Media server setup on a ship - closed network codec issues

Plex Media Server Desktops & Laptops
1

Server build: 1.27.1.5916

Plex for windows (on laptop) : 1.49.1.3146-73559c78

I have built up a media server out of old PC parts i found on the ship i work on.
Due to the ship working out of range of cell and internet the setup is a little bit unorthodox.

The plex server is connected via lan to an offline WAN which users connect to to view content It also has a WIFI card so i can connect to the ships network and keep the WAN live when updating libraries and \ or needing to grab codecs.

So far i have found the build to be pretty solid, however from time to time it just decides it doesnt like codecs on some of the users accounts.
for example i was watching a show on my laptop yesterday with no issues, however today i have found that if i try to watch the same episode of the same show i get error 1008 - a codec required from playback could
not be downloaded. make sure you are connected to the internet and try again.
I tried re booting the server, and the laptop and same result.
I have tried both the ships satellite internet connection and also a mobile hotspot from my phone (currently in port)
both of these have failed to allow the server to drag down the new codecs.
I checked a few other shows and i am now getting the same playback error across every file in the library.
however this isnt affecting another crew member who is streaming it to his TV.
currently i have it setup to direct stream as much as possible as the server is old AF and cant handle transcoding.

any help would be greatly appreciated.
any questions just ask

1 Like
2

Which app are you using in your laptop? When you say “same show” do you mean the exact same episode?

3

Thanks for the question, i have updated the post .

yes, exact same episode of the same season .
running plex for windows on the laptop.
version : 1.49.1.3146-73559c78

4

The app itself downloads the codecs from plex.tv ( it does not get from server). When the app updates it can sometimes need to get updated versions of codecs but it should get the new versions of all the codecs it already has without needing to play something while online.

Did you update app between yesterday and today?

If you currently have internet access and can provide the logs from the app. try to play something and we can possibly see why it is not getting updated codecs Windows/Mac app logs | Plex Support

5

OK so what likely happened was when you were online it updated the app in the background but it does not update the codecs until the updated app is launched and if you did that while offline then it could not get them.

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