Having used unRAID for two years, there are many useful plugins available which I like to use.

 

With the recent regular updates and shared resources/dependencies used by the plugins, I seem to be getting the occasional difficulties running some plugins.

 

I now would prefer to keep my unRAID server as stock as possible but still want to use many of these great plugins

 

What would be the lowest powered device I could use just for plugins? I have plenty of spare small drives about that I could use. Would  VM be better?

 

As I use them regularly I would prefer a separately standalone device

 

Any suggestions? Has anyone else done this?

A VM is a good way to go.  That is the way I went with virtualbox and a windows 7 VM on that.

I would prefer to keep my W7 machine separate really as use plugins such as PMS that I would run 24/7 and wouldn't want my W7 on permanently

My W7 is a VM whih is running on the same box as unraid using virtualbox. If unraid is always on then W7 can also be for the same power.

My W7 is a VM whih is running on the same box as unraid using virtualbox. If unraid is always on then W7 can also be for the same power.

 

Makes sense

 

So you are running unRAID with virtualbox plugin running windows running a VM with unRAID?

 

Or using w7 with VM for 2x unraids?

 

Is it possible to run unRAID with virtualbox with VM just for unRAID and bypass using w7?

 

 

What?

 

I am running regular unraid.

On that I have virtualboxplugin.

On virtualbox I have a W7 VM.

On the W7 VM I installed apps I need that dont have an unraid plugin equvalent or are simpler to install under windows than under unraid.

Sorry I was still focusing on using unRAID addons rather than using windows program's.

 

Have you created shares in windows to link to the unRAID array?

Sorry I was still focusing on using unRAID addons rather than using windows program's.

 

Have you created shares in windows to link to the unRAID array?

 

Yes I created shares but not regular share rather shares via the phpvirtualbox interface.

They seem faster and do not transfer over the network but instead directly to unRAID.

See here:

http://www.virtualbox.org/manual/ch04.html#sharedfolders

 

 

Thanks

 

I've been reading through your plugin notes. I'm just clearing my plugins / cache back to Stock as I had some old files causing a conflict on php

maybe try a pogoplug (or similar) with arch linux arm. not enough horsepower for plex transcoding though, but definitely cheap, low power, and lots of tutorials for all the things you might use plugins for on unRAID.

 

http://archlinuxarm.org

I'd suggest running an low resource Ubuntu derivative like Lubuntu. Less RAM and CPU power you'd have to devote to the VM versus Windows, not to mention not needing a Windows license. If you're comfortable enough with the command line you could also just use Ubuntu Server which has no GUI at all, therefore using the least amount of resources possible. If you're using plugins like SABnzbd, SickBeard, etc. you can then use the excellent LaSi script to automate the installation of those applications. https://github.com/Mar2zz/LaSi

 

Plex also makes a package for Ubuntu based Linux distrobutions that you can use. http://www.plexapp.com/getplex/

 

If you prefer not to go the VM route, this stuff will all run on a pretty old and/or low powered separate PC you may have lying around. Obviously Plex transcoding would require a decent CPU but otherwise they'll all run fine.

The main program's I would be looking at are sab/SB/cp, openvpn server and a web server for owncloud

 

My unRAID server is an i5 with 8gb ram so happy to keep plex on there as well as APCUPSD for my ups.

 

I have a separate W7 desktop that I would like to keep as a work machine not serving anything. A separate pc (3rd pc) low powered would be my ideal solution

 

Would Ubuntu or a variant handle the above? If headless can sab etc be accessed over IP address? Have dabbled with Linux but not proficient by an means

 

Thinking of an older 1u server for this?

 

Thanks for the input

The main program's I would be looking at are sab/SB/cp, openvpn server and a web server for owncloud

 

Would Ubuntu or a variant handle the above? If headless can sab etc be accessed over IP address? Have dabbled with Linux but not proficient by an means

 

Thinking of an older 1u server for this?

Absolutely! This is fairly simple actually. I would say the ARM/pogoplug solution could do this fairly well, with the possible exception of the openvpn server depending on the number of clients (the openvpn client itself seems to be ok). I would think a low powered Atom or AMD Bobcat (E350) server could easily handle these duties. An older Core 2 Duo, P4, or similar would also be fine (although not as low powered, especially the P4).

 

Ubuntu, Arch Linux, Mint, etc. could all handle these duties with ease. There are plenty of tutorials for those OSes to help you install these applications.

I would actually go a different route.  Make ane low power setup for your unraid and use your current hardware to build a working box for all your other needs.  Basic unraid setup can run on almost anithing, move your plex and other stuff to the workhorse machine.

 

Sent from my SGH-T889 using Tapatalk 4

 

 

I do have a spare core 2 duo with 6gb ram which i would plan to use as a separate plugin server. i wouldnt have enough sata ports or to be able to add enough sata cards for my setup (and planned expansion) so would leave the i5 as the server and plex transcoder

 

if i was doing it again though i would use a low powered machine and switch it round.