Drobo Apps User manual

Drobo How-To Guide
Drobo Apps - Configuring Plex Media Server
drobo.com | Configuring Plex Media Server on the Drobo 5N
1
Plex is a media management system that organizes your entire collection of movies,
music, and photos making them available to all media devices in the connected home
and remotely accessible by Internet connected devices.
With support for streaming music, high definition video, and photo sharing, Plex is an
excellent way to centralize and share all of your rich media content stored on a Drobo.
This not only provides significantly increased throughput supporting multiple
simultaneous streams, but also ensures that data is stored in a redundant manner
protecting content from data loss due to a potential hard drive failure.
Like a Drobo, Plex does not require advanced IT knowledge to configure and interface with devices. Utilizing
standards based DLNA technology, Plex offers out of the box support by
nearly all network enabled televisions and media devices. On the go, MyPlex
offers access to all content stored on the Drobo streaming to mobile (iOS and
Android) devices using a standard broadband internet connection.
While the Plex Media Server core application is compatible with all Drobos, it
previously required a host computer. With the introduction of Plex for Drobo
Apps, connected devices can now stream directly from the Drobo 5N.
NOTE - Plex supports multiple video, audio, and photo formats. For full details on supported formats, visit their
website. There are additional features that Plex offers that will not be covered in this guide.
Topics'
'Create'a'Plex'Media'Share'
'Enabling'DroboApps'and'Installing'Plex'Media'Server''
'Configuring'Plex'Media'Server'
Plex Media Center
What'You'Will'Need'
•!"#$#%&'%
•()*%+,-*.-%!"#$#%!,.)$#,"/%,0/%12"34,"*%"*+*,.*%%
)--56774448/"#$#89#37.-,"-7/"#$#:&0:.-,"-85)5%
•;+*<%=*/2,%>*0-*"%?@5-2#0,+7A*9#33*0/*/B%
)--567744485+*<,5589#37C*-5+*<720/*<85)5%
Prerequisites'
()2.%/#9D3*0-%,..D3*.%-),-%,%!"#$#%.-#",C*%/*E29*%),.%$**0%20.-,++*/F%9#012CD"*/F%,0/%2.%/2.9#E*",$+*%
$G%-)*% !"#$#% !,.)$#,"/8% % H1% -)*.*% .-*5.% ),E*% 0#-% $**0% 9#35+*-*/F% 1#++#4% -)*% !"##$%&' (#)*#"+' !,$+"%
,E,2+,$+*%,-%-)*%IAJ%$*+#48%
)--56774448/"#$#89#37.-,"-7/#40+#,/7/#97!"#$#:&':C*--20C:.-,"-*/:*085/1%
%

Drobo How-To Guide
Drobo Apps - Configuring Plex Media Server
drobo.com | Configuring Plex Media Server on the Drobo 5N
2
Video'formats'and'Transcoding'
K)2+*% -)*% &'% .D55#"-.% .-"*,320C% 3D+-25+*% )2C)% /*1202-2#0% E2/*#.% .23D+-,0*#D.+GF% 2-% 2.% 0#-% 5#..2$+*% -#%
-",0.9#/*% L!% E2/*#%20%"*,+:-23*8%%% M#"%$*.-%D.*"%*<5*"2*09*F% !"#$#% "*9#33*0/.%D.20C% ,%;+*<% *0,$+*/%
/*E29*%#E*"%!J'N%,.%2-%42++%,++#4%1#"%0,-2E*%5+,G$,9O%#1%E2/*#%9#0-*0-%.-#"*/%#0%-)*%!"#$#8%%
M#"% 3#$2+*% /*E29*.F% E2/*#% 9#0-*0-% 42++% 0**/% -#% $*% 9#0E*"-*/% -#% ,% .D2-,$+*%1#"3,-% $*1#"*% 2-% 9,0% $*%
,99*..*/%,0/%.-"*,3*/%-#%,%=G;+*<%,99#D0-8%%M#"%3#"*%201#"3,-2#0%#0%-",0.9#/20C%,0/%!J'N%.D55#"-F%
9#0.D+-%-)*%IAJ%$*+#48%
%)--567742O285+*<,5589#3720/*<85)57MNP6Q;+*<Q=*/2,QR*"E*"Q,0/Q'NR%
Create'a'Plex'Media'Share'
STEP'1''
%
%
J#,/%-)*%!"#$#%
!,.)$#,"/%,0/%.*+*9-%
-)*%&'8%
%

Drobo How-To Guide
Drobo Apps - Configuring Plex Media Server
drobo.com | Configuring Plex Media Server on the Drobo 5N
3
STEP'2'
%
%
@0%-)*%Shares%-,$F%
9+29O%-)*%Share'
Settings%$D--#0%-#%
9"*,-*%,%0*-4#"O%
.),"*%-),-%42++%$*%D.*/%
42-)%;+*<8%
NOTE'-'./$0"'10"2'
+3"4'%3#'*"5,$*"')'
+"+$6)#"+'4/)*"7'$#'$4'
*"6388"%+"+9'':/$4'
63%;$&,*)#$3%'0$8$#4'
</)#'+)#)'<$00'="'
),#38)#$6)00>'$%+"2"+'
)%+')++"+'#3'10"29'
%
%
STEP'3''
%
%
S0-*"%,%0,3*%1#"%-)*%
.),"*%-),-%42++%$*%D.*/%
$G%;+*<8%
H0%-)2.%*<,35+*%-)*%
.),"*%0,3*%Plex%42++%
$*%D.*/8%%%
>+29O%OK'-#%9#0-20D*8%

