Setting Up a Plex Media Server with Docker and Block Storage

09 Jan, 2025

This guide walks through setting up a Plex Media Server using Docker, with dedicated block storage for your media. The setup is designed to be simple, maintainable, and scalable.

Overview

The setup includes:

• Plex Media Server in Docker
• Block storage for media files
• Automatic directory structure
• Proper permission handling
• Easy updates and maintenance

Key Features

1. Simple Architecture

   • Docker container for Plex
   • Block storage for media
   • Automated setup script

2. Easy Media Management

   • Organized media directories
   • Proper permissions
   • Expandable storage

3. Maintainable Setup

   • Git-based configuration
   • Docker for easy updates
   • Documented procedures

Prerequisites

• Ubuntu 22.04 LTS server
• Docker installed
• Block storage attached (recommended 100GB+)
• Basic command line knowledge

Quick Start

1. Prepare Storage

   # Check your block storage device (usually /dev/vdc on Vultr)
   lsblk
   
   # Create mount point
   sudo mkdir -p /mnt/blockstore
   
   # Format block storage (if new)
   sudo mkfs.ext4 /dev/vdc
   
   # Mount block storage
   sudo mount /dev/vdc /mnt/blockstore
   
   # Add to fstab for persistence
   echo "/dev/vdc /mnt/blockstore ext4 defaults,nofail 0 0" | sudo tee -a /etc/fstab
   

2. Install Plex

   git clone https://github.com/joereg4/plex-docker-setup.git
   cd plex-docker-setup
   chmod +x scripts/setup/*.sh
   
   # Run the setup script
   sudo ./scripts/setup/setup_plex.sh
   

3. Configure Libraries

   • Access Plex at http://YOUR_SERVER_IP:32400/web
   • Add libraries using the paths below:

     # In Plex web interface, use these paths:
     /data/Movies
     /data/TV Shows
     /data/Music
     /data/Photos
     
     # These map to your server paths:
     /mnt/blockstore/plex/media/Movies
     /mnt/blockstore/plex/media/TV Shows
     /mnt/blockstore/plex/media/Music
     /mnt/blockstore/plex/media/Photos
     

     Note: The /data path is how Plex sees your media inside the Docker container. This is mapped to /mnt/blockstore/plex/media on your server.

Directory Structure

/mnt/blockstore/plex/media/
├── Movies
├── TV Shows
├── Music
└── Photos

/opt/plex/
├── database    # Plex configuration
└── transcode   # Temporary transcoding files

Maintenance

• Updates: docker-compose pull && docker-compose up -d
• Backups: Regular database backups recommended
• Storage: Expandable through Vultr dashboard

Best Practices

1. Media Organization

   • Use consistent naming
   • Separate movies and TV shows
   • Follow Plex naming conventions

2. Storage Management

   • Monitor available space
   • Plan for expansion
   • Regular cleanup of transcode directory

3. Security

   • Keep Docker updated
   • Use strong passwords
   • Regular system updates

Troubleshooting

Common issues and solutions are documented in our Troubleshooting Guide.

Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Please see our Contributing Guide for details.

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.