Not sure if this is appropriate to ask on this forum, so if not, Admins, please delete.  Unfortunately, due to the recent hack of the plex support forums, it's much harder to get support from Plex.  And given my questions are probably somewhat specific to unRaid, perhaps this is the best place to ask the question.

 

I now have Plex running well and looking at the finer details.  One thing I've become aware is that plex likes to have a LOT of disk space for storing db, transcoded files, etc.  I suddenly realized that setting up the docker means that Plex and the various files are stored on the cache disk, which is limited to 20gb.  On my personal PC, the transcoding directory alone had 25gb of files.  So I'm looking at modifying where those files get stored.  I've installed a second 240GB SSD which I'd like to setup as the plex working files location.

 

1. What are some of the best practices for setting up Plex (I've not seen any unraid flavored setup guides).

 

2. Within plex settings, how do I refer to unRaid shares?  For instance, I've created the new SSD and named it PlexFiles.  In the transcoder section in plex settings, there is a temporary transcoder directory setting - what path would I put there?

 

Thanks in advance!

I now have Plex running well and looking at the finer details.  One thing I've become aware is that plex likes to have a LOT of disk space for storing db, transcoded files, etc.  I suddenly realized that setting up the docker means that Plex and the various files are stored on the cache disk, which is limited to 20gb.

Do you really mean that your cache disk is only 20GB in size?  Are you perhaps thinking of the docker.img file?  If properly configured then plex will be storing all its files externally to the docker.img file so that would not be the limiting factor.

Apologies, that was confusing.  Yes, the docker is 20GB.  The disk itself is 750GB.  Its probably alright in that config, just don't want to gobble up large quantities of my cache disk...

It won't gobble it up. The transcode folders are temp files that should delete after a while. I have a 250GB cache drive with multiple dockers including a well-stuffed Plex docker. Still have plenty of space left.

 

PS. Set your transcode working folder to RAM tmp.  That will both speed up transcoding as well as move it off the cache disk. Add this to your plex docker config:

 

Container volume: /transcode   

Host path:  /tmp

 

Then in Plex server config (in the plex webui) set your transcoding location to /transcode

 

Working out of ram sounds like the right way.  By transcoding location, you mean the Transcoder Temporary Directory setting?

 

http://my.jetscreenshot.com/12412/20150712-haud-77kb.jpg

 

 

that is the one! I was working off memory when I posted 

PS. Set your transcode working folder to RAM tmp.  That will both speed up transcoding as well as move it off the cache disk. Add this to your plex docker config:

 

Container volume: /transcode   

Host path:  /tmp

 

Then in Plex server config (in the plex webui) set your transcoding location to /transcode

 

If anyone else is reading this thread and thinking of doing the same, please keep in mind you should have a lot of extra ram available for saving your transcodes, and depending on your set up and how many transcoded streams you expect at once, or how much you've got syncing (if you have a plex pas) this could be multiple gigs of space / ram.

 

If you've got the overhead go for it though, as it's a pretty slick approach.

Quick update, I set it up and its working flawlessly so far.  However, I have 24GB of RAM, so plan accordingly...