OpnSense is the way to go. It has a good web UI. It's robust, featureful, and has wide and growing deployment.
Pfsense is mired in controversy, they attacked their peers, and the owners are not honest. The open source Opnsense project had to appeal to the WIPO to force Pfsense to give them their named domain after Pfsense squatted on it and posted inflammatory messages. They aren't great stewards.
Windows is okay to start. There's nothing wrong with putting Plex on there, sharing some folders, and having a little server.
You can get more performance and more features for running Linux though. It's more reliable and you can get more help, because that's the tool people use. There is a learning curve though.
For a storage server, Linux works well as a NAS (Network Attached Storage). It supports SMB, which is the protocol Windows uses to share files. A Linux server will be able to share files with a Windows PC.
Also if I switch to an open port through my router and send the containerized plex port through it, would that be any risk for my home network?
Not when done properly. Billions of servers open ports. There are 16 million Plex users.
Think about this, have you ever considered the possibility your router by Linksys, NETGEAR and D-Link is easy to hack and has been hacked?
There is a risk involved with any software and network. Plex is a popular app with lots of resources and development behind it though. A VPN like Tailscale can add another layer of security, but its not a requirement to run a secure server.
If they're Cat5/6 cables, in the U.S., they're low voltage and don't need a licensed electrician.
You're supposed to support the cables by attaching them to the surface. You're not supposed to leave them dangling or lying. They don't require a conduit though. If you get quality outdoor Cat6 cables, they're probably well protected in a dry covered chimney.
Using a VPN just means I don't get personalized ads, just random ones.
You can ask Google for non-personalized ads too, its in the settings. They will track you either way.
I pay for a YouTube premium family plan and because Google actively incentivizes it, 4 of my friends get it for free as well.
That's not possible. Your friends have to pay or watch ads themselves.
If it were possible for some people to pay and others not to pay, then YouTube would have survived for over a decade, including periods of profitability, even though some people blocked ads. Oh wait...
It's definitely not because YouTube has 2 billion viewers and expanded to all regions of the world, and there only real way to increase revenue is to squeeze the existing customers.
Its more than enough computer performance for those tasks. If it comes with a case, memory, storage, etc. It's not a bad price. It has an Intel integrated GPU with QuickSync Video which is good for Jellyfin hardware accelerated transcoding.
Put a smaller box/table/shelf underneath the black table. Now you have three layers (floor, small table, big table) to put stuff. You can even add a tablecloth on top if you want to cover the stuff underneath. That will make it look neat and tidy for $0.
Parsec has the lowest latency of any large free remote view software.
You can get 10 ms round trip on LAN, which is less than 1 frame at 60 FPS. You need Intel CPUs with QuickSync Video or nVidia nVENC GPUs. nVidia has the fastest hardware acceleration of anyone. On both the client and host. A Raspberry Pi isn't supported by Parsec anymore. It's not the best choice for this type of thing. A $150-$200 mini pc would be the best.
I use TrueNAS (ZFS) over Unraid because I wanted maximum data reliability. I needed a system with high integrity that I could deploy on multiple computers for backups. Unraid takes less planning and is more forgiving on hardware selection though.
TrueNAS, Unraid, and Synology DSM are all software RAID solutions.