Drobo How-To Guide
Drobo Apps - Configuring Plex Media Server
drobo.com | Configuring Plex Media Server on the Drobo 5N
4
STEP'4'
%
%
>#012CD"*%D.*"%,99*..%
1#"%-)*%;+*<%.),"*%,0/%
9+29O%OK%-#%9#35+*-*%
-)*%42T,"/8%
NOTE'-'?4"*')66"44'
3%0>');;"6#4'4/)*"'0"@"0'
)66"449'''
10"2'+3"4'%3#'$%60,+"'
,4"*'0"@"0')66"44';3*'
4#*")8$%&'60$"%#49'''A00'
4#*")8$%&'60$"%#4'6)%'
4""')00'+)#)')++"+'#3'
10"29'
%
%
%
STEP'5'
%
%
>+29O%#0%-)*%0*4+G%
9"*,-*/%.),"*%-#%3,5%2-%
-#%-)*%)#.-%9#35D-*"8%
>#5G%E2/*#F%,D/2#F%,0/%
23,C*%9#0-*0-%-#%-)*%
0*4+G%9"*,-*/%;+*<%
.),"*8%%%
H-%2.%"*9#33*0/*/%-),-%
,%.*5,",-*%1#+/*"%2.%D.*/%
1#"%*,9)%3*/2,%-G5*8%
NOTE'-'B*3=3'
B)4/=3)*+'3%'.$%+3<4'
/34#4'<$00'C*38C#';3*')'
+*$@"'0"##"*'=";3*"'
8)CC$%&')'4/)*"9'''

Drobo How-To Guide
Drobo Apps - Configuring Plex Media Server
drobo.com | Configuring Plex Media Server on the Drobo 5N
5
Enabling'DroboApps'and'Installing'Plex'Media'Server'
STEP'1'
%
%
>+29O%-)*%Drobo'
Settings'+20O%20%-)*%
+*1-%9#+D30%,0/%-)*0%
.*+*9-%Admin'
Settings.'
R*+*9-%-)*%Enable'
Drobo'Apps'
9)*9O$#<',0/%-)*0%
9+29O%OK8%
@09*%!"#$#N55.%
.D55#"-%),.%$**0%
*0,$+*/F%,%+2.-%#1%
,E,2+,$+*%,55+29,-2#0.%
42++%$*%,D-#3,-29,++G%
5#5D+,-*/8%
%
STEP'2'
%
%
>+29O%-)*%Drobo'Apps'
+20O%20%-)*%+*1-%9#+D30%
,0/%-)*0%.*+*9-%Plex'%
1"#3%-)*%+2.-%#1%!"#$#%
N55.8%
>+29O%-)*%Install'$D--#0%
-#%$*C20%-)*%
20.-,++,-2#0%5"#9*..8%%%
;+*<%42++%$*%
,D-#3,-29,++G%
/#40+#,/*/%1"#3%
!"#$#%,0/%20.-,++*/%#0%
-)*%&'8%
'

Drobo How-To Guide
Drobo Apps - Configuring Plex Media Server
drobo.com | Configuring Plex Media Server on the Drobo 5N
6
Configuring'Plex'Media'Server'
STEP'1'
%
%
@09*%-)*%;+*<%
20.-,++,-2#0%),.%
9#35+*-*/F%9+29O%-)*%
>#012C%29#0%-#%$*C20%
-)*%202-2,+%
9#012CD",-2#0%5"#9*..8%
N%$"#4.*"%420/#4%42++%
$*%42++%+,D09)*/%,0/%
-)*%;+*<%=*/2,%R*"E*"%
20-*"1,9*%+#,/*/8%
'
STEP'2'
%
%
(#%,//%3*/2,%-#%%-)*%
;+*<%+2$","GF%9+29O%-)*%+'
(Add'Section)%$D--#0%
D0/*"%My'Library8%

Drobo How-To Guide
Drobo Apps - Configuring Plex Media Server
drobo.com | Configuring Plex Media Server on the Drobo 5N
7
STEP'3'
%
%
R*+*9-%-)*%!"#$#%1"#3%
-)*%+2.-%#1%=*/2,%
R*"E*".8%%%
NOTE'-'D;'%3'3#/"*'
10"2'4"*@"*4'"2$4#'3%'
#/"'%"#<3*E7'#/"'
B*3=3'<$00'="'
),#38)#$6)00>'
4"0"6#"+9''%
%
%
STEP'4'
%
%
R*+*9-%-)*%3*/2,%-G5*%
-),-%42++%$*%,//*/%-#%
-)*%.*9-2#08%
NOTE'-':/$4'F3<G:3'
3%0>'63@"*4')++$%&'
H3@$"4'#3'10"29'''
I"C")#'#/"'4#"C4'$%'
#/$4'4"6#$3%'#3')++'
3#/"*'#>C"4'3;'8"+$)'
3*')++$#$3%)0'036)#$3%4'
3;'#/"'4)8"'8"+$)'
#>C"9%
%
%

