Server Version#:1.30.0.6442 (64bit WIndows)
Player Version#: N/A
My Plex nightmares started about an hour ago - when I was troubleshooting all sorts of bizarre error with Remote Access to the point where when I accessed Plex online - I would get a message saying "Unable to connect to MEDIA-PC (My server name) securely - and I made the mistake of clicking Forget Server - thinking I would be able to take a fresh run at it.
But when I restarted the server - and I right click on the Media Server icon and choose Open Plex - all I see is the web app. No sign of my local media server or any of my libraries. Panic begins to rise up just a bit.
After some searching - I found this article to “reclaim” my server and performed the steps for Windows:
The reclamation seems to go fine - for Windows - I log out of Plex and shut down Media Server. Then for Windows - I delete the registry keys and restart the Media Server. I logged back into Plex Web local and see a message about “Plex Web Setup - Customize your Media” (I click Finish Setup). Then I go right into my local library - but all the icons on the left panel have huge exclamation mark.
I then click the Settings (Wrench) and see an exclamation mark beside General. I then see the screen that tells me that this server is unclaimed AND Not secure etc etc and I click on Claim Server.
I am then asked the sign into my Plex account - and the Claim Server button has a spinning icon on it that seems to go forever. I also see a BIG red exclamation mark beside Remote Access.
Then I see the icon stop spinning and Claim Server button is back. I do not do anything to address the red icon beside Remote Access. I click Claim again…and end up at a Black Icon stating that I am NOT authorized, and then entire server disappears once again - leaving me with nothing but the web app.
I am officially dead in the water and am looking for some guidance here. Appreciate any assistance from anyone.
Can you comment on this weird scenario as well - even with the clear issues on the server itself - I found that all my clients (Plex on iPad etc) seem to be working just fine? They seem to be oblivious to any oddball crap on the server and are displaying the libraries correctly and playing just fine too?
Well - I tried Method 1 of the suggested article and it did exactly nothing. I logged back into Plex normally - but there was no reclaimed server options or any signs of my library.
Well - I got nothing. None of these methods resulted in any success. I have tried the first method (ClaimPMS4Win_v1.0.3.1) at least three times and same with Method 2 (import “blank” registry file at least 3 times.
Upon login with Method 1 - I see absolutely nothing regarding the server, reclamation or anything. Just a blank basic web based Plex login. I did check the registry after running this app and it does appear to inject/replace the correct values where they should be - but nothing happens in terms of being prompted to Reclaim the Server.
Method 2 does something a bit different. When I import the blank reg file - and restart PMS - I do see a screen asking me to “complete setup” (Which makes no sense) and then I get into the server AND see my local media server with a ton of exclamation points. Going into the Settings->General area DOES give me the Reclaim process but when I press it once - it just spins for a few moments then the button label reverts to Claim Now (or Claim Server). If I click it again I am instantly kicked out and told I am not authorized. And the dance starts again.
Other things I have done:
Re-enable port forwarding for Plex Server (32400)
Cleared the browser cache down to the wood.
Reverted an IP change that I made about 2 weeks ago to this box (the new IP had no adverse effects in the past two weeks so I gave this a shot)
Cleared the DNS cache on the server box
Rebooted and restarted at least a dozen times
Reviewed the HOSTS file - which appears to be unchanged.
Am now considering a complete network reset to this box to see if that helps.
I don’t see that step on the instruction page but I’ve seen it as a suggested step in other posts.
Delete it manually on that page and then try the steps suggested again
If it doesn’t work you might have to provide server logs and wait for an employee to help you
Yes - I cleared all devices including the server until there was nothing left. Nothing seemed to make any different.
So - after spending at least 5 hours on this - I went for the nuclear option - restore the server back to the way it was before 6:00pm yesterday - just before all this nonsense started.
I pulled out Macrium Reflect and restored the images from Dec 5 and 6 and I am now all logged back in properly.
While I rarely need to go this far - it was clear that I was going down a rabbit hole here that was never getting better. AND it was a good test of Reflect to see how it does with a full restore - took all of 8 minutes and I am back in business.
Appreciate the help and I was hoping to figure out what really went wrong but there is a limit to my patience
SonicMojo
I am having almost the EXACT same problem you were but I am on a Synology! When you say Macrium Reflect, is that a 3rd party backup system? If I do not use such a system, do you have any suggestions? I am definitely going down the rabbit hole and concerned as everything else I’ve found says that even when they completely uninstall and start from scratch they get the same problem.
Glad you got yours fixed, it sounds SOOOO similar to my exact scenario!
Not so fast. While I seem to have regained access to Plex ON THE SERVER itself - I am now unable to see anything on any other device. On the iPAD - Plex is reporting the server is “offline”. Over in the ROKU - it’s says the server is unauthorized. Have not tried the smart TVS or phones yet.
My god - this is so painful. And I rolled back to a known good install from three days ago? Usually, I am very good at technical issues but this one takes the cake.
It is clear that there is more at play here than just my local install. I am being whipped at every turn here.
Considering I had never, ever looked hard at Plex regarding technical issues for like - years - I am finding it both interesting AND annoying that so many of us are working one minute and dead the next?
I am getting darn close to wiping the app completely off my server and starting completely from scratch - new library, new logon - EVERYTHING.
The “rollback” took me back to 1.29.2.6364 (32 Bit).
I did try a reinstall during last night’s debacle and was recommended to use the 64bit build. Did not think that was going to be an issue - but it clearly was.
