PlexConnect just stopped working for unknown reason?

Dev Community Apps & Creations
1

I'm reposting this thread to include the correct support template information. Sorry for the duplicate.

 

  • Your ATV model (2 or 3) and firmware version (found under the ATV settings > general > about > Apple TV software): 

ATV2 firmware: 5.3

  • The DNS server set on the ATV (found under the ATV settings > general > network > DNS):
  • The device and operating system (including version number) that PlexConnect is installed on:

Mac Mini OSX 10.8.3

  • The local IP address of the device that PlexConnect is installed on:

192.168.0.16

  • The device and operating system (including version number) that the Plex media server (PMS) is installed on:

Mac mini OSX 10.8.3

  • The Plex media server (PMS) version number you are running (**do not put 'latest'**):

Version 0.9.7.28.33-f80a4a2

  • The local IP address of the device that the Plex media server (PMS) is installed on:

192.168.0.16

  • The PlexConnect version number. If using Github source then a time and date of download (look at the creation date of the folder) and if you are using any testing branch e.g. the Elan/PlexInc one.

Unsure... PlexConnect was installed as an application using this method

  • The content of your 'Settings.cfg' file (if you do not have this file you are running an old version, please update)

 

[PlexConnect]
port_pms = 32400
enable_plexgdm = True
ip_dnsmaster = 8.8.8.8
ip_webserver = 0.0.0.0
loglevel = Normal
enable_dnsserver = True
ip_pms = 192.168.178.10
port_webserver = 80
  • Detail on the media file if it is an issue related to playing a media file (in order to get the necessary information on a particular media file go into the Plex web interface, select the video file, when it brings up the page for the media file click on the "i" information button on the left hand side, it will then bring up a "media info" box, click on the "View XML" button, it will then open a browser window with the relevant information, copy this to http://www.pastebin.com and use the pastebin link to post the details; posting the information directly in the forum may mess up the formatting and generally takes up a lot of space):

Not related to any one particular media file.

  • A detailed description of the issue (the clearer you can make this the better):

 

I have installed PlexConnect as an application as per the instructions in this post and it's been working flawlessly for 1-2 weeks. I was watching a movie yesterday and all of a sudden the movie stopped playing and the ATV started showing "Accessing trailers". I was soon to discover that PlexConnect had stopped working and I could not get it back up and running.

 

I have tried restarting my Mac, restarting PMS, restarting the PlexConnect app, restarting the ATV, reseting the ATV, pulling the power on the ATV all without luck.

 

My ATV only shows the Computers and Settings buttons as though it cannot obtain an internet connection.

 

The IP address on the Mac (DNS on the ATV) has not changed.

 

The Mac does have internet connectivity.

 

I know PMS is working as I can access it via my iPad both on my network and outside my network.

 

The same behaviour has also occurred on my second ATV.

  • Ensure you post your 'PlexConnect.log' file to pastebin and post the link ('PlexConnect.log' is located in your PlexConnect folder). If possible, follow these steps to create a "more detailed fresh" one:

There is not a PlexConnect.log file in my PlexConnect folder. Perhaps this is due to running it as an application???

2

The problem we have is that you are using an unsupported method with no log file to troubleshoot.

Want to try following the guide on the wiki for a ‘normal’ install to see if you can generate a log file, assuming you get the same problem?

If we find the issue you can then hopefully fix it for both methods.

3

The problem we have is that you are using an unsupported method with no log file to troubleshoot.
Want to try following the guide on the wiki for a 'normal' install to see if you can generate a log file, assuming you get the same problem?
If we find the issue you can then hopefully fix it for both methods.

Hi f00b4r, 

Thanks for getting back to me. Unfortunately, that's the only method I've been able to successfully implement PlexConnect. I've followed the normal install procedure from the wiki, but I've never been able to overcome this problem.

Failed to create socket on UDP port 53: [Errno 48] Address already in use

That's why I resorted to installing as an app.

Cheers, Brett

4

That is because a DNS server is already running.

As the AppleScript /daemon method works I would assume that it is because this is still running, try using activity monitor to kill all Python processes (shut down any other Python apps first) and then try it.

5

That is because a DNS server is already running.
As the AppleScript /daemon method works I would assume that it is because this is still running, try using activity monitor to kill all Python processes (shut down any other Python apps first) and then try it.

Sorry, just to clarify, when you said to "try it", were you referring to try installing using the normal procedure from the wiki?

This is a screen capture from my activity monitor. All of those 4 python processes relate to PMS. Is this what you would expect to see (4 processes)?

[Capture2_zpse6a1641a.jpg](http://s72.photobucket.com/user/brett0505/media/Capture2_zpse6a1641a.jpg.html)

6

Yes by try it.

