I need help… I already posted this in the WebApp player section, but it now appears it’s not limited to that player specifically. It is server related, which in this case is a 16GB SHIELD device which I received at no charge with my TV (otherwise I would have bought the 500GB version).
When trying to play MKV movie files (especially the larger files in higher quality) using the Web App and/or Windows App, the error message “insufficient free space for transcoding” is displayed. When I set quality lower, the files do play. The WebApp is more prone to this error than the Windows App. I’ve learned the WebApp transcodes more in general, which would explain the difference. Locally (on my SHIELD I mean with that), files do play properly so far.
The error message is therefore clear, but I’m not able to solve the issue. It only started a few weeks ago, before that everything worked as a charm and I was one of the biggest Plex-fans out there… Now I often have to resort back to KODI when playing locally.
A few things have changed right before the error started:
Server 3.3 update on my SHIELD-device, which acts as the server (16gb)
My NAS device, which contains all the media files, started running lower on free disk space (7.1TB of 7.8TB in use).
My library is ever growing, so the database Plex has build is probably also increasing in size.
What I did in terms of attemps to fix it:
I placed a class 10 microSD card in my SHIELD to replace my internal storage (64GB). As described in the Plex guidelines, this should have solved any space limitations of the SHIELD device itself. Perhaps it didn’t because the original internal memory is still used for something (anybody?)
If free space is needed on the NAS device for transcoding, I assume a few hundreds of GB’s should be enough. Just in case, I expanded by 4TB. This should however not matter, which ultimately it also didn’t.
I accidently reset the Plex server app to factory default when messing around trying to fix the issue, after recreating the library, issue still persists.
Perhaps somebody in this forum has an answer so I can fix this issue. I would be very grateful (and the “understatement of the year”-award goes to me!).
So, the issue cannot be fixed at all at this time?
Seems like hoping for Plex programmers to change those settings so Plex WILL use the additional storage that is set up as “internal storage”, is a bit of a stretch.
I could reset the entire device sometime soon, hoping some additional space is freed, but that would only be a temporary fix at best.
This is ridiculous! I recently bought Nvidia Shield 16gb because it is announced as PMS capable but it can’t transcode it to 10+ gb video because there is not enough space in the internal memory and can not use the added memory from SD card! Fix this, please!
Thanks! This seems to solve the issue. Due to the holidays I’ve not been able to test it thoroughly, but I’m confident enough to declare this thread ‘solved’!
Off topic: “PMS capable” seems to be a poorly chosen term
Hi, its now August 2018 and im thinking buying nvidia shield 16gb + usb3 external drive with media + 2nd usb3 128gb pen as shield internal storage… but im wondering how much storage plex server uses for transcoding? i googled and learned plex sercer stores library metadata (small size) on a folder that can be changed to anywhere (“internal” or “additional external storage” but been unable to understand how much big can transcoding storage be… i know it depends on client, and if original movie pretty much near resolution of my watching device (ex. my 42" tv connected to shield basically), then i guess transcoding is minimum or zero, but how about - imagine- if original is a monster blueray movie 4k, id guess plex server will transcode (convert while playing i guess and create a new movie file downgraded to my tv only full-hd resolution? and that could mean some hundreds or megas or few gigas for the new transcoded file?
Or am i confusing concepts here and in fact transcoding doesnt create a new movie file as its a realtime process so needed storage is minimum?
Thanks so much, this is my last doubt before i buy the setup im thinking
how big is the temporary file will depend on the transcoding settings you specify. It’s not the same transcoding to 720p 4Mbps than to 1080p 20Mbps for instance. There will be always a transcoding file created, well, several actually, so it’s recommended you buy a external USB stick and set the transcoding folder to a location there to avoid possible issues. Additionally, you can also set up the Metadata and DB location also there since a couple of months ago which will also free up space in the internal storage of your SHIELD and prevent issues in case your library grows too large in the future. Please be aware though that even if you move the metadata to external storage, the sync location won’t move so it’s currently not possible to sync large items (ie: basically any movie) to mobile devices at the moment if you use the SHIELD as server.
Thanks @kikeminchas so theres 2 locations i can set (transcoding + metadata) i though plex server in shield only had 1 folder “plex library”?
2. i learned we can setup external usb3 drives as either “internal” storage (special format attaching usb drive just to shield) or simply as “additional” storage. So im thinking/wondering if just 1 usb3 drive as “additional” storage should be enough and setting plex library there (metadata and transcoding i think both parte of “library”? so just 1 setting to change?
So no need to use 2nd usb to be used as “internal” storage (like 128gb stick) i guess as everything would be on big main usb drive? Or i wonder there could exist content (apps, games or drv recordings i think its a plex feature?.. that only uses “internal” storage? and in that case it make sense to have 2 usb drives (a small usb3 128gb stick as new internal + big usb3 hdd to have all content+plex library/metadata/transcoding?
I imagine i could just use big usb3 drive as internal, only caveat would be i couldnt unplug and plug it on my windows laptop and/or use as my normal backup of all my files (media and everything else).
Plex allows you indeed to set transcoding and where do you want to have your metadata separately if you want. Unless you need the space for other apps or you are going to use the sync feature of Plex, I would recommend to just use an external drive as external storage and move Plex metadata and transcoding location there.
so theres 2 locations i can set (transcoding + metadata) i though plex server in shield only had 1 folder “plex library”?