Drobo How-To Guide
Drobo Apps - Configuring Plex Media Server
drobo.com | Configuring Plex Media Server on the Drobo 5N
8
STEP'5'
%
%
S0-*"%,%/*.9"25-2#0%20%
-)*%Name'12*+/%-),-%
9),",9-*"2T*.%-)*%
9#0-*0-%-#%$*%,//*/%
,0/%-)*0%9+29O%Add'a'
Folder8%
%
%
STEP'6'
%
%
>+29O%Browse'Folders%
-#%0,E2C,-*%-#%-)*%;+*<%
.),"*8%
%

Drobo How-To Guide
Drobo Apps - Configuring Plex Media Server
drobo.com | Configuring Plex Media Server on the Drobo 5N
9
STEP'7'
%
%
R*+*9-%-)*%0*4+G%
9"*,-*/%Plex'.),"*%
1"#3%-)*%+2.-%#1%,++%
.),"*.%#0%-)*%!"#$#%
,0/%9+29O%Add'Folder.'
%
STEP'8'
%
%
U*"21G%-)*%R*9-2#0%
0,3*%,0/%5,-)%,"*%
9#""*9-%,0/%9+29O%Add'
Section.'
%
%

Drobo How-To Guide
Drobo Apps - Configuring Plex Media Server
drobo.com | Configuring Plex Media Server on the Drobo 5N
10
STEP'9'
%
%
;+*<%42++%0#4%$*C20%
20/*<20C%-)*%3*/2,%20%
-)*%0*4+G%9"*,-*/%
R*9-2#08%
NOTE'-'B"C"%+$%&'3%'
#/"')83,%#')%+'#>C"'
3;'8"+$)7'#/"'$%+"2$%&'
C*36"44'6)%'#)E"'
63%4$+"*)=0"'#$8"9''A4'
$#"84')*"'C*36"44"+'
#/"'$%#"*;)6"'<$00'
),#38)#$6)00>',C+)#"9''
%
STEP'10'
%
%
>+29O%#0%-)*% %29#0F%
.*+*9-%Plex/Web%,0/%
-)*0%.*+*9-%Player.'
I0/*"%Local'QualityF%
9),0C*%-)*%/"#5/#40%
-#%20Mbps,'1080p%,0/%
9+29O%Save.'
'
%
'
%
%
%
;+*<%=*/2,%R*"E*"%2.%0#4%20.-,++*/%,0/%"*,/G%-#%D.*8%%K)2+*%;+*<%9#0-*0-%9,0%$*%,99*..*/%1"#3%,%4*$%
$"#4.*"F%E2*420C%9#0-*0-%E2,%-)*%;+*<%=*/2,%>*0-*"%?#D-+20*/%20%-)*%0*<-%.*9-2#0B%#11*".%,%.D5*"2#"%D.*"%
*<5*"2*09*8%%%
%
%

Drobo How-To Guide
Drobo Apps - Configuring Plex Media Server
drobo.com | Configuring Plex Media Server on the Drobo 5N
11
Plex Media Center
Download and install Plex Media Center for the Mac or PC from the URL below.
)--567744485+*<,5589#37C*-5+*<720/*<85)5
NOTE -Plex Media Server is optimized for a fullscreen user experience on a computer or television. To exit or return
to fullscreen mode, press “\” in OSX or “alt-enter” in Windows.
STEP'1'
%
%
J,D09)%;+*<%=*/2,%
R*"E*"%
@09*%+#,/*/F%-)*%;+*<%
=*/2,%R*"E*"%"D0020C%
#0%-)*%!"#$#%42++%$*%
,D-#3,-29,++G%
/*-*9-*/8%%%
R*+*9-%Movies',0/%
5"*..%enter8%
'
STEP'2'
%
%
R*+*9-%All'Movies',0/%
5"*..%enter8%
N%+2.-%#1%,++%3#E2*%
9#0-*0-%,//*/%-#%-)*%
;+*<%=*/2,%R*"E*"%20%
-)*%5"*E2#D.%.-*5%42++%
$*%/2.5+,G*/8%%
R*+*9-%,%3#E2*%,0/%
5"*..%enter'-#%$*C20%
4,-9)20C8%
%%%
Drobo !2460 North First Street, Suite 100, San Jose, CA !www.drobo.com !1.866.97.DROBO
Copyright 2013 Drobo, Inc. Data Robotics, Drobo, Drobo5N, and Smart Volumes are trademarks of
Drobo, Inc., which may be registered in some jurisdictions. All other trademarks used are owned by their respective owners.
All rights reserved. Specifications subject to change without notice. !May 2013
%