Server Version#:1.40.1-8227-7000 (with Plex Pass)
Player Version#:4.125.1
I’m running an Expenology Server under Synology’s DSM DSM 7.2.1-69057 Update 3.
My hardware comprises a Supermicro motherboard X11SSL-CF; a Xeon E3-1245v6 CPU (with integrated iGPU) running at 3.7 GHz and emulating a Synology DS3622XS+ NAS.
The system has be running ultra reliably for the past 61 days since it was last rebooted (probably when DSM was last updated to 7.2.1-69057 Update 3)
The E3-1245v6 CPU is a Kaby Lake processor with Intel® (HD Graphics P630) Quick Sync.
Plex server on the device is configured as follows:
Transcoder quality: Make my CPU hurt
Transcoder temporary directory: /tmp
Transcoder default throttle buffer: 120
Background transcoding x264 preset: Fast
Enable HDR tone mapping: ticked
Disable video stream transcoding: unticked
Use hardware acceleration when available: ticked
Use hardware-accelerated video encoding: ticked
If hardware acceleration is enabled, this controls whether it’s used for encoding, in addition to decoding.
Hardware transcoding device: Auto
Maximum simultaneous video transcode: 6
Where I’m confused is that my System’s Plex Dashboard never shows h/w transcoding at any time I’ve checked. Is this something that only shows when Plex is using an attached GPU and not when Plex is transcoding within the main System CPU and it’s incorporated iGPU?
I believe that Plex automatically uses the iGPU of my Kaby Lake processor for transcoding/encoding.
My main reason for asking is that I’m evaluating the value, or otherwise, of my existing setup and whether to update to later model System with updated Quick Sync (Intel® UHD Graphics P750).
I believe that the Synology DS3622XS+ NAS does not have any iGPU, so any transcoding done by that device would be limited to the ability of the CPU (without an iGPU) to handle the video streams. Please confirm that any upgrade of my system to a later model processor with an iGPU would utilise the iGPU (if available) bearing in mind the limitations (lack of iGPU in the Synology model being emulated.
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There’s an unfortunate side effect when installing DSM updates; it resets hardware privileges & connectivity to PMS. We’ve seen it on other machines.
– if this is the case, uninstall (keeping all files) and reinstall will cure it
-OR-
The DSM update has removed support for QSV
– this is easily checked and can manually be circumvented in most cases.
Diagnosis of case 2 is:
Using Putty or SSH, ssh into the machine
ls -la /dev/dri
– It should show you the directory with contents card0 and renderD128.
– If not then the kernel does not contain the QSV driver.
If you do see /dev/dri and contents, AND, reinstall of the package has not remedied it.
– grep PlexMediaServer /etc/group
– You should see PlexMediaServer listed for itself
– You should also see and as a member of the videodriver group.
Hi ChuckPa,
thanks for your reply.
Results are:
root@dumbo:~# cd /
root@dumbo:/# ls -la /dev/dri
ls: cannot access ‘/dev/dri’: No such file or directory
root@dumbo:/# grep PlexMediaServer /etc/group
PlexMediaServer:x:297536:
synopkgs:x:999:StorageManager,SecureSignIn,FileStation,SynoOnlinePack_v2,OAuthService,SynoFinder,QuickConnect,PlexMediaServer,ActiveBackup,SynologyApplicationService,SynologyPhotos,CodecPack,sc-python311,sc-sabnzbd,Antivirus,HyperBackup,PDFViewer,StorageAnalyzer,sc-dotnet-runtime,sc-dotnet8-runtime,sc-synocli-devel,sc-synocli-disk,sc-synocli-file,sc-synocli-kernel,sc-synocli-misc,sc-synocli-monitor,sc-synocli-net
videodriver:x:937:PlexMediaServer
no /dev/dri tells me the iGPU is not being enumerated in the filesystem by the kernel
Having “PlexMediaServer” in the ‘videodriver’ group confirms PMS is properly setup to use the hardware if present ( in /dev/dri )
Is this a bare metal XPEnology installation or is this a VM?
If a VM then you must go back and check that /dev/dri is being passed through as a device and not a plain directory.
Hi ChuckPa again - and thanks again for your valued advice.
My system is a bare metal Xpenology box (emulating a DS3622XS+); a model meant to provide business apps and storage rather than home video processing apps.
The system was first configured as a DS3615, then a DS3617 (originally with the Xeon E3-1240v6 (no iGPU). I subsequently acquired the E3-1245v6 (with the iGPU) for a good price, hoping that this would then provide a solid Plex/photo/video storage server with Intel Quick Sync capability.
Unfortunately, lack of drivers appears to be the issue. I’m not sure of a way around this impasse
I read (which I still had that link) the CEO had stated at a trade show they would be moving away from the consumer market and focusing more on the business market.
Their products since 2020, imho, indicate that. (businesses don’t need HW transcoding CPUs to run web sites).
That having been said, there is a DS1520 (J4125 CPU) which does HW transcoding very nicely for a GeminiLake. The GeminiLake is slightly different than the UHD630 but otherwise you’d be good to go from the Plex perspective.
Thanks ChuckPa for your valuable advice & assistance. Will advise later on final outcome. I know that my Xeon is Kaby Lake Refresh Quad Core with UHD630.
- and thanks again for your valued advice.
