WD NAS with Plex Server

[TootY]

Hi all, (I'm not too sure if this belongs in this topic)?

I'm hoping someone could shed some light on a current headache I've been having. I've read through posts and each time I'm coming to different answers to my question.

So in simple terms, will the WD My Cloud EX2 run Plex Server fine? Now when I mean fine, will it loads up movies and stream as it does from my PC?

If not, what would users recommend be purchase or what do people use for a NAS Plex Server and works'fine'?

I've read the following

Plex Media Server Western Digital NAS Support.
My Cloud Mirror Gen.1 & Gen. 2
My Cloud EX2
My Cloud EX4
My Cloud EX2100
My Cloud EX4100
My Cloud DL2100
My Cloud DL4100

Does the above mean it supports the EX2 and it runs or, it'll run but not stream as smooth as required?

Hope what I've said makes sense,

Thanks

[johnny5c]

I looked into it awhile back when the EX2 came out and it'll work just fine if you can play everything in its native format, it doesn't have the horsepower to transcode most files.  You can still use your PC for transcoding and the NAS for storage but it defeats the purpose of having a NAS.  I'm using a older server with dual Xeon's atm but plan on upgrading to a Qnap NAS that has a quad core CPU.

[TootY]

I looked into it awhile back when the EX2 came out and it'll work just fine if you can play everything in its native format, it doesn't have the horsepower to transcode most files.  You can still use your PC for transcoding and the NAS for storage but it defeats the purpose of having a NAS.  I'm using a older server with dual Xeon's atm but plan on upgrading to a Qnap NAS that has a quad core CPU.

Hi, thanks for the reply.

 

I've tried understand the 'native format' term but I'm not understand haha! Could I use software on my PC to change the format of the video downloaded and then upload it to the NAS?

 

For example, what should a 'native' format be?

 

Thanks,

[johnny5c]

Hi, thanks for the reply.

 

I've tried understand the 'native format' term but I'm not understand haha! Could I use software on my PC to change the format of the video downloaded and then upload it to the NAS?

 

For example, what should a 'native' format be?

 

Thanks

Native format basically means that if your videos are in lets say the MP4 format the device you're using for playback (smart TV, game counsel, Roku, ect) must support the MP4 format or Plex will transcode the stream into a format that is supported and that's what needs all the processing power.  Besides different file formats you may need transcoding for resolution support too, like if you're trying to play a 1080p video over a slow wifi connection that can't handle the traffic and Plex reduces the quality to 720p. 

[TootY]

Native format basically means that if your videos are in lets say the MP4 format the device you're using for playback (smart TV, game counsel, Roku, ect) must support the MP4 format or Plex will transcode the stream into a format that is supported and that's what needs all the processing power.  Besides different file formats you may need transcoding for resolution support too, like if you're trying to play a 1080p video over a slow wifi connection that can't handle the traffic and Plex reduces the quality to 720p. 

 

So basically a small NAS system wouldn't handle or be of muh use. What if your wanting to stream Plex to a single device such as Chromecast? Have movies for example, no higher than 1080p or something?

[johnny5c]

So basically a small NAS system wouldn't handle or be of muh use. What if your wanting to stream Plex to a single device such as Chromecast? Have movies for example, no higher than 1080p or something?

I have a couple Chromecasts and they support most file types so you shouldn't have any problems.  Besides Chromecast, my TV's and HTPC's play most things natively and it's mostly phones and tablets that require transcoding.  My main issue is with a wife and two kids it's very common for our household to have four streams going at once so that's why I'm going with a higher end NAS plus I want RAID10.

[TootY]

I have a couple Chromecasts and they support most file types so you shouldn't have any problems.  Besides Chromecast, my TV's and HTPC's play most things natively and it's mostly phones and tablets that require transcoding.  My main issue is with a wife and two kids it's very common for our household to have four streams going at once so that's why I'm going with a higher end NAS plus I want RAID10.

 

Yeah I think I'm slowly understanding. So, if I were to have only one stream which is all that ever happens. Have the movie on NAS along with the Plex server, then using my phone to chromecast it over, would that work? Or should I cast it straight from the NAS?

 

Or would none of the above work, the product I'm talking about it was too underpowered to handle it full stop?

[johnny5c]

Yeah I think I'm slowly understanding. So, if I were to have only one stream which is all that ever happens. Have the movie on NAS along with the Plex server, then using my phone to chromecast it over, would that work? Or should I cast it straight from the NAS?

 

Or would none of the above work, the product I'm talking about it was too underpowered to handle it full stop?

 

I have no problems using my Android phone with Chromecast and Plex, CPU usage on the server never goes above 1-2% so it's streaming the native format.

[TootY]

I have no problems using my Android phone with Chromecast and Plex, CPU usage on the server never goes above 1-2% so it's streaming the native format.

 

Ah OK! So in conclusion - The above product I described should be fine for using Plex and sending it over to my Chromcast device?

 

EDIT * What kind of formats should I keep my movies to prevent problems? If that makes sense?

[johnny5c]

Ah OK! So in conclusion - The above product I described should be fine for using Plex and sending it over to my Chromcast device?

 

EDIT * What kind of formats should I keep my movies to prevent problems? If that makes sense?

I ripped all of my stuff to MP4 but not sure what's best anymore so check the Plex forum.

[TootY]

I ripped all of my stuff to MP4 but not sure what's best anymore so check the Plex forum.

 

Thanks for the help, I'll purchase one and report back. I think I'll get the WD EX2 or EX4

[TootY]

Johnny, do you currently on a WD EX2 or something similar?