Plexconnect Install - Complicated, isn't it?

Dev Community Apps & Creations
1

I don't get it. Is this supposed to be a trial?

 

I'm sorry, I've tried following;

 

https://github.com/iBaa/PlexConnect/wiki/OSX-and-ATV-with-5.2-firmware-and-ethernet-internet-connection-installation-guide

 

and got as far as "Type "sudo ./PlexConnect.py", without the quotes and hit return."

and hit a brick wall.

 

and  https://github.com/iBaa/PlexConnect/wiki/Install-Guide-Mac

 

and got as far as "sudo "/Applications/PlexConnect-master/PlexConnect.py"

and hit another brick wall.

 

And then I found;

https://github.com/iBaa/PlexConnect/wiki/OSX-and-ATV-with-5.2-firmware-and-ethernet-internet-connection-installation-guide

And got confused - maybe I'd done something else wrong.

 

So I hunt around and worked my way through the stuff here;

 

https://forums.plex.tv/topic/72129-new-hack-running-the-plexconnect-python-script-on-your-jailbroken-atv2/?p=416888

 

and by now - 3 or 4 hours in I feel like throwing my Apple TV out the window.

 

For example;

 

1 - Some of these seem to refer to Mac install and some Apple tV. They ALL seem to assume a level of knowledge as to where you're installing what - am I installing this bit to the python to the mac or the apple tv?

Which directory am I in?

What does that message mean? etc.

2 - Do I need to be on the mac running my plex media server to run this particular line?

3 - Why am I getting "install failed" etc?

4 - So is some of this out of date? Do i need to be fixing DNS? Is that going to stop the Apple Tv getting on the internet if it's pointing DNS at my mac mini?

 

So let's walk through one;

 

https://github.com/iBaa/PlexConnect/wiki/OSX-and-ATV-with-5.2-firmware-and-ethernet-internet-connection-installation-guide

Yes, 5.3

  • Ensure you have Python 2.7.x installed (3.x is not supported); OSX 10.7+ has this pre installed.

I'm on a mac with 10.8, my mac mini with Plex Media server is on 10.6.

So I've downloaded python 2.73 from www.python.org/dowload/releases onto that mac and ran the dmg

Got it

  • Ensure the machine running PlexConnect always has the same IP with this Lifehacker Guide.

Ah. Now. So, am I running Plexconnect on the ATV or the mac?

Because when it says "On the 'configure DNS' screen change the IP address to that of the local IP of the device that you are running the PlexConnect application on and then click on the 'done' button (if you are using a firmware prior to 5.2 it may ask you to configure the IP address of your router and the subnet mask, leave them unchanged):"

That sounds like I'm adding the DNS of the mac mini to the ATV- because I want to connect plexconnect to the Plex media server - but run plex connect on the apple tv - or is this a server based thing that I need to add to the mac mini and then put some sort of client on the apple tv?

 

????

 

And this; "https://elan.plexapp.com/2013/06/04/introducing-plexconnect-an-appletv-client-which-thinks-different/"

says Plexconnect is a client. So that means I need to make the DNS as the same as the ip address of the apple TV?

Confused. OK, let's not worry about it and move on - I'll guess at this being the Mac Mini's address. I'll come back to this if not.

It is on the mac mini. IP address fixed as 192.168.0.40

 

And, for the record, the apple tv picked up 192.168.0.16.

 

Ah, I've just realised that this;

 

https://github.com/iBaa/PlexConnect/wiki/Install-Guide

 

Splits everything into 'host' and 'atv' so I need to do work on both machines.

Huh. (are you getting how this is not an easy process to follow if you're not immersed in all this?)

 

so let's take a step back and follow this; https://github.com/iBaa/PlexConnect/wiki/Install-Guide-Mac on the mac mini running 10.6

 

OK, followed https://github.com/iBaa/PlexConnect/wiki/Install-Guide-Mac-Certificates and we get the certificates, install them into the folder... 

sudo "/Applications/PlexConnect-master/PlexConnect.py"

Nope, starts up python, then crashes out of terminal.

 

Let's try the same thing on my 10.8 machine.

 

Ok, running "

sudo "/Applications/PlexConnect-master/PlexConnect.py"

can't find command. Awesome.

 

I'm tired now but surely there must have been a way to have some kind of installer for this?

 

I've not even got to the Apple TV bit!

 

Sigh.

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

If you are on a mac you can use openconnect in my signature to walk you thru the complete install.

