No Option To Add Libraries/Offline Files after New Install on headless server install

Plex Media Server Metadata & Adding Files
1

Server Version#: 1.18.0.1994

Hello,
I’ve installed Plex Media Server on a fresh Debain OS and have the web interface working but the Server Setup page where you add libraries was never displayed and there are no option to add offline media/libraries in the web interface. I even bought the a plex pass thinking that would fix it, but no. It’s just not clear.

Either I am doing something stupid or there is a bug in the release.

Interface on Mainpage

Interface with Settings

Thanks,
Ray

2

It sounds like you’re indeed “holding it wrong”.
Not to worry, it does happen to folks.

There are two ways to access PMS, through app.plex.tv (works anywhere) and
and the local UI (127.0.0.1 when on the same machine -or- LAN IP of the server).

Which have you been accessing it with?

3

Hi ChuckPA,
I’m accessing it via the local network DNS address. E.g. media.domain.local.

Thanks,
Ray

4

don’t use the name. Use the IP.

Using the name creates a race condition:

  1. you’re trying to claim the server to add to your account.
  2. It doesn’t know what your account and domain name/network is yet.
5

Hi ChuckPA,
I’m am still having the same issue when using the IP address instead of the DNS name. See Screenshot.

Thanks,
Ray

6

Ray,
Let’s find out what’s happening

  1. Linux command line: curl http://127.0.0.1:32400
  2. It will respond with 401: Permission denied -or-
    A whole bunch of XML.
  3. Either of these tells us it’s alive and the problem is in the browser

Presuming browser

  1. open https://app.plex.tv/desktop (the hosted app)
  2. Upper right corner (your icon), Sign out of your account
  3. Now go to the server: http://127.0.0.1:32400/web
  4. It should ask you to claim and sign in.

I suspect the token and account got out of sync, at this point.

There is another, more extreme, step we can take but this is the best next step.

7

Hi ChuckPA,
First of all, thank you for your continued support.

Curl response was fine, received XML back:

I did as you mentioned but note the Debain server has no GUI so I am unable to localhost it. I used the LAN address instead. It asked me to sign in, I used email/pass option rather than the third party options, on the next page I selected the admin user account.
First time round: https://prnt.sc/prgmf4
Second time round: https://prnt.sc/prgp7i

Thanks,
Ray

8

Since you have no gui, let’s SSH tunnel to it.

  1. ssh -l username-here -L 8888:127.0.0.1:32400 ip.addr.of.machine
  2. Sign in and let sit.
  3. Back in local browser: http://127.0.0.1:8888/web

Now you’re running as if on the machine’s head even though it doesn’t have one.

9

Thanks ChuckPA its now resolved. So setup requires you to go via localhost (127.0.0.1) on first time setup and not use local LAN IP.

For headless server situations this is a problem, the following 2 recommendations are presented:

  • On the downloads page there should be a warning message about this.
  • Otherwise, if accessing via LAN IP, it should show setup page but with a message saying connect via localhost to continue. Guide linked.

Thanks,
Ray

10

To help others, please remove version number ‘1.18.0.1994’ from title and maybe add ‘headless server install’ in there somewhere.

Thanks,
Ray

11

done!