One last attempt to make this work before removing it forever SOLVED!

[brenwa]

Server Version#: plexmediaserver_1.13.9.5439-7303bc002_amd64

One of the giant flaws in plex on linux I have had issues with over and over and over
had been the location of the data files and what a massive pain changing the directory they are stored in is… ( I have a small sd boot drive and do NOT want plex filling it up)

why in the world changing the data file locations is so difficult on plex is beyond me… and that is how this ordeal of fail began…

on this post I was simply trying to move the data files and after 30+ posts I ended up with a totally non working plex server and I was so pissed off and frustrated that I just gave up and went to kodi, because at least I could use that

plex will not work once I add create a systemd override file (linux mint 18.2)

Code paragraph formatting by highlighting the block after pasting it <–I get what you want but that does not tell me how to execute it override.conf # # Move Plex's directory elsewhere # # [Service] Environment="PLEX_MEDIA_SERVER_APPLICATION_SUPPORT_DIR=/home/4tb/plex_metadata/Application Support" # # These values are only needed if you wish to change user & group User=bob Group=bob # and no I did not manually create a user and group because you told me this earlier after I asked how to ful…

Since then I have removed plex from my system multiple times and reinstalled it multiple times and I cant even get it to start, I have tried to manually reverse all the changes made in the post above and have purged everything I can find on my system that has anything to do with plex

I have installed a fresh version of plex plexmediaserver_1.13.9.5439-7303bc002_amd64 and
every time I try to start it get

This site can’t be reached

localhost refused to connect.

ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED

and thats because its not running… it will not even start

trying to start it from terminal I get
$ service plexmediaserver start
Job for plexmediaserver.service failed because the control process exited with error code. See “systemctl status plexmediaserver.service” and “journalctl -xe” for details.

As much as this post sounds like Im just whining, Im making one last attempt before I finally give up forever, I really love plex and want it back ( I picked up a lifetime pass because I want to support this software) … however I am so incredibly frustrated with this mess
and the layers of not working I no longer know where to start. That last post was in Jan and its oct… if thats any indication of my needing to just step away…lol

So Im asking for some help here and I just did one more time a fresh install to it not working and I need a starting point

suggestions?
thoughts?

thanks in advance

[tom80H]

I suppose one element making this tricky is that there’s a number of different flavors of Linux systems handling things differently when it comes to this.

Have you had a look at the related support article?
https://support.plex.tv/articles/202529153-why-is-my-plex-media-server-directory-so-large/ (section " Relocate your Plex Media Server Data Directory")

In this section you’ll also find a link to one of chuckpa’s forum posts where he breaks this down for the different Linux distro types:

Moving PMS 'Library'

Moving Plex’s metadata (Library) directory on systemd based systems This information is intended for those systems where cat /proc/1/comm returns systemd. If your system returns init, please see the next post in this thread. While you may change /lib/systemd/system/plexmediaserver.service, it is under the control of the package manager and subject to replacement without warning at any time during an update. To provide stability, systemd allows creation of an override.conf file to customiz…

[ChuckPa]

Mind if we drop back to the basics?

1. Which Debian flavor is in use?
2. Is the host local or remote
3. What is the IP address of the server and of your computer?
4. Since the localhost port isn’t opening, what does sudo journalctl -xe | grep -i plex show for output ?
5. Does /var/lib/plexmediaserver/Library/Application Support/Plex Media Server/Logs exist?
6. If so, Please make a tarball (tar.gz) of it and attach that file here.

[brenwa]

1. Which Debian flavor is in use?

mint 18.2 cinnamon 64 bit
and it worked fine before the referenced post

2. Is the host local or remote

localhost

3. What is the IP address of the server and of your computer?

Im not sure of the server you are referring to if you mean the plex install?
http://localhost:32400/ (the port is open)
if this isnt what you are asking please be a bit more specific
and do you mean the outward facing ip addy? or its address on my network?

