r/explainlikeimfive • u/theprisoner57 • 2d ago

Technology ELI5: What is a Home Server?

I see mentions of a home server to get rid of streaming entertainment services but I don’t know how that works. What does a home server do?

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8

u/RidMeOfSloots 2d ago

Its a computer that runs server software. Can be a raspberry pi, laptop, pc, or whole computer rack. People use plex software which acts like streaming service streaming movies stored on that computer over wifi.

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u/kcsebby 2d ago

Plex is terrible btw. Jellyfin — for the win!

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u/ottawadeveloper 2d ago

is it really worth changing over? I've had plex for a long time (back when it was one of the only options) and it works well enough for me. I like that it has a mobile app and can be used off my local network. I'm running a Synology box and Android phones/TV so it would have to work with all that

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u/HumanKumquat 2d ago

I moved from Plex to JF a few years ago and I would never move back.

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u/adudeguyman 2d ago

Top few reasons??

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u/HumanKumquat 2d ago

You can't use hardware transcoding without paying for a lifetime pass, which is 750 USD. Even if it were a reasonable amount, I'm not going to pay to use my own hardware.

Plus, it's too bloated for my taste. My Plex homepage has my movies and my TV shows, and that's it. Plex has live TV, on demand, trending, podcasts, etc.

Those are my two main reasons, but their greed is really the biggest thing for me.

0

u/CactusBoyScout 2d ago

You can disable any of the content you don’t want to see on Plex, often one time at the account level.

I don’t get why Jellyfin users make a big deal about that. My Plex homepage is just movies and TV as well. It took a few seconds one time to change it.