Plex connect crashes at random then I have to restart AppleTV to get it to work again.

Dev Community Apps & Creations
1

Hi, my Plex setup is as follows:

 

Plex media server running on iMac (Mavericks)

Media server: v 0.9.9.7.429-f80a8d6

Then I have an Apple TV3, connected via Wireless and i have a LAN cable connected as well.

 

It works fine, loads the library, I can play stuff, but at random it will just crash. It just goes back to the apple home screen.

When I try to access trailers again I get "accessing trailers"

Sometimes my films and library will show up, but if I try to play something it just goes to "accessing trailers" forever. Then I have to do a hard restart of the ATV.

 

At the moment this is happening VERY frequently. like I can't watch more than 5mins of anything.

 

Earlier the day it was running fine for an entire movie...

 

Anything I can try? Look at?

 

Thanks in advance

2

https://github.com/iBaa/PlexConnect/wiki/How-to-report-an-issue


Help us help you. Seems odd I use a mac and and aTV on the same network without any issues at all.

3

Also check you don’t have your PC device running PlexConnect in a DMZ on your router or have port 53 open on your router.

4

Also check you don't have your PC device running PlexConnect in a DMZ on your router or have port 53 open on your router.

Hey f00b4r, I'm sorry but I'm not THAT clued up. Not sure what DMZ or port 53 means?? How do I check/do this?

Thanks in advance!

Gerhard

5

Sorry, here then the answers according to the guide as suggested by wahlman.j

  • Your ATV model (2 or 3) and firmware version (found under the ATV settings > general > about > Apple TV software): ATV3 firmware v6.1 (6698.99.16)

  • The DNS server set on the ATV (found under the ATV settings > general > network > DNS): The same as my iMac (this is working fine) 192.168.88.242

  • The local IP address of the device that PlexConnect is installed on: 192.168.88.242

  • The device and operating system (including version number) that PlexConnect is installed on: MACOSX 10.9.2

  • The device and operating system (including version number) that the Plex media server (PMS) is installed on: MACOSX 10.9.2 (Media server: v 0.9.9.7.429-f80a8d6)

  • The Plex media server (PMS) version number you are running (do not put 'latest'): Media server: v 0.9.9.7.429-f80a8d6

  • The local IP address of the device that the Plex media server (PMS) is installed on:192.168.88.242

  • The PlexConnect version number. If using Github source then a time and date of download (look at the creation date of the folder) and if you are using any non-standard setup e.g. Plexify or a fork. (I downloaded it 2 days ago, so that will be 19 March)

  • The contents of your 'Settings.cfg' file (this is created at first clean shutdown of PlexConnect, using CTR+c) [PlexConnect]

    enable_plexgdm = True
    ip_pms = 192.168.178.10
    port_pms = 32400
    enable_dnsserver = True
    port_dnsserver = 53
    ip_dnsmaster = 8.8.8.8
    prevent_atv_update = True
    enable_plexconnect_autodetect = True
    ip_plexconnect = 0.0.0.0
    hosttointercept = trailers.apple.com
    port_webserver = 80
    enable_webserver_ssl = True
    port_ssl = 443
    certfile = ./assets/certificates/trailers.pem
    loglevel = Normal
    logpath = .
     
6

A DMZ is where you put a PC or device ‘in front’ of your routers firewall totally open to the internet, this is a really bad thing to do as it is using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. Unfortunately broadband helplines have a nasty habit of doing this to troubleshoot issues and then forgetting to turn off the DMZ. What model router do you have and I can tell you where to check this; the reason I say this would be consistent with your symptoms is because unprotected the DNS component of PlexConnect (along with anything else running on your PC) is open to be abused by hackers on the internet and the extra load could be causing PlexConnect to crash (it is very common to hijack DNS server that are internet facing - you or someone would have had to deliberately set this up though).


A log from PlexConnect would also help.

7

To troubleshoot to start with I would do this:

  1. Restore aTV firmware ipsw to factory using itunes

  2. Reset modem, router, aTV, mac
8

Hi f00b4r, ok... mmm it's running on my iMac... I don't want to take any risks with it. Is this the only way to get it to work?

