Goal
Build a home media server and self-hosting setup that eliminates (or significantly reduces) monthly subscriptions — Netflix, Spotify, Tidal, Dropbox, Google Photos, and others. Own the stack. Stop renting.
Services to Replace
| Service | Monthly cost | Self-hosted replacement |
|---|---|---|
| Netflix | $XX | Plex — movies & TV |
| Spotify | $XX | PlexAmp — music streaming |
| Tidal | $XX | PlexAmp — lossless music library |
| Dropbox | $XX | Nextcloud / Syncthing — file sync |
| Google Photos | $XX | Immich — photo backup |
Hardware Purchased
| Item | Spec | Cost | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| HP ProDesk 600 G3 Mini | i5-7500T, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD | $69.99 | Ordered |
| External Blu-ray/DVD drive | Generic USB 3.0 | $56.99 | Ordered |
| 16GB DDR4 SO-DIMM RAM | DDR4 2400MHz | TBD | To buy |
| External storage | 8TB USB drive (wait for price drop) | ~$130 | Hold |
Decided Stack
| What | Tool | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Ubuntu Server 24.04 LTS | Free |
| Media server | Plex Media Server | Free |
| Plex Pass | Lifetime (unlocks Quick Sync transcoding) | ~$120 one-time |
| Music | PlexAmp (included with Plex Pass) | $0 |
| Photos | Immich | Free |
| File sync | Nextcloud or Syncthing | TBD |
| Remote access | Tailscale | Free |
| Public URL | Cloudflare + domain (Porkbun) | ~$3/yr |
| App management | Docker + Portainer | Free |
Content Sourcing Plan
Movies & TV
- Rip owned Blu-rays with MakeMKV → compress with HandBrake
- Blu-ray rips: ~8–15GB per film (H.265); DVD rips: ~1–3GB (H.264)
- File naming:
Movie Title (Year)/Movie Title (Year).mkv— Plex auto-matches metadata - Existing collection: ~80–90 titles (mix of Blu-ray and DVD) — est. ~320GB ripped
Music
- Rip CDs with dBpoweramp → FLAC
- Buy new releases via Bandcamp (DRM-free FLAC) or Qobuz
- Tag cleanup: MusicBrainz Picard
Photos
- Export Google Photos via Google Takeout (takeout.google.com)
- Export iCloud via Photos app → Export Originals
- Host in Immich
Key Areas — Research Status
- Hardware — HP ProDesk 600 G3 Mini (i5-7500T); Quick Sync for transcoding, 35W TDP always-on
- OS — Ubuntu Server 24.04 LTS (Linux-native Docker, best compatibility)
- Media server — Plex chosen; better clients, built-in remote access, PlexAmp for music
- Music — PlexAmp (Plex Pass); replaces Spotify + Tidal
- Photo backup — Immich; Google Takeout + iCloud export for migration
- Content sourcing — MakeMKV + HandBrake for disc ripping; Bandcamp/Qobuz for music
- Storage — start with 256GB SSD for testing; buy 8TB external when prices drop
- Networking — Tailscale (personal access); Cloudflare + domain for sharing
- File sync — Nextcloud vs Syncthing (not researched yet)
- Power & noise — always-on power draw and noise levels
Next Actions
Now (Mac, no hardware needed)
- Download MakeMKV and HandBrake on Mac
- Start Google Photos Takeout export
- Tally current monthly subscription spend
When DVD drive arrives
- Rip Blu-rays first (blue cases, best quality)
- Rip DVDs second
- Name files correctly as you rip:
Movie Title (Year)/Movie Title (Year).mkv
When ProDesk arrives
- Install Ubuntu Server 24.04
- Install Docker + Portainer
- Install Plex via Docker
- Buy Plex Pass lifetime ($120) — required for Quick Sync hardware transcoding
- Point Plex at ripped media library
- Set up Immich for photos
- Configure Tailscale for remote access
Later
- Buy 16GB DDR4 SO-DIMM (upgrade from 8GB)
- Buy 8TB external drive when price drops to ~$130
- Research Nextcloud / Syncthing for Dropbox replacement
- Set up PlexAmp music library
- Map phased subscription cancellations — cancel one at a time as replacements go live
Notes
Working name is UnWired — will revisit. The goal isn’t just saving money; it’s owning the experience, no arbitrary content removals, and keeping data private.
Drive prices elevated due to AI data center demand — expected through 2029. Buy storage when deals appear (Costco, Black Friday, Prime Day).