Server Version#: 1.40.4.8679
Player Version#: 1.97.2.190-ca5000d0
Hello. As of today my Plex server has been having an issue where it will not use my full upload bandwidth when streaming to devices outside my network. Per speedtest.net, my upload bandwidth is 38.81 Mbps (and my download is 887.53 Mbps if relevant). My ISP is Spectrum.
The specific issue is that when trying to stream a 12.6 Mbps file, as an example, my friend with a much higher download bandwidth is constantly buffering. My server dashboard, task manager, and my router all say that my Plex server is only transmitting about 3 Mbps maximum. No matter which file we try, and no matter which drive that file is on, and no matter which client my friend uses, he is always essentially capped at 3 Mbps. Curiously, I am able to stream high-bitrate files from his Plex server with no issue, as long as he is uploading and I am downloading. Even more curiously, when testing with other friends, we faced the same issue, but the upload cap was different for each. My server would not upload more than 5 Mbps for the second friend, and 8 Mpbs for the third friend.
I’ve been using Plex Media Server for a few years now with no issues like this. About a month ago I moved apartments and am now on this Spectrum network. I’ve had no issues until about a week ago, when I migrated a few TB of files to a new HDD. Immediately afterwards, this exact issue occurred, but it was resolved when I removed the old HDD’s (then deleted) folder from the “add folders” menu of the Library. There were no such issues until today, when the issue started up again. I did migrate more files to the new drive, but this time I made sure to remove all traces of the old drive/folder from Plex.
I’ve done extensive troubleshooting and learned nothing:
- The issue persists across multiple Plex libraries for all files tested.
- Restarting the Plex server, the PC hosting it, and my router all had no effect.
- According to task manager, Plex is hardly using my computer’s resources at all, so it’s not being bottlenecked there. I don’t think it’s a performance issue with the hard drive, as I can watch files perfectly fine on other devices on my local network.
- I am port forwarded and fully accessible outside my network. I tried switching the port a few times (of course making sure that my router settings always matched my Plex settings), but it had no effect.
- My upload bandwidth on speedtest.net is normal, and there aren’t any other intensive things happening on my network.
- Performing a traceroute between my friend’s IP and mine didn’t show anything concerning.
- The “Internet Upload Speed” and “Limit remote stream bitrate” settings under Remote Access are both set properly, and well above any of the upload caps that I’m encountering.
- Secure connections are “preferred” but changing the setting to “required” had no effect.
- I haven’t messed with transcoding settings, but none of my friends are transcoding. Or at least, they’re all playing on Original quality.
- I didn’t see anything weird in the logs, but admittedly I’m not familiar with them.
Any idea what’s going on here or what I can do to resolve it? Thank you in advance to anyone who responds!
