PMS in a data center

[icepicknz]

I’ve been scratching my head for the last hour trying to work out what’s going on… I just upgraded my Plex media server which has run fine for over 2 years and I periodically update. It runs fine, but doesn’t show in Plex and none of my clients can connect to it and I came across a couple of posts about RFC1918 addresses and suspected this was just for NAS boxes like Synology etc.

I have a linux server out on the net that’s in a DC and I stream my Plex content from a number of locations, hope, snow house, lake house and a few family members also connect.

Am I reading correctly, that Plex no longer allows a Public IP on the media server? we must run a tunnel or VPN to the server to receive the content off it? I must do this from every client?

[root@bazzabox Plex Media Server]# sudo yum localinstall /tmp/plexmediaserver-1.19.1.2701-6327e27bf.x86_64.rpm
Loaded plugins: fastestmirror
Examining /tmp/plexmediaserver-1.19.1.2701-6327e27bf.x86_64.rpm: plexmediaserver-1.19.1.2701-6327e27bf.x86_64
Marking /tmp/plexmediaserver-1.19.1.2701-6327e27bf.x86_64.rpm as an update to plexmediaserver-1.16.0.1226-7eb2c8f6f.x86_64
Resolving Dependencies
--> Running transaction check
---> Package plexmediaserver.x86_64 0:1.16.0.1226-7eb2c8f6f will be updated
---> Package plexmediaserver.x86_64 0:1.19.1.2701-6327e27bf will be an update
--> Finished Dependency Resolution

Dependencies Resolved

==============================================================================================================================================================================================================================================
 Package                                            Arch                                      Version                                                  Repository                                                                        Size
==============================================================================================================================================================================================================================================
Updating:
 plexmediaserver                                    x86_64                                    1.19.1.2701-6327e27bf                                    /plexmediaserver-1.19.1.2701-6327e27bf.x86_64                                    286 M

Transaction Summary
==============================================================================================================================================================================================================================================
Upgrade  1 Package

Total size: 286 M
Is this ok [y/d/N]: y
Downloading packages:
Running transaction check
Running transaction test
Transaction test succeeded
Running transaction
  Updating   : plexmediaserver-1.19.1.2701-6327e27bf.x86_64                                                                                                                                                                               1/2 
  Cleanup    : plexmediaserver-1.16.0.1226-7eb2c8f6f.x86_64                                                                                                                                                                               2/2 
  Verifying  : plexmediaserver-1.19.1.2701-6327e27bf.x86_64                                                                                                                                                                               1/2 
  Verifying  : plexmediaserver-1.16.0.1226-7eb2c8f6f.x86_64                                                                                                                                                                               2/2 

Updated:
  plexmediaserver.x86_64 0:1.19.1.2701-6327e27bf                                                                                                                                                                                              

Complete!

[icepicknz]

I’ve tried to ssh tunnel in as per https://support.plex.tv/articles/200288586-installation/?_ga=2.243940229.1853238671.1587804337-2041096233.1587459968 and not had any luck to any of the IP addresses including loopback for the tunnel forwarder, not getting a web GUI.