3

Hey, there's a lot of jargon and it can get confusing but rest assured once you get it sorted you won't need to touch it again.

  • You need to install/run Plex Media Server (PMS) on a computer.  
  • You will then install/run PlexConnect along side PMS on the same computer.  
  • You will configure that that computer to use a designated IP address.
  • The Apple TV will be configured to use that specific IP in its DNS settings.
    • This DNS entry will need to point to your IP on the computer running PlexConnect & PMS.  
    • This is because PlexConnect uses that IP to serve up content to the Trailers.app on your Apple TV. 

You install nothing on the Apple TV

The DNS entry which points to the IP address of your computer allows PlexConnect to "hijack" the trailers.app on your Apple TV and serve up the content on your PMS.

Does this help? If not let me know.  I think once you get the components straight it will help you because you sound like you're on a good path.

There's no "installer" as such because it is very much a workaround - a very polished and stable workaround but a workaround nonetheless.

Let me know if you want to go through it on a chat or something I'm more than happy to walk through with you.

I can only say that I'm super happy with the Apple TV and PlexConnect so it's worth powering through the steep learning curve.

4

You install nothing on the Apple TV


You need to install a cert on the Apple TV to hijack trailers don't forget ;) OpenConnect will guide you to do so if you don't know how to already. Also there are plenty of tutorials on how to do so as well linked in the pinned read before posting topic.
5

1) your first and third link posted are identical. no reason to get confused.

2) you should not jump right into the middle of a guide and assume everything is working from there.

=> start at the top of the WIKI, read some of the info provided, thenf ollow the link to the "install guide".

6

I'll admit that I find GitHub and its setup a bit confusing and initially I found so many different installation guides all saying alternate things that I didn't know which to use?!

But ultimately I found it pretty simple to follow and have even been able to run an automated script from startup so I don't even have to worry about it anymore.

It's worth the hassle trust me  :)

7

Thanks everyone.

I'd avoided going back to the install or this board, so irritating did I find my experience first time round - but having come back to the thread after a breather, I find lots of helpful suggestions from you.

To start;wahlman.j

FYI I'm on 10.6.8 (It's a 2.26 core 2 duo mac mini - I need a new one, but I'm buggered if I'm paying a small fortune for something from October 2012, even if I could!). I went to 10.7, but too many of my old apps wouldn't work so I rolled back.

It's not terrifically stable, crashing about once a week, I think it overheats, but I've little choice.

Anyway, I'll try your suggestion and instructions first. Clicked on the link (the one marked "Open connect OX app.." etc.) in your signature.
Takes me to a page with "here is an open source app..." etc. Download from Dropbox.
Little app inside a .zip file, which I run. Nothing seems to happen.

Go to the apple tv, select trailers, all looks like normal trailers, remember I have to change DNS, Go to DNS, make it 192.168.0.40 (the mac mini's address) and..."Trailers is unavailable. Try again later".

Something not right there. Probably I've missed a step?

Move on to Gh05t

  • "You need to install/run Plex Media Server (PMS) on a computer.  
  • You will then install/run PlexConnect along side PMS on the same computer.  
  • You will configure that that computer to use a designated IP address.
  • The Apple TV will be configured to use that specific IP in its DNS settings"

Got it. Let's treat that like a check list;

  • "You need to install/run Plex Media Server (PMS) on a computer.  

Yup. It's running on the mac mini. Latest version of PMS publicly released, I think. FYI I Don't have a plex pass (financial reasons).

  • You will then install/run PlexConnect along side PMS on the same computer.  

I think I have. Now. Though I nearly wept with the utterly incomprehensible instructions from the wikis.

It's not working, mind. So I've still done something wrong.

  • You will configure that that computer to use a designated IP address.

The mac mini has always had a fixed ip address, luckily. No idea what my original reason for setting it up with one was years ago, but it's 192.168.0.40.

  • The Apple TV will be configured to use that specific IP in its DNS settings"

Thanks, got it....now.

My concerns here are two fold - does this mean my apple tv won't be able to use XBMC if it's looking for name resolution from my mac mini and how would one use something like unblockus for Netflix at the same time?

Anyway, it's set up that way right now.

"You install nothing on the Apple TV"

Again, thanks - got it. Wish someone had explained things in that nice step by step way before!

And you've been very helpful and that was a very nicely worded post. Cheers.

Ok, back to wahlman.j
(and yours was also a helpful and nicely worded post!)
 

