Running Plex in Multiple Vehicles
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I haven't tried these steps but this is what have so far.
Bus1-plex
- Install ZeroTier
- Install Syncthing
- Install Plex
Bus2-plex
- Install ZeroTier
- Install Syncthing
- Install Plex
Bus3-plex
- Install ZeroTier
- Install Syncthing
- Install Plex
Bus4-plex
- Install ZeroTier
- Install Syncthing
- Install Plex
Setup ZeroTier and make sure each bus plex server can talk to each other.
Use Syncthing to sync the movies between Bus1, Bus2, Bus3 and Bus4 plex server.
Create a generic plex account with a valid email address. Share your libraries to that generic account.
And maybe setup nginx reverse proxy on each server and some how pass the authentication using token within the URL to auto login.
https://support.plex.tv/articles/204059436-finding-an-authentication-token-x-plex-token/
https://forums.plex.tv/t/how-to-request-a-x-plex-token-token-for-your-app/84551 -
For the most part it looks like a solid plan / fun project. I'd see about a platform that's got strong built-in browser support and video focus. I've never used plex and can't speak to Kodi's web-interface but had come across jellyfin when looking at media server options (jellyfin.org) They've got a demo instance you can play with and it looks reasonably slick. As far as making it dummy-proof, my first instinct would be to add a simple dns entry and configure guest / unauthorized access (your access control is already managed by whether or not the person / device is allowed to access the bus' wifi, so additional authentication seems excessive).
Syncthing is what came to mind for keeping the content up to date across the fleet, although I'd add a central node at the garage where you'd have the main/master copy of the library as a send-only node.
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@notverypunny said in Running Plex in Multiple Vehicles:
For the most part it looks like a solid plan / fun project. I'd see about a platform that's got strong built-in browser support and video focus. I've never used plex and can't speak to Kodi's web-interface but had come across jellyfin when looking at media server options (jellyfin.org) They've got a demo instance you can play with and it looks reasonably slick. As far as making it dummy-proof, my first instinct would be to add a simple dns entry and configure guest / unauthorized access (your access control is already managed by whether or not the person / device is allowed to access the bus' wifi, so additional authentication seems excessive).
Syncthing is what came to mind for keeping the content up to date across the fleet, although I'd add a central node at the garage where you'd have the main/master copy of the library as a send-only node.
Jellyfin is a fork of Emby, main competitor of Plex. It's nice, but it's really lacking in device support, and imho has a very low "wife approval factor". Plex is just more mature, polished, well supported product.
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@marcinozga Good to know, I was just looking at the web interface, so device support wasn't even something that I'd looked at. WAF is one of those things that I've yet to figure out... but I don't think anyone has a line on a solution for it
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@black3dynamite said in Running Plex in Multiple Vehicles:
I haven't tried these steps but this is what have so far.
Bus1-plex
- Install ZeroTier
- Install Syncthing
- Install Plex
Bus2-plex
- Install ZeroTier
- Install Syncthing
- Install Plex
Bus3-plex
- Install ZeroTier
- Install Syncthing
- Install Plex
Bus4-plex
- Install ZeroTier
- Install Syncthing
- Install Plex
Setup ZeroTier and make sure each bus plex server can talk to each other.
Use Syncthing to sync the movies between Bus1, Bus2, Bus3 and Bus4 plex server.
Create a generic plex account with a valid email address. Share your libraries to that generic account.
And maybe setup nginx reverse proxy on each server and some how pass the authentication using token within the URL to auto login.
https://support.plex.tv/articles/204059436-finding-an-authentication-token-x-plex-token/
https://forums.plex.tv/t/how-to-request-a-x-plex-token-token-for-your-app/84551Zerotier would use cellular in this case. They want to keep this self-contained and just have a script run to copy new files to each bus when they connect to the wifi at HQ when the bus is no longer in use.
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@black3dynamite said in Running Plex in Multiple Vehicles:
I haven't tried these steps but this is what have so far.
...
Create a generic plex account with a valid email address. Share your libraries to that generic account.Might be able to skip this. Turn on guest mode or create a custom managed user at the plex server.
https://support.plex.tv/articles/203948776-managed-users/ -
@wirestyle22 said in Running Plex in Multiple Vehicles:
We have cellular in the bus. He wants syncing to occur when they are connected to Wifi which I have to figure out
Is cellular for the guests use via wifi?
