

Self-hosted media server goodness (Changelog & Friends #44)
May 17, 2024
Alex Kretzschmar shares insights on building the perfect media server with Linux, Plex, Jellyfin, ZFS, mergerfs, TrueNAS, Docker Compose. Topics include hardware, software, data protection, Synology features, content creation, server naming, privacy concerns, Plex vs. Jellyfin comparison, favorite movies, technical Wi-Fi challenges, and collaborative content creation.
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From Synology To Custom Linux Servers
- Alex described his decade-long media-server journey from Synology to Unraid to custom Linux builds.
- He shared how mergerfs enabled incremental drive growth without upfront RAID commitments.
MergerFS Trades Parity For Flexibility
- MergerFS glues disparate disks under one mount without striping or parity, letting you add or remove drives freely.
- That flexibility trades away built-in parity and ZFS-style bit-rot protection.
Use ZFS For Critical Data
- Use ZFS for important data that requires bit-rot protection and snapshot/replication features.
- Pair ZFS with tools like sanoid/syncoid to automate snapshots and replication.