4. Since the localhost port isn’t opening, what does sudo journalctl -xe | grep -i plex show for output ?

bob@uber ~ $ sudo journalctl -xe | grep -i plex
[sudo] password for bob: 
Oct 28 14:18:11 uber pkexec[31274]: bob: Executing command [USER=root] [TTY=unknown] [CWD=/home/bob] [COMMAND=/usr/bin/nemo /usr/lib/plexmediaserver/Resources]
Oct 28 14:19:39 uber groupadd[31806]: group added to /etc/group: name=plex, GID=1003
Oct 28 14:19:39 uber groupadd[31806]: group added to /etc/gshadow: name=plex
Oct 28 14:19:39 uber groupadd[31806]: new group: name=plex, GID=1003
Oct 28 14:19:39 uber gpasswd[31811]: user bob added by root to group plex
Oct 28 14:20:55 uber pkexec[32037]: bob: Executing command [USER=root] [TTY=unknown] [CWD=/home/bob] [COMMAND=/usr/bin/nemo /usr/lib/plexmediaserver/Resources]
Oct 28 14:22:41 uber polkitd(authority=local)[1434]: Operator of unix-session:c2 successfully authenticated as unix-user:bob to gain TEMPORARY authorization for action org.freedesktop.systemd1.manage-units for system-bus-name::1.162 [systemctl restart plexmediaserver.service] (owned by unix-user:bob)
Oct 28 14:22:41 uber systemd[1]: Stopped Plex Media Server for Linux.
-- Subject: Unit plexmediaserver.service has finished shutting down
-- Unit plexmediaserver.service has finished shutting down.
Oct 28 14:22:41 uber systemd[1]: Starting Plex Media Server for Linux...
-- Subject: Unit plexmediaserver.service has begun start-up
-- Unit plexmediaserver.service has begun starting up.
Oct 28 14:22:41 uber systemd[32513]: plexmediaserver.service: Failed at step USER spawning /bin/sh: No such process
Oct 28 14:22:41 uber systemd[1]: plexmediaserver.service: Control process exited, code=exited status=217
Oct 28 14:22:41 uber systemd[1]: Failed to start Plex Media Server for Linux.
-- Subject: Unit plexmediaserver.service has failed
-- Unit plexmediaserver.service has failed.
Oct 28 14:22:41 uber systemd[1]: plexmediaserver.service: Unit entered failed state.
Oct 28 14:22:41 uber systemd[1]: plexmediaserver.service: Failed with result 'exit-code'.
Oct 28 14:22:46 uber systemd[1]: plexmediaserver.service: Service hold-off time over, scheduling restart.
Oct 28 14:22:46 uber systemd[1]: Stopped Plex Media Server for Linux.
-- Subject: Unit plexmediaserver.service has finished shutting down
-- Unit plexmediaserver.service has finished shutting down.
Oct 28 14:22:46 uber systemd[1]: Starting Plex Media Server for Linux...
-- Subject: Unit plexmediaserver.service has begun start-up
-- Unit plexmediaserver.service has begun starting up.
Oct 28 14:22:46 uber systemd[32534]: plexmediaserver.service: Failed at step USER spawning /bin/sh: No such process
Oct 28 14:22:46 uber systemd[1]: plexmediaserver.service: Control process exited, code=exited status=217
Oct 28 14:22:46 uber systemd[1]: Failed to start Plex Media Server for Linux.
-- Subject: Unit plexmediaserver.service has failed
-- Unit plexmediaserver.service has failed.
Oct 28 14:22:46 uber systemd[1]: plexmediaserver.service: Unit entered failed state.
Oct 28 14:22:46 uber systemd[1]: plexmediaserver.service: Failed with result 'exit-code'.
Oct 28 14:22:51 uber systemd[1]: plexmediaserver.service: Service hold-off time over, scheduling restart.
Oct 28 14:22:51 uber systemd[1]: Stopped Plex Media Server for Linux.
-- Subject: Unit plexmediaserver.service has finished shutting down
-- Unit plexmediaserver.service has finished shutting down.
Oct 28 14:22:51 uber systemd[1]: Starting Plex Media Server for Linux...
-- Subject: Unit plexmediaserver.service has begun start-up
-- Unit plexmediaserver.service has begun starting up.
Oct 28 14:22:51 uber systemd[32554]: plexmediaserver.service: Failed at step USER spawning /bin/sh: No such process
Oct 28 14:22:51 uber systemd[1]: plexmediaserver.service: Control process exited, code=exited status=217
Oct 28 14:22:51 uber systemd[1]: Failed to start Plex Media Server for Linux.
-- Subject: Unit plexmediaserver.service has failed
-- Unit plexmediaserver.service has failed.
Oct 28 14:22:51 uber systemd[1]: plexmediaserver.service: Unit entered failed state.
Oct 28 14:22:51 uber systemd[1]: plexmediaserver.service: Failed with result 'exit-code'.
Oct 28 14:22:56 uber systemd[1]: plexmediaserver.service: Service hold-off time over, scheduling restart.
