What you need before you start

Plex Server runs on a virtual machine inside Proxmox, which means you need three things in place: a Proxmox host already installed and running, an Ubuntu virtual machine created inside it, and enough storage space on your Proxmox system to hold your media files. If you do not have Proxmox set up yet, install it on a dedicated computer or server first — it cannot run inside another virtual machine.

You will also need a Plex account, which is free to create at plex.tv. Your Ubuntu VM should have at least 2 GB of RAM and 20 GB of disk space available, though more is better if you plan to store many movies or shows. The Ubuntu VM itself should be running Ubuntu 20.04 LTS or newer.

Before you begin, write down your Ubuntu VM's IP address. You will need it to connect to Plex from other devices. You can find this by logging into the VM and typing hostname -I at the command line.

Key Takeaways

  • Plex Server installs on Ubuntu through the command line using a repository that Plex maintains, not through the Ubuntu app store.
  • After installation, you access Plex through a web browser on any device connected to your network by typing your VM's IP address and port 32400.
  • You must claim your server to your Plex account before you can add media or invite other users to watch.
  • Storage for your movies and shows can live on the Proxmox host's drives, a network drive, or external storage attached to the VM.

Installing Plex through the command line

Log into your Ubuntu VM as a user with sudo permissions. Open a terminal and add Plex's official repository by typing the following command:

curl https://downloads.plex.tv/plex-keys/PlexSign.key | sudo apt-key add -

Then add the repository itself:

echo deb https://downloads.plex.tv/repo/deb public main | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/plexmediaserver.list

Update your package list so Ubuntu knows about the new repository:

sudo apt update

Now install Plex Server:

sudo apt install plexmediaserver

Ubuntu will read and install Plex automatically. This usually takes a few minutes. When it finishes, Plex Server starts running in the background when ready.

Accessing Plex from your browser

Open a web browser on any device connected to your network. Type your Ubuntu VM's IP address followed by :32400/web into the address bar. For example, if your VM's IP is 192.168.1.50, you would type 192.168.1.50:32400/web.

The Plex web interface will load. You will see a sign-in screen. Click "Sign In" and enter the email and password for your Plex account. If you do not have one yet, create it at plex.tv first — it takes two minutes and is free.

After you sign in, Plex will ask you to claim the server to your account. This links your Ubuntu VM's Plex installation to your Plex account so you can manage it from anywhere. Click "Claim Server" and follow the prompts. Your server now appears in your Plex account on all your devices.

Adding your media files to Plex

Before Plex can see your movies or shows, they must be stored somewhere your Ubuntu VM can read. The easiest option is to create a folder on the VM itself. Log into the VM and create a directory for your media:

mkdir -p /home/username/Media/Movies

mkdir -p /home/username/Media/TV

Replace "username" with your actual Ubuntu username. Copy or move your video files into these folders. Plex works best with common formats like MP4, MKV, and AVI.

Back in the Plex web interface, click the "+" button to add a library. Choose "Movies" or "TV Shows" depending on what you are adding. When Plex asks for the folder path, enter /home/username/Media/Movies or /home/username/Media/TV. Plex will scan the folder and add all compatible files to your library. This can take a while if you have many files.

Using external storage for your media

If your Proxmox host has a separate drive or network storage you want to use, you can attach it to your Ubuntu VM. In Proxmox, go to your VM's hardware settings and add a disk or mount a network share. The exact steps depend on whether you are using a physical drive, NFS, or SMB storage.

Once the storage is mounted and visible in Ubuntu, create your Media folders there instead of on the VM's main drive. For example, if you mounted external storage at /mnt/external, create /mnt/external/Movies and add that path to Plex. This keeps your media separate from your VM's operating system and makes it easier to back up or move later.

Inviting other users to watch

In the Plex web interface, click your username in the top right corner and select "Settings." Go to "Manage Library Access" and click "Invite Friends." Enter the email address of anyone you want to give access to your server. They will receive an invitation and can start watching when ready once they accept it.

You can control what each person sees by assigning them to different libraries. For example, you might give kids access only to your TV Shows library but not your Movies library. Manage these permissions in the same Settings area under "Manage Library Access."

Troubleshooting common problems

If you cannot reach Plex at your VM's IP address, check that the VM is running and has network access. Type sudo systemctl status plexmediaserver to see if Plex is actually running. If it shows "inactive," restart it with sudo systemctl start plexmediaserver.

If Plex starts but you cannot see your media files, check that the folder paths you entered in Plex actually exist and contain your video files. Type ls -la /home/username/Media/Movies to list the files. If the folder is empty or does not exist, Plex will have nothing to show. Also make sure the plex user has permission to read those folders — you may need to adjust folder permissions with chmod if Plex cannot access them.

If Plex is slow or stuttering when you play videos, your VM may not have enough RAM or your network connection may be too slow. Try closing other applications on the Proxmox host and check your network speed with a speed test. If you are streaming over the internet from outside your home network, Plex will automatically reduce video quality if your connection is slow.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I access my Plex server from outside my home network?

Yes. Plex automatically sets up remote access when you claim your server to your account. You can watch from anywhere by signing into plex.tv or using the Plex app on your phone or streaming device. Plex handles the connection securely without you having to set up port forwarding.

What video formats does Plex support?

Plex plays MP4, MKV, AVI, MOV, and many other formats. If a file is in an uncommon format, Plex can convert it on the fly, but this uses more CPU power. Stick to MP4 or MKV for the smoothest playback, especially if your Proxmox host is not very powerful.

Do I need a Plex Pass to run a server?

No. The free Plex account lets you run a server and watch your own media. Plex Pass is optional and adds features like offline downloads and automatic organization, but you do not need it to get your free guide.

How much storage do I need for my media library?

A single movie in HD takes about 5 to 10 GB. A TV show season takes 20 to 50 GB depending on quality. Plan for at least 500 GB to 1 TB if you want a decent library. You can always add more storage later by attaching another drive to your Proxmox host.

Can I run Plex on the same Proxmox host as other virtual machines?

Yes. Proxmox can run many VMs at once. Just make sure your host has enough RAM and CPU power for all of them. A Plex server does not use much CPU unless it is actively converting video, so it usually plays nicely with other VMs.