Apple TV no longer loads content

Dev Community Apps & Creations
1

ATV model: ATV 3, Firmware 7.1(7003) Model a1427

- Note that this was just updated as an attempt to fix with no luck.  Previous version wasn't logged but was circa December 2013.

The DNS server set on the ATV (found under the ATV settings > general > network > DNS): 192.168.0.173

The local IP address of the device that PlexConnect is installed on: 192.168.0.173

The device and operating system (including version number) that PlexConnect is installed on: Windows 7 Home Premium Service Pack 1

The device and operating system (including version number) that the Plex media server (PMS) is installed on: Same PC

The Plex media server (PMS) version number you are running (do not put 'latest'): Version 0.9.11.14 <-- was recently updated.

The local IP address of the device that the Plex media server (PMS) is installed on: 192.168.0.173

The PlexConnect version number. If using Github source then a time and date of download (look at the creation date of the folder) and if you are using any non-standard setup e.g. Plexify or a fork.: 0.5-dev

The contents of your 'Settings.cfg' file (this is created at first clean shutdown of PlexConnect, using CTR+c):

[PlexConnect]
port_pms = 32400
port_webserver = 80
ip_plexconnect = 0.0.0.0
certfile = ./assets/certificates/trailers.pem
ip_dnsmaster = 8.8.8.8
loglevel = High
enable_dnsserver = True
logpath = .
ip_pms = 192.168.178.10
enable_plexgdm = True
hosttointercept = trailers.apple.com
port_ssl = 443
enable_webserver_ssl = True
prevent_atv_update = True
port_dnsserver = 53
enable_plexconnect_autodetect = True

A detailed description of the issue (the clearer you can make this the better):

Note that everything used to work just fine until I tried to setup plexconnect to run automatically at boot time.  During that process I somehow broke it.  The steps I took were undocumented, but largely following what is written here: https://github.com/iBaa/PlexConnect/wiki/Win-autostart

What I see now is that the connection gets established between the server and the appletv, however it will not serve movies.  It also will not show the "album art" anymore.  Sometimes it won't even present the information at all - it just times out and fails.  

I have since gone and removed PyWin32 and re-installed Python 2.7.9.  Previous to this issue (the day before) I just updated my PMS.  I can't rule out that was the cause unfortunately.  

To fix I've tried a thousand reboots, logging in and out of MyPlex on the AppleTv, updating the firmware on the AppleTv, and re-followed all the setup steps for PlexConnect.  Still no luck.  All other Plex apps still work locally and remotely.  That is why I think this must be Plexconnect related.  

Note that originally I had this issue, which now doesn't happen anymore.  Either way the result is the same:

post-260908-0-90683900-1426046130_thumb.

Here is the link to my logfile:

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/10090627/PlexConnect.log.post.txt

2

Does your PMS have multiple network cards or is it connected to a VPN? I ask this because the reply to the aTV says the media is on 169.254.43.139 and not an ip in your subnet.


Maybe try setting enable_plexgdm = False and set you ip_pms = 192.168.0.173

3

No, my PMS has a single network card and there is nothing fancy here on the network side.  Single router on a home network.  No VPN.

I tried your suggestion and nothing changed.  What is the plexdgm?

4

plexgdm is the method used for auto discovery of your plex server

Did you restart plexconnect after making the change?

Can you post a new log and settings.cfg file now that you have this setting

5

Yes I restarted.  Here is the settings.cfg

[PlexConnect]
enable_plexgdm = False
ip_pms = 192.168.0.173
port_pms = 32400
enable_dnsserver = True
port_dnsserver = 53
ip_dnsmaster = 8.8.8.8
prevent_atv_update = True
enable_plexconnect_autodetect = True
ip_plexconnect = 0.0.0.0
hosttointercept = trailers.apple.com
port_webserver = 80
enable_webserver_ssl = True
port_ssl = 443
certfile = ./assets/certificates/trailers.pem
allow_gzip_atv = False
allow_gzip_pmslocal = False
allow_gzip_pmsremote = True
loglevel = High
logpath = .
 
