Extended load times across multiple clients - expected performance returns after initial connection

Plex Media Server
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Server Version#: 4.84.1
Player Version#: Android Mobile - 9.6.0.34226, Android TV (Nvidia Shield) - 9.6.0.34226, Fire Stick 4K - 9.6.0.34226

Hi All, I’ve been experiencing some new behavior in the last few weeks with my Plex environment. For additional context, I have recently made some hardware modifications:

  • I have migrated from Plex Server running on an i5 2500 system with internal RAID 0 storage to new server hardware and a Synology NAS with a single SHR array
    • The new hardware is a Ryzen 5600 with 16GB memory and a 500GB OS/app drive + 500GB
    • The NAS has 2x4TB and 2x14TB spinners in an SHR RAID volume – 21TB usable storage
    • The NAS NICs are bonded within the Synology OS and are connected to a Gb switch
    • The server is connected to the same Gb switch
  • I backed up my previous Plex configuration prior to installing the new hardware and migrating my content to the NAS
    • I restored the config on the new hardware
    • For good measure, I removed the existing libraries from Plex Server and added them again to
      ensure there were no references to the old file locations
    • The NAS share with the content is mounted on the server under a single drive letter
    • I do not have any cache drives in the NAS

The Nvidia Shield is hardwired, and my mobile phone and FireTV are on 5ghz wireless.

Previously, I never had any delay in loading content from the beginning on resuming a movie/show. Everything started playing within 1-2 seconds, pretty much instantly. The current behavior I’m experiencing is as follows:

  • If it has been several hours since I’ve played any movie/show, from the beginning or resuming, from any device, there is a 15-30 second delay in the content starting. The loading animation eventually spins, then playing starts.
    • It appears as if Plex Server is trying to transcode, but playback info indicates Direct Play
    • Sometimes if resuming a video and this behavior happens, it will start from the beginning
    • If I back out while this loading is happening and try to play again, the ‘Waiting on Server’ screen
      comes up until the video starts playing again.
    • Sometimes if I back out while Plex is loading in this manner, episode thumbnails have the episode title overlayed – this goes away if I go to the home screen and then come back to the
      series
    • This is happening regardless of video quality or file size
    • Once this has happened on a specific device, I no longer have issues loading content on that device in succession – if I stop playing and then wait several hours or a day, it happens again.

I’ve verified there are no connectivity or performance issues with the NAS – I get a full 1Gbps when copying to/from consistently, which is more than enough for any of the content I’m playing. I have not yet attempted completely removing Plex Server from my server, including all app data, and doing a fresh install with no previous configurations.

Please let me know if logs would be useful or if there is more detail I can provide!

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@McJollyGreen Sounds like the HDDs on the Synology NAS are going into hibernation after a period of time, which is why there is a delay for playback after a period of inactivity. Also because you are now using the Synology NAS as storage and not as a server there will be added latency while information is transferred over the network. As you’ve not specified what model Synology NAS you have it’s difficult to know if it would be better to run the Plex server on the Synology NAS or not.

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I appreciate the quick reply!

I hadn’t thought about the drives possibly going into hibernation before.

I should have included this at the start – it’s a disk station DS920+ – Intel quad-core + 4GB memory (upgradable to 8 with another SODIMM slot).

The latency would make a bit more sense if there were no delay after initial usage of Plex on my clients – the behavior will occur, then if I start another episode or move to another movie or show, there are no issues.

4

@McJollyGreen The DS920+ will run Plex Media Server much better than your old I5 PC did, so you do have that option if you don’t want the added latency of having the network storage. Also don’t forget in your old PC you had RAID 0, which as you might know is giving max performance in a RAID.

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I appreciate it!

I’ve been reading about HDD Hibernation on Synology for the last several minutes, and I’m thinking this is the culprit – so it’s either potentially preserving the life of my hard drives v. not having to wait ~20secs to fire up some content. Interestingly, it seems that running Plex Server on the NAS will override Hibernation altogether.

I need to do some more digging, but I am 95.675% certain that it’s the drives going into Hibernation after not being in use. I really appreciate the help!

6

Meh.

It might save some power/noise/heat.

I’m not aware of any evidence that it extends drive lifespan. There’s an equally plausible theory that start/stop cycles, including motor load and thermal cycling, are potentially harmful.