Plex Connect stops working correctly after a couple of hours

Third Party Apps & Tools
1

Hi Guys,

 

Kind of new here on the forum but never the less after reading most of the posts here I'm still stuck.

So I hope someone can help me out.

 

I have everything working correctly, so why bother you guys...

 

I have my ATV3 "Trailers"  changed so it is caught by PlexConnect and diverted to PMS.

I have my Netflix app and YouTube app on the ATV3.

 

Setup works like a charm 

 

(headless) MacMini runs Plex and PlexConnect, multiple ATV3 around the house so the content is available everywhere.

 

After a while I can only access Trailers and the PMS content.

 

I uninstalled, reinstalled, reboot the system manually loodde the Deamon with:

 

sudo launchctl load /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.plex.plexconnect.bash.plist

 

Unloaded it and loaded it again, everytime with the same result.

 

I did do some editing in the Settings.cfg:

 

Nothing special I'd say:

[PlexConnect]
enable_plexgdm = True
ip_pms = 192.168.178.10
port_pms = 32400
enable_dnsserver = True
port_dnsserver = 53
ip_dnsmaster = 192.168.10.1
prevent_atv_update = True
enable_plexconnect_autodetect = False
ip_plexconnect = 192.168.10.70
hosttointercept = trailers.apple.com
port_webserver = 80
enable_webserver_ssl = True
port_ssl = 443
certfile = ./assets/certificates/trailers.pem
loglevel = High
logpath = .

IP PMS is still autodetected

 

.70 is my Plex and PlexConnext

 

At this moment I have the loglevel set to high.

 

Normal response is:

21:49:21 DNSServer: DNS request received!
21:49:21 DNSServer: Source: ('192.168.10.42', 63368)
21:49:21 DNSServer: Domain: cl1.apple.com.edgekey.net
21:49:21 DNSServer: ***forward request
21:49:21 DNSServer: -> DNS response from higher level
21:49:23 DNSServer: DNS request received!
21:49:23 DNSServer: Source: ('192.168.10.42', 63670)
21:49:23 DNSServer: Domain: p07-keyvalueservice.icloud.com.akadns.net
21:49:23 DNSServer: ***forward request
21:49:23 DNSServer: -> DNS response from higher level
21:49:24 DNSServer: DNS request received!
21:49:24 DNSServer: Source: ('192.168.10.42', 53814)
21:49:24 DNSServer: Domain: api-global.netflix.com
21:49:24 DNSServer: ***forward request
21:49:24 DNSServer: -> DNS response from higher level
21:51:00 DNSServer: DNS request received!
21:51:00 DNSServer: Source: ('192.168.10.43', 53692)
21:51:00 DNSServer: Domain: p07-keyvalueservice.icloud.com.akadns.net
21:51:00 DNSServer: ***forward request
21:51:00 DNSServer: -> DNS response from higher level

Nothing wrong.. I don't see anything when it goes wrong, at least not lately.

Any tip, hint or solutions is much appriciated.

 

--

LeoFric aka Armin

 

"Very funny Scotty, now beam down my clothes."

 

2

What plists do you have in your /Library/LaunchDaemons? Are you using the OpenPlex OS X app? Is it git cloned or a .zip of PlexConnect? What theme are you using? Have you looked at this if using iBaa? If not using his I would recommend Getting a fresh copy by git cloning it or a .zip of whatever theme (github). If using iBaa you can downgrade to a lower commit also using the same link:

     Massive update to xml selector - read before updating!    

3

What plists do you have in your /Library/LaunchDaemons? Are you using the OpenPlex OS X app? Is it git cloned or a .zip of PlexConnect? What theme are you using? Have you looked at this if using iBaa? If not using his I would recommend Getting a fresh copy by git cloning it or a .zip of whatever theme (github). If using iBaa you can downgrade to a lower commit also using the same link:

     Massive update to xml selector - read before updating!    

Ah.. thanks for this speedy reply. 

I used this one: https://github.com/iBaa/PlexConnect/wiki/Install-Guide

I was on 0.4 had the same problem then updated to 0.5-dev (The one stated as stabiel I presume as it is offered in the manual for installing as a prerequisit.

Than again I had it with the 0.4 as well.

I do not think it is in the version actually (i might be wrong) as the version does not matter (as said above).

I whished logging showed more. It is all straight from GitHUB.

--

LeoFric aka Armin

 

"Very funny Scotty, now beam down my clothes."

4

Being that you never used OpenPlex I would suggest it. It is a GUI for OS X that may provide you some assistance if you desire to try it instead of the official method. It is in my signature if you would like to give it a try.

5

Being that you never used OpenPlex I would suggest it. It is a GUI for OS X that may provide you some assistance if you desire to try it instead of the official method. It is in my signature if you would like to give it a try.

I did see it and even though it looks nice and such, it worked already with just the way it was.

And again I don't think there is anything wrong with the installation, it might just be something else on the machine.

I will look into the OpenPlex, looks fun. It only works on a jailbroken ATV with the icon right!?