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@Dashrender said in Running Plex in Multiple Vehicles:
@wirestyle22 said in Running Plex in Multiple Vehicles:
We have cellular in the bus. He wants syncing to occur when they are connected to Wifi which I have to figure out
Is cellular for the guests use via wifi?
Yes. Quoted comment was in relation to the bus being parked when not in use. Once it connects to the HQ wireless network it can sync. This would actually be a great ansible project I'd think
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@wirestyle22 said in Running Plex in Multiple Vehicles:
@Dashrender said in Running Plex in Multiple Vehicles:
@wirestyle22 said in Running Plex in Multiple Vehicles:
We have cellular in the bus. He wants syncing to occur when they are connected to Wifi which I have to figure out
Is cellular for the guests use via wifi?
Yes. Quoted comment was in relation to the bus being parked when not in use. Once it connects to the HQ wireless network it can sync. This would actually be a great ansible project I'd think
Wow - the cellular bill must be huge..
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@JasGot said in Running Plex in Multiple Vehicles:
@wirestyle22 said in Running Plex in Multiple Vehicles:
We own a license that allows us to redistribute the media that would be streamed to the TV and also any of their mobile devices.
Is this a license that can be subscribed to, like our church uses for hymns and songs? A single license that covers a great deal of material?
What is this license called?
Thanks.
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@Dashrender said in Running Plex in Multiple Vehicles:
@wirestyle22 said in Running Plex in Multiple Vehicles:
@Dashrender said in Running Plex in Multiple Vehicles:
@wirestyle22 said in Running Plex in Multiple Vehicles:
We have cellular in the bus. He wants syncing to occur when they are connected to Wifi which I have to figure out
Is cellular for the guests use via wifi?
Yes. Quoted comment was in relation to the bus being parked when not in use. Once it connects to the HQ wireless network it can sync. This would actually be a great ansible project I'd think
Wow - the cellular bill must be huge..
In such case you just buy unlimited data plan, making sure there's no bullshit fine print saying unlimited for first 2 or 3GB then fallback to 2G or similar crap.
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@wirestyle22 said in Running Plex in Multiple Vehicles:
@JasGot said in Running Plex in Multiple Vehicles:
@wirestyle22 said in Running Plex in Multiple Vehicles:
We own a license that allows us to redistribute the media that would be streamed to the TV and also any of their mobile devices.
Is this a license that can be subscribed to, like our church uses for hymns and songs? A single license that covers a great deal of material?
What is this license called?
Thanks.
They are (or were in the 90's) in St Louis. I installed the access control system on their building.
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@JaredBusch said in Running Plex in Multiple Vehicles:
@wirestyle22 said in Running Plex in Multiple Vehicles:
@JasGot said in Running Plex in Multiple Vehicles:
@wirestyle22 said in Running Plex in Multiple Vehicles:
We own a license that allows us to redistribute the media that would be streamed to the TV and also any of their mobile devices.
Is this a license that can be subscribed to, like our church uses for hymns and songs? A single license that covers a great deal of material?
What is this license called?
Thanks.
They are (or were in the 90's) in St Louis. I installed the access control system on their building.
Small world
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@marcinozga said in Running Plex in Multiple Vehicles:
@Dashrender said in Running Plex in Multiple Vehicles:
@wirestyle22 said in Running Plex in Multiple Vehicles:
@Dashrender said in Running Plex in Multiple Vehicles:
@wirestyle22 said in Running Plex in Multiple Vehicles:
We have cellular in the bus. He wants syncing to occur when they are connected to Wifi which I have to figure out
Is cellular for the guests use via wifi?
Yes. Quoted comment was in relation to the bus being parked when not in use. Once it connects to the HQ wireless network it can sync. This would actually be a great ansible project I'd think
Wow - the cellular bill must be huge..
In such case you just buy unlimited data plan, making sure there's no bullshit fine print saying unlimited for first 2 or 3GB then fallback to 2G or similar crap.
Who offers these plans?
