Locked out of my plex server running on Ubuntu

[tommen]

Server Version#: 1.14.1.5488
Player Version#:

I had trouble syncing shows to my phone, and in that troubleshooting part i logged out of the server… Since then, its gone.

I have tried the steps here: https://support.plex.tv/articles/204281528-why-am-i-locked-out-of-server-settings-and-how-do-i-get-in/

Even tried to remove plex server, and install it again (just kept my Library) but still the same…
Server is running something, as i can open player webpage on it. But the server part under settings are gone.

I dont care about the Library, that can be rescanned. But its sad if i need to re-share it with the guys i share with. As all “viewed” status gets removed…

I just remembered that i have tried to start the server without the Preferences.xml file in place, it gets created, but the server is still not working as it should.

[ChuckPa]

if the server is local (your LAN), and you have an RFC-1918 compliant LAN address range (aka. Private Network);

1. Log out of Plex/Web app (upper right)
2. Stop the server
3. rename Preferences.xml to Preferences.xml.old
4. Start PMS
5. Open http://ip.addr.of.server:32400/web
6. Sign in
7. “Got it”
8. Don’t create any new Library sections (SKIP)
9. Set other preferences along the way
10. Arrive at Dashboard.
11. It’s yours again.

[tommen]

Hi!

I did exactly that, about 10 times yesterday.
When signed in, i arrive at my dashboard with only the servers others share with me.

[ChuckPa]

Then let’s do this the hard way.

sudo tar cfz /tmp/Logs.tar.gz "/var/lib/plexmediaserver/Library/Application Support/Plex Media Server/Logs"

It will create a tarball of your Logs directory for me to look at.
Please upload that tarball here.

[tommen]

Thanks, ill do that later on today and upload here.

[tommen]

Logs.tar.gz (1.0 MB)

Here is the logfiles.

[ChuckPa]

two things could happen.

1. ownership / permissions of the files
2. damage to the Preferences.xml file itself.

I am going to address both in one shot here .

1. Verify Preferences.xml is ready to be reclaimed without losing its identity

https://support.plex.tv/articles/204281528-why-am-i-locked-out-of-server-settings-and-how-do-i-get-in/

2. Put all files back into proper ownership

sudo sh
systemctl stop plexmediaserver
chown -R plex:plex /var/lib/plexmediaserver
find /var/lib/plexmediaserver -type d -exec chmod 755 {} \;
find /var/lib/plexmediaserver -type f -exec chmod 644 {} \;

3. Sign out of your Plex account in the web browser
4. Start Plex
5. Open, in an incognito window: 127.0.0.1:32400/web
6. Be greeted by the “Got It” and “Sign In” banners
7. Start the normal setup ward EXCEPT Do Not Create New Library Sections – SKIP this part
8. Arrive at the Dashboard.

[tommen]

Hope that there is more than two things

I did those two things, but its still the same…

[ChuckPa]

Are you accessing the console over VPN or is the server in VM or other abstraction / remote-like configuration?

[tommen]

My plex is running on a desktop computer from my techroom in my house. Its not accessable from the web, besides port 32400.

But ports can be forwarded for remote access if needed.

[ChuckPa]

If it’s on a different subnet and/or you’re not RFC1918 compliant with addressing.

You will need SSH tunnel into it.
ssh -L 8888:127.0.0.1:8888 ip.addr.of.server

while there:
Stop PMS
rename the Preferences.xml to Preferences.xml.old
Start PMS

open http://127.0.0.1:8888/web
It will be a new startup/sign-in wizard.
Complete it as-if normal EXCEPT do not create new library sections. Skip that part.
Continue to the dashboard
Check / set preferences when there.

The server is now fully reclaimed as yours.

[tommen]

Thank you! And im sorry for all this time spent on my uselessness.
I just assumed that i was on the same subnet as the plex server. But yor last post made me check, and i saw that this was not the case. I went though my router and that stopped the onboarding.

Again, sorry to waste your time.

/tommen