Plex Playback Issue with High-Speed Switches

Plex Players Streaming Devices
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Server Version#:1.42.1.10060
Player Version#: 10.30.4.4092
<If providing server logs please do NOT turn on verbose logging, only debug logging should be enabled>

I’ve been helping a friend troubleshoot a really strange Plex networking issue and would like your input.

Hardware Setup

  • Plex server: Asus NUC running Plex Media Server (latest version, in Docker)

  • Storage: Synology NAS (all media stored here) with Synology E10M20-T1 10Gb NIC

  • Switches:

    • QNAP QSW-M2106-4C (4×10GbE, 6×2.5GbE)

    • TRENDnet TEG-S762 (2×10GbE, 4×2.5GbE)

    • Cheap 5-port 1GbE switch (unknown model)

  • Router: Nokia Beacon G6 (ISP provided – I suspect this might be the cause)

  • Clients:

    • Nvidia Shield Pro 2019 (Plex app, fully updated)

    • PC with Intel X550-T2 10GbE NIC (Plex app and web app, latest versions)

The Problem

When using the high-speed switches (10GbE/2.5GbE), the Plex app on both the Shield and the PC struggles:

  • Thumbnails take ages to load or don’t load at all.

  • Movies and shows endlessly buffer when trying to play.

  • The Plex web app on the PC works fine, but the installed Plex app behaves like the Shield (slow, failing to play).

However, external streaming (remote access) works perfectly – even with direct play enabled.

What Works

  • Scenario 1: Router → Shield & PC (direct) + NAS & NUC via switches → Works fine

  • Scenario 2: Router → cheap 1GbE switch → Shield & PC → Works fine

  • In both cases above, streaming locally and remotely is normal.

What Doesn’t Work

  • Scenario 3: Shield (2.5GbE port on switch) + PC (10GbE port on switch) with router connected → Plex apps fail as described.

What We’ve Tried

  • Tested with two different switches (QNAP and TRENDnet) → same issue.

  • Reinstalled Plex app on PC and Shield → no change.

  • Reset the Shield → no change.

  • Tested with my own Shield on his network → same issue.

  • At my home network (also 10GbE/2.5GbE) → works perfectly.

Suspicions

I strongly suspect the ISP’s Nokia Beacon G6 router may be causing this, but I can’t pinpoint why.

Question

Has anyone experienced something similar or have an idea what could be causing this?

Thanks in advance,

/Thrawn

P.S.

I forgot to say, everything else we can think of works as expected on the shield and PC with the trouble setup.

Filetransfers

Speedtests

Youtube

etc.

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