Plex Server keeps crashing

Plex Media Server
42

But that is your media parent folder - so you end up with all the transcoder video files / segments being treated as part of the library

When you define a Plex Media Server Library path, then everything there is assumed to be your media files - so i would not expect to have any temporary files folder being added there

Our documentation does not specifically say that but I would have thought this would be obvious

Transcoder | Plex Support

Transcoder temporary directory

Directory to use when transcoding temporary files for streaming. This is useful if your primary drive has limited space. The directory used (whether default or not) needs sufficient free space, roughly equal to the size of the source file of the transcode plus 100MB.

This setting does not affect where transcoded files are stored for background transcoding tasks (sync or Media Optimizer). See

Warning!: You should not specify a location that resides on a network share/disk.

That will use the default path - which I think is

/share/CACHEDEV1_DATA/.qpkg/PlexMediaServer/Library/Plex Media Server/Cache/Transcode

You can check to see if files are being written there during transcodes

43

Cool. Having trouble finding/downloading the above server logs with SSH. Can they be accessed through the GUI? Do you still need them, or do you think the temp file directory was the issue?

44

If there is a network share for this path /share/CACHEDEV1_DATA/.qpkg/PlexMediaServer/Library
then you can access it on a windows PC through windows explorer

I am not using a QNAP so do not know what their GUI offers

with the temp directory issue Plex Media Server was encountering scenarios that would not normally arise - eg running credit detection on a 1 or 2 second transcode segment !

It would still be useful to look at them to see if all the crashes were when this was happening

Also please monitor the situation now that you corrected the transcoder temp directory path issue

45

My issue is still occurring. Driving me crazy.

I see this string of errors in PMS Plugin Logs about 5-10 minutes before I discover Plex is not responding, not sure if it is related?:

2024-01-25 06:00:18,640 (14ee917b7808) :  DEBUG (networking:144) - Requesting 'http://127.0.0.1:32400/:/plugins/com.plexapp.system/resourceHashes'
2024-01-25 06:00:18,728 (14ee917b7808) :  ERROR (networking:197) - Error opening URL 'http://127.0.0.1:32400/:/plugins/com.plexapp.system/resourceHashes'
2024-01-25 06:00:18,732 (14ee917b7808) :  CRITICAL (runtime:1299) - Exception getting hosted resource hashes (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/lib/plexmediaserver/Resources/Plug-ins-fb6452ebf/Framework.bundle/Contents/Resources/Versions/2/Python/Framework/components/runtime.py", line 1293, in get_resource_hashes
    json = self._core.networking.http_request("http://127.0.0.1:32400/:/plugins/com.plexapp.system/resourceHashes", timeout=10).content
  File "/usr/lib/plexmediaserver/Resources/Plug-ins-fb6452ebf/Framework.bundle/Contents/Resources/Versions/2/Python/Framework/components/networking.py", line 243, in content
    return self.__str__()
  File "/usr/lib/plexmediaserver/Resources/Plug-ins-fb6452ebf/Framework.bundle/Contents/Resources/Versions/2/Python/Framework/components/networking.py", line 221, in __str__
    self.load()
  File "/usr/lib/plexmediaserver/Resources/Plug-ins-fb6452ebf/Framework.bundle/Contents/Resources/Versions/2/Python/Framework/components/networking.py", line 159, in load
    f = self._opener.open(req, timeout=self._timeout)
  File "/usr/lib/plexmediaserver/Resources/Python/python27.zip/urllib2.py", line 435, in open
    response = meth(req, response)
  File "/usr/lib/plexmediaserver/Resources/Python/python27.zip/urllib2.py", line 548, in http_response
    'http', request, response, code, msg, hdrs)
  File "/usr/lib/plexmediaserver/Resources/Python/python27.zip/urllib2.py", line 473, in error
    return self._call_chain(*args)
  File "/usr/lib/plexmediaserver/Resources/Python/python27.zip/urllib2.py", line 407, in _call_chain
    result = func(*args)
  File "/usr/lib/plexmediaserver/Resources/Python/python27.zip/urllib2.py", line 556, in http_error_default
    raise HTTPError(req.get_full_url(), code, msg, hdrs, fp)
HTTPError: HTTP Error 404: Not Found

