Install Plex Media Server on CentOS 7/8

Plex is a streaming service that is based on a client-server architecture. You can install Plex application on the media server to stream video, audio, music. On the other hand, you can install the client to access the content from your tablet, mobile devices.

This article shows you how to install plex media server on Centos 7/8.

Install Plex Server on CentOS 7

1. Update your system

On centos 8,

$ sudo dnf update -y

On centos 7,

$ sudo yum update -y

2. Add Plex repository

Plex repository is not included on the default installation of Centos 7 or 8. So add it's corresponding repo using tee command:

$ sudo tee /etc/yum.repos.d/plex.repo<<EOF
[Plexrepo]
name=plexrepo
baseurl=https://downloads.plex.tv/repo/rpm/\$basearch/
enabled=1
gpgkey=https://downloads.plex.tv/plex-keys/PlexSign.key
gpgcheck=1
EOF

3. Install plex

On Centos 8, use dnf command, type:

$ sudo dnf install plexmediaserver

On centos 7, use yum command, type:

$ sudo yum install plexmediaserver

4. Start Plex

To start plex service, run:

$ sudo systemctl start plexmediaserver

To Enable plex on system start, run:

$ sudo systemctl enable plexmediaserver

Check plex service status, run:

$ systemctl status plexmediaserver

Install Plex using snap (alternative method)

Optionally you can download Plex from snap store. Copy the following command in your terminal,

$ sudo yum install snapd
$ sudo systemctl enable --now snapd.socket
$ sudo ln -s /var/lib/snapd/snap /snap
$ sudo snap install plexmediaserver

5. Plex Web access

Plex on default runs on port 32400. You can access on your browser by,

http://YOUR_SERVER_IP:32400

You can sign up with a google, facebook, or apple account to start your own stream. Without login, you are still able to enjoy movies, live tv, web shows, News, podcasts, and music.

Login with your account and now you can add media of your own.

Once you have stored your media content on the plex server, you can stream media using plex client apps. You can download Plex Apps and install them on your client devices such as Smart TVs, Chromecast, IOS, Android, etc.

Uninstall Plex media server

To remove plex on centos 7, run:

$ sudo yum remove plexmediaserver -y

To remove plex on centos 8, run:

$ sudo dnf remove plexmediaserver -y

Conclusion

Plex is a cool platform to share/host your video, music, podcasts, audio. Hope this article helps you to install and host a media server on your own premise.