Oct 28 14:22:56 uber systemd[1]: Stopped Plex Media Server for Linux.
-- Subject: Unit plexmediaserver.service has finished shutting down
-- Unit plexmediaserver.service has finished shutting down.
Oct 28 14:22:56 uber systemd[1]: plexmediaserver.service: Start request repeated too quickly.
Oct 28 14:22:56 uber systemd[1]: Failed to start Plex Media Server for Linux.
-- Subject: Unit plexmediaserver.service has failed
-- Unit plexmediaserver.service has failed.
Oct 28 14:23:16 uber polkitd(authority=local)[1434]: Operator of unix-session:c2 successfully authenticated as unix-user:bob to gain TEMPORARY authorization for action org.freedesktop.systemd1.manage-units for system-bus-name::1.189 [systemctl stop plexmediaserver.service] (owned by unix-user:bob)
Oct 28 14:23:16 uber systemd[1]: Stopped Plex Media Server for Linux.
-- Subject: Unit plexmediaserver.service has finished shutting down
-- Unit plexmediaserver.service has finished shutting down.
Oct 28 14:23:28 uber polkitd(authority=local)[1434]: Operator of unix-session:c2 successfully authenticated as unix-user:bob to gain TEMPORARY authorization for action org.freedesktop.systemd1.manage-units for system-bus-name::1.216 [systemctl start plexmediaserver.service] (owned by unix-user:bob)
Oct 28 14:23:28 uber systemd[1]: Starting Plex Media Server for Linux...
-- Subject: Unit plexmediaserver.service has begun start-up
-- Unit plexmediaserver.service has begun starting up.
Oct 28 14:23:28 uber systemd[32747]: plexmediaserver.service: Failed at step USER spawning /bin/sh: No such process
Oct 28 14:23:28 uber systemd[1]: plexmediaserver.service: Control process exited, code=exited status=217
Oct 28 14:23:28 uber systemd[1]: Failed to start Plex Media Server for Linux.
-- Subject: Unit plexmediaserver.service has failed
-- Unit plexmediaserver.service has failed.
Oct 28 14:23:28 uber systemd[1]: plexmediaserver.service: Unit entered failed state.
Oct 28 14:23:28 uber systemd[1]: plexmediaserver.service: Failed with result 'exit-code'.
Oct 28 14:23:34 uber systemd[1]: plexmediaserver.service: Service hold-off time over, scheduling restart.
Oct 28 14:23:34 uber systemd[1]: Stopped Plex Media Server for Linux.
-- Subject: Unit plexmediaserver.service has finished shutting down
-- Unit plexmediaserver.service has finished shutting down.
Oct 28 14:23:34 uber systemd[1]: Starting Plex Media Server for Linux...
-- Subject: Unit plexmediaserver.service has begun start-up
-- Unit plexmediaserver.service has begun starting up.
Oct 28 14:23:34 uber systemd[32766]: plexmediaserver.service: Failed at step USER spawning /bin/sh: No such process
Oct 28 14:23:34 uber systemd[1]: plexmediaserver.service: Control process exited, code=exited status=217
Oct 28 14:23:34 uber systemd[1]: Failed to start Plex Media Server for Linux.
-- Subject: Unit plexmediaserver.service has failed
-- Unit plexmediaserver.service has failed.
Oct 28 14:23:34 uber systemd[1]: plexmediaserver.service: Unit entered failed state.
Oct 28 14:23:34 uber systemd[1]: plexmediaserver.service: Failed with result 'exit-code'.
Oct 28 14:23:39 uber systemd[1]: plexmediaserver.service: Service hold-off time over, scheduling restart.
Oct 28 14:23:39 uber systemd[1]: Stopped Plex Media Server for Linux.
-- Subject: Unit plexmediaserver.service has finished shutting down
-- Unit plexmediaserver.service has finished shutting down.
Oct 28 14:23:39 uber systemd[1]: Starting Plex Media Server for Linux...
-- Subject: Unit plexmediaserver.service has begun start-up
-- Unit plexmediaserver.service has begun starting up.
Oct 28 14:23:39 uber systemd[313]: plexmediaserver.service: Failed at step USER spawning /bin/sh: No such process
Oct 28 14:23:39 uber systemd[1]: plexmediaserver.service: Control process exited, code=exited status=217
Oct 28 14:23:39 uber systemd[1]: Failed to start Plex Media Server for Linux.
-- Subject: Unit plexmediaserver.service has failed
-- Unit plexmediaserver.service has failed.
Oct 28 14:23:39 uber systemd[1]: plexmediaserver.service: Unit entered failed state.
Oct 28 14:23:39 uber systemd[1]: plexmediaserver.service: Failed with result 'exit-code'.
Oct 28 14:23:44 uber systemd[1]: plexmediaserver.service: Service hold-off time over, scheduling restart.
