Server Version#: Windows Server 2016
Player Version#: Version 1.22.3.4392
Can anyone give me guidance on what to look for in the log files? Which log files should I upload to show the community? Plex used to work perfectly and then it started buffering/crashing intermittently.
Start with checking out the information showing on the “Now Playing” tile on your server’s dashboard.
On the server side, go for the Plex Media Server.log files (incl. the numbered older versions .[1-5]). If the issue appears because your machine has issues with the transcoding… look for the lines with an MDE: prefix. These show if/why Plex will transcode the file in the first place. The considered limitations can be based on client/server configurations or limitations of the device when it comes to some of the media characteristics of the file(s) you’re trying to play.
If there’s playback related issues you might see entries about “sloth mode” (basically indicating the transcoder is slowing down because the transcoded sections are consumed slower than they’re being prepared).
Given there’s an endless amount of potential issues/roadbumps, there’s tons of places in the logs to look for
Thanks so much for the quick reply. I see so much data on the log files when I extract them but I did upload the plex media server .log files to my post. I see the .MDE files on the transcode. What confuses me is that for years it has rain fairly smooth and then it started all this buffering/crashing. I am not sure where to start. I have good hardware on my server and I get no packet losses with all my streaming devices. Most devices are all hardwired with CAT 6 cable that has all tested good. I have and use a gigabit switch. My Hardware used for plex server is intel-7700K, nvidia Quadro P2200 GPU, all storage drives are seagate 8TB NAS drives, 16GB RAM, Aquantia 5 Gbit Network Adapter. I understand there are so many places to check. I also want to know why its intermittent? Sometimes it works flawlessly and then other times it just crawls and spins and spins??? Also my client devices are Amazon Fire TV with and without ethernet adapter, Apple TV 4K, NVIDIA Shield TV Pro. All of these devices are wired with ethernet cables. I am having issues with all of them so I am assuming its not the clients.
PS all of these issues I am experiencing are with local playback. There is no transcoding happening when I play local
Thanks for all of the comments. Here are some spots where it buffered. I documented the time and pulled the server logs. One was at 1739 and the other was at 1950. Thanks so much. Error at 1950.txt (6.4 MB) Error at 1759.log (3.4 MB)
Any suggestions? I have checked all HDD using the S.M.A.R.T. feature and each one comes back with no errors and running well. my storage array is getting very full and I only have 1.5 TB left but all HDD show healthy. Plex is totally useless to me right now. It just spins and spins and never plays a movie locally. I have posted instances where plex will not play and I have provided the server log files. I can add more server log files if I need to.
It happened around 0745 with a total crash of plex and then the buffering happened around 0949. I started watching something else and it happened at 1242.
Ok I have removed all HDD in my storage array and formatted a new M.2 drive. I added a file to the newly formatted drive and started playing. It worked fine and then exactly at 1101 on the 16 it buffered. I have attached the log file to this post.
