at the Jellyfin guide for example it specifically covers the steps for installing directly onto a Debian host (while OpenSuSE set up means using the Fedora RPM guide). There are also straight forward guides for setting up a Debian server.
Personally I’m not a fan of Ubuntu (because of Canonical and Snap etc) but there may also be a good choice just because there are so many guides out there for setting up Ubuntu server.
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Ignore the noise and use Ubuntu LTS. Subscribe for the free Ubuntu Pro service. Enjoy boring, trouble-free operation.
If you’re hell bent on not using Ubuntu, use Debian. Enjoy boring, trouble-free operation.
In either case, use Docker. I don’t know what the version of Docker is in Debian but in Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, it’s recent enough so you don’t have to f around with third party repos.
I use Fedora Server with Podman (instead of Docker). I am not a noob either, but cockpit provides a really useful GUI for managing the whole operating system.
I’ll look into that, I don’t know anything about docker, which apparently I should do…… so that’s actually really helpful, thanks!
How is podman it for like… someone who doesn’t really have any strong ties to or knowledge of any existing thing?
Syntax-wise, it’s meant to be identical. I got on board when they were the only ones that enabled rootless (without admin privileges) mode. That’s no longer the case since rootless docker has been out for a while.
I’m personally a fan of the red hat docs and how-to’s on podman over the mixed bag of tech bro medium articles I associate with docker.
At the end of the day this is a bit of a Pokemon starter question. If your top priority is to get a reasonably common and straightforward job done just pick one and see where it takes you! :)
That’s super fair and probably much more so than the tech bros…
Holy shit have the answers to my question just been docker bros… super not into that focus.
I’ve been running my shit for over a decade without docker/docker-like stuff. I’m just really flabbergasted that almost nobody has a non-docker option… like… it’s Linux, there has to be a good middle ground, right? For basic uses, like mine with my whopping 12 total users… maybe this is the wrong community to ask… maybe Lemmy is the wrong platform to ask. Idk.
And frankly it’s turning me off to Debian… like Debian is great as a base system!! But nobody seemingly wants to interact with someone who doesn’t docker which defeats the purpose of finding a good distro? And like I “know” Debian core is… apparently difficult to use as a daily driver? and needs tons of modification?.. And I know this is sort of the same thing but at least it isn’t -docker- holy fuck.
But you are probably right, pick something and cross fingers is probably the right option for what I’m doing because… this has not been a helpful thread overall tbh. But I appreciate you interacting with me, this was worth the effort. :)
:) you don’t have to use containers, but they do simplify the install.
I don’t use containers.
There’s also no Setup.exe to download run where you just Next, Next, Finish.
So, instead, I have to install separate packages, configure them, deal with conflicting requirements, etc…
Did I have to learn Docker? No. Did I have to learn something else? Yes.
As someone else mentioned, spending some time learning what / how / why you’re doing will help massively later on. Probably why you’re getting Docker answers, they’re auto-suggesting it to start you off with something simpler…
I’m just really flabbergasted that almost nobody has a non-docker option… like… it’s Linux, there has to be a good middle ground, right?
Bro. Debian. People here have said Debian. You’re talking about distros like you’re going to be using this machine to do your personal banking, gaming, or whatever else you use your daily driver pc for. This is a server that will run a service. You can install it on a headless machine if you want. If you don’t want Docker just install Debian and call it a day.
I mean if you want to try Ubuntu go ahead, but it’s just Debian with some extra shit slapped on top. If you want to try Arch going ahead, but it’s rolling and updates will bork your Plex. If you want to try Kali go ahead, but it’s just Debian with different extra shit slapped on top.
I’m not trying to be a dick, but I really don’t understand what kind of answer you’re looking for here.
My recommendation is to run your PMS on TempleOS.
Cool, I’m well aware of what people have told me thanks. I’ve gotten literally all of the notifications.
You -are-being a dick, whether you are “trying to” or not :) and clearly didn’t even read the OP, so have a great night friend.
