Wow, some people should really come down here. I have after some posts in here also always first empty swallow and 2x breath before I write a response, but we should remain objective.
Your answer DaveBinM is actually perfect, as I suspected above. You don’t trust server admins to know everything about users and their connections.
I personally guarantee you that I know everything and also demand that the users with any change to your players (new TV or mobile) or the ISP (change or bandwidth expansion) contact me and we make 2-3 tests! That’s just the way it should be. In addition, I have in the more than 10 years where I’m already at Plex over 10000 Speedtest, tracerouts and iperf tests performed directly with the users and that was really not a matter of 2 minutes because as I said 70% of users do not know at all. I know from 80% of all ISP and over 30 routers in Switzerland the pros and cons when it comes to streaming and also the regional differences and network techniques etc… As much as I have learned in these years and currently know I should already have a job there.
I am aware that not everyone has this knowledge, but still your solution as you describe is nothing more than a function that measures the connection between me (server) and the user (client) and then sets the optimal settings. But what if it takes place in an unfavorable time this measuring and he gets then only 5-10 Mbit stable. Then all my files are transcoded down to 10 Mbit although he gets 98% of the time easily 50 Mbit. Everything already experienced, calls not overbooked connections, is unfortunately very common in Switzerland with some ISP. Because a transcoding of 10 Mbit needs more computing power than 3 transcodings to 4 Mbit, you know that yourself. So I just wonder if the whole thing is not counterproductive. Besides, one of the biggest transcoding sins is actually the subtitle. I have weekly 100 transcodings on my server where it is only about the forced subs. I think that’s where you should start to improve this.
I just read from your posts that you want a perfect solution that works as automatically as possible. That is well thought. But will not solve the problem of most admins. I just do not understand why you do not give the admins more settings? Such automatic solutions are good as additions but in the end I want to decide as admin what I allow and what not and not some algorithm or a programmer who knows neither me nor my users and certainly not what kind of files I use, what resolution, what bitrate, etc.
We are not Netflix, Amazon or Disney who have each file in 4 different resolutions on the servers and depending on the speed of the user is selected one. We have 1-2 files (for me there is always 4K where possible, but also 1080p of everything for everyone else) This is simply not financially viable or really practical.
As already written above (without ever having received feedback):
Why can’t you give more slots per user. I have families that need 2-3 streams from time to time. Is not possible unless I give everyone 3 streams then. Completely illogical this decision and setting. No idea how you can come up with something like that. This must be possible individually.
Why can’t I exclude individual categories from transcoding? 4K is a server killer. I had to build a new server for 4K, because I can’t say, please transcode only 4K files on no account. This is only possible in general across all categories. Again, completely incomprehensible. The same applies to older SD files. There is often transcoded although I do not know why. It would not be necessary at all but it is done.
Why can’t I define which user can transcode and which not. Best of all with max. and min. settings. These are all things that should only be included in the server settings and the friend management. Simple hook settings or maximum dropdowns with clear values. But no there are hardly any possibilities and certainly not individually but only globally per server. For me, there people have decided to use the server only for 1 person, namely themselves. Never someone with more than 10 friends, because 90% of the settings are not made for that.
Even though I am not a programmer. I know for sure so much that all this without even another server function to affect this would be so implementable that it goes only guidelines and permissions. Software loves that. Because they are simple yes/no questions or fixed values.
I’m really skeptical that the situation will really improve for us server admins. I think once again it will be easier only for users and for admins who maybe don’t care about their users or want the best for them (already now where it’s a huge effort and time eater) for everyone else there will be new problems and the lack of understanding, why don’t they let me do the settings, will grow even more. Even if I must admit that the mood is now already close to 0, I’m afraid that you create it with your attitude and view of things that it falls below 0.
