Plex Remote Access in combination with VPN

Plex Media Server
1

Dear reader,

I currently have a problem when I use a VPN.
Plex remote access is using the VPN IP address trying to connect to my Plex Server.
The VPN is slow and the port is being translated in my router.

I want to point Plex to my fixed IP address, I don’t want Plex to discover my IP address since the VPN is active.

I tried network > custom server access urls > add a hostname of my NAS server here.

Goal is to have plex using my direct IP and not the VPN IP that is default gateway for other applications.

Friendly regards,

Tony

Remote access red X when using IPVanish
3

I am using a QNAP, this guide is not working for me.
Also that guide seems complex for something simple I am trying to achieve.

I prefer to 2 fallowing options:
1: Point Plex to my fixed IP instead of autodiscover.
2: Change gateway in Plex software.

3 Alternative is to disable VPN as default gateway and point nzbget to the VPN gateway / IP.

Friendly regards,

Tony

5

This is not as easy as you think. You need to manually route the traffic to the respective interface, which is exactly what trumpys link suggests. The part with the custom certificate is just extra fun to get the connection secured.
It is much more complicated than just checking a box or flipping a switch.

6

I don’t know what VPN you’re using, but Mullvad (which is what I go with) has a guide[0] to what you need to do to direct the plex traffic to the correct spot. Maybe look around and see if your VPN has something similar?

[0] https://mullvad.net/en/help/plex-mullvad/

7

I followed that guide but still can’t get remote to work. I even go to their port checker and it’s open.

8

Sorry for the delay here, but I finally figured it out on my own system. What you have to do is the following (and it has to be done every time the PMS restarts or is updated etc):

  1. disconnect from the VPN
  2. stop PMS
  3. start PMS
  4. reconnect to the VPN

it turned out that PMS needed a direct connection to talk to the plex servers on startup. After that, you can run the VPN (with the port forwarding on, that is) without trouble. It’s kind of annoying, but it seems to work.

9

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