Has IP Control for PMC been dropped from the new PMS?

General Discussions
1

I updated the Plex Server on my WIN7/64 box, and it appears that I've now lost control of the PMC player by IP control.

 

Has this been dropped now that the PHT is out? I was surely hoping to be able to continue to use PMC on my PC since the remote control by IP in PHT.is poor by comparison to what was in PMS. But now I'm totally dead, and the family is looking at me at Christmas and asking what I did to kill their system. Great timing,

 

The system worked until a couple days ago, I think when I last updated the server software to current.

I have two installs, both are affected.

Control worked after the December 10 update to 0.9.8.14, but not now.

Is it the server, or is likely it my own local problem?

 

EDIT:

With help from the membership, I've got older version Server software now, but it won't install without uninstalling the "newer" version.

Not sure I want to go through that agony and recatalog all my content just to find out if IP control comes back - since this may not be the problem.

 

Any IP control insights, anyone?

 

NEWER EDIT:

Since I could not downgrade, I found there is yet a newer PMS version (818) even though my 817 says it is most current. Anyway, installed 818 and still/again no joy, no control.

 

MORE on this thread-in-a-thread

I found a full system backup from October and reinstalled the entire C Drive. And control is back. My family may let me sleep in the house tonight.

This all took only 5 hours of my time while I should be preparing for MY OWN wedding tomorrow. With everyone staying at my house, there was no choice about whether the movie server was going to work. Only how long it was going to take me.

 

EVEN MORE:

Yes, I had it working. Then Windows insisted on a lot of updates, and once it finished, I am again without control.

Looks like there is a confounding variable. The hunt continues.

 

NOW 9 HOURS LATER an the family deciding whether to disown me:

I've again restored the October image, and again have control.

I'll try to keep Windows from installing anything. And hope.

2

Some confirmations. Yes the HTTP / IP Control was recently removed in favor of the Plex Companion system (aka Chromecast methods). Anything that depended on the old HTTP/IP API is now pretty much dysfunctional. Except for Blackberry & the Current Plex/Web-1.0, all of the latest versions of the clients should be able to use the new Plex Companion/Casting system. Regarding Plex/Web, you can use either plex.tv/web or my.plexapp.com/web for now while they finish developing this beta interface & stabilize things.
 
Plex Media Center (PMC) is completely depreciated, you shouldn't be using it anymore.
 

This all took only 5 hours of my time while I should be preparing for MY OWN wedding tomorrow. With everyone staying at my house, there was no choice about whether the movie server was going to work. Only how long it was going to take me.
[...]
NOW 9 HOURS LATER and the family deciding whether to disown me.


Your family has some interesting priorities.

3

FYI: There's been some investigation into whether it might be possible to allow the old IP control scheme to continue working for Plex Media Center.  (This wouldn't, of course, have anything to do with the current remote control scheme or the current Plex apps.)  No guarantees, mind you.

4

The new style of command looks to be usable, it is just that the plan I've seen is so incomplete compared to the old set.

I'd particularly suggest a command style that need not include the IP address within the command, especially one that need not include both the IP of the Player and of the Server. Nearly all remote command sets for sources depend on the identification of the destination IP address in the connection itself, and the command set would then be uniform to whatever device you connected.. simplifying setting up control systems and maintaining them across time as network addresses might vary.

Having written control drivers for hundreds of devices, I have a lot of experience with good, bad and adequate protocols. I would be only to happy to collaborate in an effort to open PLEX to integration-friendly protocols for control and feedback. I've worked directly with many companies on protocols, including Autonomic, Kaliedescape, NuVo, Audio Request, Atlona, HAI, Lutron, and more. I really could help both in review of control coverage and rational protocols.

5

Your family has some interesting priorities.

Indeed, and keeping too many kids busy when too many adults are celebrating is one of them.

And many of the adults were looking forward to the full theater experience on some just-released movies. The AV treats of my home are fairly serious, and part of any party.

And we did just fine with the reverted software.

6

FYI: There's been some investigation into whether it might be possible to allow the old IP control scheme to continue working for Plex Media Center.  (This wouldn't, of course, have anything to do with the current remote control scheme or the current Plex apps.)  No guarantees, mind you.

While this investigation of third-party control continues, consider also opening keyboard emulation for searches. With 1000 movies, it's hard to move through with just PAGE DOWN. The letter-based searches can't be done via IP control even when IP control does work.

