Limit Plex RAM usage

Plex Media Server NAS & Devices
1

Server Version#: 1.40.2.8395

I’m using a Synology DS218+ with 6GB of RAM.
Configured my temp transcode directory to /tmp, which greatly increases the performance.

But, it seems that 4GB is not enough for a smooth playback, after 10 or 15 minutes depending on the media, I get an error and have to restart the stream. When troubleshooting it, found that RAM is being full utilized.

I would like to ask if there is an option for the amount of memory RAM that Plex can use for transcode.
If there is such option, I would like to set it to 4GB maximum.
I suppose that by setting this limit would fix my memory issue, and also swap usage.

Thanks.

2

In most cases, the core issue isn’t RAM.

PMS will run very well in 1 GB of RAM. ( I have a 1 GB ARMv8 system which works great).

The problem we face is the I/O speed – AND – the media itself.

Linux, by its nature, will buffer everything in RAM so it will look like only 100-200 MB are free. This is 100% normal.

Here’s my completely idle Linux NAS (64 GB of RAM) which shows less than 2GB free

[~] # free -m
             total       used       free     shared    buffers     cached
Mem:         64228      62284       1944        378       2906      53082
-/+ buffers/cache:       6296      57932
Swap:        31016          2      31014
[~] #

Look how much is “cached” (buffered). 53GB. That’s memory Linux will try to use if it can but can drop it for whatever purpose instantly if needed (it’s read-only data which is safe to ‘drop’)

Let’s set that aside for a minute.

That said, the issue isn’t RAM unless its defective or you’ve got other things also running which are using it all. In almost all cases, It’s the playback itself with the content.

Would you please do the following so I can see what’s happening?

  1. In Plex/web browser, Settings - SERVER - General - Show Advanced
    – Make certain DEBUG logging is enabled
    – Make certain VERBOSE logging is disabled
    – SAVE button and restart PMS if you make changes

  2. Temporarily change your Transcoder Temp back to the default (which means it uses the HDD)

  3. If you can let it run until failure, Please do so

  4. When it fails, Please download the server logs ZIP file (Settings - Server - Troubleshooting - Download Logs)

  5. Attach the ZIP file it gives you

  6. Now play something which causes the problem.

1 Like
3

Thanks for the detailed answer, ChuckPa.
Unfortunately, after the problem raised in the post, I deleted the video which was causing problems.

I’m trying now to reproduce it with other video files, but with no joy.

Can I keep this post open for a week ? If I can’t reproduce it by then, I close this one and open a new one.

Really thanks.

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