Oct 28 14:23:44 uber systemd[1]: Stopped Plex Media Server for Linux.
-- Subject: Unit plexmediaserver.service has finished shutting down
-- Unit plexmediaserver.service has finished shutting down.
Oct 28 14:23:44 uber systemd[1]: plexmediaserver.service: Start request repeated too quickly.
Oct 28 14:23:44 uber systemd[1]: Failed to start Plex Media Server for Linux.
-- Subject: Unit plexmediaserver.service has failed
-- Unit plexmediaserver.service has failed.
Oct 28 14:24:13 uber groupdel[612]: group 'plex' removed from /etc/group
Oct 28 14:24:13 uber groupdel[612]: group 'plex' removed from /etc/gshadow
Oct 28 14:24:13 uber groupdel[612]: group 'plex' removed
Oct 28 14:24:28 uber pkexec[651]: bob: Executing command [USER=root] [TTY=unknown] [CWD=/home/bob] [COMMAND=/usr/bin/nemo /usr/lib/plexmediaserver/Resources]
Oct 28 14:37:54 uber polkitd(authority=local)[1434]: Operator of unix-session:c2 successfully authenticated as unix-user:bob to gain TEMPORARY authorization for action org.freedesktop.systemd1.manage-units for system-bus-name::1.255 [systemctl start plexmediaserver.service] (owned by unix-user:bob)
Oct 28 14:37:54 uber systemd[1]: Starting Plex Media Server for Linux...
-- Subject: Unit plexmediaserver.service has begun start-up
-- Unit plexmediaserver.service has begun starting up.
Oct 28 14:37:54 uber systemd[5269]: plexmediaserver.service: Failed at step USER spawning /bin/sh: No such process
Oct 28 14:37:54 uber systemd[1]: plexmediaserver.service: Control process exited, code=exited status=217
Oct 28 14:37:54 uber systemd[1]: Failed to start Plex Media Server for Linux.
-- Subject: Unit plexmediaserver.service has failed
-- Unit plexmediaserver.service has failed.
Oct 28 14:37:54 uber systemd[1]: plexmediaserver.service: Unit entered failed state.
Oct 28 14:37:54 uber systemd[1]: plexmediaserver.service: Failed with result 'exit-code'.
Oct 28 14:37:59 uber systemd[1]: plexmediaserver.service: Service hold-off time over, scheduling restart.
Oct 28 14:37:59 uber systemd[1]: Stopped Plex Media Server for Linux.
-- Subject: Unit plexmediaserver.service has finished shutting down
-- Unit plexmediaserver.service has finished shutting down.
Oct 28 14:37:59 uber systemd[1]: Starting Plex Media Server for Linux...
-- Subject: Unit plexmediaserver.service has begun start-up
-- Unit plexmediaserver.service has begun starting up.
Oct 28 14:37:59 uber systemd[5285]: plexmediaserver.service: Failed at step USER spawning /bin/sh: No such process
Oct 28 14:37:59 uber systemd[1]: plexmediaserver.service: Control process exited, code=exited status=217
Oct 28 14:37:59 uber systemd[1]: Failed to start Plex Media Server for Linux.
-- Subject: Unit plexmediaserver.service has failed
-- Unit plexmediaserver.service has failed.
Oct 28 14:37:59 uber systemd[1]: plexmediaserver.service: Unit entered failed state.
Oct 28 14:37:59 uber systemd[1]: plexmediaserver.service: Failed with result 'exit-code'.
Oct 28 14:38:04 uber systemd[1]: plexmediaserver.service: Service hold-off time over, scheduling restart.
Oct 28 14:38:04 uber systemd[1]: Stopped Plex Media Server for Linux.
-- Subject: Unit plexmediaserver.service has finished shutting down
-- Unit plexmediaserver.service has finished shutting down.
Oct 28 14:38:04 uber systemd[1]: Starting Plex Media Server for Linux...
-- Subject: Unit plexmediaserver.service has begun start-up
-- Unit plexmediaserver.service has begun starting up.
Oct 28 14:38:04 uber systemd[5296]: plexmediaserver.service: Failed at step USER spawning /bin/sh: No such process
Oct 28 14:38:04 uber systemd[1]: plexmediaserver.service: Control process exited, code=exited status=217
Oct 28 14:38:04 uber systemd[1]: Failed to start Plex Media Server for Linux.
-- Subject: Unit plexmediaserver.service has failed
-- Unit plexmediaserver.service has failed.
Oct 28 14:38:04 uber systemd[1]: plexmediaserver.service: Unit entered failed state.
Oct 28 14:38:04 uber systemd[1]: plexmediaserver.service: Failed with result 'exit-code'.
Oct 28 14:38:10 uber systemd[1]: plexmediaserver.service: Service hold-off time over, scheduling restart.
Oct 28 14:38:10 uber systemd[1]: Stopped Plex Media Server for Linux.
-- Subject: Unit plexmediaserver.service has finished shutting down
-- Unit plexmediaserver.service has finished shutting down.
