Linux Configuration

Linux Configuration

Configure your Plex server for optimal operation on Linux.

Basic Settings

Access settings at http://localhost:32400/web → Settings.

Service Configuration

Edit /etc/default/plexmediaserver:

# User to run as
PLEX_MEDIA_SERVER_USER=plex

# Application support directory
PLEX_MEDIA_SERVER_APPLICATION_SUPPORT_DIR=/var/lib/plexmediaserver/Library/Application Support

# Max plugin processes
PLEX_MEDIA_SERVER_MAX_PLUGIN_PROCS=6

Apply changes:

sudo systemctl restart plexmediaserver

Hardware Transcoding

Intel Quick Sync

# Check for Intel GPU
ls /dev/dri/

# Install VA-API drivers
sudo apt install intel-media-va-driver vainfo

# Verify
vainfo

# Add plex to video group
sudo usermod -aG video plex
sudo systemctl restart plexmediaserver

NVIDIA

# Install NVIDIA drivers
sudo apt install nvidia-driver-535

# Add plex to video group
sudo usermod -aG video plex

Tip

For Docker, see the Docker guide for GPU passthrough.

Systemd Service

Custom service file at /etc/systemd/system/plexmediaserver.service:

[Unit]
Description=Plex Media Server
After=network-online.target

[Service]
Type=simple
User=plex
Group=plex
ExecStart=/usr/lib/plexmediaserver/Plex Media Server
Restart=on-failure
RestartSec=5

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

Data Directory

Move data to custom location:

# Stop Plex
sudo systemctl stop plexmediaserver

# Move data
sudo mv /var/lib/plexmediaserver /new/path/plexmediaserver

# Update config
sudo nano /etc/default/plexmediaserver
# Set PLEX_MEDIA_SERVER_APPLICATION_SUPPORT_DIR

# Start Plex
sudo systemctl start plexmediaserver

Next Steps

• Libraries
• Docker