I want to use Plex remotely with pia VPN still running, I want my plugins to still go through pia but to access the server remotely. I can’t use Pia port forwarding as the servers that support it are too far away. Has anyone done it and is able to guide me it would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
It’s working perfectly here in the NE-USA.
Note:
There’s a recent (a few days) upgrade. Mine was working before and after the upgrade, but it could help you.
Forward the port in the router, then tell the PIA Client what that port is here:
I guess if you’re doing that, and it’s not working, this isn’t much help, is it?
Thanks
On my router I forwarded port 32400 to 32400 and it works fine without vpn. In pia I set local port to 32400 and turned port forwarding on. PIA says it is connect and gives me a IP and external port, when I try using it or checking it online it says the port isn’t open. I’ve emailed PIA about this, not sure if anyone else is encountering similar problems?
I simply told PIA what port I had forwarded in the box provided and enabled the tic box below. I did nothing else. It was easy. It had to be easy - because an idiot did it in 5 minutes.
I did not forward the standard port. I invented a new one from the range available and instructed Plex to use that port in the box provided (the idiot in me thinks that’s more secure).
Actually, I’m not even sure ‘Request Port Forwarding’ in the PIA Client has to be enabled. Once you tell PIA what the local port is - that might be all there is to it (there’s that idiot thing kicking in again)…
Idiot News Update:
I disabled ‘Request Port Forwarding’ in the PIA Client - and it’s still working.
The Idiot doesn’t know what that means…
Idiot News Update #2:
When checking the Plexweb page it always took a second or two before the Green Check lit. Now I have disabled ‘Request Port Forwarding’ in the PIA Client - the Green Check is there instantly.
The Idiot thinks that’s cool, but still doesn’t know what it means.
B)
You don’t need to forward any ports in your router or change settings in the PIA app.
Just put the port forward number revealed in the tooltip in the settings->server-> remote access ‘Manually specify public port’ box of your Plex server.
This can change every time you reconnect to the VPN so you’ll need to update it.
Interesting…
I think the advantage of doing it ‘The Idiot’s’ way - is I haven’t changed the port, fiddled with the Router, or PIA in 18 months - and it works all day, every day.
@JuiceWSA said:
I simply told PIA what port I had forwarded in the box provided and enabled the tic box below. I did nothing else. It was easy. It had to be easy - because an idiot did it in 5 minutes.
I did not forward the standard port. I invented a new one from the range available and instructed Plex to use that port in the box provided (the idiot in me thinks that’s more secure).
Actually, I’m not even sure ‘Request Port Forwarding’ in the PIA Client has to be enabled. Once you tell PIA what the local port is - that might be all there is to it (there’s that idiot thing kicking in again)…
Idiot News Update:
I disabled ‘Request Port Forwarding’ in the PIA Client - and it’s still working.
The Idiot doesn’t know what that means…Idiot News Update #2:
When checking the Plexweb page it always took a second or two before the Green Check lit. Now I have disabled ‘Request Port Forwarding’ in the PIA Client - the Green Check is there instantly.
The Idiot thinks that’s cool, but still doesn’t know what it means.B)
I did that just without a custom port to no luck
@colinleeds said:
You don’t need to forward any ports in your router or change settings in the PIA app.Just put the port forward number revealed in the tooltip in the settings->server-> remote access ‘Manually specify public port’ box of your Plex server.
This can change every time you reconnect to the VPN so you’ll need to update it.
I have also tried that aswell one question, if you go online to Open Port Check Tool - Test Port Forwarding on Your Router and enter the vpn IP and port it gave you, does it say it’s open?
Thanks
Port forwarding seems to be down at the moment. Was working when I posted that. Will try again later.
Tried again on several severs none seem to work I have emailed pia so hopefully they will get back to me soon
Started a thread on PIA’s forums if anyone is interested https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/forum/discussion/33688/port-forwarding-features-not-working#latest
@Uskompuf said:
In PIA windows under advanced settings i set local port to 32400 (for Plex) and set request port forwarding to true.
The local port in the PIA app is for the VPN to use. Nothing to do with port forwarding.
@colinleeds said:
@Uskompuf said:
In PIA windows under advanced settings i set local port to 32400 (for Plex) and set request port forwarding to true.The local port in the PIA app is for the VPN to use. Nothing to do with port forwarding.
That’s what I think too… now.
Once you forward the port in your router, the PIA Client just needs to know what that port is… I guess.
I disabled ‘Port Forwarding’ in the PIA Client and it’s still working fine here, so that’s all I can guess is happening.
@Uskompuf said:
I did that just without a custom port to no luck
I seem to recall it wouldn’t work until I specified that manual port in Plex. Have you tried that?
@JuiceWSA said:
Once you forward the port in your router, the PIA Client just needs to know what that port is… I guess.
The PIA client bypasses the router. If forwarding ports in your router is making a difference then the traffic isn’t going through the VPN.
Despite Plex saying ‘Not available outside your network’ I can connect and play without problems over the internet. :o
I’m not seeing a port number when I do this. “Request port forwarding” is turned on though, what am I missing?
Enable port forwarding in the application by entering the Advanced area, enabling port forwarding and selecting one of the following gateways:
CA Toronto
CA Montreal
CA Vancouver
DE Berlin
DE Frankfurt
Sweden
Switzerland
France
Czech Republic
Spain
Romania
Israel
After enabling port forwarding and re-connecting to one of the above gateways, please hover your mouse over the System Tray or Menu Bar icon to reveal the tooltip which will display the port number. You can then enter this port into your software.
Same issue here I tried to port forward with PIA Canada and it briefly says accessible then falls back to not accessible from web. Is their a way to port forward with PIA only using the windows client and no opening of ports on the router?
Never got to access via remote behind PIA. Finally switched to docker and ran plex docker version. Worked like a charm. Secret i learned is that when Plex setting told me I did not have remote access ; I did indeed have it. Don’t rely solely on Plex but test it out yourself.
So I’ve been trying to figure out how to get PMS back online for hours now. All of the information on this post in particular was helpful. However. I don’t know why I didnt think of that before, but your comment saved my server. Much love!
