Project proposal: Portable RasPi Plex Media Server with built in wireless router

Background why

I have another hare-brained idea to address my Portable Plex project.

I’ve always felt that having a portable Plex Media Server during travels (when travelling was still possible) was a big solution to the long nights of boredom in hotel rooms. As I hope that travelling will once again be possible, I can’t get my mind off the need to put together a Plex solution for my travels.

But with Plex I can stream my films across the Internet, I hear you say! Yes, Plex can do that. But I am anticipating that during my travels – those Internet connections will not be always available, nor at the right speeds and bandwidth. So I still want my portable Plex Media Server!

I’ve posted about this “Project: Portable Plex Media Server on External SSD Ubuntu” but that is on an external USB SSD running Ubuntu and to be booted from a Windows laptop. With the problems I faced there, I am looking to explore other solutions.

Hope this all makes sense.

My latest proposal -Portable RasPi Plex Media Server with built in wireless router

I am not sure if this device exists. Although it would be possible that one of the Intel NUCs and similar devices could potentially offer a similar solution. For example, I am not sure if the likes of a Lenovo ThinkCentre M90n nano PCs would serve this purpose? The M90n weighs around 500 grams, but can only take up to two times 512 GB M.2 nvme SSD. It maxes out at 1TB SSD. Not sure why though.

Or should I just buy and customise an Intel NUC instead? After some searches, I estimate that the NUC weighs about 600 grams, and can take up to 2TB of 2.5″ SATA III SSD – and possibly more? So the NUC sounds like a strong candidate.

Alternatively, should I build this device from scratch? Can I combine the following? –

a Raspberry Pi 4 single board computer (SBC),
running on Raspberry Pi OS (to run Plex Media Server) – or should I use some other OS like OpenMediaVault instead?
with Plex Media Server installed (ie. the OS must be linux debian, or Mac or Windows),
and a 4TB (large size for the media files) 2.5″ SATA III SSD, or better yet a M.2 SATA III or nvme SSD,
with a small form factor portable wireless router – built in,
with a capacitive 5″ or 7″ touch screen,
external USB-C power supply (no batteries),
and all within a single slim form factor enclosure and *weighing around 500+/- grams?

* The weight is an important consideration given that I wish to bring this device when travelling and hence luggage weight limits are the main constraints.

I think this can be done, but the big question is how do I get started?

What components do I need?

I think I can get the Raspberry Pi 4 SBC. I can also get myself the SSD. I can possible find a suitable touch screen.

But what do I need to get to build the portable wireless router? Where can I put together a nice slim form factor enclosure?

Reference materials on the Internet to get me started

I will compile the various materials that I find on the Internet that could serve as reference for this project. Here are some that I have found below. I will add more as I discover them through this journey.