Server Version#:1.41.3.9314-72009314
Player Version#: 1.105.2.269-12a32491
<If providing server logs please do NOT turn on verbose logging, only debug logging should be enabled>
I am on vacation and was trying to fix a few issues we were having with video artifacts and I was in Remote Access under my server and I clicked “Manually Specify Public Port” and now I can’t access the server (or the Remote Access settings to undo it). Does anyone have any ideas for fixing it? I reckon I can access it locally when we’re back home next week, but would like to access it while we’re away.
I’m using a Synology DS1520+, but can only access the DSM through QuickConnect, which won’t let me access Plex Media Server. When I try to use the DDNS service, it just times out. At home I have a Taotronics mesh router. My ISP is Gigaclear and I believe they use CGNAT. Port forwarding on Taotronics is really confusing and doesn’t seem to work like any other router, which might be the reason I can’t use Synology’s DDNS service.
I would be grateful for any help anyone could offer.
You can modify Plex’s remote access port settings using the Synology text editor or via a Linux editor (vi, etc.) if you’ve SSH access.
You cannot change whether or not remote access is enabled. You cannot change whether or not Plex Relay is enabled.
The setting to use a manually specified port and which port to use are stored in preferences.xml in the Plex Data Folder.
If using Synology Text Editor, you may need to give your DSM user permission to modify preferences.xml. If using a Linux CLI editor, invoke it using sudo, so it runs as root.
The method is:
Stop Plex Media Server
Make a backup copy of preferences.xml
Edit preferences.xml
Start Plex Media Server
The settings in preferences.xml are:
ManualPortMappingMode: 0 = use UPnP; 1 = use manual port
ManualPortMappingPort: assign the manual port number
Thank you for your reply. I tried to access the Preferences file through the Synology DSM, but I wasn’t able to figure out how to get the Text Editor to have the correct permissions (I changed my user login permissions, checked “Enable SSH Service” under the Terminal & SNMP tab on the Control Panel, gave myself Advanced Permissions on the Plex Media Server folder, but nothing worked).
I am able to download the file and view it in Notepad. Can I edit the settings in Notepad and then replace the file/overwrite it in the Plex Media Server folder?
And to check, if I am able to edit as above, I would want to change A to B, correct?
What you are showing in the screenshot is not what @FordGuy61 referred to. Those settings are referring to the DLNA server, you need to look for the “ManualPortMapping” settings.
I cannot answer your other question as I do not use Synology.
Edit: Ignore this. Did not pay close enough attention to the screenshot.
In the Preferences.xml file which I downloaded from the Plex Media Server folder that is the only bit that refers to Manual Port Mapping. Is there another place I would find that?
I’m not sure what the permissions are. Under the Advanced Share Permissions tab for the folder for Plex Media Server under the Shared Folder in the Control Panel, I gave my user name Read and Write permission. Not sure what that actually allows and whether or not those permissions would allow me to upload the edited Preferences file.
I think the issue is that you do not want to edit the “share” permissions but the permissions of the folder itself.
Can you see if you are able to follow these instructions from Synology to change the folder permissions? I am guessing if you change these permissions you will be able to edit the file via the Synology text editor as mentioned by FordGuy61.
I went through the steps and found that my user name had all permissions except Administration ones (“Change Permissions” and “Take Owership”). I clicked on those and saved and it says that because I already belong to the administrator group I should already have full file transfer permissions. I saved it anyway.
I have discovered that if I copy the Preferences.xml to another folder, I can use the Text Editor to edit it and then I can copy it back to the Plex Media Server folder. Should that be a safe way of doing it?
That should be safe to do.
You can also keep a copy of the original file (so make a copy somewhere and append -original or the date or something to it to clarify what it is) and that way you have t as a backup.
Copying the file back should then be fine as you only made the one change.
I’ve done it, but it didn’t change anything in the Plex desktop app (i.e. I still couldn’t access my server).
One thing I noticed, though, is that through Synology’s QuickConnect, when I have the Plex Media Server page open in the Package Center and I click “Open”, I was getting a 405 error earlier. Now, it’s just timing out. I’m not sure what to make of that.
Just to make sure you stopped PMS, made a back up copy (FordGuy61 actually mentioned that step I noticed), updated the preferences.xml file with the updated value and copied it back and then started PMS back up, correct?
You’ll probably need to connect to PMS using the IP address (so http://synology.ip.address:32400/web)? I have seen this suggested in other threads where QuickConnect did not work but using the IP in a browser like that did. Unfortunately, does not seem like you will be able to do that until you get home from vacation.
I just noticed there was a new file in the Plex Media Server folder, just before I uploaded the edited Preferences file - “Setup Plex.html”.
I downloaded it and opened it in the browser and it took me to the Plex.tv website and there’s a message saying “Initializing Plex Media Server”. Another thing I don’t know what to make of.
Sorry I can’t be of any more help. I see FordGuy61 replying, so maybe they will be able to continue their guidance. @FordGuy61, hope I did not do “more damage” trying to assist.
Editing preferences.xml was the one thing I could think of that might work.
If I read the original post correctly, a manual port was not in use. You enabled using a manual port and then lost access.
I was hoping reverting ManualPortMappingMode = 0 would let you back into the server.
Instead of opening via QuickConnect, try https://app.plex.tv/desktop/. If Plex Relay is enabled, then you might be able to access Plex. The connection is tunneled through a server at Plex, and is limited to 2 Mbps.
If that does not work, then you’ll need to wait until you’re back home. Talk to your ISP. See if they offer a public IPv4 address that supports port forwarding. That would bypass their CG-NAT addressing and let you use traditional port forwarding for Plex remote access.
Ignore Setup Plex.html. It does not work on Synology NAS. It is used when installing Plex on a desktop/laptop/etc. (i.e. with a keyboard & monitor).
It looks like Plex Relay isn’t enabled because it says No Content Available. Thanks again for your help and if I run into trouble when I’m back home, I’ll post another note.