 
Now here is the weird thing.  Despite loglevel being set to High, it is not nearly as verbose as before.  I can't figure out what is going wrong.  Also, the Plex window on aTV doesn't even start anymore.  It just says "Trailers not available"
 
Here is the logfile:
19:57:18 PlexConnect: started: 19:57:18
19:57:18 PlexConnect: Version: 0.5-dev
19:57:18 PlexConnect: Python: 2.7.9 (default, Dec 10 2014, 12:24:55) [MSC v.1500 32 bit (Intel)]
19:57:18 PlexConnect: Host OS: win32
19:57:18 PlexConnect: PILBackgrounds: Is PIL installed? False
19:57:18 Settings: getsetting enable_plexconnect_autodetect=True
19:57:18 PlexConnect: IP_self: 192.168.0.173
19:57:18 Settings: getsetting hosttointercept=trailers.apple.com
19:57:18 Settings: getsetting enable_dnsserver=True
19:57:18 DNSServer: started: 19:57:18
19:57:18 Settings: getsetting port_dnsserver=53
19:57:18 Settings: getsetting ip_dnsmaster=8.8.8.8
19:57:18 Settings: getsetting prevent_atv_update=True
19:57:18 DNSServer: ***
19:57:18 DNSServer: DNSServer: Serving DNS on 192.168.0.173 port 53.
19:57:18 DNSServer: intercept: ['trailers.apple.com'] => 192.168.0.173
19:57:18 DNSServer: restrain: ['mesu.apple.com', 'appldnld.apple.com', 'appldnld.apple.com.edgesuite.net'] => 127.0.0.1
19:57:18 DNSServer: forward other to higher level DNS: 8.8.8.8
19:57:18 DNSServer: ***
19:57:19 Settings: getsetting enable_webserver_ssl=True
19:57:19 WebServer: started: 19:57:19
19:57:19 Settings: getsetting port_webserver=80
19:57:19 WebServer: ***
19:57:19 WebServer: WebServer: Serving HTTP on 192.168.0.173 port 80.
19:57:19 WebServer: ***
19:57:19 WebServer: started: 19:57:19
19:57:19 Settings: getsetting port_ssl=443
19:57:19 Settings: getsetting certfile=./assets/certificates/trailers.pem
19:57:19 Settings: getsetting certfile=./assets/certificates/trailers.pem
19:57:19 WebServer: ***
19:57:19 WebServer: WebServer: Serving HTTPS on 192.168.0.173 port 443.
19:57:19 WebServer: ***
19:58:23 DNSServer: DNS request received!
19:58:23 DNSServer: Source: ('192.168.0.146', 58403)
19:58:23 DNSServer: Domain: p2-buy.itunes-apple.com.akadns.net
19:58:23 DNSServer: ***forward request
19:58:23 DNSServer: -> DNS response from higher level
19:58:25 DNSServer: DNS request received!
19:58:25 DNSServer: Source: ('192.168.0.146', 60975)
19:58:25 DNSServer: Domain: trailers.apple.com
19:58:25 DNSServer: ***intercept request
19:58:25 DNSServer: -> DNS response: 192.168.0.173
19:58:52 PlexConnect: Shutting down.
19:58:53 WebServer: Shutting down (HTTP).
19:58:53 WebServer: Shutting down (HTTPS).
19:58:55 DNSServer: Shutting down.
19:58:55 PlexConnect: shutdown
6

Perhaps even more odd is that the order of the resources in the settings file has changed.  I have no idea why that is happening.  This used to just work.....

7

Bummer, I just made a post myself that sounds similar, I didn't see this thread yesterday when I was searching. Only difference is I didn't get the error you initially had.

Does your ATV still have internet connectivity despite not loading Plex?

8

I reverted back to my original installation of plexconnect (from Jan 2014) and it produces this logfile.  I feel like something somewhere has become corrupted, but every re-install nets the same result.

