Cannot get remote access enabled - have covered troubleshooting, reaching out for help

Plex Media Server Remote Access
1

Server Version#: 1.42.2.10156
Player Version#: 4.157.0 (Chrome)
<If providing server logs please do NOT turn on verbose logging, only debug logging should be enabled>

Problem Description - I enable remote access, it succeeds, then in a second or so it displays the standard Not available outside your network.

Troubleshooting steps taken -
On router I checked and uPnP is enabled
WAN connection is set to automatic IP
NAT type is symmetric
Dual WAN is disabled
DNS server is set to quad9 and is using DoT
Port forwarding is ON and is set for port 32400 for Plex Media Server from my LAN subnet to my ISP provider as source IP
I use ufw on my linux (Debian 13) distribution
Firewall rules that apply:
32400/tcp (PlexMediaServer) ALLOW IN /24
32469/tcp (plexmediaserver-additional) ALLOW IN /24
32413/udp (plexmediaserver-additional) ALLOW IN /24
1900/udp (plexmediaserver-additional) ALLOW IN /24
32412/udp (plexmediaserver-additional) ALLOW IN /24
32410/udp (plexmediaserver-additional) ALLOW IN /24
32414/udp (plexmediaserver-additional) ALLOW IN /24
5353/udp (plexmediaserver-additional) ALLOW IN /24

I have tried restarting plexmediaserver service and ufw service, but still have the problem described above.

Appreciate any help, and if you require further info that I may have missed, I will be happy to provide it.
Thanks!!

Randy

1 Like
2

Did you already have a look at the related troubleshooting support article?

https://support.plex.tv/articles/200931138-troubleshooting-remote-access/

There’s also a guide with some more details on how to troubleshoot remote access issues.

3

Thanks for the link!! I’ll be having a look at this later today and will post back here if results don’t resolve problem.

4

hmmm - at this point it is looking like I’m in the double NAT situation.

I’ll have to research the options and figure out where to go from here.

5

Looks like I’m toast.

#1 - I cannot login to my ISP modem - that’s not unusual, no ISP I have ever used provided me with login to their modem.

#2 - I am using an ASUS RT-AC86U wired/wireless router, and it connects to a matching ASUS mesh point to extend coverage throughout the house - so I cannot put this into bridge mode.

#3 - So, I’m wondering, if I reached out to my ISP and coughed up the extra $5 / month to remove CGNAT and get a public and static IP address - would that then eliminate the double NAT issue?

6

This will depend. If the CGNAT is established the double NAT…getting a static IP (or simply a publicly routable IP) should resolve your issue.

7

Solved -

Problem summary -

My ISP provides me with an ONT that is in bridge mode (No NAT, No DHCP) running CGNAT.
This is why Plex reports dual NAT - there is no dual NAT, but CGNAT.
Moreover, I do not want to pay the premium for a static IP address.

Solution Summary -
I installed Tailscale.
If you go this route, don’t worry about the plex media server saying it cannot establish remote connection.
Instead, just register your plex media server on tailscale, and then the other devices you have that you want to run plex or plexamp on - for example, a cell phone.
Once they are both registered and connected on tailscale, you have a private mesh.
To test, I opened my cell phone, disabled using my WiFi LAN for a bit, then opened plexamp.
Sure enough, it saw my media server and I was able to start playing music.
I re-enabled WiFi LAN then they next day went to my local gym for a workout, and listened to plexamp the whole time.
Worked flawlessly.