30 LXF257 December 2019 http://www.linuxformat.comROUNDUP Media streamers
VERDICT
VERDICT
lthough the media servers are all equipped to cater to a
variety of needs out of the box, they make it quite easy
to extend the functionality with the use of plug-ins.
You can use Kodi’s add-ons manager to browse through
all available plug-ins. The official offerings are split across two
different repositories, both maintained by Kodi developers: Kodi.
tv and Kodi.tv PVR. You will also find an alphabetised list of all
available add-ons on the project’s wiki.
In addition to providing categorised lists of add-ons, such as
Picture, Music and Video, the wiki also lists all available add-ons.
It’s also possible to browse through unofficial or third-party add-
ons. All the available add-ons can be installed from the graphical
interface, without much input from users. You can think of the
process as no different than using a package manager to install
software on a Linux distribution.
As of 2018, Plex no longer provides an App Store to manage
available plug-ins. Even so, installing them is fairly
straightforward. You must download the zip file after identifying
the plug-ins of interest by trolling through the dedicated forum
board. Uncompress the file, and move the <pluginname>.bundle
file to the /var/lib/plexmediaserver/Library/Application
Support/Plex Media Server/Plug-in Support/ directory.he Plex documentation comprises an active forum board
spanning different topics such as Plex Media Server,
Plex Players, Online Media Sources and so on, as well
a vast repository of articles providing detailed step-by-step
instructions to set up the media server, available Plex apps and
more. Also available are more advanced guides on how to
automatically adjust quality while streaming, tweaking server
settings and so on. As many features require a premium
subscription, the documentation clearly identifies which features
are available for free users.
In addition to a FAQ covering routine troubleshooting
questions, the USM website is home to a forum board where you
can tap the wisdom and experience of fellow users. There’s a
forum each dedicated to Mac- and Linux-specific support, as well
as discussion on third-party additions and plug-ins that you can
use to bolster the functionality of your USM installation. There’s
also a forum board for users to request new features. If you’re
looking for instructions on general configuration options, guides
on available plug-ins, working with external applications and the
various transcode settings, you must visit the project’s wiki
hosted on GitHub.
Like the other projects featured in this Roundup, Gerbera
provides documentation covering installation and everyday
operation. Where applicable, the documentation also includes
screenshots to help users make sense of the interface. But some
of its sections, such as Configuration, are rather too concise and
geared towards experienced users.Plug-ins
Help & support
When the default features
aren’t enough.
Can you set up a server easily?
A
T
Repeat this step for all plug-ins you want to deploy and then
restart the server.
Plex and Universal Media Server have dedicated forum boards
on currently active plug-ins, their features and how best to
configure them. Finally, you can access all the installed and
available plug-ins for Jellyfin from within its web interface itself.GERBERA N/A
JELLYFIN 4/10
KODI 10/10PLEX 8/10
UNIVERSAL MEDIA SERVER 6/10GERBERA 7/10
JELLYFIN 6/10
KODI 10/10PLEX 8/10
UNIVERSAL MEDIA SERVER 7/10The plug-ins forum board of UMS is a better indicator of available plug-ins
than its documentation.Here, documentation is more important than having an intuitive interface.As of writing, the Jellyfin forum boards are intermittently
inaccessible, and its documentation, although spanning
everything from installation to administration, is bare-bones.
Kodi present itself as the Arch or Gentoo of Linux distributions,
at least in terms of the vast amount of documentation. The
Glossary page on its wiki is a must-read, irrespective of the media
server you ultimately settle on, as it will introduce you to
commonly used terms that aren’t defined in the documentation
available for other projects.Jellyfin’s web interface provides a one-click option to install plug-ins. Unfortunately,
there’s very little documentation on the functionality provided by them.For complex solutions such as media servers, bare-bones documentation is unlikely
to offer much assistance to absolute novices.30 LXF257December 2019 2226Decmbr 019G6a 1
ROUNDUP Media streamers
VERDICT
VERDICT
lthough the media servers are all equipped to cater to a
variety of needs out of the box, they make it quite easy
to extend the functionality with the use of plug-ins.
Youcan use Kodi’s add-ons manager to browse through
all available plug-ins. The official offerings are split across two
different repositories, both maintained by Kodi developers: Kodi.
tv and Kodi.tv PVR. You will also find an alphabetised list of all
available add-ons on the project’s wiki.
In addition to providing categorised lists of add-ons, such as
Picture, Music and Video, the wiki also lists all available add-ons.
It’s also possible to browse through unofficial or third-party add-
ons. All the available add-ons can be installed from the graphical
interface, without much input from users. You can think of the
process as no different than using a package manager to install
software on a Linux distribution.
As of 2018, Plex no longer provides an App Store to manage
available plug-ins. Even so, installing them is fairly
straightforward. You must download the zip file after identifying
the plug-ins of interest by trolling through the dedicated forum
board. Uncompress the file, and move the
file to the /var/lib/plexmediaserver/Library/Application
Support/Plex Media Server/Plug-in Support/ directory.
he Plex documentation comprises an active forum board
spanning different topics such as Plex Media Server,
Plex Players, Online Media Sources and so on, as well
avastrepository of articles providing detailed step-by-step
instructions to set up the media server, available Plex apps and
more. Also available are more advanced guides on how to
automatically adjust quality while streaming, tweaking server
settings and so on. As many features require a premium
subscription, the documentation clearly identifies which features
are available for free users.
In addition to a FAQ covering routine troubleshooting
questions, the USM website is home to a forum board where you
can tap the wisdom and experience of fellow users. There’s a
forum each dedicated to Mac- and Linux-specific support, as well
as discussion on third-party additions and plug-ins that you can
use to bolster the functionality of your USM installation. There’s
also a forum board for users to request new features. If you’re
looking for instructions on general configuration options, guides
on available plug-ins, working with external applications and the
various transcode settings, you must visit the project’s wiki
hosted on GitHub.
Like the other projects featured in this Roundup, Gerbera
provides documentation covering installation and everyday
operation. Where applicable, the documentation also includes
screenshots to help users make sense of the interface. But some
of its sections, such as Configuration, are rather too concise and
geared towards experienced users.Plug-ins
Help & support
When the default features
aren’t enough.
Can you set up a server easily?
A
T
Repeatthisstepforallplug-insyouwanttodeployandthen
restarttheserver.
PlexandUniversalMediaServerhavededicatedforumboards
oncurrentlyactiveplug-ins,theirfeaturesandhowbestto
configurethem.Finally,youcanaccessalltheinstalledand
availableplug-insforJellyfinfromwithinitswebinterfaceitself.GERBERA N/A
JELLYFIN 4/10
KODI 10/10PLEX 8/10
UNIVERSALMEDIASERVER 6/10GERBERA 7/10
JELLYFIN 6/10
KODI 10/10PLEX 8/10
UNIVERSALMEDIASERVER 7/10The plug-ins forum board of UMS is a better indicator of available plug-ins
than its documentation.Here, documentation is more important than having an intuitive interface.Asofwriting,theJellyfinforumboardsareintermittently
inaccessible, and its documentation, although spanning
everything from installation to administration, is bare-bones.
Kodi present itself as the Arch or Gentoo of Linux distributions,
at least in terms of the vast amount of documentation. The
Glossary page on its wiki is a must-read, irrespective of the media
server you ultimately settle on, as it will introduce you to
commonly used terms that aren’t defined in the documentation
available for other projects.Jellyfin’s web interface provides a one-click option to install plug-ins. Unfortunately,
there’s very little documentation on the functionality provided by them.For complex solutions such as media servers, bare-bones documentation is unlikely
to offer much assistance to absolute novices.