Temple isn’t even a valid useable os, how are you -not-being a giant dick? 🙄
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Hey, good for you going through and downvoting all my comments on my own post.
Good for you. So very mature.
I don’t see anywhere that I wasn’t engaging with people and asking questions so… I guess I’m super sorry I don’t know the things you think I should.
But honestly please just go away. :) I don’t want you in my notifications :)
Another vote for Debian, and I’ll suggest you go ahead and install Jellyfin directly rather than messing with Docker.
https://jellyfin.org/downloads/server
I’d been running JF under Docker on my NAS, but when I moved to a new server I decided to just install it directly and it hasn’t been any problem at all. You’ll get a notification when it needs to be updated and it’s just a few clicks to do so. You won’t have to fight with Docker to get hardware acceleration working - which isn’t to say it won’t be a PITA, but it’s one less layer of complication.I’ll add my vote as it’s not been mentioned: DietPi - based on Debian (since the majority are recommending that) and has a really easy “one click” menu system to install apps (of which include Jellyfin, Plex). And a built in updater to keep everything up to date. And it’ll install on pretty much anything (SBCs, new PCs, old PCs, VMs).
No need to use docker, it installs everything directly, though it does support it if you want to go down that route.
Or, DietPi with CasaOS which is a web interface and app store for docker installations.
Lastly, Plex have their own guide on what you need to copy to move your Plex data from one system to another: https://support.plex.tv/articles/201370363-move-an-install-to-another-system/
Thanks for taking the time to interact! I appreciate the recommendation and I’ll look into it (because it’s not Debian and docker. Debian is great, I’m sure docker is fine… but I’m super disenchanted on docker after this thread if I’m being honest)
Is it a pi because it’s made to run on a raspberrypi/orangepi/bananpi sort of system?
That’s not a bad thing, just asking. I use my rpi for pihole, but I know the os is just a pretty Linux distro.
I hear a lot of people use rpi as a host for such things. It might work for me but I have shitty old hardware that also does the job.
but I’m super disenchanted on docker after this thread if I’m being honest
What made you feel that way? (I’m not too familiar with docker much tbh and I’m thinking of hosting on a Pi just like you.)
Mostly just nobody having a simple os choice that doesn’t seemingly need docker.
I don’t want docker, I don’t need docker, everything has been running for over a decade without it and maybe that makes me old and shit but… so stupid to just “docker!!!”.
It’s way way overkill for my setup and needs and yet nearly all of the replies to my post require or strongly encourage it. Maybe someday I will learn it but this isn’t encouraging, at all. It makes me want to avoid using docker because if this is what happens when people start using it (they have zero other options) and I’m not into it.
I use NixOS for all my systems now, single config covers two servers, laptop, notebook and desktop.
Containers aren’t something to be afraid of, I’ve found nix + podman to be super easy to use / configure, so much it’s a copy / paste a config from another container with some small directory changes.
If you are not someone who likes using a terminal perhaps nix isn’t for you. I’ve found forcing the terminal & configuring via nix has given me much more insight into my machines / os than ever before. If you’ve got the time to mess with Nix I’d recommend it.
If that sounds like a bunch of effort and time to get something that may be easier via another method, I’d say Proxmox is the way to go.
Running through my config I’ve just noticed that I’ve got an IP conflict that I wasn’t aware of, but makes total sense right now 😅
Funnily enough, I use FreeBSD. It’s simple and easy. Native zfs is perfect for lots of media. I only forgo hw acceleration but don’t miss it at all
Cool, thanks I’ll look into that :) I like easy!
I don’t typically need hw acceleration for transcoding (my users baaaaarely would use it, if at all, and I bumped up the default buffer to account for stuff anyway while testing other issues, and never set it back from 30k seconds because it works nicely for me (pre load or load, seems to work the same but this is better for bad internet) so that works! I’ll probably have to reconfigure but that super long buffer has worked wonders for my partners parents. They have super shit internet and are, other than a couple friends, my only real users.
I use appjails to containerise my apps like jellyfin, it’s similar to docker but simpler and more powerful (docker does not support freebsd)
