What you're setting up

Plex Media Server runs on an Ubuntu virtual machine inside Proxmox, letting you stream your movies, TV shows, and music to devices around your home or remotely. This guide walks you through creating the VM, installing Ubuntu, adding Plex, and pointing it to your media files. You'll need a Proxmox host already running, an Ubuntu ISO file, and storage space for both the VM and your media library.

The process takes roughly 30 to 60 minutes depending on your hardware and internet speed. Most of the time is spent downloading Ubuntu and Plex, not configuration. If you've never built a VM before, the Proxmox interface will feel unfamiliar at first, but each step follows the same pattern.

Key Takeaways

  • Create a new VM in Proxmox, allocate at least 2 CPU cores and 4 GB of RAM, and attach the Ubuntu ISO as the boot drive.
  • Install Ubuntu Server with default settings, then update the system packages before installing Plex.
  • Download and install Plex using the official repository, which handles updates automatically.
  • Add your media folders to Plex through the web interface at http://your-vm-ip:32400/web, then let Plex scan and organize your files.
  • Forward port 32400 on your router if you want to stream outside your home network, and set up a Plex account to use remote access.

Creating the virtual machine in Proxmox

Log into your Proxmox web interface and click Create VM in the top right. Give it a name like "plex-server" and set the Node to your Proxmox host. Leave VM ID on auto unless you have a reason to change it.

On the OS tab, select Linux as the type and Ubuntu as the version. Click the folder icon next to ISO Image and select your Ubuntu Server ISO file. If you don't have one, download Ubuntu Server 22.04 LTS from ubuntu.com — the LTS version gets five years of updates and is more stable for a server that runs constantly.

On the System tab, leave the defaults. On the Disks tab, set the disk size to at least 50 GB if you're storing media on the same drive as the OS, or 20 GB if you're mounting media from a separate storage location. On the CPU tab, give it 2 cores minimum; 4 is better if your Proxmox host has them. On the Memory tab, set it to 4096 MB (4 GB) minimum; 8 GB is safer if you have it. Click Finish to create the VM.

Installing Ubuntu on the VM

Right-click the new VM and select Start. Once it boots, click the Console tab to see the Ubuntu installer. Select your language and keyboard layout, then choose Ubuntu Server (minimized) when prompted. This installs only what you need, keeping the VM lightweight.

When asked about network configuration, select your network interface and let it use DHCP to get an IP address automatically. Skip the proxy settings. For storage, accept the default partitioning — the installer will use the entire disk you allocated. Create a username and password you'll remember; you'll use these to log in later.

When the installer finishes, it will ask to reboot. Click Reboot Now. The VM will restart and boot into Ubuntu. Log in with the username and password you created. Write down the IP address shown on the login screen — you'll need it to access Plex later.

Updating Ubuntu and installing Plex

Once you're logged in, update the system packages by typing these commands one at a time, pressing Enter after each:

sudo apt update sudo apt upgrade -y

This downloads and installs the latest security patches and software versions. It may take a few minutes. When it finishes, add the official Plex repository so Ubuntu knows where to download Plex from:

curl https://downloads.plex.tv/plex-keys/PlexSign.key | sudo apt-key add - echo deb https://downloads.plex.tv/repo/deb public main | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/plexmediaserver.list

Update the package list again, then install Plex:

sudo apt update sudo apt install plexmediaserver -y

Ubuntu will download and install Plex automatically. When it finishes, Plex starts running in the background. You don't need to do anything else — it's already running.

Accessing Plex and adding your media

Open a web browser on any computer on your network and go to http://your-vm-ip:32400/web, replacing "your-vm-ip" with the IP address you wrote down during Ubuntu installation. If you don't remember it, log back into the VM and type hostname -I to see the IP.

Plex will ask you to sign in or create an account. Use your email address — this account is how Plex tracks your library and settings. After signing in, Plex will ask you to name your server and choose where your media is stored.

If your media files are already on the Ubuntu VM, click Add Library and navigate to the folder where your movies or TV shows are stored. If your media is on a separate network drive or NAS, you'll need to mount it first. Ask in the Plex forums or your NAS documentation for the exact mount command for your setup.

After you add a folder, Plex starts scanning it automatically. Scanning can take hours if you have thousands of files — let it run in the background. Plex will match your files to its database and pull in artwork, descriptions, and ratings as it goes.

Streaming outside your home network

If you only want to stream inside your home, you're done. If you want to watch Plex on your phone or tablet when you're away from home, you need to forward a port on your router to the VM.

Log into your router's admin page (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 in your browser) and find Port Forwarding. Forward port 32400 on your router to port 32400 on your VM's IP address. Save the settings. This tells your router to send incoming requests on port 32400 to your Plex server.

Back in Plex, go to Settings, then Remote Access. Click Enable Remote Access. Plex will test the connection and show you whether it can reach your server from outside your network. If the test fails, check that port forwarding is set up correctly and that your firewall isn't blocking port 32400.

For security, Plex requires you to be signed into your account to stream remotely — it won't let strangers access your library. You can share your library with specific people by inviting them through Plex's sharing settings.

Keeping Plex running and updated

Plex runs as a system service on Ubuntu, which means it starts automatically when the VM boots. If you restart the VM or Proxmox reboots, Plex will come back up on its own.

Because you installed Plex from the official repository, Ubuntu handles updates automatically. When a new version of Plex is released, sudo apt upgrade will pull it in the next time you run that command. You can also set up automatic updates if you want the VM to patch itself without your involvement, though that's beyond the scope of this guide.

If Plex ever stops responding, log into the VM and type sudo systemctl restart plexmediaserver to restart it. If you need to check whether it's running, type sudo systemctl status plexmediaserver.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I store media on a separate drive or NAS instead of the VM?

Yes. Mount the drive or NAS to a folder on the Ubuntu VM, then add that folder to Plex. The exact mount command depends on whether it's an NFS share, SMB share, or local USB drive. Ubuntu's documentation and your NAS manual will have the specific steps for your setup.

What if I can't reach Plex at http://your-vm-ip:32400/web?

First, make sure the VM is running and Ubuntu is fully booted. Log into the VM console and type sudo systemctl status plexmediaserver to confirm Plex is running. If it shows "active (running)", check that you're using the correct IP address by typing hostname -I again. If Plex shows "inactive", restart it with sudo systemctl restart plexmediaserver.

How much storage do I need for the VM?

Ubuntu itself uses about 5 GB. If you're storing media on the same drive, add the total size of your media library. A typical movie is 4 to 8 GB, and a TV season is 20 to 50 GB. If media is on a separate drive, 20 GB for the OS is enough.

Can I access Plex from outside my network without port forwarding?

Plex has a relay feature that works without port forwarding, but it's slower and less reliable. Port forwarding is the standard approach. If your router doesn't support it or you're uncomfortable opening ports, Plex's relay will still work — just enable Remote Access and let Plex handle the connection.

What happens if I restart the Proxmox host?

The VM will shut down when Proxmox shuts down. When Proxmox boots back up, you'll need to start the VM manually through the Proxmox interface, or configure the VM to start automatically in Proxmox's settings. Plex itself will start automatically once the VM is running.