Just want to say thanks in advance for your help. About a month ago I built a new desktop computer for hosting a Plex server and watching the Plex content. I constantly get the error This server is not powerful enough while watching through the Plex server interface, and Plex web app on other devices
Build:
Windows 7 Ultimate
ASUS ROG MAXIMUS VIII HERO
Intel i7 - 6700K
EVGA SuperNOVA 750 G2
Crutial - Watercooling
16GB RAM
256 SSD - OS
6TB - 3x2TB WD Drives - Media
Knowing the hardware specs is one thing (cool specs!) but knowing the source media (bitrates and format) as well as the target bitrate and format is essential.
PMS determines “not powerful enough” if, while creating the first few video buffers, it sees it it not converting to the desired (playback) output fast enough to keep up with real-time.
To figure this issue out, it’s a simple matter of
a) look at the “Get Info” (or View XML) output and see what’s actually in the file
b) know what was selected / enabled / matched up with where it’s being played or, if bandwidth limiting is forcing a reduction on top of the player’s limitations.
If you want me to help further, please dig up the specs of the video, gather the ‘playback environment/settings’ info, if local or remote, and we’ll go from there
Thanks for your prompt response, I hope I can answer your questions correctly.
A) Here is the XML output for the media file that was giving me the last issue: http://pastebin.com/nM5tus0j
B)Ping 17/Download 120mpbs/Upload 10mbps
Player settings are all 2mbps 720p - Direct Play enabled - Local Connection
Ive had family members say they cant watch it lately (remote) because the video constantly buffers or shutters (gives server isn’t strong enough error)
Ive tried using the Game First application to set Plex Media Server & Plex DLNA Server to Highest priority doesnt seem to make much difference. Also should this build be able to handle steaming 1080p content remotely?
First, If you use “Code” paragraph formatting around the block of XML you paste in your reply, it will come through cleanly without the forum ‘eating it’. It keeps things more focused and easier to reference if you have a problem the devs need to look at.
If you’re not using DLNA, turn it off. I personally have never found it to work well with streaming. DLNA works ‘fairly ok’ for local with older devices but has never kept up with the more current streaming methodologies and protocols which are better.
As for your remote streaming, This video is ` video: bitrate=“2280”, audio: bitrate=“384” (both in kilobits/sec). That yields 2.644 Mbps of raw audio/video. When you add the transport overhead, you’re still under 3 so that’s the good part.
The only element left is what is consuming so much time that your machine can’t keep up?
For this, I’m going to need your log files. I would like to have:
Settings - Server - General: Make certain to NOT check ‘Enable Verbose logging’ (that causes way too much noise in the logs at this point
Start the playback session and recreate the failure.
Wait about 15 seconds
Settings - Server - Help - Download Logs
It will give you a ZIP file which you can directly attach here (^^^ in the top reply bar … the document icon) . We recommend it this way because your logs stay with the thread and also are protected by the forum itself.
For your problem and cpu comparison, I have an i7-3740qm and can transcode 2-3 streams concurrently (unless the player is demanding something bizarre).
See? This is where the player is important. PMS itself will make the video compliant to what the player wants. While the player may have DirectPlay enabled, if it can’t handle the media exactly as is, PMS will transcode some or all of it to be compliant. The player should have a quality setting (if a Plex player). If set too low, PMS will perform the equivalent of a full “HandBrake re-encode” and this is a very time-consuming task even for a 6700K. You won’t get real-time playback out of it.
All of this type information will show in your logs. I’ll be able to see what the player asked for and what was ultimately decided .
Server builds do not usually include the Microsoft Foundation audio drivers.
Mar 12, 2017 16:29:41.136 [4160] WARN - Failed to find encoder 'mp3_mf'
Mar 12, 2017 16:29:41.137 [4160] DEBUG - MDE: Nashville (2012) - S5 E11 - Fire and Rain: selected media 0 / 25948```
The `mf` signifies Microsoft Foundation class.
I am not normally in the Windows area. I’m a Linux/Synology guy.
You’re fine on the Windows itself.
You are missing, the microsoft core audio drivers. This is all I know (which I learned from another staff members).
The user he was referring to had a Microsoft ‘server’ installation. Server installations don’t typically include audio drivers for multi-media.
If you search or ‘mp3_mf’ or ‘microsoft audio drivers’ in the forums, you’ll find it.
@Rowy645 said:
Thanks for all your hard work, but im still unable to find the solution to my issue. How did you end up solving your issue @mysticpete ?
Basically I didn’t, servers are not meant to perform the same as other OS and as it was a primary Plex server I didn’t need to play audio. But I find it really strange that a Windows Ultimate does not have the mp3 decoder in it, did you try shark007 http://shark007.net as this has every decoder available and has solved similar problems in the past for me?
To let you know, I’ve written a formal RFE (request for enhancement) at the suggestion of another team member to have PMS make up for the missing codec. By definition, it should. What we’re seeing here might just be a regression/oversight because I’ve never heard of it before.
@ChuckPA said:
To let you know, I’ve written a formal RFE (request for enhancement) at the suggestion of another team member to have PMS make up for the missing codec. By definition, it should. What we’re seeing here might just be a regression/oversight because I’ve never heard of it before.
Sorry just got back in town and tested the Shark007 solution and it did not fix my issue. This issue is happening on everything now, and seems to take forever to start or resume playback. Just sits there loading for minutes before starting.
Have you tried scanning the os for integrity violations through your command prompt? Might be corrupted.
Try this: search for cmd on your start bar, right click and run as administrator. When the terminal pops up type in sfc /scannow. Let that scan and see if it finds anything
I’d also run this tool that’ll find any underlying problems, you can find it from microsoft at https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=20858. Unlike win 10 you can’t use DISM which is loads helpful in repairing the system image. I’d suggest upgrading to win 10 honestly.
Sounds like an issue with your installation of windows 7. My server also has an i7-6700k overclocked to 5.0 ghz and it can handle 3 remote streams while playing Battlefield 1 at the same time. Your machine is definitely powerful enough. I will try to do a fresh installation of Windows (I highly recommend you to get Windows 10). That usually solves all of my problems.
