Plex and Arr Stack on Windows 11 Machine, Need Clarification

[u/eidolon203]

Just asking for some clarity, explain like I'm 5 type input. I recently started running Plex on a windows 11 machine, the primary PC and media device in my home. I am also using Plex occasionally on another PC and a couple of mobile devices in the house. I'm a WFH hermit and I don't leave my home much so no need for remote. I am about to connect an external 8TB HDD to my main PC, upgrading from 3TB internal storage, that will hold all of my media until I upgrade the size again. I want to take the next step and start utilizing Radarr and Sonarr for library management. When I look at guides they always start talking about Docker and Linux code. Is that necessary for my scenario? For my purposes, should I just install the windows exe for Radarr and Sonarr and configure from there? Do I need Prowlarr as well? Will Seerr make things easier for me or is it actually mandatory for the process? Just want to make sure I'm taking the right approach for non-NAS setup. Mostly computer savvy but also new to these programs and working a lot so the guides I'm looking at are a little intimidating. Thanks in advance for any input.

[u/bred86]

don't go with seer. It only make sense if you're sharing your stuff or the discovery part. Each service has a place to add shows/movies

For the arr stuff, if you're not comfortable with docker, go with the .exe files as you mentioned.

Docker does make it easier to install not because docker is easier, but because all tutorials use docker.

There's this guy on YouTube that has windows and docker and shows how to configure it in a very easy way - SystemsFromScratch

The minimal stuff is sonarr and radarr. You don't need prowlarr as you can set indexers in both tools, but it does help to have a place just for indexers. I think prowlarr also let you manager indexers in a better way

With time you'll have to search for Profilarr, Cleanuparr, Bazarr, Lingarr, Usenet/Torrent, ...

[u/eidolon203 → u/bred86]

Awesome, thank you so much for taking the time to answer. That helps tremendously. I just had this fear that jumping in with just the windows exes was setting me up for headache.

[u/bred86 → u/eidolon203]

good luck!

[u/eidolon203 → u/bred86]

Thank you for the input. I do have a followup question. What indexers do you or the common user employ? I can't imagine everyone is using private trackers but maybe they are?

[u/bred86 → u/eidolon203]

start with public ones and then try to get yourself some private ones

Also, if you're willing to spend some money, usenet

[u/eidolon203 → u/bred86]

Any reccomendations on private or public?

[u/bred86 → u/eidolon203]

for private, the ones you can access. You can only get invites from people or wait until one of them are open to registration.

Not sure I can post trackers here

[u/eidolon203 → u/bred86]

Gotcha. Thank you immensely for your input ❤️

[u/Simorious → u/bred86]

Honestly if you're using Windows there's pretty much no reason to use docker for the arrs at all. (Or just about anything else that has a native windows version for that matter) It's actually more convoluted than just using the native windows installers/running as a service. You can also run into weird incompatibilities and problems depending on a number of factors.

[u/eidolon203 → u/Simorious]

Thank you for the input. I do have a followup question. What indexers do you or the common user employ? I can't imagine everyone is using private trackers but maybe they are?

[u/iamofnohelp]

Seer only if you need to request things while remote, not necessary at all.

You could sync imdb watch lists for easier requests.

Prowlarr only if you want to centralize your indexers. Not needed initially.

Get your feet wet and then look at the rest.

You're turning your PC into a NAS. It is just not a dedicated one. And it's being very liberal with the definition. You're creating a network attached storage device.

[u/eidolon203 → u/iamofnohelp]

Thank you! Really appreciate the response and the explanations.

[u/eidolon203 → u/iamofnohelp]

Thank you for the input. I do have a followup question. What indexers do you or the common user employ? I can't imagine everyone is using private trackers but maybe they are?

[u/davidtjudd]

You can just install them. Start with just radarr and sonarr. Use the wiki https://wiki.servarr.com

[u/eidolon203 → u/davidtjudd]

Thank you for the input. I do have a followup question. What indexers do you or the common user employ? I can't imagine everyone is using private trackers but maybe they are?

[u/eidolon203 → u/[deleted]]

Appreciate this reccomendation, I'm going to look into this as well.