Plex on Synology DS414 failing to find existing media directories

Plex Media Server NAS & Devices
,
1

Server Version#: Version 1.16.3.1402
Player Version#: Uncertain - cannot find it
Logs.zip (1.4 MB)

From within Diskstation management interface (web-page based) I opened PMS and received the message “The Dashboard is empty” All media libraries showed empty, and an attempt to access them or add them to the named libraries failed: the add library appeared to take me to my attached nVidia Shield media player and only access to its directories, not those on my Diskstation.

This has happened multiple times and took me hours to resolve the last time, and then I had to delete PLex from both machines, reinstall, delete all Plex files from my Diskstation and start from scratch. Surely there is an easier way, and why, when I’m on my Diskstation can I not access the Directories that are on my Diskstation. It is shown as an “authorized device”?

For Plex to work okay for a while and then suddenly NOT work is incredibly frustrating.

Any help will be gratefully received, even if that is a suggestion for a more reliable, easier-to-use replacement.

It is worth noting, that my nVidia Shield is still able to find the media on my DS and play it. But unless I have Plex working on my DS, I cannot add fresh media.

2

Have you read and applied:

3

Hi ChuckPa,

yes, I did that prevoiusly, and checked it prior to replying her. All is according to the quoted document. I am also using DSM 6.2.2

PMS was fine about a month ago. I have changed nothing on the DS nor PMS settings since then, but still PMS refuses to find directories on the machine on which it has been installed.

Thanks for your efforts - much appreciated.

Michael P.

4

Michael,
My apologies for the belated reply.

I would like you to ‘shake it’. (notice the highly technical term – haha )

  1. PMS - Settings - Server - Library
    a. Turn off Empty Trash
    b. Turn off Automatic Scan
    c. Turn off Automatic Update Detection
  2. Set the permissions OFF (Control Panel - Edit the share - Permissions - Uncheck the boxes
  3. Now go back to PMS and scan files of the impacted library section.
  4. Observe red trash cans appear (unavailable).
  5. Back in the Control Panel - give PMS permission again to that share.
  6. Scan Files again. Observe the media becomes available.
  7. Repeat for any other impacted sections.
  8. When all sections complete, make a final full scan for all.
  9. Restart PMS
  10. Let it sit 30 seconds
  11. Now re-enable the Library settings previously turned off
  12. Wait 15 seconds for it to write to the logs (it will be busy when you do this)
  13. Scan files
  14. Download the logs ZIP and attach here if you don’t have your media
1 Like
5

Hi Chuck Pa,

will do as you ask, and report back here. And no need to apologise for any “delay” in getting back to me - you’re going out of your way to help me.

Cheers,

Michael P.

6

Hi Chuck Pa,

I identified what I think is the solution, but please read as follows:

I followed all of “1” except for turn off automatic update detection – I was unable to find that in Library options

I set permissions to OFF via DS Control Panel

I returned to PMS to scan files, and received the message “No media” or similar and saw no red trash cans.

It is worth noting here that I have on the DS a general Video directory, and off that I have folders labelled, “Movies”, “Comedy”, “Drama”, “Documentaries”, and “Crime”. I create these headings for my media in PMS and only access these folders for each label.

I returned permissions for PMS to access the Video folder and restarted the DS. I restarted PMS. On restart of PMS, the typical message “The Dashboard is Empty” showed.

I rescanned the Libraries and found no media. I investigated the directories for “Movies” for example, and only found a directory structure that looks like my nVidia Shield – no directories specific to my DS were detected.

Solved it: for some reason, I have two “Diskstation” entries, and one doesn’t access my DS, the other does. I cannot explain as to why this would be so nor where it came from: I did not create itLogs.zip (758.7 KB)

Authorized Devices
Authorized Devices1076×604 407 KB
Dashboard . How might I get rid of the errant one?

I have reset the previous Library settings.

I have attached a ZIP of the logs FYI.

Thank you for your efforts. They are much appreciated. Should you wish any further information from me, please ask.

Regards,

Michael P.

7

I think we just found the problem.

Is this the Synology-provided one? If so, it’s the cause. PMS will always collide with it.

As a test.

  1. Create a share named “Movies”
  2. Give Plex proper access to it as you create it.
  3. Add (by using “EDIT”) that new share /volume1/Movies to your existing Movies library section.
  4. Now take a couple of the moves which don’t show and move them to the new movies share.

I’m willing to bet they’ll show up and you’ll have access.

If you prefer, rather than moving, you can copy. No harm in doing so. Just remember to delete if this fails.

8

Noted, re the DS Video directory. I’ll look into it. It is the default Video directory created by DS.

I’ll look into your suggested solution too.

FYI: I have noted that Plex at times just doesn’t recognize some media files. The DS equivalent to PMS does though.

Thanks again for your help.

9

It appears that you are correct, and that PMS is happier with the items in another directory. I’ll spend a bit of time tomorrow (it’s evening, here in Australia) moving them.

I’m a little perplexed that PMS is so anti-default file locations for media on DS, but there you have it.

Cheers, and again, thanks for your help and patience.

Michael P.

10

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