I have a Mikrotik RB951G-2HnD router

Here's my plexconnect log:

20:49:41 PlexConnect: started: 20:49:41
20:49:41 PlexConnect: Version: 0.3.1+
20:49:41 PlexConnect: Python: 2.7.5 (default, Aug 25 2013, 00:04:04) 
[GCC 4.2.1 Compatible Apple LLVM 5.0 (clang-500.0.68)]
20:49:41 PlexConnect: Host OS: darwin
20:49:41 PlexConnect: IP_self: 192.168.88.242
20:49:41 DNSServer: started: 20:49:41
20:49:41 DNSServer: Failed to create socket on UDP port 53: [Errno 48] Address already in use
20:49:41 PlexConnect: DNSServer not alive. Shutting down.
20:49:41 PlexConnect: Shutting down.
20:49:41 PlexConnect: shutdown
20:49:41 PlexConnect: shutdown
18:11:35 ATVSettings: add section F02KF52ZFF54
18:11:35 PlexAPI: ***
18:11:35 PlexAPI: looking up Plex Media Server
18:11:35 PlexAPI: ***
18:11:37 PlexAPI: GDM: Servers discovered: 1
18:11:37 PlexAPI: Servers (local+MyPlex): 1
18:19:27 PlexAPI: ***
18:19:27 PlexAPI: looking up Plex Media Server
18:19:27 PlexAPI: ***
18:19:28 PlexAPI: GDM: Servers discovered: 1
18:19:28 PlexAPI: Servers (local+MyPlex): 1
20:08:27 PlexAPI: ***
20:08:27 PlexAPI: looking up Plex Media Server
20:08:27 PlexAPI: ***
20:08:28 PlexAPI: GDM: Servers discovered: 1
20:08:28 PlexAPI: Servers (local+MyPlex): 1
20:13:48 PlexAPI: ***
20:13:48 PlexAPI: looking up Plex Media Server
20:13:48 PlexAPI: ***
20:13:49 PlexAPI: GDM: Servers discovered: 1
20:13:49 PlexAPI: Servers (local+MyPlex): 1
20:18:59 PlexAPI: ***
20:18:59 PlexAPI: looking up Plex Media Server
20:18:59 PlexAPI: ***
20:19:00 PlexAPI: GDM: Servers discovered: 1
20:19:00 PlexAPI: Servers (local+MyPlex): 1
20:31:47 PlexAPI: ***
20:31:47 PlexAPI: looking up Plex Media Server
20:31:47 PlexAPI: ***
20:31:48 PlexAPI: GDM: Servers discovered: 1
20:31:48 PlexAPI: Servers (local+MyPlex): 1
16:41:54 PlexAPI: ***
16:41:54 PlexAPI: looking up Plex Media Server
16:41:54 PlexAPI: ***
16:41:55 PlexAPI: GDM: Servers discovered: 1
16:41:55 PlexAPI: Servers (local+MyPlex): 1
17:06:39 PlexAPI: ***
17:06:39 PlexAPI: looking up Plex Media Server
17:06:39 PlexAPI: ***
17:06:40 PlexAPI: GDM: Servers discovered: 1
17:06:40 PlexAPI: Servers (local+MyPlex): 1
17:15:59 PlexAPI: ***
17:15:59 PlexAPI: looking up Plex Media Server
17:15:59 PlexAPI: ***
17:16:00 PlexAPI: GDM: Servers discovered: 1
17:16:00 PlexAPI: Servers (local+MyPlex): 1
17:26:52 PlexAPI: ***
17:26:52 PlexAPI: looking up Plex Media Server
17:26:52 PlexAPI: ***
17:26:53 PlexAPI: GDM: Servers discovered: 1
17:26:53 PlexAPI: Servers (local+MyPlex): 1
9

There you go 53 is in use. Figure out what is using port 53.

10

There you go 53 is in use. Figure out what is using port 53.

