Plex Server on two home networks - issues on VPN Router network

Plex Media Server Desktops & Laptops
1

I read the other posts and they don’t seem to exactly apply.

I want to have my internal LAN have playback from internal Apple TVs to an internal Plex Media Server.

I have two networks in my home. Both are hardwired and WiFi. The Plex Server is a Mac Pro connected to both networks and has an IP from both. The main network allows access from the internet. The second network is a VPN router.

The idea is to have the Apple TV devices plug into the VPN network, but still be able to stream locally from Plex.

The primary network works fine both internally and externally.

When the Apple TV is connected to the VPN network, however, the Plex app constantly connects and disconnects from the server. It will say “connecting to (server name)…”, eventually connect, show the Home screen, and after a few moments it’s back to connecting to, which will end up showing server unavailable: retry, connect to another server, cancel options. After a moment it will try connecting again.

I’ve tried to look at settings to see if it’s not seeing it on the local and it - when connected - says it’s nearby, like it should, not remote.

When I telnet to 32400 on the server IP on that VPN LAN, it connects.

What gives?! This is driving me nuts.

The VPN router is a WRT3200ECM with latest ExpressVPN firmware on it.
The Plex server is a Mac Pro
The VPN router is plugged into a cable modem. The Apple Extreme router, for the non-VPN network, is also plugged into the cable modem. That network works 100% fine with Plex, no playback issues at all.

2

You need to see if you can do split tunneling within your VPN. Basically your VPN is causing all your internal traffic to be routed to a remote location to come back from the Internet and not on your local LAN. Split tunneling tells the VPN to either send the traffic out on the VPN or bypass the VPN all together.

3

This is a major issue with Plex. My server is on my local LAN. It shouldn’t go to the internet at all.

This should just work. I changed my VPn network router to allow anything from vpn or wan zone on 32400 to go to the PMS. That seemed to work as I was able to watch shows for an hour. But going back to the menu and trying to pick another show - back to the same crap where it constantly connects and disconnects.

If Plex isn’t going to be a functioning media server I’m going to need a refund and another solution. 99% of my viewing is local network.

4

It’s correct that it’s not Plex but your VPN. I would try another, here a list to look at for now:

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