Oct 28 14:38:10 uber systemd[1]: plexmediaserver.service: Start request repeated too quickly.
Oct 28 14:38:10 uber systemd[1]: Failed to start Plex Media Server for Linux.
-- Subject: Unit plexmediaserver.service has failed
-- Unit plexmediaserver.service has failed.
Oct 28 14:41:52 uber sudo[6268]:      bob : TTY=pts/0 ; PWD=/home/bob ; USER=root ; COMMAND=/usr/bin/dpkg --remove plexmediaserver
Oct 28 14:41:54 uber systemd[1]: Stopped Plex Media Server for Linux.
-- Subject: Unit plexmediaserver.service has finished shutting down
-- Unit plexmediaserver.service has finished shutting down.
Oct 28 14:44:44 uber sudo[7047]:      bob : 1 incorrect password attempt ; TTY=unknown ; PWD=/home/bob ; USER=root ; COMMAND=/usr/bin/gdebi-gtk --non-interactive /home/bob/Desktop/plexmediaserver_1.13.9.5439-7303bc002_amd64.deb
Oct 28 14:44:48 uber sudo[7062]:      bob : TTY=unknown ; PWD=/home/bob ; USER=root ; COMMAND=/usr/bin/gdebi-gtk --non-interactive /home/bob/Desktop/plexmediaserver_1.13.9.5439-7303bc002_amd64.deb
Oct 28 14:48:33 uber pkexec[8075]: bob: Executing command [USER=root] [TTY=unknown] [CWD=/home/bob] [COMMAND=/usr/bin/nemo /usr/lib/plexmediaserver]
Oct 28 14:57:58 uber sudo[10246]:      bob : TTY=pts/1 ; PWD=/home/bob ; USER=root ; COMMAND=/usr/sbin/service plexmediaserver start
Oct 28 14:57:59 uber systemd[1]: Starting Plex Media Server for Linux...
-- Subject: Unit plexmediaserver.service has begun start-up
-- Unit plexmediaserver.service has begun starting up.
Oct 28 14:57:59 uber systemd[10284]: plexmediaserver.service: Failed at step USER spawning /bin/sh: No such process
Oct 28 14:57:59 uber systemd[1]: plexmediaserver.service: Control process exited, code=exited status=217
Oct 28 14:57:59 uber systemd[1]: Failed to start Plex Media Server for Linux.
-- Subject: Unit plexmediaserver.service has failed
-- Unit plexmediaserver.service has failed.
Oct 28 14:57:59 uber systemd[1]: plexmediaserver.service: Unit entered failed state.
Oct 28 14:57:59 uber systemd[1]: plexmediaserver.service: Failed with result 'exit-code'.
Oct 28 14:58:04 uber systemd[1]: plexmediaserver.service: Service hold-off time over, scheduling restart.
Oct 28 14:58:04 uber systemd[1]: Stopped Plex Media Server for Linux.
-- Subject: Unit plexmediaserver.service has finished shutting down
-- Unit plexmediaserver.service has finished shutting down.
Oct 28 14:58:04 uber systemd[1]: Starting Plex Media Server for Linux...
-- Subject: Unit plexmediaserver.service has begun start-up
-- Unit plexmediaserver.service has begun starting up.
Oct 28 14:58:04 uber systemd[10397]: plexmediaserver.service: Failed at step USER spawning /bin/sh: No such process
Oct 28 14:58:04 uber systemd[1]: plexmediaserver.service: Control process exited, code=exited status=217
Oct 28 14:58:04 uber systemd[1]: Failed to start Plex Media Server for Linux.
-- Subject: Unit plexmediaserver.service has failed
-- Unit plexmediaserver.service has failed.
Oct 28 14:58:04 uber systemd[1]: plexmediaserver.service: Unit entered failed state.
Oct 28 14:58:04 uber systemd[1]: plexmediaserver.service: Failed with result 'exit-code'.
Oct 28 14:58:09 uber systemd[1]: plexmediaserver.service: Service hold-off time over, scheduling restart.
Oct 28 14:58:09 uber systemd[1]: Stopped Plex Media Server for Linux.
-- Subject: Unit plexmediaserver.service has finished shutting down
-- Unit plexmediaserver.service has finished shutting down.
Oct 28 14:58:09 uber systemd[1]: Starting Plex Media Server for Linux...
-- Subject: Unit plexmediaserver.service has begun start-up
-- Unit plexmediaserver.service has begun starting up.
Oct 28 14:58:09 uber systemd[10420]: plexmediaserver.service: Failed at step USER spawning /bin/sh: No such process
Oct 28 14:58:09 uber systemd[1]: plexmediaserver.service: Control process exited, code=exited status=217
Oct 28 14:58:09 uber systemd[1]: Failed to start Plex Media Server for Linux.
-- Subject: Unit plexmediaserver.service has failed
-- Unit plexmediaserver.service has failed.
Oct 28 14:58:09 uber systemd[1]: plexmediaserver.service: Unit entered failed state.
Oct 28 14:58:09 uber systemd[1]: plexmediaserver.service: Failed with result 'exit-code'.
Oct 28 14:58:14 uber systemd[1]: plexmediaserver.service: Service hold-off time over, scheduling restart.