Thanks OK cool I'll figure out how to do that haha

Hope Google knows!

11

Is internet sharing enabled? If no what does this command output in terminal:


sudo lsof -i :53 | grep LISTEN


You answer might be in this topic:


https://forums.plex.tv/topic/70892-error-with-installation-failed-to-create-socket-on-udp-port-53/

12

Is internet sharing enabled? If no what does this command output in terminal:

sudo lsof -i :53 | grep LISTEN

You answer might be in this topic:

https://forums.plex.tv/topic/70892-error-with-installation-failed-to-create-socket-on-udp-port-53/

Hi wahlman, it doesn't output anything... I enter my password then it just goes back to the input line...

I'm going through that topic, but yea it's very confusing. My router isn't listed on any of those sites and it's flipping complicating... I'll have to get someone in to help me figure it out...

13

Do you have any kind of,antivirus or firewall setup? Is this non server OSX? What version?

14

Do you have any kind of,antivirus or firewall setup? Is this non server OSX? What version?

I dont have any 3rd party firewall setup. I think there's a firewall running on my router (Mikrotik router) but my OSX is pretty standard: Mavericks 10.9.2

15

That router isn’t pretty standard though! I don’t even know where to start guiding a non techie user through the minefield that is that router, was it ISP supplied or something?

16

That router isn't pretty standard though! I don't even know where to start guiding a non techie user through the minefield that is that router, was it ISP supplied or something?

I got it for a good price through a friend of mine. He's a network engineer, and an über techie haha. So he said it's a good one. 

I know that thing is insane. The amount of settings and tabs...

So do you reckon it's definitely my router that's the issue? Not my plex connect setup or my media server?

Or the apple TV?

Thanks for all the help guys! Really appreciate it!

17

I don’t think that it is your router, although potentially a setting in it but if you could borrow another one to test with I would suggest that you do.

You could also try restoring your ATV to a fresh image but I think that is an outside chance of that sorting it.

Setting the log level in settings to “High” (note the capital H) and reproducing the issue would also help; given your problem it may create a huge log but close PlexConnect as son as you get the issue and post a link to eg Dropbox or somewhere with the log.

18

I seem to have sort of the same problem. I can play a TV show, but after some minutes (not determined) my screen turns black and I get back to the home screen of the Apple TV. I can then press trailers and start the TV show again, but the same thing seems to happen over and over again. I have already restarted my MBP, Apple TV and router, so it seems to be something else. I run Mac OS X Mavericks (10.9.2). Plex media server version: 0.9.7.28.33-f80a4a2 . The log of my Plexconnect: 

19:47:31 PlexConnect: ***

19:47:31 PlexConnect: PlexConnect

19:47:31 PlexConnect: Press CTRL-C to shut down.

19:47:31 PlexConnect: ***

19:47:32 PlexConnect: started: 19:47:32

19:47:32 PlexConnect: Version: 0.3.1+

19:47:32 PlexConnect: Python: 2.7.5 (default, Aug 25 2013, 00:04:04) 

[GCC 4.2.1 Compatible Apple LLVM 5.0 (clang-500.0.68)]

19:47:32 PlexConnect: Host OS: darwin

19:47:32 PlexConnect: IP_self: 192.168.0.111

19:47:33 DNSServer: started: 19:47:33

19:47:33 DNSServer: ***

19:47:33 DNSServer: DNSServer: Serving DNS on 192.168.0.111 port 53.

19:47:33 WebServer: started: 19:47:33

19:47:33 DNSServer: intercept: ['trailers.apple.com'] => 192.168.0.111

19:47:33 DNSServer: restrain: ['mesu.apple.com', 'appldnld.apple.com', 'appldnld.apple.com.edgesuite.net'] => 127.0.0.1

19:47:33 DNSServer: forward other to higher level DNS: 8.8.8.8

19:47:33 DNSServer: ***

19:47:33 WebServer: ***

19:47:33 WebServer: WebServer: Serving HTTP on 192.168.0.111 port 80.