20:18:59 PlexConnect: started: 20:18:59
20:18:59 PlexConnect: IP_self: 192.168.0.173
20:18:59 DNSServer: started: 20:18:59
20:18:59 DNSServer: ***
20:18:59 DNSServer: DNSServer: Serving DNS on 192.168.0.173 port 53.
20:18:59 DNSServer: ***
20:18:59 WebServer: started: 20:18:59
20:18:59 WebServer: ***
20:18:59 WebServer: WebServer: Serving HTTP on 192.168.0.173 port 80.
20:18:59 WebServer: ***
20:18:59 WebServer: started: 20:18:59
20:19:00 WebServer: ***
20:19:00 WebServer: WebServer: Serving HTTPS on 192.168.0.173 port 443.
20:19:00 WebServer: ***
20:19:21 PlexAPI: ***
20:19:21 PlexAPI: looking up Plex Media Server
20:19:21 PlexAPI: ***
20:19:22 PlexAPI: GDM: Servers discovered: 1
20:19:22 PlexAPI: Servers (local+MyPlex): 1
20:19:22 PlexAPI: No Response from Plex Media Server
20:19:22 PlexAPI: We failed to reach a server. Reason: Unauthorized
20:19:25 PlexAPI: No Response from Plex Media Server
20:19:25 PlexAPI: We failed to reach a server. Reason: Unauthorized
20:19:25 PlexAPI: No Response from Plex Media Server
20:19:25 PlexAPI: We failed to reach a server. Reason: Unauthorized
20:19:25 PlexAPI: No Response from Plex Media Server
20:19:25 PlexAPI: We failed to reach a server. Reason: Unauthorized
20:19:28 PlexAPI: No Response from Plex Media Server
20:19:28 PlexAPI: We failed to reach a server. Reason: Unauthorized
20:20:04 PlexAPI: Authentication failed
20:20:04 PlexAPI: ***
20:20:04 PlexAPI: looking up Plex Media Server
20:20:04 PlexAPI: ***
20:20:05 PlexAPI: GDM: Servers discovered: 1
20:20:05 PlexAPI: Servers (local+MyPlex): 1
20:20:44 PlexAPI: Authentication failed
20:20:44 PlexAPI: ***
20:20:44 PlexAPI: looking up Plex Media Server
20:20:44 PlexAPI: ***
20:20:45 PlexAPI: GDM: Servers discovered: 1
20:20:45 PlexAPI: Servers (local+MyPlex): 1
20:20:52 PlexAPI: No Response from Plex Media Server
20:20:52 PlexAPI: We failed to reach a server. Reason: Unauthorized
20:21:16 PlexConnect: Shutting down.
20:21:17 WebServer: Shutting down.
20:21:17 WebServer: Shutting down.
9

Bummer, I just made a post myself that sounds similar, I didn't see this thread yesterday when I was searching. Only difference is I didn't get the error you initially had.

Does your ATV still have internet connectivity despite not loading Plex?

Yes, everything else still works - including netflix.

I've changed a lot of things on my network lately, but the Plexconnect didn't start failing until after all of that.  (i.e. it worked throughout up until a couple days ago)  Other can installing those python extensions and trying to setup my PC to auto-login (to auto start the PMS), I didn't do anything else and it broke.

10

Have you enabled Plex Home on PMS?  if yes thats why the issue in the older version as the authentication method changed.

Discovery of PMS only happens when you try and access Plexconnect (Trailers)

11

I'm not sure what Plex Home is exactly, but I can access my PMS off-site is that is what you mean.  But that does make sense.

12

This may be random, but I notice that my PlexConnect-master folder is tagged as read only.....  When I try to change it I'm asked to log in as the adminstrator.... however my account has administrator privilege.  In the end it will not alter the setting. I'm starting to think my issue may be related to administrator privilege.

13

Plex Home is the new PlexPass feature for Quick User Change, Managed Users, Pin's etc  (So not to do with remote access).

You do need the folder to be Read Write so log files pyc files etc are able to be created.

14

I have no idea what happened, but the system won't allow me to change the permissions on that folder.  I remove the read only property, only to be prompted to continue as administrator.  I do so and it looks like it works, but it is set to read only again when I check.  I'm really starting to think that I have screwed up my account somehow and that is the root issue.  Since I was playing with the account settings, it's the only thing that makes sense.

15

Well I've ironed out the issues with permissions and I'm relatively confident it is all correct.  I think one issue I was experiencing was running the PlexConnect.py file as root.  I created a batch file which runs it with administrator permissions (but I was forgetting to run it that way).  Regardless, my issue still exists.

To answer your other question - yes I am using Plex Home.  I have a PIN and users and all that.

I'm back to being stumped again.  No change in results from what I've had all along.  And I still don't know why I can't generate a verbose version of the log file.  