Oct 28 14:58:14 uber systemd[1]: Stopped Plex Media Server for Linux.
-- Subject: Unit plexmediaserver.service has finished shutting down
-- Unit plexmediaserver.service has finished shutting down.
Oct 28 14:58:14 uber systemd[1]: plexmediaserver.service: Start request repeated too quickly.
Oct 28 14:58:14 uber systemd[1]: Failed to start Plex Media Server for Linux.
-- Subject: Unit plexmediaserver.service has failed
-- Unit plexmediaserver.service has failed.
Oct 28 15:20:31 uber polkitd(authority=local)[1434]: Operator of unix-session:c2 successfully authenticated as unix-user:bob to gain TEMPORARY authorization for action org.freedesktop.systemd1.manage-units for system-bus-name::1.292 [systemctl start plexmediaserver.service] (owned by unix-user:bob)
Oct 28 15:20:31 uber systemd[1]: Starting Plex Media Server for Linux...
-- Subject: Unit plexmediaserver.service has begun start-up
-- Unit plexmediaserver.service has begun starting up.
Oct 28 15:20:31 uber systemd[15511]: plexmediaserver.service: Failed at step USER spawning /bin/sh: No such process
Oct 28 15:20:31 uber systemd[1]: plexmediaserver.service: Control process exited, code=exited status=217
Oct 28 15:20:31 uber systemd[1]: Failed to start Plex Media Server for Linux.
-- Subject: Unit plexmediaserver.service has failed
-- Unit plexmediaserver.service has failed.
Oct 28 15:20:31 uber systemd[1]: plexmediaserver.service: Unit entered failed state.
Oct 28 15:20:31 uber systemd[1]: plexmediaserver.service: Failed with result 'exit-code'.
Oct 28 15:20:37 uber systemd[1]: plexmediaserver.service: Service hold-off time over, scheduling restart.
Oct 28 15:20:37 uber systemd[1]: Stopped Plex Media Server for Linux.
-- Subject: Unit plexmediaserver.service has finished shutting down
-- Unit plexmediaserver.service has finished shutting down.
Oct 28 15:20:37 uber systemd[1]: Starting Plex Media Server for Linux...
-- Subject: Unit plexmediaserver.service has begun start-up
-- Unit plexmediaserver.service has begun starting up.
Oct 28 15:20:37 uber systemd[15529]: plexmediaserver.service: Failed at step USER spawning /bin/sh: No such process
Oct 28 15:20:37 uber systemd[1]: plexmediaserver.service: Control process exited, code=exited status=217
Oct 28 15:20:37 uber systemd[1]: Failed to start Plex Media Server for Linux.
-- Subject: Unit plexmediaserver.service has failed
-- Unit plexmediaserver.service has failed.
Oct 28 15:20:37 uber systemd[1]: plexmediaserver.service: Unit entered failed state.
Oct 28 15:20:37 uber systemd[1]: plexmediaserver.service: Failed with result 'exit-code'.
Oct 28 15:20:42 uber systemd[1]: plexmediaserver.service: Service hold-off time over, scheduling restart.
Oct 28 15:20:42 uber systemd[1]: Stopped Plex Media Server for Linux.
-- Subject: Unit plexmediaserver.service has finished shutting down
-- Unit plexmediaserver.service has finished shutting down.
Oct 28 15:20:42 uber systemd[1]: Starting Plex Media Server for Linux...
-- Subject: Unit plexmediaserver.service has begun start-up
-- Unit plexmediaserver.service has begun starting up.
Oct 28 15:20:42 uber systemd[15648]: plexmediaserver.service: Failed at step USER spawning /bin/sh: No such process
Oct 28 15:20:42 uber systemd[1]: plexmediaserver.service: Control process exited, code=exited status=217
Oct 28 15:20:42 uber systemd[1]: Failed to start Plex Media Server for Linux.
-- Subject: Unit plexmediaserver.service has failed
-- Unit plexmediaserver.service has failed.
Oct 28 15:20:42 uber systemd[1]: plexmediaserver.service: Unit entered failed state.
Oct 28 15:20:42 uber systemd[1]: plexmediaserver.service: Failed with result 'exit-code'.
Oct 28 15:20:47 uber systemd[1]: plexmediaserver.service: Service hold-off time over, scheduling restart.
Oct 28 15:20:47 uber systemd[1]: Stopped Plex Media Server for Linux.
-- Subject: Unit plexmediaserver.service has finished shutting down
-- Unit plexmediaserver.service has finished shutting down.
Oct 28 15:20:47 uber systemd[1]: plexmediaserver.service: Start request repeated too quickly.
Oct 28 15:20:47 uber systemd[1]: Failed to start Plex Media Server for Linux.
-- Subject: Unit plexmediaserver.service has failed
-- Unit plexmediaserver.service has failed.
bob@uber ~ $ 