19:47:33 WebServer: ***

19:47:33 WebServer: started: 19:47:33

19:47:33 WebServer: ***

19:47:33 WebServer: WebServer: Serving HTTPS on 192.168.0.111 port 443.

19:47:33 WebServer: ***

19:48:20 DNSServer: DNS request received!

19:48:20 DNSServer: Source: ('192.168.0.112', 54348)

19:48:20 DNSServer: Domain: p22-buy.itunes.apple.com.akadns.net

19:48:20 DNSServer: ***forward request

19:48:20 DNSServer: -> DNS response from higher level

19:48:28 DNSServer: DNS request received!

19:48:28 DNSServer: Source: ('192.168.0.112', 65524)

19:48:28 DNSServer: Domain: trailers.apple.com

19:48:28 DNSServer: ***intercept request

19:48:28 DNSServer: -> DNS response: 192.168.0.111

19:48:28 WebServer: serving /js/application.js

19:48:28 WebServer: serving /js/application.js

19:48:28 WebServer: serving .xml: /

19:48:28 PlexAPI: ***

19:48:28 PlexAPI: looking up Plex Media Server

19:48:28 PlexAPI: ***

19:48:29 PlexAPI: GDM: Servers discovered: 1

19:48:29 PlexAPI: Servers (local+MyPlex): 1

19:48:29 WebServer: serving .xml: /PlexConnect.xml

19:48:29 WebServer: serving /js/utils.js

19:48:29 WebServer: serving .xml: /library/sections

19:48:30 WebServer: serving /js/utils.js

19:48:30 WebServer: serving .xml: /library/sections/1/recentlyAdded

19:48:33 WebServer: serving .xml: /library/sections/2/recentlyAdded

19:48:33 WebServer: serving .xml: /library/sections/2

19:48:33 WebServer: serving /js/utils.js

19:48:34 WebServer: serving /js/updateXML.js

19:48:34 WebServer: serving .xml: /library/sections/2

19:48:34 WebServer: serving /js/utils.js

19:48:35 WebServer: serving /js/scrobble.js

19:48:37 WebServer: serving .xml: /library/metadata/283

19:48:37 WebServer: serving /js/utils.js

19:48:37 WebServer: serving /js/selectAudioAndSubs.js

19:48:40 WebServer: serving .xml: /library/metadata/283

19:49:30 DNSServer: DNS request received!

19:49:30 DNSServer: Source: ('192.168.0.112', 52995)

19:49:30 DNSServer: Domain: init-cdn.itunes-apple.com.akadns.net

19:49:30 DNSServer: ***forward request

19:49:30 DNSServer: -> DNS response from higher level

19:49:33 DNSServer: DNS request received!

19:49:33 DNSServer: Source: ('192.168.0.112', 57023)

19:49:33 DNSServer: Domain: mzuserxp.itunes.apple.com.akadns.net

19:49:33 DNSServer: ***forward request

19:49:34 DNSServer: -> DNS response from higher level

19:49:34 DNSServer: DNS request received!

19:49:34 DNSServer: Source: ('192.168.0.112', 62091)

19:49:34 DNSServer: Domain: itunes-cdn.apple.com.akadns.net

19:49:34 DNSServer: ***forward request

19:49:34 DNSServer: -> DNS response from higher level

19:54:59 DNSServer: DNS request received!

19:54:59 DNSServer: Source: ('192.168.0.112', 52585)

19:54:59 DNSServer: Domain: init-cdn.itunes-apple.com.akadns.net

19:54:59 DNSServer: ***forward request

19:54:59 DNSServer: -> DNS response from higher level

19:55:00 DNSServer: DNS request received!

 
As you can see, a restart occured between 19.49 and 19.54. 
 
I hope someone can help me! 
19

ATV version? What media are you playing (transcoded, high resolution/bandwidth...)?

20

ATV is of the 2nd generation. So far it only seems to happen with one file (I checked everything but the file...) so I'll first try whether different files do work. It's a high definition, 3.5 gb version of a one-hour episode, but this never seemed to be a problem before. I'll see whether different episodes have the same issue, and I'll report back!