====== Ubuntu - Plex - Configure Plex Media Server ======

Create the directories that will store the Plex media files:

<code bash>
sudo mkdir -p /mnt/{tv,movies}
sudo chown -R plex: /mnt

</code>

<WRAP info>
**NOTE:**  The Plex Media Server runs as the user **plex**, which must have read and execute permissions to the media files and directories.

  * The chown command sets this correct ownership.

</WRAP>

----

====== Use Media on another system ======

To allow connecting to an Samba Share, install CIFS.

<code bash>
sudo apt install cifs-utils
</code>

----

===== Manually mount the remote content =====

<code bash
sudo mount -t cifs -o username=peter,password=some_strong_password,uid=peter,gid=peter,forceuid,forcegid,vers=2.1 //192.168.1.35/Movies /mnt/Movies/
</code>

<WRAP info>
**NOTE:**  set the **username** and **password** as required.
</WRAP>

<WRAP important>
**NOTE:**  The problem with this manual mount option includes:

  - The mount gets forgotten at boot.
    * It would make sense to have the mounts automatically be enabled whenever the system is rebooted.
  - The username and password are written to the log files.  This is a security risk.
    * It would be best to hide these.
</WRAP>

----

==== To hide the Samba Password from being included directly into the mount command ====

Create a credentials file, **.smbcredentials**:

<file bash .smbcredentials>
username=peter
password=some_strong_password
#domain=optional_domain_or_workgroupname
</file>

<WRAP info>
**NOTE:**  The credentials file starts with a dot, which makes it a hidden file.

  * Set the **username** and **password** as required.
  * Uncomment the **domain** part by removing the hash sign in front if this is needed.
</WRAP>

----

===== Set the permissions on the Credentials file =====

<code bash>
chmod 0600 ~/.smbcredentials
</code>

<WRAP info>
**NOTE:**  The 0600 makes this file only read accessible to the user.

  * **chmod 0600** (chmod a+rwx,u-x,g-rwx,o-rwx,ug-s,-t) sets permissions so that, (U)ser / owner can read, can write and cannot execute.
</WRAP>

----

===== Have Plex Shares automatically load at boot =====

Add the following lines to /etc/fstab:

<file bash /etc/fstab>
#Plex
//192.168.1.35/Movies /mnt/movies cifs credentials=/home/peter/.smbcredentials,uid=peter,gid=peter 0 0
//192.168.1.35/TV /mnt/tv cifs credentials=/home/peter/.smbcredentials,uid=peter,gid=peter 0 0
</file>

<WRAP info>
**NOTE:**  This references the credentials file.
</WRAP>

----

===== Test that this configuration works to mount the Samba shares =====

<code bash>
sudo mount -a
</code>

<WRAP info>
**NOTE:** This should automatically mount the shares shown in the /etc/fstab file.

Confirm this by looking at the share directories, in this case:

  * /mnt/movies
  * /mnt/tv

</WRAP>


----

====== Configure the Plex GUI ======

Open a Web Browser, and type http://YOUR_SERVER_IP:32400/web, and you will be redirected to the plex website:

----

===== References =====

https://linuxize.com/post/how-to-install-plex-media-server-on-ubuntu-20-04/

https://askubuntu.com/questions/157128/proper-fstab-entry-to-mount-a-samba-share-on-boot