Issue updating Embedded PMP

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1

I am currently running Embedded PMP Version#: 1.1.1 on a NUC as I wanted Atmos which my MacMini (now acting as the server) couldn’t handle (at least under Yosemite - I don’t know if the newest OS versions can handle the Pass-Through).
Now every time I run PMP on my NUC I get the message that an upgrade is available, and I’ve of course chose “yes” when ask if I want to upgrade. It appears the upgrade gets downloaded, but upon rebooting I get an error message (please see attached screen shot)
Any ideas what wrong, and how to fix this?

Many thanks!

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2

You are running version 1.1.1? That’s pretty old.

Anyway, newer versions of the PMP embedded are available here: https://nightlies.plex.tv/public-test/plexmediaplayer/embedded-testing/. Manually upgrading can be done by booting normally, turning on the SMB server, and then via a computer copy over one of the .tar files into the update share. Then you tell your player to reboot and it should update and reboot again and you should be good at that point.

The 2.x versions have a different interface than what you would be used to, so you can decide if you want a newer 1.x version or 2.x. I think you can upgrade straight to 2.x from 1.x but be sure you backup your config files first.

3

Hi,

thank you so much for the quick and detailed answer!

I know 1.1.1. is old, but as it works and I couldn’t upgrade, it was not a major concern. That being said - I don’t want to miss out on all the great new stuff Plex is adding all the time (altogether hough I use Plex in my HT primarily for watching movies and video clips/mp4s.

Please forgive me if the next few questions sound ignorant, but I’m strictly a Mac guy, and don’t know much about Linux.

  1. I presume "booting normally” refers to both computers, my MacMini Server, and the NUC PMP!?

  2. “Turning on the SMB server” refers to which computer? If you mean the NUC - how do I turn on 'SMB server 'on the NUC running PMP Embedded?

  3. I like the 1.x interface (I haven’t seen the 2.x one, though). Is there a major change in playback with 2.x?

  4. My NUC has an Intel 7 processor and 16 GB RAM, but I can’t play anything higher than 1080p without stuttering (my files are on a LaCie RAID which is USB-3 connected to my MacMini running PMS). I already radically increased the buffer, and tried w/ and w/o ‘hardware acceleration checked. Could upgrading PMP Embedded fix this issue?

Finally - the reason for my split setup (PMS on MacMini; PMP Embedded on the NUC) was that I wanted the full Atmos sound (17 speaker total hooked up to my Onkyo) which 3 yrs ago the MacOS couldn’t pass through. Has that changed with Catalina so I could run both devices under Mac OS?

Once again - thank you so much in advance for taking the time to answer this flood of questions!!

4

All the operations I was talking about are on the NUC running PMP. The server doesn’t play into this.

The 2.x interface is radically different (IMHO better) but the playback is mostly the same. You can download PMP to a computer (Mac and Windows versions here) you normally use (not as an HTPC) and try it out there to see what it looks like.

I assume you mean a 7th generation processor or is that an i7? My old NUC was 4th generation (See the wikipedia page for details) and it played everything 1080p and below. Maybe you are having network issues, especially if it’s connected via WiFi.

Apple has abandoned this market completely. The writing was on the wall when they killed off FrontRow. I’ve noticed that Apple’s software/hardware pretty much is limited to whatever they sell on their various media stores.

5

So I guess between MacOS being useless for Atmos, and Plex phasing out its Linux-embedded version, the only option left to put those precious little Atmos bits to work is installing Windows on the NUC for Playback, and leaving the MacMini with its two 20TB LaCie RAIDs as is “to serve”!
Thanks again for your time and wisdom - this has been truly enlightening!

6

Or get a nVidia Shield.

7

What’s the advantage of a nVidia Shield over the NUC (which I already own)?
Thanks!

8

It can do 4K HDR and is not only a Plex client but can do also Kodi, Netflix, Disney+ …
And you can route the gameplay from your PC with a nVidia graphics card to the TV and play it there with a console-like controller.

9

Thank you!

10

You can install a full Linux on the NUC and make your life better in the long run. The embedded OS (LibreELEC) is a PITA to work with. PMP’s source is available and you can pretty easily build it on Linux. I did it myself a while back and wrote up a howto: https://www.cod3r.com/2019/11/plex-media-player-appliance-using-ubuntu/ Though it does assume familiarity with Linux so this may not be for you.

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Hi - I can’t thank you enough for your patience and your timely and concice answers! I will try all of it as soon as I get home again. One of the many reasons why I love Plex!
Hope you all stay safe out there!!

12

I was on PMP 1.3 and thought development had stopped as it stopped auto updating.

I just checked this thread out and managed to update to 2.5! Nice interface update!

My server is a ReadyNAS so only good for streaming original quality to a PMP that can decode it.

My Celeron NUC does 1080p and 7.1 bitstream perfectly and has done for many years.

4K upgrade maybe later this year? Will an i3/i5 NUC & embedded PMP do the job here?

Cheers all

13

Still waiting on the NUC’s that have HDMI 2.0b/2.1 for 4k and lossless audio.

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I still can’t get the update to work! I downloaded the .tar file from ‘nightlies’ (I tried different versions) onto my MacBook Pro, connected to the volume “Update” on smb://plexmediaplayer, and copied the .tar file into ‘Update’. I then reboot the NUC, and I keep getting the same message shown in my original cry for help (“Checking size: FAILED”). PMP 1.1.1 then loads w/o installing the newer version, and the .tar file disappeared from the “Update” volume.
Thanks - I appreciate your help!

UPDATE 5/9/20: Finally fixed the problem by erasing the HD and installing the newest version of PMP Embedded from scratch. Atmos works beautifully now (even the indicator LED on my Onkyo lights up), BUT…
Now I don’t get any sound from files that contain only stereo tracks (all other audio formats, e.g. various Dolby formats, DTS, etc. work great). I tried a number of different settings - no luck! The files play fine in PMP on my MacMini.
Any suggestions? Thanks!

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[quote=“micdav, post:3, topic:564683”]
total hooked up to my Onkyo) which 3 yrs ago the MacOS couldn’t pass through. Has that changed with Catalina so I could run both devices under Mac OS?

UPDATE 5/9/20: Finally fixed the problem by erasing the HD and installing the newest version of PMP Embedded from scratch. Atmos works beautifully now (even the indicator LED on my Onkyo lights up), BUT…
Now I don’t get any sound from files that contain only stereo tracks (all other audio formats, e.g. various Dolby formats, DTS, etc. work great). I tried a number of different settings - no luck! The files play fine in PMP on my MacMini.
Any suggestions? Thanks!

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Hold down the + key while playing such a stereo track.

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