Anyone have their own media server set up?

[Bronn]

With all the recent changes in our household cable/internet/etc. I am considering turning some old PC parts into a media server. Basically, it will be a machine hooked up to our network that can hold all our movies, music, pictures, etc. that we can access from any device inside our home (maybe even outside.) For example, I know several people using Plex to do this.

Anyone here had any experience with something similar?

I figure I can piecemeal a power supply, some RAM, an old hard drive, and maybe even a processor and motherboard together to set one up. Just wondering if anyone has one set up so I can pick your brain for ideas and info.

thanks

[Zaximus]

I've used Kodi (formally known as XBMC) for years.  I have newsgroups integrated into it with two free apps (Kodi is free too) called Sickbeard and couchpotato.  With sickbeard you add the shows you want and it searches using a newsgroup search site (I search every 10 minutes once it's supposed to air).  It'll then download the file to sabnzb (another free app) that downloads the show and extracts it to the right place, then sickbeard notifies Kodi and it adds it to the database.  Couchpotato does same thing, but with movies and not shows. 

I use my iphone and my wife uses her android phone as controllers when using it, there are free apps to control Kodi on there.  You can also add other movies and tv shows manually and it'll show up in Kodi.  Tons of skins and tons of add-ons as well.

If that seems complicated (there are guides out there), you can just install Kodi and download an add-on called Genesis, and you can stream almost every tv show or movie from that.  I even found Alf on there.

You don't need much processing power or a powerful video card.  The only thing is storage.  I think my media PC is like 6-7 years old lol.   Genesis is a good option for people with limited space since you can just stream.

I haven't done it yet, but you can even get Kodi to install on FireTV as well.

[Scrumtrilescent]

Raspberry pi, kodi or plex, and as much storage as you can get.