Building a Home Media Server: NAS, Drives, Plex and Jellyfin

By Ash, Founder, Where Can I Stream It? · Updated · 7 min read

A home media server stores your own videos, music and photos in one place and streams them to every screen in the house, like a private streaming service. Nothing leaves when a license expires, and nothing changes because a service redesigned its app.

We see films leave streaming services every day, so the appeal is obvious. This guide explains what a media server involves, the hardware worth buying, and the software that turns it into something as easy to use as Netflix.

What a home media server actually does

  • Stores your library on hard drives at home: home videos, DRM-free film purchases, music and photos.
  • Organizes it automatically, with posters, descriptions and "continue watching", using software such as Plex or Jellyfin.
  • Streams it anywhere, to smart TVs, streaming devices, phones and tablets, at home and (if you choose) when you are away.

Do you need one?

A media server makes sense if you have a lot of your own video (family footage, a camera or drone habit, a large DRM-free collection) or you want one place to keep everything that does not depend on a subscription. If you only watch streaming services, you do not need one. For films you love that keep disappearing from streaming, a disc collection is usually the simpler answer.

Hardware: NAS or old computer?

Your main hardware options
OptionProsCons
A NAS (network-attached storage box)Quiet, low power, designed to run 24/7, easy drive upgradesUpfront cost; drives sold separately
An old laptop or desktopFree if you already have oneNoisier, uses more power, limited drive space
A mini PC with USB drivesSmall and powerfulMessier setup; USB drives are less robust

For most people, a two-bay NAS is the sweet spot. Two drives can mirror each other (RAID 1), so if one fails your library survives. Mirroring is not a backup, though; keep a second copy of anything irreplaceable somewhere else.

If you are unsure whether you will use a server, start with the computer you already have. Install Plex or Jellyfin on it, point it at a folder of videos and live with it for a few weeks. The software is the same on a NAS, so nothing is wasted, and you will learn how much storage and power you really need before spending anything.

How much storage do you need?

Rough file sizes. Actual sizes vary with length and quality.
ContentTypical sizeWhat fits in 4 TB
HD film (1080p)5 to 15 GBRoughly 300 to 800 films
4K HDR film20 to 60 GB or moreRoughly 70 to 200 films
One season of an HD series10 to 30 GBWell over 100 seasons
Phone video in 4KSeveral hundred MB per minuteHundreds of hours

Buy more space than you think you need. Drives are the part of a server people outgrow first, and in a mirrored pair you get the capacity of one drive, not two. Replacing two small drives later costs more than buying larger ones at the start.

Direct play and transcoding, in plain terms

When your TV can play a file as it is, the server simply sends it. This is called direct play, and almost any NAS can do it, even for 4K. When the device cannot play the file, or your connection is too slow for it, the server has to convert the video while you watch. This is transcoding, and it is the one job that needs real processing power.

  • You need transcoding if you watch away from home on a phone, share the library with family on mixed devices, or have files in formats your TV does not support.
  • You can ignore it if you watch at home on a recent TV or streaming device over a wired or strong Wi-Fi connection.
  • Check the processor before you buy. A NAS with an Intel processor that supports hardware video conversion handles this far better than a budget model with a basic ARM chip.

Our hardware picks

Best two-bay NAS for beginners

Synology DiskStation DS224+

Synology’s DSM software is the most beginner-friendly NAS operating system, with one-click installs for Plex and simple drive mirroring. The DS224+ has an Intel processor that can convert video on the fly for devices that need it, and RAM that can be upgraded later.

What we like

  • Easiest NAS software to learn
  • Runs Plex and Jellyfin well
  • Quiet and power-efficient

Drawbacks

  • Drives sold separately
  • Two bays limit future expansion

Best for: First-time media server builders who want it to just work.