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@wrx7m said in Running Plex in Multiple Vehicles:
@marcinozga said in Running Plex in Multiple Vehicles:
@Dashrender said in Running Plex in Multiple Vehicles:
@wirestyle22 said in Running Plex in Multiple Vehicles:
@Dashrender said in Running Plex in Multiple Vehicles:
@wirestyle22 said in Running Plex in Multiple Vehicles:
We have cellular in the bus. He wants syncing to occur when they are connected to Wifi which I have to figure out
Is cellular for the guests use via wifi?
Yes. Quoted comment was in relation to the bus being parked when not in use. Once it connects to the HQ wireless network it can sync. This would actually be a great ansible project I'd think
Wow - the cellular bill must be huge..
In such case you just buy unlimited data plan, making sure there's no bullshit fine print saying unlimited for first 2 or 3GB then fallback to 2G or similar crap.
Who offers these plans?
This question is why salespeople exist from various companies.
https://www.t-mobile.com/business/wireless-business-plans -
@wrx7m said in Running Plex in Multiple Vehicles:
@marcinozga said in Running Plex in Multiple Vehicles:
@Dashrender said in Running Plex in Multiple Vehicles:
@wirestyle22 said in Running Plex in Multiple Vehicles:
@Dashrender said in Running Plex in Multiple Vehicles:
@wirestyle22 said in Running Plex in Multiple Vehicles:
We have cellular in the bus. He wants syncing to occur when they are connected to Wifi which I have to figure out
Is cellular for the guests use via wifi?
Yes. Quoted comment was in relation to the bus being parked when not in use. Once it connects to the HQ wireless network it can sync. This would actually be a great ansible project I'd think
Wow - the cellular bill must be huge..
In such case you just buy unlimited data plan, making sure there's no bullshit fine print saying unlimited for first 2 or 3GB then fallback to 2G or similar crap.
Who offers these plans?
Everyone offers unlimited plans. The problem is with slowing down after certain data threshold, for that you need to talk to sales directly and negotiate contracts. We did that with RingCentral, where I literally crossed out most fine print on contract and asked for new one with my corrections. I don't know how much luck would you have with wireless carriers.
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@marcinozga said in Running Plex in Multiple Vehicles:
@wrx7m said in Running Plex in Multiple Vehicles:
@marcinozga said in Running Plex in Multiple Vehicles:
@Dashrender said in Running Plex in Multiple Vehicles:
@wirestyle22 said in Running Plex in Multiple Vehicles:
@Dashrender said in Running Plex in Multiple Vehicles:
@wirestyle22 said in Running Plex in Multiple Vehicles:
We have cellular in the bus. He wants syncing to occur when they are connected to Wifi which I have to figure out
Is cellular for the guests use via wifi?
Yes. Quoted comment was in relation to the bus being parked when not in use. Once it connects to the HQ wireless network it can sync. This would actually be a great ansible project I'd think
Wow - the cellular bill must be huge..
In such case you just buy unlimited data plan, making sure there's no bullshit fine print saying unlimited for first 2 or 3GB then fallback to 2G or similar crap.
Who offers these plans?
Everyone offers unlimited plans. The problem is with slowing down after certain data threshold, for that you need to talk to sales directly and negotiate contracts. We did that with RingCentral, where I literally crossed out most fine print on contract and asked for new one with my corrections. I don't know how much luck would you have with wireless carriers.
We have to assume they have some type of option, even if it's not flat fee.
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This just seems like a bad idea all-around.
- Offering it free
- Several thousand dollar investment in equipment and labor (free I suppose)
- Wonky setup that isnt user friendly and doesn't give a good user or driver experience
- This isn't setup and forget about it. Don't forget to factor in maintenance
- Relying on celluar data
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6.) The people that are tech savvy enough to use this, already have mobile streaming services on their phones.
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- There is value in having things others don't, even if it's free.
- It's not up to you to decide what is worth it from a business perspective for them.
- You don't know what the experience will be like as I am still figuring out how I am going to do this.
- I am factoring in maintenance.
- There is no reliance on cellular data. I have actually said that but im assuming you havent read everything I've said.
- You don't need to be tech saavy to connect to a wireless splash page with a link to media
