Cannot access plex server remotely

General Discussions
1

Hi - first post here. I have tried for several months to access my plex server remotely with no luck. I’ve followed every tutorial and read every forum I can find on the issue.

I do have a TP-LINK Archer C7 AC1750 as my router behind my ISP provided modem and router. I have the modem setup as bridge mode and am not getting a double NAT when I check the IP address.

I think I’ve exhausted everything I can do with my technical knowledge of networking. Could I hire one of you sharp guys on the forum to RDC into my computer and check the settings / fix the problem. I’m open to any suggestions I could try if I’m missing something. Please respond or PM me if you can help. Thanks in advance!

2

What is the ISP-provided modem/router and do you have the admin password for it so you can get into it to configure the port-forwarding?

3

Yes - I do have admin passwords for both my router and the AT&T provided router.

I tried to do the port forwarding with no luck… Although I’m not 100% sure I’m doing it right. I’ve followed directions but I’m not the best technically when it comes to networking.

4

if you will share the make and model with me, I’ll look it up and try to help you with a walk-through of what to set.

5

Thank you Chuck -

I have a Arris NVG599

But that is just my modem (also has networking capabilities) but I have it in bridge mode and using my TP-LINK Archer C7 AC1750 as router for the network. Port forwarding would be done on my Archer, right?

6

Thanks.

In looking at the Surfboard’s manuals and what appear to be AT&T’s modifications to the firmware, having it in Bridge mode is exactly what you need to do. That way, the WAN address your TP-Link reports is your real WAN address.

I will proceed as if this is correct. If not, ignore what follows and update me.

Your Archer AC1750 has UPnP (universal plug and play). Plex will do the port forwarding on its own if enabled in the modem.

Please verify this is your modem. http://www.manualslib.com/manual/646508/Tp-Link-Archer-C7.html

If so, slide down to page 89 and you will see where to enable UPnP.

If so far so good, Log into your router as the admin user and get to it’s main menu.

Go down to Forwarding → UPnP (as directed to by page 89 of the manual and enable it.

Save the configuration. Leave that browser tab open in case you need it :smiley:

Go back to Plex - Settings - Server - Remove access

Make sure you’re logged in to your plex account and, verifying you don’t have ‘specify manual port’ checked, click connect.

This will use the UPnP port forwarding you just enabled.

Plex will connect and return back to you with green indicators and the actual port number

You should be able to go back to the router tab, refresh, and see it telling you Plex is indeed port forwarded.

If this didn’t go as described. Make certain the AT&T modem is still in bridge mode and let me know what you got for results… Also, we’ll go peek at the Plex log files and see what it got back as the error code from the your TP-Link router.

7

Chuck - thank you. I’ve tried those steps and I still get the “Not available outside your network”. I’m starting to believe that my modem is actually not setup in passthrough mode. I thought I changed the settings but when I read another website, it looks like there is more to be done. Here is a link to what I’m referring to: https://www.dslreports.com/faq/17734

Is all of this required to put my modem in bridge mode? Is there a way to check if that modem is setup properly?

Thanks,
Mike

8

That definitely looks like it will do it. It also looks like the way to confirm what you are passthrough (bypass) mode

I don’t know if that will impact your phone (if your phone goes through it or not) but DSLReports is a VERY VERY reputable place to get info