5. Does /var/lib/plexmediaserver/Library/Application Support/Plex Media Server/Logs exist?
   it does not

6. If so, Please make a tarball (tar.gz) of it and attach that file here.

incase it is relevant the current plex user is set to bob not plex
I only did that to try solve the issue it does not start with the user as plex or as bob

contents of: /etc/default/plexmediaserver

# default script for Plex Media Server

# the number of plugins that can run at the same time
export PLEX_MEDIA_SERVER_MAX_PLUGIN_PROCS=6

# ulimit -s $PLEX_MEDIA_SERVER_MAX_STACK_SIZE
export PLEX_MEDIA_SERVER_MAX_STACK_SIZE=3000

# where the mediaserver should store the transcodes
export PLEX_MEDIA_SERVER_TMPDIR=/tmp

# uncomment to set it to something else
# export PLEX_MEDIA_SERVER_APPLICATION_SUPPORT_DIR="${HOME}/Library/Application Support"

# the user that PMS should run as, defaults to 'plex'
# note that if you change this you might need to move
# the Application Support directory to not lose your
# media library (match what is in /etc/passwd)
export PLEX_MEDIA_SERVER_USER=bob

# Uncomment this to use syslog for logging instead of
# sending logs to Plex Media Server.log
#export PLEX_MEDIA_SERVER_USE_SYSLOG=true

thank you for your help

[brenwa]

thanks for taking the time to reply, but the data location is irrelevant without plex starting the link about that was there only as reference and not the issue I am addressing

[ChuckPa]

1. Knowing if the host is local to your LAN or remote from your LAN, is important because of how the client (Plex/web) works in searching.