View Synology DiskStation DS224+ on Amazon (opens in new tab)

Best drive for a home NAS

WD Red Plus NAS Hard Drive

Drives designed for NAS use run cooler and are rated for always-on operation, unlike standard desktop drives. WD Red Plus drives use CMR recording, which behaves well in mirrored setups.

What we like

  • Built for 24/7 operation
  • CMR recording suits RAID
  • Wide range of capacities

Drawbacks

  • Costs more per terabyte than desktop drives

Best for: Anyone filling a home NAS.

View WD Red Plus NAS Hard Drive on Amazon (opens in new tab)

Best alternative drive

Seagate IronWolf NAS Hard Drive

Seagate’s NAS line is an equally solid choice, often priced competitively with WD Red Plus. Buy whichever is cheaper at the capacity you need, and buy both drives for a mirror at the same time.

What we like

  • Built for NAS use
  • Health monitoring support on many NAS systems
  • Competitive pricing

Drawbacks

  • Can be slightly noisier than WD Red Plus

Best for: Price-conscious NAS builders.

View Seagate IronWolf NAS Hard Drive on Amazon (opens in new tab)

Software: Plex or Jellyfin?

The two most popular media server apps
PlexJellyfin
CostFree core features; paid Plex Pass for extrasCompletely free and open source
Ease of setupVery easyEasy, with a few more settings
TV and device appsAvailable almost everywhereWidely available, fewer polished apps
Remote streamingSimple to set up; streaming away from home needs a paid planFree, but self-managed; more setup for outside access
PrivacyRequires a Plex accountNo account with any company needed

Plex is the easier start, especially if family members will use it on smart TVs. Jellyfin suits people who want everything free and fully under their own control. Both run on the NAS above.

Setting it up, step by step

  1. Install the drives in the NAS and create a mirrored storage pool in its setup wizard.
  2. Create shared folders for Movies, TV and Home Videos.
  3. Install Plex or Jellyfin from the NAS app center and point it at those folders.
  4. Copy your files in from your computer over the network.
  5. Install the app on your TV or streaming device and sign in.
  6. Set up a backup of anything irreplaceable to an external drive or cloud storage.

Name files consistently before you copy them in. Both apps identify a film from its file name, so "Film Title (Year)" for movies and "Show Name/Season 01" folders for series save a great deal of manual fixing later.

Living with a server: noise, power and security

  • Noise. Hard drives click and hum. Put the NAS in a hallway, cupboard with airflow or home office, not the living room, and connect it to your router with an Ethernet cable.
  • Power. A two-bay NAS uses a small fraction of the electricity a desktop computer does, and can put its drives to sleep when idle. It is designed to stay on.
  • Power cuts. A sudden loss of power can corrupt data. A small battery backup unit gives the NAS time to shut down cleanly.
  • Security. Keep the NAS software updated, use a strong unique password, and turn on two-step sign-in. Do not open the NAS to the internet unless you understand the setting you are changing.
  • Drive failure. Drives are consumables. The NAS will warn you when one is failing; in a mirrored pair you replace it and the NAS rebuilds the copy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a media server legal?
Yes. Running a media server for your own files is legal. What matters is the content: home videos, DRM-free purchases and public domain films are fine. Copying commercial discs often involves bypassing copy protection, which many countries restrict.
Do I need a NAS for Plex?
No. Plex and Jellyfin run on a normal computer too. A NAS is quieter, uses less power and is designed to stay on all the time, which is why most people end up with one.
How much storage do I need for a media server?
For home videos and an HD film library, two 4 TB drives in a mirror is a sensible start. Choose 8 TB or more if you keep 4K files, which can be several times larger than HD.
Can I watch my media server away from home?
Yes. Plex makes it simple, although streaming your own library away from home needs one of its paid plans. Jellyfin does it for free but you set up the remote connection yourself.
Is RAID a backup?
No. Mirroring (RAID 1) protects against one drive failing, but not against deletion, theft or damage to the whole box. Keep a separate backup of anything irreplaceable.

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