Or does your tool do that as well?

And it does work for several hours just somewhere along the line it stops working and I only have "Trailers" that still serves the content, everything else is gone.

Or is the OpenConnect a substitute for the PlexConnect as well, I can't figure it out based on the silent video.. :)

(Just asking as it looks nice but I wonder if I will invest the time if it is still the same all around)

EDIT: as I'm still kind-a-oldskool prompt man, I normally do not like GUI's that take away all the fun ... But OpenPlex i'll probably give a try anyway.

6

Being that you never used OpenPlex I would suggest it. It is a GUI for OS X that may provide you some assistance if you desire to try it instead of the official method. It is in my signature if you would like to give it a try.

How in the world should OpenPlex help in any way? The code you are using there is exactly the same. In fact, OpenPlex is only a GUI helping with the git-clone/cert generation/theme switching part, essentially remote-controlling PlexConnect. In my eyes, it only adds another layer of complexity with additional risk of issues.

The question is: Why does the DNS stop receiving any requests? Is there a bug in the server itself? A python issue? Host OS?

Sorry, but if the PlexConnect DNS part stops working, OpenPlex wouldn't be able to help it. Not at all.

And please... today don't ask to re-install that machine... :-D

(Edited for clarity)

7

OpenPlex is based upon my old app OpenConnect the code portion. You can use OpenPlex with jailbroken or unjailbroken aTV's. Its a collection of options all packed into one app for OS X. I personally use a modified .deb based on baa's original method on my atv2's jailbroken to run PlexConnect directly upon them only down fall is no fanart but it makes them portable for vacation, just bring a aTV2 and hook it up and go:

https://forums.plex.tv/topic/88905-plexconnect-on-atv2jailbroken-launchctl/page-12 post #231

Also you can use a jailbroken iOS device for aTV 3's to make them portable (or other hosts) but I'm not sure if you can get fanart on them, I never tried:

Plexconnect running on any jailbroken ios device - AppleTV ...

8

How in the world should OpenPlex help in any way? The code you are using there is exactly the same. It only adds another layer of complexity with additional risk of issues.

The question is: Why does the DNS stop to receive any requests? Is it the server itself? A python issue? Host OS?

Sorry, but if the PlexConnect DNS part stops working, OpenPlex wouldn't be able to help it. Not at all.

I guess the issue was I was asking originally if he had a auto update plist in use that could be causing issues every few hours but I never got a response on that. Also its a GUI so it makes things easier in my option to debug issues since you can do just about eveything in PlexConnect related on OS X without a terminal with a click of a mouse. Major debugging you would of course need to dive in further but until I had an answer on all the questions I originally asked I couldn't give a good answer on his issue, yet.

9

The question is: Why does the DNS stop receiving any requests? Is there a bug in the server itself? A python issue? Host OS?

Sorry, but if the PlexConnect DNS part stops working, OpenPlex wouldn't be able to help it. Not at all.

Well this is what I was thinking myself as well. I don't think PlexConnect is the problem at all, just wondering if someone has a good idea on what it could be.

I use it on a MacMini OSX version 10.7.5, on a 1,83 GHz dual core proc, and 4 GB internal memory.

All my mac's I ever bought are still in 100% operational state and have their own tasks in and around the house :) (yeah kind of proud of that)

Python version is: 

formule1:~ sato$ python -V
Python 2.7.1
formule1:~ sato$

I will also look into the DNS part of the machine.

OpenPlex is based upon my old app OpenConnect the code portion. You can use OpenPlex with jailbroken or unjailbroken aTV's. Its a collection of options all packed into one app for OS X. I personally use a modified .deb based on baa's original method on my atv2's jailbroken to run PlexConnect directly upon them only down fall is no fanart but it makes them portable for vacation, just bring a aTV2 and hook it up and go:

Thnx, it is about ATV3's so, and I do not like jailbraking it anyway, it is only unbroken ATV's. But on the next part i cannot follow you I thought I answered it already.

I guess the issue was I was asking originally if he had a auto update plist in use that could be causing issues every few hours but I never got a response on that. Also its a GUI so it makes things easier in my option to debug issues since you can do just about eveything in PlexConnect related on OS X without a terminal with a click of a mouse. Major debugging you would of course need to dive in further but until I had an answer on all the questions I originally asked I couldn't give a good answer on his issue, yet.

A auto update playlist? I use the install as described above straight from GitHUB, and use the install.bash script that writes the plist I presume?

I start manually with:

sudo launchctl load /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.plex.plexconnect.bash.plist

I do not catch your remark about autoupdating plist, I did not change anything in the original, placed by te install.bash, plist.
And as it is still loaded (it still is in memory, catches all traffic to and from PMS through PlexConnect, it just does not deliver anything anymore from the stuff it needs to send through) I do not think the plist is the problem either.

