Hi,
Is there anyway to configure an AppleTV (3rd Gen) running PlexConnect to connect to a remote Plex server?
**EDIT** - Just to clarify, In this instance there is no Plex Server on the LAN where the AppleTV resides, so library sharing is not a possibility.
Adam
Today might be your luck day:
If you have PlexConnect running locally you don’t need a local PMS, one remote shared through MyPlex is enough.
I dont think he has a plexconnect host at the remote site…unless that nat can run it then use myplex as @f00b4r stated
@wahlman.j
I'm afraid most of whats on that page is over my head. I'm a network engineer, not a developer :(
@f00b4r
Thanks for that, but to give more clarity on the situation....
I'm searching for a way to provide a friend access to my Plex Server from his house. This fella doesn't have a computer constantly running on his network and doesn't wish to have to get his laptop out etc each time he wants to watch something.
I thought Plex Connect via an AppleTV might be the way to go if it could be made to work by pointing to my external DNS address and then NAT'd through my firewall to my plex server.
Any other thoughts or suggestions would be warmly received!
Adam
I have a few tutorials in my signature. All of them require a plexconnect host at the remote site besides the one I posted prior.
Btw im not a developer…or am I? 
You can do it but make sure you lock down that DNS server to his IP only, normally I would say do not do it but that is because most people would not understand what opening DNS to the world could mean.
You will also need to enable access to the web server component.
If your router/firewall supports portforwarding, I don't see why this would pose any problems.
Just be sure to adhere to f00b4r's remark about security!
If your router/firewall supports portforwarding, I don't see why this would pose any problems.
Just be sure to adhere to f00b4r's remark about security!
Port forwarding, and the security round that, is the easy bit.
What I don't understand is how to configure the AppleTV in the remote location to look at an External DNS address for the Plex Server. More over, the DNS address set on the AppleTV for the trailers app to work needs setting to an IP (normally within your LAN), in this case I don't see how to route the same requests through from the remote site, across the internet to the LAN where my Plex Server is.
Adam
What I don't understand is how to configure the AppleTV in the remote location to look at an External DNS address for the Plex Server. More over, the DNS address set on the AppleTV for the trailers app to work needs setting to an IP (normally within your LAN), in this case I don't see how to route the same requests through from the remote site, across the internet to the LAN where my Plex Server is.
Between Plex Server and the ATV3 there is a piece of code that is required. That piece of code is PlexConnect. It has a DNS component that reroutes the trailers app to the Plex Server.
If the ATV is jailbreak you can install PlexConnect on it, otherwise you need a separate computer (or smart phone) on the same LAN as the ATV to install PlexConnect.
Then PlexConnect can access the "remote PMS" in two possible ways:
Alternatively, if your friend has a Tomato router (or a router that supports dnsmasq), this can be used to redirect the trailer app to a PlexConnect computer. What I don't know is if the PlexConnect computer needs to be in the local LAN, or can be on a remote one.
Maybe a RasPI is a better alternative for what you want to do...
Why not set the DNS address on ATV to the external IP of the net that has PlexConnect and Plex Media Server running at the remote location.
Might slow down address resolution on the local network, but in theory this should work.
Better of course would be a site to site connection via OpenVPN or similar...
Impossible is nothing? ;)
If you do a p2p VPN make sure you hard code IP’s and disable auto discoveries in settings.cfg (see wiki advanced settings page), otherwise the discovery process will get confused by the multiple interfaces showing for devices.
If the ATV is jailbreak you can install PlexConnect on it, otherwise you need a separate computer (or smart phone) on the same LAN as the ATV to install PlexConnect.
I'm afraid it would be an ATV3, which I don't believe can be jailbroken yet? If he had a separate computer then none of this would be a problem as he could just run his own PMS, he does has an iPhone 4, but again not jailbroken.
Maybe a RasPI is a better alternative for what you want to do...
I like the sound of this actually. Has anyone run PMS on a RasPi?
Why not set the DNS address on ATV to the external IP of the net that has PlexConnect and Plex Media Server running at the remote location.
Might slow down address resolution on the local network, but in theory this should work.
I know the external IP could be used on the AppleTV settings, however, this would mean each time my fibre reconnects the IP is likely different. The hassle factor here is the problem as opposed to the technical limitation.
Better of course would be a site to site connection via OpenVPN or similar...
Site to site VPN is not realistic either. Simply because it would have to be a hardware VPN as he has no constant active host on the network. If he did none of this would be a problem as he could just run his own Plex Server :rolleyes:
Impossible is nothing? ;)
True!
However, its about trying to find a solution which is achievable without much cost.
Thanks to everyone for your thoughts, help and input.
Adam
On your friend's location -> if you opt for Plex client in RasPI, please read https://forums.plex.tv/forum/126-rasplex/
On your location -> you need to install PMS in one of these platforms https://plex.tv/downloads
The other option is to run PlexConnect on the PI as a daemon (low power draw and always on), that way it would always resolve the ATV’s native apps and allow access to your Plex server.
Maybe worth taking a cpl of memory cards and trying the PI running The Plex client or running PlexConnect for the ATV.
@f00b4r, I suppose that PMS cannot run in RasPI because transcoding will be necessary and RasPI has not enough power. RasPI is a viable solution for the client but not the server. Pls confirm.
Yeah it can run the client but not the server.
On your friend's location -> if you opt for Plex client in RasPI, please read https://forums.plex.tv/forum/126-rasplex/
On your location -> you need to install PMS in one of these platforms https://plex.tv/downloads
Raspberry Pi ordered! I think this may just be the answer I'm looking for :)
The other option is to run PlexConnect on the PI as a daemon (low power draw and always on), that way it would always resolve the ATV's native apps and allow access to your Plex server.
Maybe worth taking a cpl of memory cards and trying the PI running The Plex client or running PlexConnect for the ATV.
This is true, however if the Raspberry Pi can run the Plex client natively then its one less point of failure/administration etc for a non technical person to look after/maintain.
Again, thanks to all for your input. I'll update the thread once I've received and tested the Pi.
:ph34r:
I forgot to mention, please check in the RasPlex forum if (and how) RasPlex can access a remote PMS.