Sonic,
Well, that does not bode well for me! Ugh! This all started when my daughter in the UK contacted me about a small problem accessing media. Everything I have found is not promising either! Your post gave me hope! I am not feeling so confident now. I will keep an eye on your post to see if you make any progress. If I make any myself, I will let you know! Thanks for your reply!
I will stick with it here. Also - does anyone know how to get Port forwarding for Plex working? I have an ASUS RT-AC86U here and I believe the port forwarding is set up correctly - but Plex keeps complaining that access " Not available outside your network".
I have tried everything that I read, found or experimented with.
Would love to know why this is not working? Could it be that 32400 is blocked by my ISP?
@Mustanglover3233 are you saying you are also locked out of your server like it needs to be reclaimed?
I suggest you start a new topic. Being on a different OS than Sonicmojo things could get confusing. What looks like the same problem might have totally different solutions.
If I understand you correctly and you need to reclaim your server you can take a look at these instructions provided by ChuckPa for DSM 6 and DSM 7. In your new thread I suggest you ping Chuck before you do anything so you don’t steer yourself in the wrong direction
I didn’t realize you had just upgraded to the 64 bit version. I thought it was possibly just a standard server update that may have been the problem. I was curious because people using mac have had issues with the latest update.
As I understand it, the 32 bit is supposed to be removed automatically when the 64 bit is installed but maybe something went wrong. I don’t know, but I would be concerned that moving from 32 to 64 and then back to 32 could make some things go haywire.
Are you still having trouble signing into your server even on the local network @Sonicmojo? If that’s the case let’s focus on that before you try to tackle remote access.
I have finally dealt with the local server - it seems to be holding its own now. I can see everything as it was on Monday and for all intents and purposes - it feels normal.
Now - back to the “upgrade” - in the middle of the chaos last night - I thought I could simply reinstall PMS “in-place” and when I did that - I chose the 64-bit version. However as noted - I restored Monday’s image and I am back (and staying on) the 32bit version as of now.
As far as “moving from 32 to 64 and back” - unless that sort of minutia actually matters OR is sent back to Plex headquarters - I assuming that my account and its login/authentication stands alone and should does not what version I am logging into now (after my restore).
What I did find fascinating is that AFTER I restored - Plex instantly told me my creds were stale and I need to login again - which means somewhere - some old (er) login data has been stored.
As of now though - I am good ON the server - but it seems that the remote piece is starting to heat up and I would love to get that sorted.
As a glimmer of hope - just moments ago - I rechecked my Port Forward setup on the ASUS Router, rebooted it and then logged into the Plex server and checked the box “Manually specify public port”, entered 32400 and clicked Retry and remote access DID fully engage.
I enjoyed that for just a moment because I wanted to test this by restarting the Media Server (via tray icon) and sure enough - access was back to “Not available outside your local network” as soon as I logged back into check.
But - I feel like I am halfway there - as long as I get Plex telling the local network it’s there - this gives me local devices that seem to be “seeing” the server again. But this annoying Remote Access has me stumped.
Unfortunately the remote access turning green is Plex running through the test to try and connect. If it stays green for a short time and reverts to red it’s generally not working and needs some kind of further configuration.
@JaysPlex Yes, I am having the same problem as Sonic. And I have already created my own post, I just happened along Sonic’s post and figured it couldn’t help to get their opinion since our situations were identical with the exception of platform! I did find that post as well and followed those instructions twice with no fix. Thanks for the advice/help tho.
Ran down and double checked everything listed here. I get the green “Fully Accessible Outside Your Network” for just about 5 seconds and then it reverts back.
CanYouSeeMe indicates that 32400 is closed.
Also thought it may be beneficial to explain the network layout here too - perhaps this is where the issue lies…The Internet comes in via the ISP’s provided Fibre+ Internet Gateway device:
Which is set to “bridge” mode which then connects to my ASUS RT-AC86U that handles all the internal networking, DHCP, Wireless and the main firewall and so on.
When I run the Port Check - it shows this error after checking port 32400:
" Error: I could not see your service on 9..**.1 on port (32400 )
9*..*.**1 being the WAN IP assigned the ISP gateway. This thing also has a firewall on it which is currently set to Minimum which shows these settings:
Minimum Security (Low)
LAN-to-WAN : Allow all. WAN-to-LAN : Block as per below and enable IDS.
IDENT (port 113)
There is also a Custom Option:
Custom Security
LAN-to-WAN : Allow all. WAN-to-LAN : IDS Enabled and block as per selections below.
Block http (TCP port 80, 443)
Block ICMP
Block Multicast
Block Peer-to-peer applications
Block IDENT (port 113)
Disable entire firewall
I am thinking that maybe this firewall is getting in the way and stopping the port from being opened. Logically - if I am counting on my ASUS to do the “real” firewall - I am almost thinking I should switch this ISP box to Custom and check “disable entire firewall” and ensure that everything can come through unchecked?
Now I thought Bridge mode should allow clean, clear access but it seems not.
I’m not knowledgeable enough using that type of setup to give advice that can affect your security or protection, although your theory sounds logical.
Usually, you just port forward one router to the other BUT…
it looks like you’re somewhat limited to presets instead of being able to open individual ports on the ISP router?
First, I would set it to custom and disable the firewall just to see if your remote access springs to life. Whether you want to leave it like that long term is something you might have to investigate.
I did a little googling but it’s mostly just people in other forums arguing lol
