Docker setup question - ports vs host

[jruben4]

Question about my linux/docker plex setup:

If I set it up this way, with network=host, it works well, playback is good inside our outside my network:

docker run \
-d \
--name plex \
--restart=always \
--network=host \
--device /dev/dri:/dev/dri \
--device /dev/dvb:/dev/dvb \
-e TZ="US/Central" \
-e PLEX_CLAIM="claim-SECRET" \
-e PGID=0 -e PUID=0  \
-e PLEX_UID=0 \
-e PLEX_gID=0 \
-v /home/jason/plex:/config \
-v /home/jason/plex_transcode:/transcode \
-v /media/backup4t/Plex:/data \
plexinc/pms-docker

However, if I try to specify ports like this:

docker run \
-d \
--name plex \
--restart=always \
-p 32400:32400/tcp \
-p 3005:3005/tcp \
-p 8324:8324/tcp \
-p 32469:32469/tcp \
-p 1900:1900/udp \
-p 32410:32410/udp \
-p 32412:32412/udp \
-p 32413:32413/udp \
-p 32414:32414/udp \
--device /dev/dri:/dev/dri \
--device /dev/dvb:/dev/dvb \
-e TZ="US/Central" \
-e PLEX_CLAIM="claim-SECRET" \
-e PGID=0 -e PUID=0  \
-e PLEX_UID=0 \
-e PLEX_gID=0 \
-e ADVERTISE_IP="http://192.168.0.9:32400/" \
-v /home/jason/plex:/config \
-v /home/jason/plex_transcode:/transcode \
-v /media/backup4t/Plex:/data \
-h SkynetServer10 \
plexinc/pms-docker

And then forward on my router port 32400 to the server, it works kind of - playback is very choppy and low quality, especially when outside my network.

Any ideas why? Do I need to forward something beyond just 32400?

Thanks!

[frederick.grayson]

If you are using bridge network then you have to forward every port you used in your docker run command on your router. Forwarding only 32400 is not enough.

[jruben4]

I don’t think that’s accurate. A lot of these ports are for network discovery of certain devices which would be on the local LAN but you wouldn’t need external port forwarding for. To my read, 32400 is all that should be required for just plex external access.

per https://support.plex.tv/articles/201543147-what-network-ports-do-i-need-to-allow-through-my-firewall/

What network ports do I need to allow through my firewall?
The most important port to make sure your firewall allows is the main TCP port the Plex Media Server uses for communication:

TCP: 32400 (for access to the Plex Media Server) [required]
The following ports are also used for different services:

UDP: 1900 (for access to the Plex DLNA Server)
TCP: 3005 (for controlling Plex Home Theater via Plex Companion)
UDP: 5353 (for older Bonjour/Avahi network discovery)
TCP: 8324 (for controlling Plex for Roku via Plex Companion)
UDP: 32410, 32412, 32413, 32414 (for current GDM network discovery)
TCP: 32469 (for access to the Plex DLNA Server)

[frederick.grayson]

Suit yourself. You have host networking which works, and bridge network that doesn’t.