Server Version#: 1.18.5.2309
Player Version#: 4.49.2
I recently got a Synology DS920+ after having issues getting HW transcoding to work on a FreeNAS (That died lol).
I have a Plex Pass account, and I checked that the 920+ is on the approved hw transcoding list, so I’m unsure why I don’t have the little (hw) next to the resolution options. Does that indicate if something is being transcoded on hardware?
In addition to that (if you don’t mind) how do you update a Synology Plex Server? As soon as I installed it, it told me that a new update is available, but when I clicked on it, it just downloaded a file type I don’t recognize or know what to do with (PlexSomething.spk).
Any help would be amazing!!!
Cheers!
Edit: I tired making an optimized version of a video, and after it was done, the result was basically unwatchable, and now I can’t figure out how to go back to the original. I try the select version to play, but that didn’t work.
Uncheck: Enable HDR tone mapping (*)
Uncheck: Disable video stream transcoding
Check: Use hardware acceleration when available
Check: Use hardware-accelerated video encoding
(*) Best left unchecked for now. Not yet supported via hardware acceleration. Requires more than a Celeron CPU to tonemap in software.
Monitor playback via Plex Dashboard → Now Playing. If hardware accelerated transcoding is in use, you’ll see it there.
I’m going to go over this now, but I did have another question before I go and try to get the HWT working. Is there an upper limit to what can be transcoded in real time? These videos are coming from OBS and are usually around the 50Mbps. Is that too higher for it to transcode in real time?
Hardware acceleration should just work. Update to the current version of Plex and enable it in the server settings. That’s all that should be needed.
You must update to a current version of Plex. There is an Intel driver conflict with versions prior to 1.21. It affects systems with an Intel J4xxx Celeron CPU, such as the DS920+. It doesn’t hurt anything, but transcoded video looks messed up if hardware acceleration is enabled.
Intel fixed their driver, and it is included in Plex Media Server versions 1.21 and higher.
Regarding hardware transcoding and limits: Is there a limit? yes. What is the limit? I don’t know.
I’ve a DS918+. It can transcode a Blu-ray rip w/o issue. I’ve never pushed it to see how many at the same time. It can transcode a 4K HDR movie, but only with tonemapping disabled.
Where you’ll run into issues is if you have to burn in subtitles. The video is still transcoded on the GPU, but the burning happens on the CPU and is single threaded. My DS918+ struggles burning subtitles when transcoding blu-ray rips.
I suggest using manual port forwarding. It is more reliable than UPnP…
The NAS needs a static IP or router reserved IP address. You don’t want the address to change.
The NAS should be attached to the network with an Ethernet cable. It is a more reliable connection than WiFi.
Set things up using the default port, 32400. You can change it later.
Once you have things configured, you can use canyouseeme.org to test connectivity. From a PC/tablet/etc on the same network as your NAS (*), go to canyouseeme.org. Put in your remote access port number (32400), instead of the default (80). It will let you know if it can see your server on that port.
(*) This just means if your NAS is on your home network then the PC, phone, etc must be on your home network. Not using a mobile connection, not on the neighbor’s wifi, etc.
So the Server is viewable from outside my network; my question was if this is all I need to do, or if there are any additional step I need to take to make the hwt work for people outside my network?
No. The server will use hardware transcoding. It does not matter if the connection is local, remote, or indirect.
FYI, Plex clients have bandwidth settings. The default for remote connections is usually 4 Mbps. You may want to change that depending on your Internet uplink speed and the remote’s downlink speed. Just a heads up in case you see remote streams being limited to 4 Mbps.
Cool, I’ll test that now with the updates version of Plex Server!
Interesting… I deleted it from there, and waiting about 30min, but I still have 2 versions when I try to watch the video.
Disabled!
Okay, I’ll make sure to take that into consideration when testing this!
Woah, that was a lot of amazing info. I can’t thank you enough! I’ve learned a lot so I’m going to give myself a day or 2 in order to test everything out and try fixing things on my own. No offence, but hopefully I don’t need to bother you again haha!!!