and

2024-01-25 06:00:16,845 (14a364e2bb38) :  CRITICAL (runtime:1128) - Exception in thread named 'refresh_servers' (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/lib/plexmediaserver/Resources/Plug-ins-fb6452ebf/Framework.bundle/Contents/Resources/Versions/2/Python/Framework/components/runtime.py", line 1126, in _start_thread
    f(*args, **kwargs)
  File "/usr/lib/plexmediaserver/Resources/Plug-ins-fb6452ebf/System.bundle/Contents/Code/peerservice.py", line 169, in refresh_servers
    servers_el = self.get_servers_el()
  File "/usr/lib/plexmediaserver/Resources/Plug-ins-fb6452ebf/System.bundle/Contents/Code/peerservice.py", line 165, in get_servers_el
    return XML.ElementFromURL('http://127.0.0.1:32400/servers', cacheTime = 0)
  File "/usr/lib/plexmediaserver/Resources/Plug-ins-fb6452ebf/Framework.bundle/Contents/Resources/Versions/2/Python/Framework/api/parsekit.py", line 344, in ElementFromURL
    method=method,
  File "/usr/lib/plexmediaserver/Resources/Plug-ins-fb6452ebf/Framework.bundle/Contents/Resources/Versions/2/Python/Framework/api/networkkit.py", line 67, in _http_request
    req = self._core.networking.http_request(url, *args, **kwargs)
  File "/usr/lib/plexmediaserver/Resources/Plug-ins-fb6452ebf/Framework.bundle/Contents/Resources/Versions/2/Python/Framework/components/networking.py", line 352, in http_request
    return HTTPRequest(self._core, url, data, h, url_cache, encoding, errors, timeout, immediate, sleep, opener, follow_redirects, method)
  File "/usr/lib/plexmediaserver/Resources/Plug-ins-fb6452ebf/Framework.bundle/Contents/Resources/Versions/2/Python/Framework/components/networking.py", line 119, in __init__
    self.load()
  File "/usr/lib/plexmediaserver/Resources/Plug-ins-fb6452ebf/Framework.bundle/Contents/Resources/Versions/2/Python/Framework/components/networking.py", line 159, in load
    f = self._opener.open(req, timeout=self._timeout)
  File "/usr/lib/plexmediaserver/Resources/Python/python27.zip/urllib2.py", line 435, in open
    response = meth(req, response)
  File "/usr/lib/plexmediaserver/Resources/Python/python27.zip/urllib2.py", line 548, in http_response
    'http', request, response, code, msg, hdrs)
  File "/usr/lib/plexmediaserver/Resources/Python/python27.zip/urllib2.py", line 473, in error
    return self._call_chain(*args)
  File "/usr/lib/plexmediaserver/Resources/Python/python27.zip/urllib2.py", line 407, in _call_chain
    result = func(*args)
  File "/usr/lib/plexmediaserver/Resources/Python/python27.zip/urllib2.py", line 556, in http_error_default
    raise HTTPError(req.get_full_url(), code, msg, hdrs, fp)
HTTPError: HTTP Error 503: Service Unavailable
46 
    raise HTTPError(req.get_full_url(), code, msg, hdrs, fp)
HTTPError: HTTP Error 503: Service Unavailable

The 503 error is returned either if the server is in startup database maintenance stage or if we have a deadlock and loads of requests stack up and we reach over circa 4000 queued requests

The previous logs i looked at showed requests taking very long time to complete - this would lead to the queue of requests building up - I was hoping that the db optimize would help - we do by default run an optimize once a week if scheduled tasks are run

Give me more examples of debug server logs - occurring after a recent optimize of the database

Could you also look into the disc performance/health and if there are any repeats / issues - the disc where the database is the one with this path /config

47

New log zip
Plex Media Server Logs_2024-01-26_07-59-56.zip (4.5 MB)

Read your post when I was half asleepā€¦ just ran optimize DB, more logs right after
Plex Media Server Logs_2024-01-26_08-02-17.zip (4.5 MB)

I use Unraid, Plex config sits on SSD, have no issues with the disks, no SMART attributes alerts, etc

48

Double crash tonight back to back within 15-ish minutes. Maybe more comingā€¦

I optimized DB again, then downloaded these logs
Plex Media Server Logs_2024-01-26_20-56-23.zip (4.9 MB)

edit: Sunday night
Crashed 2 more times after above post, then has not crashed since. So random.

49

Same in all the logs I looked at - some requests are taking a very long time to complete and the time to complete gets worse and worse

I would like to get a copy of your Plex Media Server database - download the database through Settings / Manage / Troubleshooting through Plex Web and and upload the zip to google drive / dropbox etc and send me a link bt a Private Message to download it

Some requests to do with playback status updates for two movies show as taking long time to process

50

We have today released a new beta with fixes for some of the crashes. I do not expect it to address all the reported issues in this thread - but I would recommend switching to the new beta and get diagnostics of any further crashes if they arise on the new version

The new version is 1.40.0.7996

It is available here https://plex.tv/downloads

1 Like
51

Iā€™ve run the update, will let you know.

