Server Version#:1.25.3.5385
Player Version#:8.28.30077
Plex Server on Nvidia Shield regularly stops. I have to frequently redeploy backups. In the settings, more often than not, the options for the Media Server to stop and start and the storage location are missing. Surely this has been seen by others, wondered if there was a solution because the Shield is billed as device capable of operating as a server, but it seems marketing missed out the word ‘reliable’
Any ideas?
I recently updated to the latest Plex build on my 2019 Shield TV Pro and it clobbered PMS. Same behavior as you report with the server start/stop button missing, as well as storage quirks. I had a PNY SSD attached as adopted storage and moved Plex to it.
I wasn’t aware of how to recover using backups, and couldn’t access files on the adopted storage, so I just decided to rebuild from scratch, this time setting the SSD as removable storage (I want to access it across the network).
I’d like to know how to recover from the situation you describe too, as well as how to recover using backed up data (which files/folders and structure is required).
I decided to enable video preview thumbnails, and that process took 4 days. I’d hate to have to go through all that again.
I find PMS on the Shield TV Pro to be very reliable until I start tweaking things, or even just attempt a SW update. Then again, I hardly use it for anything else except a video player for a projector.
I really like how powerful it is to transcode h.265 and consume very little energy. My laptop couldn’t do it, which is what sold me on the Shield TV.
I’ve got the backups so starting from scratch and trying to recover from that point, but now I can’t store my PMS data on external storage as it’s not appearing when building. I have the steps I take to recover from the backups if that would help you any?
I attempted to use my Shield as a server two or three times over the last few years and I found that it was totally unsuited to the job. I even tried an Emby server on the Shield and found that it was just as unreliable as Plex’s server.
My suggestion to anyone trying to use the Shield as a server, except in the most minimal manner is; Don’t.
The Shield is just unsuited to such an application so I recommend that you get a stand alone computer and use it a a server.
In fact I do not understand why Plex thought the Shield might make a good server. I have found that the Shield is simply vastly overrated as a computer and even as a general use device it is lacking. By trying to make it fulfill so many different functions the Shield people have successfully turned it into a second rate device.
Even just using the Shield as an audio server (music and audiobooks only) causes so many issues that it is not worth the effort.
I believe that in trying to make the Shield serve so many masters they have turned it into a device that is mostly unsuited for any.
Just because it plays nearly everything does not mean it is good at it and it does not mean that it make it a good device from a user perspective.
When I rebuilt, I went absolutely from scratch. I formatted the SSD when I set it as external and only have Plex on it. It’s only been a few days, but so far it’s reliable. Not sure what would cause your external to not be found.
I’m sure you’re probably aware it’s best to hold off adding libraries until you move PMS to the external storage. I found that option right in the settings of the Plex app.
Instructions from recovering from backup would be very helpful, as I expect I’ll have to do it again one day considering this is like the 4th time I’ve rebuilt on the Shield. Apparently there is a new Android TV build available for the Shield, and it wipes out external storage if you upgrade, among other problems I’m seeing mentioned online.
I have teething issues with Shield as PMS. However, when it works, it works better than ANY hardware I’ve used. Even much more powerful standalone PC’s which have stuttered with transcoding and direct play, which is what moved me to the Shield.
I am very much reconsidering this now because when I can recover, it’s no real hardship. It’s inconvenient, sure, but definitely not the end of the world. The issue is when I come to recover and I’m unable to do anything because I don’t have the visibility of the PMS settings in the Plex app, forcing me to remove both apps and starting again, then being unable to build it up again.
PC’s were much more robust, but I’ve found the Shield to be a better performer. It’s time to decide if the pro’s outweigh the cons!
I agree that the Shield has been difficult to use and has had a lot of frustrating bugs that don’t seem to be examined and fixed, let alone documented.
That said, I had a gen 10 i5 Intel laptop that couldn’t transcode h.265 in real time. That’s a problem when remote users want to watch 4k content… and as I keep mentioning, it’s nice having a small and powerful device that makes no noise and consumes so little energy.
Probably the only other solution I’d consider is a NAS, though I haven’t looked into it to see if they are powerful enough to transcode, or what their power consumption looks like. Mostly I don’t want to spend that kind of money and not utilize RAID 5, which then requires me to purchase 3 identical drives… a whole other chain of expenses.
Well this occurred when my Shield was upgraded to Shield 9!
Even though for some bizarre reason, Plex only gives you the option of backing up the database every three days, I’d much prefer the option to back up nightly or when I press the back up button…
First, stop the server (if you see the option…)
If you know how to get to the storage on the Shield, the original database is stored here;
/storage/drivename/android/data/com.plexapp.mediaserver.smb/Plex Media Server/Plug-in Support/Databases
Delete ALL files from that location
Backups were found in the Shield’s Internal Shared Storage:
/sdcard/Plex Media Server/Database backups
Then copy across the latest backup file “com.plexapp.plugins.library.db-yyyy-mm-dd” and rename the file to match the original, removing the file date from the extension.
Start the server back up, and it should be back to normal.
Credit for these instructions should go to @brucedl1960
Yeah, it’s like we have to pick between performance or stability. I was previously hosting on a micro PC similar to a NUC (fanless), and as I started experimenting with 4k content, realized it was not up to the task. I had purchased a 4k projector and built a 152" screen and wanted a video player that could serve all of the capabilities of the projector and settled on the Shield TV, and once I found I could throw PMS on there, it was a done deal for me.
Probably part of the limitations is the Android OS. The Shield can only be as capable as that environment allows.
Anyhow, it looks like a Plex update is in the works to fix the latest Android build issues with external storage. Maybe the new update will run more stable for you?
EDIT: Holy crap, looks like the latest PMS broke transcoding too. Not sure if I’ll be downgrading to the last working version, or wait for a fix. Broken transcoding is a big deal. I should have done more than direct play 4k content to test that the new version works before rebuilding all the metadata and thumbnails.
EDIT2: PMS was running fantastic for me at v1.22.0.4163 Maybe download that version when you rebuild. Between Plex and Nvidia, they keep “improving” the apps until they are unusable.
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