Multi-user plex environment

Dev Community Dev/API Corner
1
Some notes
Hi,

We are using Plex in a multiple user environment. Several Mac, Windows, Android... clients are all used to connect to the server. These are individual users with mostly no common interest.

Since Plex is currently single user oriented and not much multiple user environments are know I just would like to share my experience so far.

[list=1]
[*]Clearly on the client side things are not correct. The recently played files list isn't interesting in this environment since it's populated with a very big content list in different genres watched by different users and not relevant.
[*]The "Play on device" function is really something that should be disabled by default. Right now one user can play some content onto the client from another user which is really not desired.
[*]The resume from xminxxsec isn't valid and correct when the content is played back since it's from another user.
[*]Online content should definitely be possible to block. This isn't desirable on low speed internet connection, e.g. a satellite broadband link.
[*]The log files should be handled in a way they don't pose a thread to the disk space. Maybe this is already handled somehow but seeing a log file directory of ±700MB in a few weeks doesn't make me think it is. Log files increasing 450MB are also rather difficult to handle.
Maybe a proper log option is advised so the S/N ratio can be improved there.

Nice to have
[*]An option should be available to see the accessed content so unwatched content can be removed.
[*]An intro screen with easy editable content would be very nice. (Some kind of welcome screen or news message which can be entered on the server and is presented on startup of the client).
[*]Some categories shouldn't be used as startup background on the Plex client. (E.g. no adult content screenshots on the Plex homepage)
[*]An active user list would be nice.
[*]An active watched content would be nice.
[/list]

Being part of a dev. team myself I know it's important to get feedback from the users. This is the reason I wrote this. I'm sorry if I addressed issues which are already solved or discussed but I'm relatively new with Plex. (This post is furthermore a follow up on [this.](http://forums.plexapp.com/index.php/topic/48925-plex-with-multiple-clients-on-a-big-lan-issues/))

Much obliged
2

Good points, I also used Plex in multiple users environments and found similar issues. Hope these issues can be addressed in next few releases.



Thanks,

Art

3

Good suggestions! I have the same problems and I don´t think this is so complicated to do.

4

+1 for this. I actually missed an episode of a tv show once because someone else had watched it already, Plex marked it as watched, and so I missed it since I didn’t have the Watched icon, until I realized later on…



Having some control over all of these users ad clients would be nice…

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+1

6

+1 :o)

7

This would be great!



I have 5 users currently connected to the 1 sever and I can’t count how many times I’ve missed a movie a downloaded or a tv show because someone else already watched it.



It might be good to have a user log in on plex. As I can be in the lounge room on my Mac mini watching something then I’ll jump onto the PC maybe watch a bit more, then jump into bed on the iPad.



I think this feature should defiantly looked at more in depth!

8

+1

9

+1

10

+1

11

Would really love to see multiple users on Plex.

12

What makes this even more annoying is that the MyPlex service would be perfect for the user login system! 

13

+1

14

+1

15

This is available. We use it at home all the time. I had the same problem with missing episodes as others had watched ones I hadn’t.

On your PMS goto settings>>show advanced settings>>myplex and put a tick in the box for require authentication on local networks.

Once you’ve done this setup a myplex account for each user and share your library with them, now login to each device with each users individual myplex account. It’ll also resolve some of the issues the op highlighted. No longer will the recently watched be updated by everyone and you can choose what to share so can restrict certain folders if unsuitable for younger children.

16

what the f..?!? 

i didn't know this...

i will check it out.

but why then, the plexteam said in the plexpass-forum that it is high on their priority-list ? there has to be some disadventages to a real multi-user-support or not? :/

17

Not sure. Maybe they want to enable multi user without having to share your library and setup myplex accounts for everyone. Problem doing it this way is if you’re using a TV or similar using dlna they tend not to find the server as you need the option I mentioned switched off so maybe they’re looking at something which will suit all devices.

18

what the f..?!? 

i didn't know this...

i will check it out.

but why then, the plexteam said in the plexpass-forum that it is high on their priority-list ? there has to be some disadventages to a real multi-user-support or not? :/

this isn't really multi-user, it is a work around for content restrictions - it doesn't do anything multi-user like independent watched lists etc.

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No each person won’t have their own user playlist but it will stop them all updating the server owners playlist and on deck sections which is what my main gripe was. It’s definitely a decent workaround in my opinion.

20

+1 to this.


Having a play count for each user would be key. I am ■■■■ about my library and have everyone unmark it as watched afterwards. As of now, I have to not let anyone use my Library haha.