Settings.cfg

[PlexConnect]
enable_plexgdm = False
ip_pms = 192.168.0.173
port_pms = 32400
enable_dnsserver = True
port_dnsserver = 53
ip_dnsmaster = 8.8.8.8
prevent_atv_update = True
enable_plexconnect_autodetect = True
ip_plexconnect = 0.0.0.0
hosttointercept = trailers.apple.com
port_webserver = 80
enable_webserver_ssl = True
port_ssl = 443
certfile = ./assets/certificates/trailers.pem
allow_gzip_atv = False
allow_gzip_pmslocal = False
allow_gzip_pmsremote = True
loglevel = High
logpath = .
 

Logfile:

22:18:24 PlexConnect: started: 22:18:24
22:18:24 PlexConnect: Version: 0.5-dev
22:18:24 PlexConnect: Python: 2.7.9 (default, Dec 10 2014, 12:24:55) [MSC v.1500 32 bit (Intel)]
22:18:24 PlexConnect: Host OS: win32
22:18:24 PlexConnect: PILBackgrounds: Is PIL installed? False
22:18:24 Settings: getsetting enable_plexconnect_autodetect=True
22:18:24 PlexConnect: IP_self: 192.168.0.173
22:18:24 Settings: getsetting hosttointercept=trailers.apple.com
22:18:24 Settings: getsetting enable_dnsserver=True
22:18:24 DNSServer: started: 22:18:24
22:18:24 Settings: getsetting port_dnsserver=53
22:18:24 Settings: getsetting ip_dnsmaster=8.8.8.8
22:18:24 Settings: getsetting prevent_atv_update=True
22:18:24 DNSServer: ***
22:18:24 DNSServer: DNSServer: Serving DNS on 192.168.0.173 port 53.
22:18:24 DNSServer: intercept: ['trailers.apple.com'] => 192.168.0.173
22:18:24 DNSServer: restrain: ['mesu.apple.com', 'appldnld.apple.com', 'appldnld.apple.com.edgesuite.net'] => 127.0.0.1
22:18:24 DNSServer: forward other to higher level DNS: 8.8.8.8
22:18:24 DNSServer: ***
22:18:24 Settings: getsetting enable_webserver_ssl=True
22:18:24 WebServer: started: 22:18:24
22:18:24 Settings: getsetting port_webserver=80
22:18:24 WebServer: ***
22:18:24 WebServer: WebServer: Serving HTTP on 192.168.0.173 port 80.
22:18:24 WebServer: ***
22:18:24 WebServer: started: 22:18:24
22:18:24 Settings: getsetting port_ssl=443
22:18:24 Settings: getsetting certfile=./assets/certificates/trailers.pem
22:18:24 Settings: getsetting certfile=./assets/certificates/trailers.pem
22:18:25 WebServer: ***
22:18:25 WebServer: WebServer: Serving HTTPS on 192.168.0.173 port 443.
22:18:25 WebServer: ***
22:21:26 DNSServer: DNS request received!
22:21:26 DNSServer: Source: ('192.168.0.146', 57750)
22:21:26 DNSServer: Domain: www.isg-apple.com.akadns.net
22:21:26 DNSServer: ***forward request
22:21:26 DNSServer: -> DNS response from higher level
22:21:26 DNSServer: DNS request received!
22:21:26 DNSServer: Source: ('192.168.0.146', 54149)
22:21:26 DNSServer: Domain: init.itunes.apple.com
22:21:26 DNSServer: ***forward request
22:21:26 DNSServer: -> DNS response from higher level
22:21:27 DNSServer: DNS request received!
22:21:27 DNSServer: Source: ('192.168.0.146', 52092)
22:21:27 DNSServer: Domain: xp.apple.com
22:21:27 DNSServer: ***forward request
22:21:27 DNSServer: -> DNS response from higher level
22:21:27 DNSServer: DNS request received!
22:21:27 DNSServer: Source: ('192.168.0.146', 62872)
22:21:27 DNSServer: Domain: p2-buy.itunes.apple.com
22:21:27 DNSServer: ***forward request
22:21:27 DNSServer: -> DNS response from higher level
22:21:27 DNSServer: DNS request received!
22:21:27 DNSServer: Source: ('192.168.0.146', 49848)
22:21:27 DNSServer: Domain: mesu.apple.com
22:21:27 DNSServer: ***restrain request
22:21:27 DNSServer: -> DNS response: 192.168.0.173
22:21:28 DNSServer: DNS request received!
22:21:28 DNSServer: Source: ('192.168.0.146', 57750)
22:21:28 DNSServer: Domain: www.apple.com
22:21:28 DNSServer: ***forward request
22:21:28 DNSServer: -> DNS response from higher level
22:21:28 DNSServer: DNS request received!
22:21:28 DNSServer: Source: ('192.168.0.146', 61925)
22:21:28 DNSServer: Domain: apple.com
22:21:28 DNSServer: ***forward request
22:21:28 DNSServer: -> DNS response from higher level
22:21:40 DNSServer: DNS request received!
22:21:40 DNSServer: Source: ('192.168.0.146', 65369)
22:21:40 DNSServer: Domain: trailers.apple.com
22:21:40 DNSServer: ***intercept request
22:21:40 DNSServer: -> DNS response: 192.168.0.173
22:21:42 DNSServer: DNS request received!
22:21:42 DNSServer: Source: ('192.168.0.146', 55879)
22:21:42 DNSServer: Domain: configuration.apple.com
22:21:42 DNSServer: ***forward request
22:21:42 DNSServer: -> DNS response from higher level
22:22:12 PlexConnect: Shutting down.
22:22:12 DNSServer: Shutting down.
22:22:13 WebServer: Shutting down (HTTPS).
22:22:13 WebServer: Shutting down (HTTP).
22:22:13 PlexConnect: shutdown
16

