How to keep plex Server always running Windows as service?

Keeping Plex Server Always Running as a Windows Service

Plex Media Server is a popular media server software that allows users to stream and manage their media libraries across multiple devices. While Plex is a great tool for managing your media collection, it requires some maintenance to keep it running smoothly. One of the most important tasks is to keep Plex Server always running as a Windows service. In this article, we will explore the steps to achieve this.

Why Keep Plex Server as a Windows Service?

Keeping Plex Server as a Windows service is essential for several reasons:

Security: Running Plex Server as a service ensures that it is always running, even if the system crashes or is restarted. This prevents potential security vulnerabilities that could allow malware to infect the system.

Reliability: A service-based approach ensures that Plex Server is always running, even if the system is experiencing issues. This provides a high level of reliability and ensures that your media collection is always accessible.

Flexibility: Running Plex Server as a service allows you to easily manage and update the software without having to restart the entire system.

Step-by-Step Guide to Keeping Plex Server as a Windows Service

Here are the steps to keep Plex Server always running as a Windows service:

Table of Contents

Step 1: Install the Plex Media Server

To start, you need to install Plex Media Server on your Windows system. You can download the installer from the official Plex website.

Download the installer: Go to the Plex website and download the latest version of Plex Media Server.

Run the installer: Run the installer and follow the prompts to install Plex Media Server.

Configure the installation: During the installation process, you will be asked to configure the installation settings. Make sure to select the correct installation location and configure the service settings.

Step 2: Configure the Service Settings

After installing Plex Media Server, you need to configure the service settings to keep it running as a Windows service.

Create a new service: In the Control Panel, go to Services and click on Create a new service.

Name the service: Give the service a name, such as "Plex Media Server".

Description: Provide a brief description of the service, such as "Plex Media Server".

Start type: Select Automatic as the start type.

Load balancing: Select None as the load balancing method.

Startup type: Select Automatic as the startup type.

Step 3: Enable the Service

Once you have configured the service settings, you need to enable the service.

Enable the service: In the Control Panel, go to Services and click on Enable the service.

Wait for the service to start: Wait for the service to start and become available.

Step 4: Test the Service

To test the service, you can use the Plex Media Server command-line tool.

Run the command: Run the command plexmediaserver to test the service.

Check the logs: Check the logs to ensure that the service is running correctly.

Step 5: Schedule the Service to Run

To ensure that the service runs continuously, you need to schedule it to run.

Create a schedule: Create a schedule to run the service at a specific time.

Set the schedule: Set the schedule to run the service at the specified time.

Step 6: Monitor the Service

To ensure that the service is running correctly, you need to monitor it.

Check the logs: Check the logs to ensure that the service is running correctly.

Check the system event logs: Check the system event logs to ensure that the service is running correctly.

Tips and Tricks

Here are some additional tips and tricks to keep in mind when keeping Plex Server as a Windows service:

Use a separate account: Use a separate account for the service to prevent any conflicts with other services.

Use a secure password: Use a secure password for the service to prevent unauthorized access.

Regularly update the service: Regularly update the service to ensure that you have the latest security patches.

Conclusion

Keeping Plex Server as a Windows service is an essential step in ensuring that your media collection is always accessible. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can keep Plex Server running as a Windows service and ensure that your media collection is always up-to-date and secure.