2. “localhost” is meaningless. Are you running the server on your computer? IF so, then ‘localhost’ has completely different context than if the server is running on another machine.

3. As of Ubuntu 16, which includes Mint 18, /etc/default/plexmediaserver is no longer used. It is included solely to support Ubuntu 14 & 15 systems. The file for you to configure is /etc/systemd/system/plexmediaserver.service.d/override.conf

4. You log from above shows the username it’s trying to use doesn’t exist. Did you edit /lib/systemd/system/plexmediaserver.service? If so, be advised, I will overwrite it with the next software update. This is why the override is required (also supported and systemd standard usage).

Oct 28 15:20:31 uber systemd[15511]: plexmediaserver.service: Failed at step USER spawning /bin/sh: No such process

If I may refer you to the full procedure for customizing your PMS installation which includes changing the username Plex runs as.

Customizing your Plex configuration

Customizing your Plex configuration on systemd based systems This information is intended for those systems where cat /proc/1/comm returns systemd. On systems which use Systemd (Ubuntu 16+, Fedora, Centos 7, Debian 8,) you create this customization file which SystemD reads prior to launching PMS. This file is independent of the default configuration and service control mechanisms in /lib/systemd/system/plexmediaserver.service. Your customization override is preserved across updates, uninstal…

Which is often used in conjunction with:

Moving PMS 'Library'

Moving Plex’s metadata (Library) directory on systemd based systems This information is intended for those systems where cat /proc/1/comm returns systemd. If your system returns init, please see the next post in this thread. While you may change /lib/systemd/system/plexmediaserver.service, it is under the control of the package manager and subject to replacement without warning at any time during an update. To provide stability, systemd allows creation of an override.conf file to customiz…

[ChuckPa]

Followup.

Knowing the data location is important because PMS will not start, therefore meaning the localhost port will never open, if its home directory (application_support_dir) doesn’t exist and is writable by the PMS username.

[brenwa]

Hi

I appreciate your following up… you have assisted me before at the beginning of this fiasco

plex will not work once I add create a systemd override file (linux mint 18.2)

thank you I appreciate your diligence sudo useradd -d /var/lib/plexmediaserver -m -s /sbin/nologin -G plex,video plex result useradd: group plex exists - if you want to add this user to that group, use -g. and I ran to see if it had been added grep plex /etc/passwd no result as I mentioned I have never had to do this, so it returning “use -g” I have no context to where or how I am supposed to put -g (though I imagine about now you might have a suggestion and I dont want to …

At the time of that post, I had plex running and all I was trying to do was move the data location and after much effort it hosed my ability to run plex at all (not blaming) … I was so pissed off and frustrated I simply walked away and have been using kodi… finally ready to give it another shot.

and at this point its all im trying to do… is get the freaking thing to run

As of Ubuntu 16, which includes Mint 18, /etc/default/plexmediaserver is no longer used. It is included solely to support Ubuntu 14 & 15 systems. The file for you to configure is /etc/systemd/system/plexmediaserver.service.d/override.conf

this is as far as I get: /etc/systemd/system/ <------ this location exists
/plexmediaserver.service.d/override.conf <---- does not exist in that folder
see attached screenshot

[TeknoJunky]

@brenwa

/plexmediaserver.service.d/override.conf <---- does not exist in that folder
see attached screenshot

… you have to create that folder and file …

[ChuckPa]

The correct steps here:

1. sudo mkdir /etc/systemd/system/plexmediaserver.service
2. cd /etc/systemd/system/plexmediaserver.service
3. Use any editor of your choice to createoverride.conf as I showed in the above Linux Tips

[ChuckPa]

One additional thought;

If it helps, and can be coordinated, I will help you through a teamviewer session.

I can show you how to make it work. If, after I help you do it, you decide to shut it down, that’s fine.

[brenwa]

Hi

I very much appreciate that, I will be around this evening if that works for you… Im in the US in PST

if not, I have created that directory and I have added the create override.conf file into that folder it contains nothing

I have also checked and there is no plex user or plex group in the users and groups

at this point attempting to start plex i get this in the browser window
This site can’t be reached localhost refused to connect. Search Google for localhost 32400 manage ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED (and looking at system monitor plex is not running)

thanks again

[brenwa]

I just wanted to publicly say thank you for the lengths you went to to help me resolve this and
say how happy I am with the result!

Thank you!!!

[TeknoJunky]

uhh…