Last updated Jun 3, 2026
Prerequisites#
Get everything on this list ready before starting. Skipping items here causes problems later that are harder to debug mid-installation.
Hardware#
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | x86_64, 4 cores | 6+ cores |
| RAM | 16 GB | 32 GB (especially with ZFS) |
| System disk | SSD/NVMe | NVMe (Proxmox + VM OS) |
| Data disks | 2 disks for ZFS mirror | 2× HDD or SSD |
| Network | Gigabit Ethernet | Gigabit Ethernet (no WiFi) |
A GPU or iGPU (Intel Quick Sync or AMD) is optional but needed for Plex hardware transcoding. This requires Plex Pass.
Proxmox#
- Proxmox VE 8.x installed on bare metal
- Updated to the latest minor release (
apt update && apt upgrade) - LXC and VM support working
- ZFS support enabled (included in PVE by default)
- Web UI accessible at
https://<host-ip>:8006
You should be comfortable with the Proxmox UI, basic Linux CLI, and creating VMs and LXCs.
Network#
This setup assumes a simple flat LAN:
- One subnet (e.g.
192.168.1.0/24) - Static IPs or DHCP reservations for the Proxmox host, Plex LXC, and Docker VM
- No VLANs required
Remote access to Plex is handled by Plex's own relay. All other services (Sonarr, Radarr, Overseerr, etc.) are LAN-only by default.
Disk layout#
You need at least two physical disks for the ZFS pool (mirror). The system disk (Proxmox OS) must be separate from the data disks.
Example layout used in this documentation:
| Disk | Purpose |
|---|---|
/dev/sda | Proxmox OS (system) |
/dev/sdb | ZFS pool disk 1 (data) |
/dev/sdc | ZFS pool disk 2 (data, mirror) |
The ZFS pool name used throughout: tank.
Accounts#
Create these before starting:
| Account | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Plex account | plex.tv | Free account is enough; Plex Pass needed for hardware transcoding |
| Usenet provider | frugalusenet.com | Keep credentials ready for SABnzbd |
| Indexer — NZBGeek | nzbgeek.info | API key needed for Prowlarr |
| Indexer — NinjaCentral | ninjacentral.co.za | API key needed for Prowlarr |
Store credentials securely before you start. You will need them at multiple points during setup.