There were two files. This one that’s attached with .gz on the end and another with .tz.
Thanks for the logs.
There is no explanation for the traffic you’re seeing unless index files / chapter markers are being generated. These will not show in the scanner activity log. I see where all but 4 movies were skipped (already known).
I’ll try again tomorrow. Somehow another 20gb got used even after stopping the scan. Still have 115gb left.
Is somebody streaming?
Ok, I’m no @ChuckPA, but it looks to me, based on what I’m seeing in the logs, that your files are located in a folder called googledrive. Are you by chance using Google’s new file stream, and the files are located on your google drive account and not locally? If so, Plex scanning the libraries might need to download the video files from Google Drive, especially if it is generating chapter thumbnails. That would cause Plex to download the files, scan them, then just delete the data locally (not from Google Drive). It would cause high download, but without taking up much if any room locally.
Also, even if Plex doesn’t need to download the files or only downloads small parts of them during a scan, the Google Drive File Stream app could interpret plex reading the files as a possible access and download them preemptively.
@wowza7125 said:
Also, even if Plex doesn’t need to download the files or only downloads small parts of them during a scan, the Google Drive File Stream app could interpret plex reading the files as a possible access and download them preemptively.
Does google drive download / cache preemptively ? Is there such a thing / setting? That’s dangerous if it exists
Their new file stream app I know caches uploads. And I know it will be very attractive for Plex users because it mounts your Drive in fuse (or similar).
As for downloading/caching preemptively, please know that I am only speculating. I have no clue personally; I am only speculating. For what its designed for I could see it being the case. It would be great to have small files instantly available, but not taking up local space most of the time. But its not like Google is open sourcing this anytime soon ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I don’t have an app running like I do on my Mac, so I’m not sure why it would behave that way. As far as I know, it’s mounted like a hard drive would be.
At least that’s how I set it up based on the instructions I followed.
Maybe there’s some kind of settings in the service that prevents that from happening. On the Mac App version, you can set everything to offline so it doesn’t take up disk space.
Is it on Google Drive, or did you copy it to a local folder? Does it actually take up space on your local hard drive? When you look at the amount of disk space used, what do you see? If its not actually taking up space, then it is in the cloud and Plex could be downloading it all.
At least that’s how I set it up based on the instructions I followed.
What instructions? Can you link me to the app?
@Nate8727 said:
I don’t have an app running like I do on my Mac, so I’m not sure why it would behave that way. As far as I know, it’s mounted like a hard drive would be.
Even if a Google Drive appears to be and “feels” like a local hard drive, it is still ‘Cloud Storage’.
As such, it will produce enormous traffic when used.
If you are on a capped internet connection, it is just foolish to use a cloud storage for movies.
2 Likes
How else is a vps supposed to be used?
@Nate8727 said:
How else is a vps supposed to be used?
If you are using a VPS, then you have to install a GDrive client onto that VPS. Then it won’t use any of your data traffic volume of your home internet connection.
Or are you talking about the data volume of your VPS instance?
I have a VPS setup with google drive and it has a 2TB monthly cap. It’s a third server.
@Nate8727 said:
I have a VPS setup with google drive and it has a 2TB monthly cap. It’s a third server.
Then you must follow the tips you were already given.
- disable creation of video preview thumbnails
- disable creation of chapter thumbnails
- disable ‘extensive media analysis’ in the Scheduled Tasks
The desktop version of Plex Server is not made to be run in a datacenter, with remote media storage. As such, it doesn’t consider the peculiarities of such an environment.
You’ll have to adapt how you use Plex.
Disable some features,
preprocess your content to use less bitrate.
Add your media only in smaller batches.
So all of the users with a vps using plex have an unlimited cap? That wasn’t mentioned anywhere in the how to articles, or in any of the forums. I cannot be the only person having this problem.
Different VPS providers offer different internet usage packages (bandwidth allowances). It is inappropriate for Plex to involve itself with contractual arrangements and it is also impossible to assert “You need XXX GB / month to use Plex on a VPS” because each user used Plex different.
Well I’ve switched vps providers for unlimited bandwidth. Thanks everyone for your help in figuring it out.
I meant there should be a heads up in the tutorials that going the vps route could use up a lot of bandwidth. More like a warning.
Im having this issue. My VPS is destroying bandwidth. Ive turned off thumbnails, will see how it goes. Would be interested if anyone else has some success here other than the comments above
You’ll have to switch to a vps company that has unlimited bandwidth.
Try using plexguide to setup your google drive. I was using the main method and it was a lot of issues. PlexGuide is rock solid though.
Annoyingly i already paid for a year of my server, I might see if they’ll negotiate something, but ill probably spend some time trying to optimize this issue first if I can. Seems like the major issue is when you setup the library but since thats a one off thing I should be good with 2TB a month. I only add about 5 gigs of content a month usually so if I can set it up that plex doesnt need access to the whole file when that gets added I should be in good shape.
Out of interest, how much bandwidth are you using now (assuming the VPS is just for plex viewing and adding occasional new media rather than downloading as well)
Ive been using Gooby via Perplexed as my install method, its pretty awesome but will checkout PlexGuide