"You need to install a cert on the Apple TV to hijack trailers don't forget ;) OpenConnect will guide you to do so if you don't know how to already."

Yes, I went through all this - getting the files, copying them to the folder etc.

I did that after the last post, but it's made no difference to trailers working.

Again, thanks for your helpful posts.

And finally, Baa

"your first and third link posted are identical. no reason to get confused."

Yes, that third link is wrong, though I've no idea what the actual link was at the time now. I think by the time I posted I was somewhat far from worrying about proof reading, so sorry about that. The whole thing reads much less legibly than I remember.

"you should not jump right into the middle of a guide and assume everything is working from there."

I didn't. Not the first time. Or the second. Mind you, I started on the completely wrong basis.

I posted that after I'd been banging my head against a brick wall - and a number of different guides - including the official wiki (all of which appeared (to me) to believe I had some arcane inner knowledge as to what I was doing) for about 4 hours.

Gh05t's little list above would have saved me 1 or 2 hours of trying to install Plexconnect to the appletv itself for example.

I did 2 or so hours more after I'd posted before giving up and hunting out my old NowTV box with it's sideloaded Plex client. So, after 6 hours (probably 4 wasted on wild goose chases) I don't have a working plexconnect.

Not my first rodeo, this, usually quite tech savvy - well, not not tech savvy these days, but I can follow instructions usually! - but this made installing apps to Linux 6 or 7 years ago seem reasonable (shudder) - or Cisco router coding from 2001 (weep).

(Of course it didn't, those were infintely worse, but I was very frustrated at the original time of posting).

Anyway.

1 - Thanks to you all. Nice friendly posts and you're all helpful.

2 - I'll try again from scratch  - I've obviously done something wrong, but it seems I'm not misunderstanding the situation.

It seems wahlman.j has written the installer app I needed, but it's not working for me, probably due to my arcane OS.

8

Are you able to point to those instruction in the WIKI that are not clear?

To me, https://github.com/iBaa/PlexConnect/wiki/Install-Guide really has all you would need.

I really would like to read about that, in order to improve the guides over time. I can't seem to find any big open gaps there...

9

Are you able to point to those instruction in the WIKI that are not clear?

To me, https://github.com/iBaa/PlexConnect/wiki/Install-Guide really has all you would need.

I really would like to read about that, in order to improve the guides over time. I can't seem to find any big open gaps there...

Baa, Mac users (through OpenConnect) and Synology users (thanks to bwynants installer) have a much easier way to install PlexConnect than other users. In my humble opinion the guides on github are clear to whoever has a deep technical knowledge, but this is not the majority of the users. Speaking for myself, if I had to start using the guides from github I would, probably, never been able to install PlexConnect. Today I understand them, but the initial steps were hard.

That's why I think that Whalman's efforts to extend the OpenConnect simplicity to other platforms is mostly welcome.

10

Open for suggestions - tell us how to improve those guides.

11

Baa, I think that we need installers for each different platform. Probably you can continue with github like it is, but your works needs to be complemented by people like bwynants (for Syno) and Whalman (for OSX) that can cover all the platforms where PlexConnect can be installed. There are thinks that are perhaps platform specific, such as:

  1. Python (where to get if from, how to parametrize the operating system to run it at boot, etc)
  2. Cert generation (bwynants made it simple by including certs in his distribution), but other platforms still have to generate them
  3. Method to update the Settings.cfg file. Would if be possible to have someting like PlexWeb with a "settings" option ? I would welcome this instead of havong some parameters to be updated in the ATV, and others throug editing the cfg file
  4. Method to update PlexConnect to the latest github level (with a rollback possibility to a previous level)

The instructions in github reflect the complexity of not having the "automation" that I mention on the above points.

12

Regardless of the other points being made noone is talking specifics. It has been asked what are the particular issues with the instructions on Github and all that has come back are generalities; it is impossible to look at specific issues or ambiguities if they are not pulled out, line by line if necessary (even better by someone who is slightly totally new to this). Separately the issue with platform specific installers is that they all require a level of maintenance and would divert a lot of dev effort (if you check the roadmap something along these lines is there but it is a matter of priorities for the team). We have had some beta stuff before but the dev left before it was complete, Plexify showed what can happen when the code is not part of the project (any code would still require maintaining anyway) and to my mind OpenConnect/Webconect is wrong; I am not knocking for what it is and I know it has helped some people but for me it is confused (to the extent that it has two different names, when being really one app), is lacking in documentation/description and the interface is confused (random icons representing things totally different for what they are recognised for by everyone - note I can’t draw either but it is just wrong)

13

Are you able to point to those instruction in the WIKI that are not clear?

