You can hook it up to a network attached drive, and you don't need a PC to be running at all. By installing the special Plex Media Server build on it you can run the very same system as if you had it on a PC. This is an expensive bit of kit, but it's also one of the most powerful, fastest Wi-Fi routers on the planet. Plex Media Server has also been built for the Netgear X10 router (opens in new tab). Ideally, you want something you can leave turned on, connected to the web and most importantly, something you don't throw in a rucksack and take on the road with you. If you have a supported NAS drive (opens in new tab), a standalone desktop computer or even a spare Windows Box, these will be the best options. That means storing it all on a laptop you take with you probably isn't the best idea. You'll be hosting the content yourself, so you'll need to make sure you can get to it at all times if you want to be streaming while away from home. Once installed, getting set up is a simple matter of following instructions in the web client - all your Plex-ing on your computer will be done in a browser - to tell it where to look for various media content. It comes in flavors for Mac, Windows and Linux, as well as in a form designed for NAS drives.

This isn't nearly as daunting as it sounds and involves downloading the Plex Media Server app to your computer. Before you can use Plex to access your media on your other devices, you first need to set up your home server.

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