I again volunteer my efforts and experience toward this. A simple protocol will open doors to PHT with AMX, Crestron, Control4, Savant, Elan, and the countless smaller control systems. A more robust protocol with some two-way feedback (now playing, cover art, some status things) will be even more highly appreciated.

7

While this investigation of third-party control continues, consider also opening keyboard emulation for searches. With 1000 movies, it's hard to move through with just PAGE DOWN. The letter-based searches can't be done via IP control even when IP control does work.

I again volunteer my efforts and experience toward this. A simple protocol will open doors to PHT with AMX, Crestron, Control4, Savant, Elan, and the countless smaller control systems. A more robust protocol with some two-way feedback (now playing, cover art, some status things) will be even more highly appreciated.

This is the one thing I researched a few months back when starting on the Plex platform that IP control was available for devices like Control4. I purchased the IP 2-way Control4 driver from RecluseAV and within the first Plex media server update the driver was broken due to Plex discontinuing IP support. I am sure there are good reasons, but you are really missing a whole industry and large base of clients excluding home automation capablities and integration features. Many in this industry moved to other platforms due to the integration support of IP type drivers etc.

Hopefully the reconsideration to add this functionality comes soon I think it is really the only thing keeping me from enjoying this wonderful platform.
8

FYI: There's been some investigation into whether it might be possible to allow the old IP control scheme to continue working for Plex Media Center.  (This wouldn't, of course, have anything to do with the current remote control scheme or the current Plex apps.)  No guarantees, mind you.

Any further word on this, almost a month later?

Unless it is announced somehow, we'll never know or be able to take advantage of it, as we control users had to stop updating.

9

My understanding is that things should now be working such that, for example, the old Android app should be able to connect with the old Plex Media Center.  I'm not aware of any intention to make the old protocol work with the new Plex Companion protocol stuff (or vice versa with new protocol working with old apps).  I assume if new functionality is needed with the new protocols, then that's where it would be added.

10

That would be fine too. I'd be happy to help, as I said before. We have a number of our customers using PLEX (as well as several staff, and me), and an ip control protocol is fairly well required for use with integrated control systems. We can't update to current PLEX product because we'll have no control. In a typical installation, the PLEX computer will be in a mechanical room far from the distributed AV rooms that share multiple sources remotely, with touch panels that control all AV and amenities.

The few control items you shared are a small subset of the previous releases, and are too incomplete to use. Things like ZOOM control, and full transport controls are not in the new system.... that I can tell....

11

Is there an IP driver for control4 to control PHT? I am running the latest version on PHT. I am using the XBMC driver in Control4 but it only allows for play,pause,stop and skip. If an IP driver isn't available is it possible to change codes in the XBMC driver to control PHT?

12

As a long time Plex user and an RTI home automation user I would LOVE to see a two-way driver for Plex IP control.  one way IR is mediocre but usable though certainly not ideal.

That would be fine too. I'd be happy to help, as I said before. We have a number of our customers using PLEX (as well as several staff, and me), and an ip control protocol is fairly well required for use with integrated control systems. We can't update to current PLEX product because we'll have no control. In a typical installation, the PLEX computer will be in a mechanical room far from the distributed AV rooms that share multiple sources remotely, with touch panels that control all AV and amenities.

The few control items you shared are a small subset of the previous releases, and are too incomplete to use. Things like ZOOM control, and full transport controls are not in the new system.... that I can tell....

The new style of command looks to be usable, it is just that the plan I've seen is so incomplete compared to the old set.

I'd particularly suggest a command style that need not include the IP address within the command, especially one that need not include both the IP of the Player and of the Server. Nearly all remote command sets for sources depend on the identification of the destination IP address in the connection itself, and the command set would then be uniform to whatever device you connected.. simplifying setting up control systems and maintaining them across time as network addresses might vary.

Having written control drivers for hundreds of devices, I have a lot of experience with good, bad and adequate protocols. I would be only to happy to collaborate in an effort to open PLEX to integration-friendly protocols for control and feedback. I've worked directly with many companies on protocols, including Autonomic, Kaliedescape, NuVo, Audio Request, Atlona, HAI, Lutron, and more. I really could help both in review of control coverage and rational protocols.

13

Did anyone make any progress on a 2 way IP driver for PLEX?