"Offline" access to Plex Server inside LAN?

General Discussions
1

During certain hours I restrict internet access on my kids’ gaming systems. I would like for them to still be able to watch Plex content. Here are the systems they are using:

XBox One
PS3
XBox 360

I’ve noticed they are unable to access the Plex server once the internet connection is turned off. I gather this is due to the app being unable to contact Plex.tv servers to authenticate my Plex Pass and/or because it requires an XBox Live! / PSN login to function.

Is there a workaround for this?

I could easily add an IPTABLES rule to allow traffic to the plex.tv server if this was all that was required and I knew the ports used.

2

Microsoft requires that xbox live be signed in for Plex (and any other streaming app) to work. So killing the internet, kills the Plex client as well for the xbox.

I don’t believe PS3 has the same requirement, but if they’re logging in each time, they’ll need to verify with Plex.tv. Is there an ‘automatically signin’ option for PS3? That would be your best option. Plex.tv is cloud based, so there are ranges you’d have to open instead of a single IP for authentication. But some clients with auto login features keep the authentication token active and just reuse it without re-authenticating against Plex.tv.

3

Just came across this issue when lost internet for a day and could not watch movies. Very frustrating

4

DLNA system would still work i would of thought ? …
but ive never thought of this problem hmmm

5

I can access Plex without internet through the clients I use. (Roku, Raspberry Pi, Computer running PMP, Computer running OPHT, Fire TV and Android devices casting to Chromecast.)

I “think” in order to do that you must turn off secure connections in both the server and the client but that is not a problem for me as I do not share with anyone so secure connections are always off anyway. My upload is too slow even if I wanted to.

Also I believe that if you are using any “Home” features it will not work without internet as that requires authentication. I do not use “Home” either.

Of course that does not in any way address if a client has to be signed on to a site other than Plex’s for it to work.

6

Pled Home is the key. If you’re using accounts for the kids that aren’t standalone accounts then you’ll have to have a connection.