No idea on number of processes but my logic still holds from above.

You may want to shut down PMS, quit python processes and then restart it.

7

OK. I just killed all the Plex & python processes in activity monitor and tried the install as per the wiki. This is the result:-

localhost:PlexConnect-XML_templates-2 brett$ sudo ./PlexConnect.py
Password:
16:27:04 PlexConnect: started: 16:27:04
16:27:04 PlexConnect: ***
16:27:04 PlexConnect: PlexConnect
16:27:04 PlexConnect: Press CTRL-C to shut down.
16:27:04 PlexConnect: ***
16:27:04 Settings: add section PlexConnect
16:27:04 Settings: add option port_pms=32400
16:27:04 Settings: add option enable_plexgdm=True
16:27:04 Settings: add option ip_dnsmaster=8.8.8.8
16:27:04 Settings: add option ip_webserver=0.0.0.0
16:27:04 Settings: add option loglevel=Normal
16:27:04 Settings: add option enable_dnsserver=True
16:27:04 Settings: add option ip_pms=192.168.178.10
16:27:04 Settings: add option port_webserver=80
16:27:04 PlexConnect: IP_self: 192.168.0.16
16:27:04 PlexConnect: started: 16:27:04
16:27:04 DNSServer: started: 16:27:04
16:27:04 DNSServer: Failed to create socket on UDP port 53: [Errno 48] Address already in use
16:27:04 PlexConnect: DNSServer not alive. Shutting down.

 
8

You have a DNS server already running.

Maybe you installed something recently?

I cannot remember the full command offhand but if you check the common errors page in the wiki it shows you how to find out what is using port 53.

Post that info here.

9

I must have missed a post in an old thread of mine regarding the DNS Server. This seemed to allow me to install PlexConnect via the correct method in the wiki. 

http://forums.plexapp.com/index.php/topic/70892-error-with-installation-failed-to-create-socket-on-udp-port-53/?p=424167

Will test in about an hour when I'm in front of my ATV. (would love to be able to remote into an ATV)

localhost:PlexConnect-XML_templates-2 brett$ sudo ./PlexConnect.py
16:52:02 PlexConnect: started: 16:52:02
16:52:02 PlexConnect: ***
16:52:02 PlexConnect: PlexConnect
16:52:02 PlexConnect: Press CTRL-C to shut down.
16:52:02 PlexConnect: ***
16:52:02 Settings: add section PlexConnect
16:52:02 Settings: add option port_pms=32400
16:52:02 Settings: add option enable_plexgdm=True
16:52:02 Settings: add option ip_dnsmaster=8.8.8.8
16:52:02 Settings: add option ip_webserver=0.0.0.0
16:52:02 Settings: add option loglevel=Normal
16:52:02 Settings: add option enable_dnsserver=True
16:52:02 Settings: add option ip_pms=192.168.178.10
16:52:02 Settings: add option port_webserver=80
16:52:02 PlexConnect: IP_self: 192.168.0.16
16:52:02 PlexConnect: started: 16:52:02
16:52:02 DNSServer: started: 16:52:02
16:52:02 DNSServer: ***
16:52:02 DNSServer: Starting up.
16:52:02 DNSServer: intercept trailers.apple.com: 192.168.0.16
16:52:02 DNSServer: forward other to higher level DNS: 8.8.8.8
16:52:02 DNSServer: ***
16:52:02 WebServer: started: 16:52:02
16:52:02 WebServer: ***
16:52:02 WebServer: WebServer: Serving HTTP on 0.0.0.0 port 80.
16:52:02 WebServer: ***
16:52:02 PlexGDM: ***
16:52:02 PlexGDM: looking up Plex Media Server
16:52:02 PlexGDM: ***
16:52:03 DNSServer: DNS request received!
16:52:03 DNSServer: Source: ('192.168.0.217', 56832)
16:52:03 DNSServer: Domain: time.apple.com
16:52:03 DNSServer: ***forward request
16:52:03 PlexGDM: servers discovered: 1
16:52:03 XMLConverter: PlexGDM - PMS: 192.168.0.16:32400
16:52:03 DNSServer: -> DNS response from higher level

 
10

If you need the other DNS Server aswell, theres a simple method as you just need to create a new IP Address to your Network interface.

e.g. if you created 10.0.1.4 as your new IP on your default interface just open DNSServer.py and go to the line which says 

DNS.bind=(('',53))
 

Change this to

DNS.bind=(('10.0.1.4,53))
 

Point your AppleTV to your newly created IP and it should work

11
 

All working again now. Thanks all for your help!

12

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