To me, https://github.com/iBaa/PlexConnect/wiki/Install-Guide really has all you would need.

I really would like to read about that, in order to improve the guides over time. I can't seem to find any big open gaps there...

It's not gaps as such. And please don't take any criticism by me the wrong way, because you have asked and I do want to help others!

I think it's more...

Try coming at it as if you didn't know about Plex or Plexconnect.

You run through a small checklist, no preamble, then give instructions for install on multiple platforms.

And by now, I'm utterly lost.

Let's take one very specific example (and by the way, I am in awe of all the work put in here, but you did ask!)

Fair enough.

  • Ensure you have Python 2.7.x installed (3.x is not supported); OSX 10.7+ has this pre installed.

????? What's python? Where do I get it? Where should it be installed, on the Apple Tv? (And yes, perhaps saying OSX 10.7+ should have led me to knowing you meant on a mac, but given the later options list linux and windows, I didn't put two and two together.

Guess where I then installed it? Onto my appletv. Unsuccessfully of course...well, kind of, it's strange how far you can get)

Fair enough...

  • Ensure the machine running PlexConnect always has the same IP with this Lifehacker Guide.

As discussed above, this all makes sense following Gh05t's list;

"

  • You need to install/run Plex Media Server (PMS) on a computer.  
  • You will then install/run PlexConnect along side PMS on the same computer.  
  • You will configure that that computer to use a designated IP address.
  • The Apple TV will be configured to use that specific IP in its DNS settings.
    • This DNS entry will need to point to your IP on the computer running PlexConnect & PMS.  
    • This is because PlexConnect uses that IP to serve up content to the Trailers.app on your Apple TV."

But at the time, at first, I thought I was installing everything to my appletv...

Seems daft now, but as I say - take a step back. Look at this from the perspective of someone who doesn't know anything other than that, up until now, they had a plex client installed onto their Appletv.

Why wouldn't I have thought this was similar?

OK. where? (and yes, I know now!)

I'm not saying it's a bad wiki, it's not - it's just written by someone who knows a hell of a lot about the product. I knew absolutely nothing and got myself in a right state!

Maybe just a longer preamble? Or even just nick the explanation list above!

And one more thing!

moody_blue says "Synology users (thanks to bwynants installer)..."

Is there an installer for Synology? Cool! I have a DS212J!

I didn't know that.

Perhaps that's it too...how would I know that?

Maybe you just need an FAQ?

14

I've seen that you, Baa and Roidy are pretty much focused on developing new functionality, and this is great. That's why PlexConnect has improved so much. You guys are really specialists in the interfaces with PMS and with the ATV.

And I know that maintaining "platform specific" installers would be a huge effort for you, and probably you do not own all kinds of platforms to test. That's why I'm suggesting that someone else could manage a "platform installer" that it's easy to follow for newbies. Maybe some of us could volunteer for that.

15
Is there an installer for Synology? Cool! I have a DS212J!

Please look at https://forums.plex.tv/topic/72356-plexconnect-on-synology/

I suggest that you install PlexConnect in the NAS, point the ATV to the NAS, the SYno has a panel to specify a "fixed IP", but please install PMS (Plex Media Server) on your Mac (so that you can use transcode, Syno's cannot transcode, so if you install PMS in the DS212J all your media should be converted to a ATV supported format).

16

boomhaueruk:

From my point of view, PlexConnect is an extentsion to Plex Media Server - to bring your content to aTV/your TVset. Not knowing PMS (and not using it at all...) basically removes every need for PlexConnect.

What you are saying, it sounds like it's the other way around: PMS to serve PlexConnect's needs. Well, I guess, it is called "Server" for a reason, but still the official Plex ecosystem is the heart of it.

Have you looked at the main github page - readme.md. I know it's not that easy, and not always the best fit to the latest sources.

PlexConnect
or: "Plex @ aTV - think different..."

We all want the pleasure of Plex on the big screen - in this case driven by an AppleTV. Unfortunately there are officially no Apps allowed on AppleTV, most of the time a jailbreak is late (iOS 5.2?) or not available at all (aTV3).

I guess, I don't get the sheer amount of information flow across the internet, tech blogs and such: Why would one stumble over PlexConnect without using Plex at first?