From the log shown, it should be

- either certificates

- or firewall preventing access to :80/:443.

17

I disabled the firewall on my PC and it made no difference.  As a hail mary I tried opening up the router's port range for those values within the LAN and also no difference.

Regarding certificates, I've re-generated them a couple times.  I follow the process here:

https://github.com/iBaa/PlexConnect/wiki/Install-Guide-Windows-Certificates

In the past it seemed like there was some iphone utility to do this, but now you simply add the profile and it gathers the certificate over wifi, yes?  

What in the log file is making you suspect certificates?

18

So I regenerated certificates.

Also took a deep look in to firewalls.  I discovered a second firewall on my computer.  I run ESET and it was disabled, but Windows was still sticking up a firewall.  I disabled that and my Plex Connect started but could not find media content (i.e. PMS).  This is roughly the same place I've been stuck all along, just sometimes it doesn't make it this far.

One positive development - my log file started working again.  So here is a much bigger logfile.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/10090627/PlexConnect.log.2.txt

I'm back to this:

11:46:08 XMLConverter: Initial Command: Discover
11:46:08 Settings: getsetting enable_plexgdm=False
11:46:08 Settings: getsetting ip_pms=192.168.0.173
11:46:08 Settings: getsetting port_pms=32400
11:46:08 PlexAPI: URL: http://192.168.0.173:32400/servers
11:46:08 PlexAPI: xargs: {}
11:46:08 PlexAPI: No Response from Plex Media Server
11:46:08 PlexAPI: We failed to reach a server. Reason: Unauthorized
11:46:08 PlexAPI: Servers (local, plex.tv, MyPlex): 1

19

Well... now you got a working connection between aTV and PlexConnect. I would call it improvement. :-)

11:46:08 Settings: getsetting enable_plexgdm=False

11:46:08 Settings: getsetting ip_pms=192.168.0.173
11:46:08 Settings: getsetting port_pms=32400
11:46:08 PlexAPI: URL: http://192.168.0.173:32400/servers
11:46:08 PlexAPI: xargs: {}
11:46:08 PlexAPI: No Response from Plex Media Server
11:46:08 PlexAPI: We failed to reach a server. Reason: Unauthorized

Did you sign in to myPlex on your aTV/PlexConnect/Settings?

Unfortunately non-GDM discovery doesn't really work with PMSs that "require authentication"... either switch to GDM (is there a reason you don't use it?) or fully tie it to myPlex (ie with publishing and all that).

20

Yes... an improvement!  I appreciate your help. (and everyone else)

So I disabled GDM because an earlier poster suggested I try to disable it.  If you see in the logfile attached, It is seeking something at 169.254.43.139:32400.  We decided this could be GDM screwing it up.  It is doing that again.  I have no idea what that IP is or where it is coming from.

On the plus side, I now see the server, and get the content displayed as blank boxes.  It gets the show titles, but no cover art.  It also still won't play anything.  Overall response is also very slow.  This feels like progress, but really we're just gotten back to where I started ;)

The good news is I understand this stuff more and more!

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/10090627/PlexConnect.log.3.txt