I am periodically unable to access the Plex server that I have set up in the house. This happens without warning, without any configuration changes to the server or my network.
Server configuration:
Ubuntu 18.04
plexmediaserver 1.14.1.5488-cc260c476
Router:
Netgear R6700v2
Apps:
Web app
Roku
When I attempt to access the server through the web app, the Plex Pass ad screen comes up. When I dismiss that, the Looking for servers spinner spins endlessly. The screen suggests that I should download and install Plex Media Server, which, of course, has already been done.
The Linux box that runs plexmediaserver is headless, but I can access a desktop environment on the machine using VNC. If I access Firefox on the Linux box and load the URL of the Plex web app, I get the same problem.
The Roku app simply says The server mediaserver is not available.
Now, oddly, I do have one way to access the videos on the server. The Plex server shows up as (I assume) a DLNA source on my Samsung smart TV. I can drill down through the folders and play any video I choose.
This problem happened about six weeks ago, and after a few days, the problem suddenly went away. I have no idea why.
The KB article Why can’t the Plex app find or connect to my Plex Media Server? suggests that I Verify that your Server is listed on your Devices page. I don’t see a Devices page.
No, because I have no need of remote access. Everything I have described, both when I have access to the server and when I do not, happens inside my home LAN.
More info: I’ve been reading through the FAQ again, and saw the information under Can’t Access Server Settings. When I sign in to the Plex web app on the server PC, there is no option shown to access the Server settings.
A short time after the last exchange in this thread, the problem resolved itself, and the server became available again. Today, it disappeared again.
I have signed out of the server and my account (in a web browser on my local network), then back into the server and the web app, in that order. No change – I still have the server “could not be found” message in the web client.
In the ‘Why am I locked out of Server Settings’ FAQ entry, under ‘Can’t Access Server Settings’, the first step seems to be ’ Quit/exit your Plex Media Server, so it’s not actively running’.
How does one exit the Plex server application under Linux?
Good day!
May i ask how are you accessing your PMS? via plex.tv, IP address, or host name? I don’t know the extent of your setup, and it seems like your doing things right, but allow me to just get some basics down just to make sure they are covered.
Have you setup a static IP for your PMS on your router?
When accessing Plex through the web app, DO NOT go through plex.tv, rather go through the IP address; e.g. 192.168.1.2:32400/web
If and when you DO gain access goto settings > general and “Claim this server” by logging in.
if you have successfully logged the SERVER in, now within the same web app instance login in the top right corner.
when I access the web app at 192.168.1.5:32400, the first thing that happens is that browser redirects to a plex.tv site for account login. So how can I stop that.
Sign the Plex/Web client out of your account (upper right corner)
Now, in an incognito window, open the machine and sign in there.
If the server isn’t signed into your account, in the lower right, you should see a “What’s this?”
Follow that, “Skip” the plex pass to arrive at the dashboard.
Now you can go to Settings - Server - General and sign it into your Plex Account manually.
Once signed in there, Sign Plex/Web (upper right) back into your account.