Maybe I just can't believe the huge amount of "news-worthiness", that I/we generated over the last year...

Read on... this should give you a fairly short, yet precise description, what PlexConnect is up to:

How does it work?

The basic idea is, to…
  • re-use an already available app (like YouTube, Vimeo, … in this case: Apple Trailers)
  • re-route the request to your local Plex Media Server
  • re-work the reply to fit into AppleTV’s XML communication scheme
  • let iOS do the rest

The issue with Gh05t's list - it's not the whole truth either:

  • You need to install/run Plex Media Server (PMS) on a computer. -> no, PMS can be hosted everywhere else, ask your friends...
  • You will then install/run PlexConnect along side PMS on the same computer. -> no, need to be on the same machine as the PMS.
  • You will configure that that computer to use a designated IP address. -> only if you are not up to changing your aTVs DNS address daily :-)
  • The Apple TV will be configured to use that specific IP in its DNS settings.
    • This DNS entry will need to point to your IP on the computer running PlexConnect & PMS. -> again, strike PMS
    • This is because PlexConnect uses that IP to serve up content to the Trailers.app on your Apple TV."

You see, this as well is just a short beginners guide, that might have answered your questions.

>>Maybe you just need an FAQ?

Well, we have. Again, check the WIKI. It might not answer all questions, but a FAQ is there.

17

Regardless of the other points being made noone is talking specifics. It has been asked what are the particular issues with the instructions on Github and all that has come back are generalities; it is impossible to look at specific issues or ambiguities if they are not pulled out, line by line if necessary (even better by someone who is slightly totally new to this). Separately the issue with platform specific installers is that they all require a level of maintenance and would divert a lot of dev effort (if you check the roadmap something along these lines is there but it is a matter of priorities for the team). We have had some beta stuff before but the dev left before it was complete, Plexify showed what can happen when the code is not part of the project (any code would still require maintaining anyway) and to my mind OpenConnect/Webconect is wrong; I am not knocking for what it is and I know it has helped some people but for me it is confused (to the extent that it has two different names, when being really one app), is lacking in documentation/description and the interface is confused (random icons representing things totally different for what they are recognised for by everyone - note I can't draw either but it is just wrong)


OpenConnect and WebConnect are not the same at all they are not "really one app". OpenConnect is an app built with Automator, applescript, bash scripts, python among other things that happen behind the scenes. WebConnect is a addon to the app so you can be app free to manage PlexConnect on your LAN or over the network on any device using just a web browser using cgi and apache2. There is a video tutorial on the OP and a readme.md on my github. There is a guide mode using the app to install/update/manage plexconnect on various apps that can be hijacked such as trailers, iMovie, or wsj. It doesn't get any simpler then that. Anyone that has used my app or app free web based addon has been more then pleased with the results on OSX. It was confusing at first when I originally designed it but it is now extremely easy to use. It takes time to develop these apps/methods. A little appreciation would be nice since I am making easier ways to get plexconnect on OSX and designing .debs for easy installation on jailbroken aTVs and ios devices alike. This is just wrong? I even labeled the icons to specify what they do. Remember this is the first aTV theme I made from scratch. If anything it looks pretty nice to me. Do the icons do different things on the aTV? Obviously I just used what I had to work with to make a aTV cgi theme. If you don't like it don't use it. Nobody is forcing you to. If you can make a better app feel free, I would love to see what you can come up with.
18

moody_blue:

  • Cert generation (bwynants made it simple by including certs in his distribution), but other platforms still have to generate them

I am not going to provide pre-recorded certs. I stated this numerous times, eg. on this issue:

https://github.com/iBaa/PlexConnect/issues/228

A cert is a digital key - you are not spreading copies of your main door key either, do you?

  • Method to update the Settings.cfg file. Would if be possible to have someting like PlexWeb with a "settings" option ? I would welcome this instead of havong some parameters to be updated in the ATV, and others throug editing the cfg file

Well, some settings are aTV specific (like the views selection), some are not (DNS address, ...). Some are to be edited by the user (on aTV), some are more for some kind of administrator (Settings.cfg). I am not sure, how you want to combine those... do you run just one aTV in your setup or multiple?

19

I’m beginning to see his point when he says “complicated”

20

In my defense I was making assumptions and simplifying for his benefit and Baa is absolutely correct in pointing out where I was imprecise. People are used to double clicking and install. But being as this is a workaround things are complicated. All I can say is that it’s possible and very doable in an afternoon as well as very worth it.