[Guide] Plex Media Server on Full Android

Background
I've been looking for the ultimate low powered Plex Media Server. I knew that Plex worked directly on Linux but NOT directly on Android. After some thinking, I started looking for a way to install Linux on top of Android without having to dual boot. Once I stumbled upon Deploy Linux, I spent several days experimenting on a functional combination. I tried using ARM guides to setup the Nexus Player with no luck. However, after trying a i386 build, voila! It successfully booted & most channels even work.

Notes

• It is possible to install a similar setup on any ARM based devices using ARM based repos. I successfully installed it on my OnePlus but I have NOT had time to experiment with this particular ARM setup any further.


• This will ONLY work with a full Android build. If you are using stock, this will NOT work. For some reason, certain buttons & menus do not exist in stock android builds that exist in full AOSP builds.

DISCLAIMER
I take NO responsibility for any fault or damage caused by using this guide. NO EXPRESS or IMPLIED warranties of any kind are given.

Pre-Requisites

1. Lollirock + Root LolliRock | XDA


2. Linux Deploy Linux Deploy | Google Play


3. VNC Viewer (Chrome App available to access Linux Image) VNC Viewer | Chrome Web Store


4. 4GB of Storage on Built-In Memory (may work on External drives but will likely affect performance)

Preparation

1. Launch Linux Deploy


2. Click on the download like icon (Brings up Properties for Linux Image)


3. Distribution: Debian


4. Distribution Suite: Jessie


5. Architect: i386


6. Installation Path: /sdcard/NAME_OF_IMAGE.img (Any name should work & haven't tested with any spaces in the name)


7. Desktop environment: KDE or XFCE (most lightweight GUI)


8. Install (Start GNU/Linux installation) [at top under Action]


9. Exit (After exit, force stop Linux Deploy & swipe away the app)


10. Restart Linux Deploy


11. Press the START button to start the image

Setup

1. Launch VNC Viewer


2. Address: IP Address of Nexus Player (IP address is listed at the top next to image name)


3. Launch Terminal App


4. Enter following code below
   
   
   

   Code:

   
   

   ---

   sudo su
sudo curl http://shell.ninthgate.se/packages/shell-ninthgate-se-keyring.key | sudo apt-key add -
echo "deb http://www.deb-multimedia.org wheezy main non-free" | sudo tee -a /etc/apt/sources.list.d/deb-multimedia.list
echo "deb http://shell.ninthgate.se/packages/debian wheezy main" | sudo tee -a /etc/apt/sources.list.d/plex.list
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install plexmediaserver
sudo nano /etc/default/plexmediaserver
        Find this line of code (should be near the end of the file)
        PLEX_MEDIA_SERVER_USER=plex
                change plex to linux username (default is android)
        Ctrl-X (to save & close)
        Y (yes to save changes)
        Enter (apply)
sudo service plexmediaserver restart

   ---

   
   


5. http://nexus_player_ip_address:32400/web (BE PATIENT! May take a few minutes for the server to initialize or even a few refreshes but it will eventually work)


6. Configure Plex Server


7. Enjoy!

Untested

• Mounting Network Locations


• Transcoding


• Channels (I have only tested a few & most but not all of them worked)

Credit
yakumo (Plex Forum | Debian Guide)
xxrazorxx (Plex Forum | Android ARM Processor notes)
meefik (Creator of Linux Deploy)
HTPCGuides.com (General Guides for installing different Plex Builds in Linux)