Just to be complete the plist:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>



        Label
        com.plex.plexconnect.bash
        Program
        /Users/sato/Applications/PlexConnect-master/support/OSX/PlexConnect.bash
        UserName
        root
        RunAtLoad
        
        WorkingDirectory
        /Users/sato/Applications/PlexConnect-master
        StandardOutPath
        
        /dev/null  
        StandardErrorPath
        
        /dev/null

I really think it is something between ..... errr... there it went wrong in my own head as I'm stuck :D.

The weird thing is that as soon as I upload/load or reboot the mac it works again.

This morning, as we live in different timezones I guess, it all was still up and running. 
It might break again today, and with the logging set to "High"I hope to catch more info.

Thanks for the thoughts. 

(EDIT: spell errors... )

10

You can’t currently (if ever) jailbreak the atv3 anyways. Now that we have a better idea what’s going on just out of curiosity why do you have your settings.cfg not set to default?


[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 = .


Since you haven’t used OpenPlex it rules it out as being the issue as the auto update in use. What is your network design from atv2 to you Mac to your router to your modem? For example my Mac Plexconnect host & aTVs are all home run Ethernet to one router then the router is hooked to the modem, no wifi. Does your Mac have any issues like Internet sharing enabled, VPN, antivirus or anything else you can think of that runs every so often. My guess is that your network has some issues and is dropping out the ATV or PlexConnect host from time to time and is causing the issue. Maybe you can try disabling the ATV sleep feature to rule that out as well.

11

Hi guys,

For some reason, probably the holiday spirit, it keeps working as of this moment.
Before we take a further look I want to reproduce this again. 

As without a reproducible scenario there is no debugging. Maybe the order in how I upgraded the last time did fix my entire problem.

I'll keep this issue open. I will try and reproduce it in the next few days. 

As Arnold used to say: "I'll be back"

12

I've seen other users having similar problem when video file is encoded with VC1 codec. The PMS transcoder sometimes does not handles such videos fast enough, even on Intel i7 processors. Could this be your case ?

13

I've seen other users having similar problem when video file is encoded with VC1 codec. The PMS transcoder sometimes does not handles such videos fast enough, even on Intel i7 processors. Could this be your case ?


Could be, in that case the PlexConnect is working correctly. But cannot encode?

This said, the case is that the trailers app works, but the Netflix app is not being forwarded correctly. So you do not even get a change to select them, if you turn back the DNS settings on the ATV3, to the automatic setting so the regular DNS is being set, trailers cannot be caught and will show the normal trailers content. And Netflix/YouTube app works.

So, I don't think this is it as it stops on the OSI Layer. And does not forward certain apps. At the moment it works correct.
Still not able to reproduce it again..
Thanks for the input.
14

Okay I'm going to mark this as solved.

As I'm only partial able to reproduce.
I redid everything in several orders.

I got some result if I do upgrade to the latest version and not do the install.bash bit.
Not completely as the starting problem.

So for future reference if someone stumbles upon this thread:

After upgrade make sure first to uninstall.bash the plist on OSX, than install the upgraded version with the install.bash that. Came with it.

I do not see any clear reason why this didn't work as the plist is much the same as before. But it does/did the trick for me.
Thanks for the help and thinking towards a solution...

EDIT:

Sure as soon as you tell people it should work fine this happens again.

Inexplicable it is to me. As nothing seems to work unless I unload and load the plist again.

Than it works. this happened after a succesful looking at the shows from the hijacked "Trailers"  on the ATV3.

All other requests look normal I guess but it tells me that Netflix nor Youtube is available. 

After a reboot it all is working fine again

21:10:06 XMLConverter: ====== aTV-XML finished ======
21:10:09 DNSServer: DNS request received!
21:10:09 DNSServer: Source: ('192.168.10.42', 50223)
21:10:09 DNSServer: Domain: p15-buy.itunes-apple.com.akadns.net
21:10:09 DNSServer: ***forward request
21:10:09 DNSServer: -> DNS response from higher level
21:10:09 DNSServer: DNS request received!
21:10:09 DNSServer: Source: ('192.168.10.42', 63119)
21:10:09 DNSServer: Domain: EVIntl-aia.verisign.com
21:10:09 DNSServer: ***forward request
21:10:09 DNSServer: -> DNS response from higher level
21:10:18 DNSServer: DNS request received!
21:10:18 DNSServer: Source: ('192.168.10.42', 64500)
21:10:18 DNSServer: Domain: api-global.netflix.com
21:10:18 DNSServer: ***forward request
21:10:18 DNSServer: -> DNS response from higher level
21:10:19 DNSServer: DNS request received!
21:10:19 DNSServer: Source: ('192.168.10.42', 64539)
21:10:19 DNSServer: Domain: p15-buy.itunes-apple.com.akadns.net
21:10:19 DNSServer: ***forward request
21:10:19 DNSServer: -> DNS response from higher level
21:10:25 DNSServer: DNS request received!
21:10:25 DNSServer: Source: ('192.168.10.42', 64373)
21:10:25 DNSServer: Domain: www.youtube.com
21:10:25 DNSServer: ***forward request
21:10:25 DNSServer: -> DNS response from higher level

Any thoughts?

15

This topic was automatically closed 90 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.