52

Looks like the update fixed the issue. PMS has not crashed since I did the update on Wednesday.

53

I continue to have Plex crashing after the update to 1.40.0.7988, super annoying.

54

Version 1.40.0.7998 seems to have fixed the problem on my WD PR4100.

55

Is this still happening ?
Could you run with server debug logging enabled - it should be by default and capture the server logs zip after a relaunch following one of these crashes

56

Plex Media Server Logs_2024-02-21_21-33-56.zip (3.1 MB)
It is still crashing daily, I would love tips on what is causing the issue, i hope the logs help to pin point it!

57

Please expand on what you mean by crashing

The logs show forced shutdown / exit of the Plex Media Server process and not crashes

Feb 17, 2024 12:00:48.640 [140311973600056] DEBUG - Shutting down with signal 15 (Terminated)
Feb 17, 2024 12:00:48.640 [140311973600056] DEBUG - Ordered to stop server.

and

Feb 18, 2024 11:31:03.734 [140535459400504] DEBUG - Shutting down with signal 15 (Terminated)
Feb 18, 2024 11:31:03.734 [140535459400504] DEBUG - Ordered to stop server.

and

Feb 20, 2024 10:21:08.634 [140604005960504] DEBUG - Shutting down with signal 15 (Terminated)
Feb 20, 2024 10:21:08.634 [140604005960504] DEBUG - Ordered to stop server.
58

To elaborate I am not taking any steps to close or shut down the Plex server on the NAS.
I am finding that using it one day then the next day i need to go back into the QNAP manager app to relaunch Plex app.
Is it fair to assume that there could be some other app on the QNAP that is forcing Plex to close?

59

Thanks - so it is shutting down and then the following day / night you notice and launch it

This shows the times of the 3 shutdowns and re-launches I see from the logs

Feb 17, 2024 12:00:48.640 [140311973600056] DEBUG - Shutting down with signal 15 (Terminated)
Feb 18, 2024 00:09:31.536 [140535461595960] INFO - Plex Media Server v1.40.0.7998-c29d4c0c8 - QNAP TS-453Be x86_64 - build: linux-x86_64 qnap - GMT 11:00

Feb 18, 2024 11:31:03.734 [140535459400504] DEBUG - Shutting down with signal 15 (Terminated)
Feb 19, 2024 21:44:44.877 [140604008155960] INFO - Plex Media Server v1.40.0.7998-c29d4c0c8 - QNAP TS-453Be x86_64 - build: linux-x86_64 qnap - GMT 11:00

Feb 20, 2024 10:21:08.634 [140604005960504] DEBUG - Shutting down with signal 15 (Terminated)
Feb 21, 2024 21:32:41.911 [140231413181240] INFO - Plex Media Server v1.40.0.7998-c29d4c0c8 - QNAP TS-453Be x86_64 - build: linux-x86_64 qnap - GMT 11:00

On some systems, applications may get force closed by the operating system if they consume a lot of memory. I do not know if this is the case on QNAPs. Is there a syslog you can view that shows what was being logged around the times of the shutdowns

Feb 17, 2024 12:00:48
Feb 18, 2024 11:31:03
Feb 20, 2024 10:21:08

You could enablie PMS memory usage logging to see if it is a factor. See setting LogMemoryUse that you could add to the Preferences.xml
Advanced, Hidden Server Settings | Plex Support
and for location of the Preferences.xml see Where is the Plex Media Server data directory located? | Plex Support

Please ensure the Plex Media Server is not running when editing Preferences.xml

60

A number of your had the server become inaccessible because of requests taking a long time to get completed and leading to a large number of queued requests and plex client apps timing out

We have recently found an issue when Push Notifications are enabled and a fix was released today in Plex Media Server beta 1.40.2.8273

  • (Push Notifications) Used expensive DB query during playback progress notifications (PM-1166)
61

I have 2 Qnap servers and 1 windows running PMS ever since 1.32.8 the first of the Qnaps I install on disappears and loses itā€™s credentials when I install the second. then if I have an interrupt in the internet the second one (sanangelis) will lose itā€™s credentials and revert to the first (sanangelis-m) and then I have to reinstall update to get it back. am currently updating to the latest beta to see if that will fix it. not holding my breath.
well has lasted one day before having to update to get running again.
dropped again