How to install Plex on Synology DS420+ NAS

Synology DS420+ Source: Rich Edmonds / Windows Primal

The Synology DS420+ comes rocking its own app store, allowing you to install a whole host of third-party services, including Plex Media Server. While you lot can store and enjoy media using Synology'southward own apps, Plex takes everything to a whole new level, allowing you to sort, correctly tag, and even transcode 4K content. This guide will bear witness you how to quickly get Plex installed and running on the DS420+.

Products used in this guide

Your new NAS: Synology DS420+ ($500 at Amazon)
Unlock transcoding: Plex Laissez passer (From $v/mo. at Plex)

How to install Plex Media Server on the DS420+

You lot have the option to install Plex Media Server on Synology NAS using two methods.

Manual (recommended)

This route is a niggling more than complicated and requires y'all to download and install new Plex Media Server releases, but it's my preferred method.

Download the Plex Server package. (Choose "Synology" under "NAS".)
Connect to your Synology NAS.
Open up upwards the Bundle Center.

Source: Windows Fundamental
Click on "Manual Install."
Click "Scan" and locate the Plex Server download.
Click "Next."

Source: Windows Fundamental
Click "Yep" on the pop-up.
Click "Use."

Automatic

If you'd rather install Plex through Synology's DSM and take the Bone allow you to automatically update the package without having to fetch updates yourself, follow these steps instead.

Connect to your Synology NAS.
Get into Package Centre.
Click Settings in the peak-right corner.

Source: Windows Central
Alter trust level to "Synology Inc. and trusted publishers".
Click Certificate tab.
Open a new browser tab/window and download the certificate key from Plex.

Source: Windows Key
Click Import on the Document window.
Scan to the downloaded key.
Click OK.
Back in Package Center, install Plex Media Server

Configuring your new Plex server

Plex Source: Windows Central

All you need to do now is to click on the main menu in the top-left on the DSM interface and choose Plex Server. This will launch a new window with the Plex Server for you to hook up your Plex account, configure the network, search for media, and more than. The wizard is straightforward, with only a few options. Yous will demand to create a Plex account to have advantage of synchronization features and the like.

Ultimate Plex beginner'southward guide

Plex Source: Windows Primal

Plex has been around for years, and it's relied upon by many NAS owners to keep their media collections in ane place and easy to access from anywhere. You may not have heard of it until now, or perhaps you passed over information technology while looking at options. We accept a guide to walk you lot through why you should consider using Plex.

How to become started with Plex

When running Plex on your Synology NAS, you will want to select a binder for where Plex can keep track of media files, be it photos, music, or video. The NAS itself comes with some default folders for such media, which can be selected. Just you can create new folders in your "home" binder that can so be accessed through Windows Explorer and other file managers for a more effortless transfer.

At present you can savor access to all your content on your smart Television receiver, Xbox One, tablet, smartphone, Windows ten PC, laptop, and all other devices running the Plex app with adequate admission.

Our top equipment picks

To install and configure your very own Plex Media Server on a Synology NAS, you'll demand the following equipment.

Mid-tier NAS

Synology DS420+

Four-bay NAS

Synology gave the DS418 a refresh for 2022, throwing in a new faster Intel Celeron J4025 processor and DDR4 RAM. It's a great lilliputian server that can even run Plex.

Plex will run just fine on the Synology DS420+. It can even handle 4K transcoding to a degree, so long equally no 1 else is using the NAS at the time. Besides as Plex, this NAS can do a whole host of things, from surveillance to cloud storage.

Additional Equipment

While a NAS is mandatory, the Plex Pass and hard drives are optional, but highly recommended additions.

Seagate Ironwolf

Seagate Ironwolf (From $63 at Amazon)

It's best to apply drives designed explicitly for NAS, and the Ironwolf series from Seagate are first-class storage solutions. These drives include AgileArray, which helps improve performance and reliability over traditional desktop drives.

Plex Pass

Plex Pass (From $v/mo. at Plex)

Y'all tin use Plex for costless. Only to accept full advantage of streaming capabilities with transcoding for advanced playback on continued devices and keeping your libraries looking perfect, you'll want to consider the optional Plex Pass.

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