Plex on QNAP NAS cannot be reached

[plexberry]

Server Version#: Latest from QNAP app store
Player Version#: Latest on phone, web and LGTV
<If providing server logs please do NOT turn on verbose logging, only debug logging should be enabled>

10+ year user of plex. Mega fan.

Brought a QNAP just for NAS 6 months or so go. It’s never been very stable with Plex. I find it crashes once a day and then I reset by going into QNAP Apps - stopping PMS, restarting then after a few mins, opening back up and it works.

However, this trick is no longer working.

When I reset etc and go to open plex it says THIS SITE CAN’T BE REACHED.

If I go in via the web app it just says the server can’t be reached.

I’ve restarted the app, a lot. I’ve reset the QNAP. I’ve restarted my computer. I’ve downloaded the APP and reinstalled just in case there was an update that past me by.

None of this is working

I don’t want to delete from QNAP and reinstall as I’ll loose all my bespoke libraries. I did this a few years ago and it was heartbreaking lol

Any help would be greatly apprecaited.

Thanks

[ChuckPa]

Do you have a PlexData shared folder on the QNAP to retrieve the logs or are you good at the SSH command line?

Qnap faq.....read me first!

Q28: How to use the PlexData share The PlexData share, available in PMS 1.19.5 and above, can be used in multiple ways, like: Obtain log files to post in the forum when Plex misbehaves Add hidden preferences to your Plex configuration (Preferences.xml) Backup / Restore your entire Plex installation Use of the PlexData share is completely optional. It is a diagnostic and support mechanism. It has no active interaction with PMS itself. PMS is completely unaware of this mechanism and i…

[plexberry]

Thank you Chuck Pa - I’m not very techinical. Sono to SSH! I will look for the shared folder

C

[plexberry]

I have now set up PlexData shared folder. Whilst it has not fixed the problem, I get the feeling this was a first step.

What should I do next.

Thank you for your help

[ChuckPa]

At this point…

1. Stop Plex
2. Start Plex
3. Allow it to run 3-4 minutes
4. Stop Plex
5. Using FileStation → PlexData/Plex Media Server
6. Right-Click “Logs” → Compress
7. Download the tar.gz or zip file
8. upload/attach it here.

[plexberry]

Got all the way to last part of 5 - and it says I don’t have permissions

For the record I’m the admin, the only use and all permissions for that file are open. Image attached.

Any help appreciated thanks!

[plexberry]

Hi - is anyone able to help please?

I cant use Plex currently I’ve just started to use Jellyfin to get me through… but its not the same!

[Vank4321]

@ChuckPa, I have a similar problem. Been using PMS since <2018 with no problems. Went away for a couple days and came back and PMS won’t open in App Center. I get same connection refused msg as OP above. Desktop app starts but doesn’t list my server. I don’t think it is firewall problem on router - no changes. Port fwd appears ok on 32400 too. You solved this for someone else back in Dec but did not list solution steps. I have basic SSH skills. Can you help?

QNAP Model: TS-451 Firmware: 5.0.0.1891 RAM: 8 GB with TR004 USB connected as External Storage (for backup purposes only)
PMS: V1.40.4 Installed 7/18/24.

[Vank4321]

@ChuckPa, Forgot to say that I already went through steps to reclaim server by text editing preferences in PlexData. No joy. And all my log files are attached to this post.

Logs.zip (4.5 MB)

[ChuckPa]

@plexberry

My apologies for the crazy delay. I was not notified.

For you, SSH into the box and get to the command line

Here are the commands to type from that point

sudo bash
/etc/init.d/plex.sh restart

now we wait the 3-4 minutes

/etc/init.d/plex.sh stop
cd /share/*/.qpkg/Ple*/Li*/Ple*
tar cf /share/Public/PlexLogs.tar ./Logs

Open FileStation.
You will find PlexLogs.tar in the Public shared folder.
Please download and attach here.

We’ll get it sorted out

[ChuckPa]

@Vank4321

Can you please restart PMS, wait 3-4 minutes and/or recreate the problem?
I can’t tell what’s happening given all the activity in your logs show it’s been busy with normal scanning.

I suspect you need to reclaim it but would like to confirm
Something is definitely going on but once the logs start rolling over, it’s too late.

[Vank4321]

@ChuckPa,
Thanks for responding so quickly. Sorry for my delay, I had to leave for work. Did what you asked but nothing changed in the logs. Most recent entry in the logs is 7/13. New log attached. Also attached are Preferences.BAK (backup of before following the steps in Q30 FAQ to reclaim the server) and Preferences.xml file (after deleting the pairs).

PRIVATE DATA REMOVED

[plexberry]

Watching eagerly with hope @Vank4321 can be helped and might offer solutions here.

Sadly, I cannot access PlexData - despite the folder showing I have all correct access / read and write etc (I’m only use of the QNAP and therefore I’m Admin and only account).

[Vank4321]

@ChuckPa, hoping you can give me some direction on this. I need to get my PMS back up.

@plexberry, I don’t know the protocol for these forums, but I will help if I can. Will take some back and forth for me to understand your situation though. I fear my getting up to speed with you might clutter up this thread. Do we do it here or take it offline?

I have no problem with my PlexData folder. Can you confirm yours is created as a Shared Folder and it is not a subfolder of any other folders? If I understand correctly all you are trying to do is get a copy of the log file, right? Should be able to do that within File Station without SSH. Are you able to see PlexData using File Station?

[ChuckPa]

@Vank4321

PlexData is a real shared folder on any DataVol you want. (it’s a placeholder)

Using FileStation,
In it, you’ll see “Plex Media Server”
When you drill into it, youll see ‘Logs’. This is how we manually get the logs.

Something else we do is reset our credentials (reclaim it when Plex.tv can’t find it)

If you’re going to reclaim the server without using SSH, what you need:

1. Stop Plex
2. Install the QNAP Text Editor app
3. navigate PlexData / Plex Media Server
4. Right-Click on Preferences.xml → Open with Text Editor
5. Now find and completely, but carefully remove the following Name="Value" pairs:
   – PlexOnlineUsername
   – PlexOnlineToken
   – PlexOnlineHome
   – PlexOnlineMail

(example, mine would be PlexOnlineUsername="ChuckPa")

we take all that out, leaving only a single space.
When done, we save and exit the editor

Next, Start PMS

Open a browser window to the LAN IP of the server (e.g. http://192.168.0.21:32400/web — substitute your IP… this is mine)

As you login to it again, it will ask to claim… and there you go… It will claim again.

If not, let me know.

[Vank4321]

1. Is it ok to upload the logs and preference file like I did? I noticed you removed them. I do not want to upload any compromising info.

2. I have tried editing the Preferences file. It did not ask to claim anything and did not change the preferences file at all but I will try again now.

[ChuckPa]

check your PM (upper right)

[plexberry]

Thank you. The only Plex Media Server I see on File Station (not apps) is under PlexData. When I go into PlexData and then try to open Plex Media Server I get the attached image…

[plexberry]

For the record, I am the only use… the admin… and the folder has all permissions to read and write etc

[ChuckPa]

@plexberry

We’ve been having trouble with changes QNAP made (security).
They promised to fix it but it’s not reliable.

This should provide you an alternative which doesn’t conflict with PlexData
(You can remove the shared folder only.. don’t delete its contents)

Call this name anything you want except PlexData (for now)

Please let me know how this works out for you