Access to Remote Plex Server using DLNA through Local Plex Server

Plex Media Server Desktops & Laptops
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Hi,

I have a Plex Media Server hosted in a cloud server since years, it works perfectly using Plex clients and Apps. And I’m already sharing my librairies with my friends and it works well also.

I’m trying to access my files from my TV using DLNA, and I cannot make it works … :frowning:

What I tried already :

  1. Connect my Local Plex to the same account than my remote Plex : I can see DLNA Server but I can’t see anything in “Remote Videos” or “Shared Videos” …
    I cannot identify error in logs …

  2. Connect my Local Plex to a second accounts with all my remote libraries shared with it ( i repeat that everything works perfectly with plex client). I can see my files in “Shared Videos” but I cannot open any file. In the local plex logs I get : “Proxied GET to https://XXXXX.plex.direct:32400/library/parts/6417/1534348984/file.mkv?X-Plex-Token=xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx: HTTP/1.1 401”

  3. Download the same file from my remote server, and create temporary library with this file … it works perfectly from my DLNA Client. So the issue is not my file format.

  • I tried from my TV, but also from VLC, exactly same problem.
  • Both servers are in last version : 1.20.1.3252
  • I don’t have any pin on my first or second account.
  • I have Plex Pass on my first account (I created my second account for this issue only).
  • Secure Remote access works perfectly for my remote server (all clients works perfectly except DLNA).
  • I know DLNA is a L2 protocol, but it seems Plex Server can act as relay, and is exactly what I want (i don’t want to set up tap vpn or drive mounts …)
  • Local plex is Windows and Remote plex is Linux

I hope you can help me :slight_smile:
Regards
Ben

Server Version#: 1.20.1.3252
Player Version#: DLNA

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Long story short… DLNA is not designed to work outside your home network.
Theoretically you could create some VPN, virtually integrating the external server into your home network… however I’m not convinced the benefit of having DLNA will be worth that effort and potential security considerations.

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Hi Tom,

Thank you for your answer. Unfortunately, this is not what I’m asking :upside_down_face:
I already found this answer in other threads, because it is the easiest one : it should but doesn’t work, don’t make it works and change your plan … it is not my mentality (i’m pretty sure you don’t change your PC everytime something goes wrong :wink:

As I said in my request, I perfectly know than DLNA is a layer 2 protocol and will not go further than my router … but here, DLNA protocol and location are not the issue. Let me explain again.

As I can read and see on my server, Plex Media Server can be a DLNA Server, and offer to his clients :

  • Local files (local libraries)
  • Shared files (libraries shared from other plex account)
  • Remote file (libraries on other server, and from same account) <= Not sure about this one

I have a local Plex Server, on the same network than my clients. So here is the scheme :

DLNA Client <----(DLNA Protocol)----> Local Plex <----(HTTP)----> Remote PLex

My clients can see DLNA Server and his hierarchy (Video > Shared | Remote | Preferences | Local librairies … )
It can also open local librairies using DLNA.
So ! the question is not if it can works outside of my network, because : it is not outside and it works.

The problem is when Local plex have to retreive content from Remote location and serve it to client via DLNA protocol … so when it works as a proxy between DLNA and HTTP

For what I already tried and my results, you can see the original post.

Tom, I am Network engineer since more than 10 years, I know there is other solutions (list below) from easy to hard to implement, but if I switch immediatly to another solution without asking, Plex does not progress … and I love Plex and I want to make it bigger and stronger, whith new features
(this is why I have plex pass even if I don’t need it :wink:)

And what is a feature that doen’t work ? I call it a bug and this forum is also to raise bug …
And why I think it’s a bug ? Because i think it is planned to work (what are shared and remote videos directory then ?)

Thank for your help and your time,
Best regards,
Ben

For people that want other solution to bypass this issue :
1 - Easiest one :

  • Make your repository accessible from your network through FTP, SFTP, NFS, SMB, Webdav or Whatever (if you have a seedbox, i’m pretty sure ou can access your file from FTP or SFTP)
  • Mount as a network drive your remote files using OS or Third party soft. (Windows can do FTP, SMB and Webdav)
  • Create a local library on your local plex server pointing to this map drive.
  • use your local plex
    Note : I do not recommend NFS or SMB without VPN, and Webdav/FTP without TLS …

2 - Depending of your library and Internet connection

  • Download all files to your computer and use these files as a new local librairies ( automation is also possible )
    Note 1 : You will have a backup of your data
    Note 2 : You may have very big files and it could works because it doesn’t need Internet
    Note 3 : Is it really want you want to do ? Why to have remote plex then ?

3 - Build L2VPN or TAPVPN between remote plex and your local network

  • Need some skills, but not so hard using OpenVPN. You will not need local plex anymore …
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So … one answer and that’s all ?

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I suppose so.
Apparently somebody else looked into a similar approach back in 2012 and got it to work by setting up the remote server as a different user, sharing its content with your main/regular Plex account

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HI Tom,

Thank you for your answer.

Already tried this solution … :wink: (point number 2 in my first message).
I can see my files, but cannot open it :pensive: looking into the server logs, I get a 401 error when opening the remote file.

I know this is not the file format, I tried to download it and open it locally without any issue … (point number 3)

What is the procedure to raise a bug to developpers ?

Regards,
Ben

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So … no support ? This is what I am supposed to expect when I pay for plex pass ?
Maybe my last plex subscription …

Where are plex developpers ?

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Hi knasucre22,
Looking to do pretty much the same thing as you.
Have you managed to get this working?

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As previously mentioned, this is not possible with DLNA.

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Hi MovieFan.Plex,
Just wanted to mention that I can play music files such as .mp3 from the shared library.
The album art etc is also displayed.
Video files and photos are listed but will not play.
Just to confirm, I have Plex server running on local network and can play music from the libraries my friend shares from their remote Plex server.
Could you please explain why music would play from remote library over DLNA but video files will not?
The fact that music files play including album artwork being displayed has given me hope that this will work for video files.

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Can you play both a music track and then a video track and get me the Plex DLNA log? AFAIK, this should not be possible with any type of media.

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