Plex Media Server - All Content Showing as Unavailable

[ocampbell]

Server Version#: Synology DS1718+ => DSM 6.2.2-24922 Update 4
Player Version#: 1.16.5.1552-8e8d0c785

Hi, First time poster as I can’t find a fix in the forums.. I updated my Plex package tonight and after completion, all content on my Plex server is now showing as “unavailable”

Things I’ve checked:

1. I’ve confirmed the location of the files is correct and I’ve manually navigated to the location and opened a media file on my desktop and laptop

My share is setup as:
/volume1/share

Under /share I’ve got a couple folders where I drop media content e.g.
/share/movies
/share/tv
/share/kids-movies
/share/kids-tv

2. I’ve read through a number of Plex Forum threads and I have updated my share permissions so that the plex user has permissions to the share

• I have tried having the plex user with both RW and R permissions to my share

I have restarted PMS and I’ve restarted my Synology to no effect.

3. I’ve went in to Plex and edited one of the libraries I have setup and when I attempted to add a new location it appears that that I can’t see anything under /volume1/share

Any assistance or how I can figure this out would be greatly appreciated.

[ChuckPa]

Open FileStation,

In the left pane, right-click share
go to Properties.

Now give user plex (or group users) permission to read there as well.
Also apply to this folder, sub-folder, and files

What often happens is that when files are copied over (as mounted folders) the original permissions come with them. These often don’t include permission for user plex to read them.

[killr0y2]

I’m getting the exact same problem, and I’m running PLEX on Windows, so it has nothing to do with File permissions

[ChuckPa]

Please ask again in a new Windows-tagged thread.

I do not know Windows. This is a Synology (which is Linux) thread.

[ocampbell]

Hi @ChuckPa
Thank for you the response but it didn’t work. I attempted to do what you suggested but I didn’t get the “All sub folders and files” options. Just to confirm the permissions of my /share shared folder

I then went the next step and attempted to update the perms on a specific folder (including all subfolders and files). This also didn’t not work

What else can I do to debug why everything is showing as unavailable?

[ChuckPa]

Look at the screenshot you show.

There is a checkbox Apply to this folder, sub-folders, and files.

That box needs to be checked.

Here; How to add user plex to a sub folder where Plex has no permission

Notice the box is checked.
The shot above shows a different way of accomplishing the same task (linux is very flexible)

In this screenshot, I am adding user plex to a folder (and subtree) where it previously had no permission. This is common when copying from remote sources.

[ocampbell]

Hi @ChuckPa

I had selected that box and run it through. I’ve went down to video level and everything has an:

Owner: plex
Group: users

I done the same thing again just now to make sure and then restarted PMS service but still showing as unavailable.

Any logs that we can use for debugging?

[ChuckPa]

Until such time as you can add a share/directory to be scanned, there won’t be anything in the logs to examine.

Recap:

1. You created a share, named share
2. You gave user plex permission to Read-only or Read/Write that share in Control Panel - Shared Folders
3. You then created subdirectories
4. You placed content in those directories

I see docker’s /config showing. Why aren’t you using the native app? It’s so much easier. What you’re doing on the outside of the container is meaningless without having matching changes inside.

[ocampbell]

Hi @ChuckPa

Recap is correct and it’s been working fine for nearly 2 years now until I updated PMS to the version stated above, now everything is showing as “Unavailable”

The package I am using is as follows:

[ChuckPa]

I suspect you updated from a version earlier than 1.15.4.994 ?

If so, I have just what the Dr ordered

Plex Media Server security changes for Synology users

Community Announcement - Synology users - Security update. Server Version#: Plex Media Server 1.15.4.994 and above By popular customer request and to improve the safety of your media, we’ve made a small but visible change to what PMS can do on your NAS by itself. We have removed user plex from the administrators group. This was a holdover from DSM 5.2 when it was required for PMS to run properly on the NAS. Now, with DSM 6 and above, this is no longer required. By doing so we’ve lower…

[ocampbell]

Hi @ChuckPa

I likely did but I went through that article first and updated the plex permissions as requested.

This still didn’t fix the issue.

[ChuckPa]

Please have it “Scan all files”
when it finishes, Download the Logs and attach the ZIP

I will see where it’s actually complaining

[ocampbell]

Logs Attached. I cant see anything other than permission denied

Plex Media Server Logs_2019-12-09_17-13-21.zip (2.1 MB)

[ChuckPa]

Thanks. Now I see it too.

Dec 09, 2019 14:11:52.764 [0x7f3ed8af4700] ERROR - IsDirectory failed boost::filesystem::status: Permission denied: "/volume1/share/1111----Kids Movies----1111"
Dec 09, 2019 14:11:52.764 [0x7f3ed9c88700] DEBUG - Done waiting for all plug-ins to start.
Dec 09, 2019 14:11:52.764 [0x7f3ed8af4700] ERROR - IsDirectory failed boost::filesystem::status: Permission denied: "/volume1/share/1111----Kids Tv----1111"
Dec 09, 2019 14:11:52.765 [0x7f3ed8af4700] ERROR - IsDirectory failed boost::filesystem::status: Permission denied: "/volume1/share/1111----Tv series Ended----1111"
Dec 09, 2019 14:11:52.765 [0x7f3ed9c88700] DEBUG - PluginRepository::setStartState: 3, complete
Dec 09, 2019 14:11:52.765 [0x7f3ed8af4700] ERROR - IsDirectory failed boost::filesystem::status: Permission denied: "/volume1/share/1111----Tv series--

Using File Station

1. Open the “share” shared folder.
2. Right click it
   3 Properties
3. We’re going to add user plex to the permissions list for each of the top level folders there

I’ve tried to create a storyboard walk through for you to follow.

[ocampbell]

Exactly the same behavior (and I restarted PMS) before I ran a scan… Still getting the same error in the logs…

Is it possible to remove the user and re-add or create a new user and have plex us it?

[ChuckPa]

May I suggest an alternative?

1. Create a share named TV Series
2. As you create it, in the permissions tab, grant user plex permission to read.
3. Open File Station
4. Copy a few items from the original 1111----Tv series-- to TV Series
5. Now create a new Library section
6. – Type Television
7. – named “Test Series”
8. Point it to the newly created share only.

[ocampbell]

@ChuckPa

I have no idea why but this has worked. I guess I’ll be moving my library from one share to the other :-).

Thank you so much for your help on sorting this issue

[ChuckPa]

To keep things isolated, may I suggest making individual shares?

e.g

Shares for:

1. Movies
2. Children’s movies
3. Animated movies
4. TV series

etc.

It may seem like over management but when it comes time to use parental control, it greatly simplifies the task