Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Mac Mini, Plex and SD Cards

S

Saidear

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jul 28, 2011
14
0
So I've made the plunge and I'm setting up my brand spanking new mac mini as a HTPC. This aluminium baby is humming away tucked behind a cabinet on my media cabinet as we speak. With Plex, Transmission and Automatic I have it doing everything I need it to right now except one thing.

Since the 2011 model doesn't have an optical drive (and I really don't want to use one anyways, the discs are too delicate and bulky). So instead of that, I want to back up to SD cards. Is there anyway to plug in an SD Card, then in Plex select a TV series or show, and have it copy the files over?
 
simsaladimbamba said:
Why not use an external 2.5" HDD in a USB enclosure? They are cheaper per GB than SD cards and you could backup your entire library via CarbonCopyCloner or SuperDuper! on a daily basis automatically.
Click to expand...

Portability.

With an SD card, I can put it into my MBP or my girlfriend's laptop and we can watch the season while out, without the bulkiness of an external drive. Plus then we can have a physical library, of sorts, that we can go back to as the collection grows. Plus I'm in a position to snag a substantial large batch of 2 and 4GB cards for almost next to nothing right now so why not?
 
Saidear said:
Portability.

With an SD card, I can put it into my MBP or my girlfriend's laptop and we can watch the season while out, without the bulkiness of an external drive. Plus then we can have a physical library, of sorts, that we can go back to as the collection grows. Plus I'm in a position to snag a substantial large batch of 2 and 4GB cards for almost next to nothing right now so why not?
Click to expand...

As far as Plex doing something like this automatically, I've never seen anything like that.
 
Actually, from my experience with Plex, as long as you can access your mini to update the library (which you need to do when adding files regardless) you should be fine. I use Plex on a 2010 mini connected to a Roku using the Plex Channel, and all my files are on a FW800 drive. When the drive isn't mounted plex still sees the library, you just can't watch anything until the volume is mounted.

So here is my suggestion:
1. Create a folder in your sd card called "TV" or whatever you want to call it.
2. Add that folder to your library.
3. Repeat for other cards (if applicable)

When you use the Plex Channel you'll see all the files that plex is aware of from its most recent library update, but you'll only be able to access the ones you have mounted.

EDIT: This works using Plex Server and a Roku Plex channel. I'm not sure if it will work with the Plex Player as I've never used it, but the principle, in theory, should be the same.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back