I have a problem that has been bugging me for a couple of months.
I'm running Plex Media Server on my MacBook Pro and have been using ethernet connected Boxee Box and Raspberry Pi running XMBC in my lounge to watch media. This has worked for 6+ months without any issue.
Recently the Boxee Box / Raspberry Pi stopped being able to see the Plex Media Server over the ethernet conneciton. Any Wifi connected devices can still connect to the server just fine (phone, tablets etc).
I have been through the settings a zillion times, changed the macbook ip, enabled & disabled the macbook firewall, checked all settings on the Wifi router that the ethernet plugs in to.
For some reason either connections to Plex server on the macbook are being blocked. If I unplug the ethernet cable and have the macbook connect to the router via wifi it all works perfectly.
Can anyone suggest where to look to find where the ethernet connection to the Plex Server on the macbook is being blocked. I fully appreciate that this is far more likely to be an issue on the MacBook rather than with Plex Media Server but I'm doing my head in trying to figure it out.
$5 via PayPal immediately to the first person who gives me the hint that solves this strangeness.
Things worth ruling out (you haven't specifically said whether other network functions work on the mac or it's just plex):
Have you tried a different ethernet cable?
Have you tried plugging another device into the same port on the switch/router/hub that you plug the mac into? Does it (i.e. the internet) work?
Hi Perriwinkle,
Thanks for the repl.
It's not the network. I have another Plex server downstairs (the main one) and that can still be accessed and used by both the Boxee Box and Raspberry Pi XBMC over ethernet. All other network access works just fine.
I have swapped all the ethernet cables on the router with no change.
I've also rebooted the router, checked it to see if there is anything blocking the Plex port on the macbook. Nothing I can find. I can telnet to the macbook IP and Plex Server port just fine.
I've also stopped the downstairs Plex server in case there was some kind of conflict between servers.
The firewall on the macbook is definitely off.
I've changed the IP address on the macbook, boxee box, raspberry pi several times using both static and dhcp ips. No change.
You can see why I'm banging my head against the wall here :)
Everyone seems to say that you should post the Media Server Logs (held in ~/Library/Logs/Plex).
Could it be some sort of conflict between the two plex servers? Maybe they're fighting for the same resource on the network when running it over wires.
Everyone seems to say that you should post the Media Server Logs (held in ~/Library/Logs/Plex).
Could it be some sort of conflict between the two plex servers? Maybe they're fighting for the same resource on the network when running it over wires.
Definitely not a conflict between Plex servers because:
I can access both Plex servers over Wifi from smartphones, tablets etc easily
I disabled all other media servers (2nd Plex and MediaTomb) to be absolutely sure :)
Great idea on the logs - I'll enable logging and will post back later / tomorrow
Any chance you have both wi-fi and ethernet wired enabled and active at the same time? I am not sure if PMS behaviour would be as expected if two IP's are active
Any chance you have both wi-fi and ethernet wired enabled and active at the same time? I am not sure if PMS behaviour would be as expected if two IP's are active
Nope - have tested that too. Good suggestion though. :)
I'm thinking the log files are going to be my best bet.
the mac mini ethernet port can be a bit of a headache sometimes, this worked for me with the same problem.
go to network prefrences, create new location rather than "automatic" e.g ethernet only, then set service order (settings cog under wifi, firewire, ethernet etc.) with ethernet on top turn off wi.fi. reboot and lo and behold the port works.
its a bug that never got fixed after an upgrade on some mac minis spent a whole morning getting this sorted, there is a massive post on the macrumours forums about this.
Good Luck