here is some startup info

Apr 25, 2020 22:15:40.424 [0x7fbfdb75b780] DEBUG - NetworkInterface: Starting watch thread.
Apr 25, 2020 22:15:40.424 [0x7fbfdb75b780] DEBUG - Network change.
Apr 25, 2020 22:15:40.424 [0x7fbfdb75b780] DEBUG - NetworkInterface: Notified of network changed (force=0)
Apr 25, 2020 22:15:40.425 [0x7fbfab7fe700] DEBUG - NetworkInterface: Watching for changes on the interfaces.
Apr 25, 2020 22:15:40.425 [0x7fbfdb75b780] DEBUG - Detected primary interface: 14.1.XX.XYZ
Apr 25, 2020 22:15:40.425 [0x7fbfdb75b780] DEBUG - Network interfaces:
Apr 25, 2020 22:15:40.425 [0x7fbfdb75b780] DEBUG -  * 1 lo (127.0.0.1) (loopback: 1)
Apr 25, 2020 22:15:40.425 [0x7fbfdb75b780] DEBUG -  * 2 enp3s0 (14.1.XX.XYZ) (loopback: 0)
Apr 25, 2020 22:15:40.425 [0x7fbfdb75b780] DEBUG -  * 4 virbr0 (192.168.122.1) (loopback: 0)
Apr 25, 2020 22:15:40.425 [0x7fbfdb75b780] DEBUG -  * 1 lo (::1) (loopback: 1)
Apr 25, 2020 22:15:40.425 [0x7fbfdb75b780] DEBUG -  * 2 enp3s0 (2401:7000:0:dd::194) (loopback: 0)
Apr 25, 2020 22:15:40.425 [0x7fbfdb75b780] DEBUG -  * 2 enp3s0 (fe80::225:90ff:fe36:d2e6%enp3s0) (loopback: 0)
Apr 25, 2020 22:15:40.425 [0x7fbfdb75b780] DEBUG - Creating NetworkServices singleton.
Apr 25, 2020 22:15:40.425 [0x7fbfdb75b780] DEBUG - NetworkServices: Initializing...
Apr 25, 2020 22:15:40.425 [0x7fbfdb75b780] DEBUG - NetworkService: Creating new service.
Apr 25, 2020 22:15:40.425 [0x7fbfdb75b780] DEBUG - NetworkService: Got notification of changed network (first change: 1)
Apr 25, 2020 22:15:40.425 [0x7fbfdb75b780] DEBUG - NetworkService: Quick dispatch of network change.
Apr 25, 2020 22:15:40.425 [0x7fbfdb75b780] DEBUG - NetworkService: Creating new service.
Apr 25, 2020 22:15:40.425 [0x7fbfdb75b780] DEBUG - NetworkService: Got notification of changed network (first change: 1)
Apr 25, 2020 22:15:40.425 [0x7fbfdb75b780] DEBUG - NetworkService: Quick dispatch of network change.
Apr 25, 2020 22:15:40.425 [0x7fbfdb75b780] DEBUG - NetworkService: Creating new service.
Apr 25, 2020 22:15:40.425 [0x7fbfdb75b780] DEBUG - NetworkService: Got notification of changed network (first change: 1)
Apr 25, 2020 22:15:40.425 [0x7fbfdb75b780] DEBUG - NetworkService: Quick dispatch of network change.
Apr 25, 2020 22:15:40.425 [0x7fbfdb75b780] DEBUG - NetworkService: Creating new service.
Apr 25, 2020 22:15:40.425 [0x7fbfabfff700] DEBUG - Network change for advertiser.
Apr 25, 2020 22:15:40.425 [0x7fbfdb75b780] DEBUG - NetworkService: Got notification of changed network (first change: 1)
Apr 25, 2020 22:15:40.425 [0x7fbfdb75b780] DEBUG - NetworkService: Quick dispatch of network change.
Apr 25, 2020 22:15:40.425 [0x7fbfabfff700] DEBUG - NetworkService: Setting up multicast listener on 0.0.0.0:32414
Apr 25, 2020 22:15:40.425 [0x7fbfdb75b780] DEBUG - NetworkService: Creating new service.
Apr 25, 2020 22:15:40.425 [0x7fbfdb75b780] DEBUG - NetworkService: Got notification of changed network (first change: 1)
Apr 25, 2020 22:15:40.425 [0x7fbfdb75b780] DEBUG - NetworkService: Quick dispatch of network change.
Apr 25, 2020 22:15:40.425 [0x7fbfdb75b780] DEBUG - NetworkService: Creating new service.
Apr 25, 2020 22:15:40.425 [0x7fbfdb75b780] DEBUG - NetworkService: Got notification of changed network (first change: 1)
Apr 25, 2020 22:15:40.425 [0x7fbfdb75b780] DEBUG - NetworkService: Quick dispatch of network change.
Apr 25, 2020 22:15:40.426 [0x7fbfdb75b780] DEBUG - Starting HTTP server.
Apr 25, 2020 22:15:40.426 [0x7fbfdb75b780] DEBUG - Running server...
Apr 25, 2020 22:15:40.426 [0x7fbfdb75b780] DEBUG - Waiting for server condition to be signaled.
Apr 25, 2020 22:15:40.426 [0x7fbfabfff700] DEBUG - Network change for advertiser.
Apr 25, 2020 22:15:40.426 [0x7fbfabfff700] DEBUG - NetworkService: Setting up multicast listener on 0.0.0.0:32410
Apr 25, 2020 22:15:40.426 [0x7fbfaa7fc700] DEBUG - HttpServer: Set up a thread pool with 2 threads.

Open listning ports doesn’t have any open port for 32400 other than on v6 interface

[root@bazzabox ~]# netstat -na | grep 32400
tcp6       0      0 :::32400                :::*                    LISTEN     

[icepicknz]

Ok, I think my issue is worse because the machine is wanting to use IPv6 only, so I cant even use the ssh tunnel to get into the PMS.

I’ve tried EnableIPv6=0 in the Preferences.xml but as soon as I start PMS it removes that v6 preference and starts the web server on v6 anyways

[root@bazzabox ~]# netstat -na | grep 32400
tcp6       0      0 :::32400                :::*                    LISTEN     

[ChuckPa]

To help sort a few misconceptions here.

1. Having a server, on a public IP, in a datacenter, is fine. – It needs IPv4 capability.
2. Having a Public IP on the INSIDE of your modem/router is NOT going to work . This is what RFC-1918 is all about.

The above “32400” showing tcp6 is a bit confusing. PMS listens to V4 and V6 concurrently on the same port. This is the first step toward supporting IPv6 natively.

For now, and until complete, IPv4 should be the default.

If there is no need of IPv6, turn it off.

There is nothing at Plex.tv which uses IPv6

[icepicknz]

I still cant get to the web gui of my Plex as its still only listing on tcp6 not on IPv4.
Even tried to reboot the box a bunch of times.

Can I upload the /var/lib/plexmediaserver/Library/Application Support/Plex Media Server/Logs for you?

[icepicknz]

I managed to add EnableIPv6=“0” to Preferences.xml and restarted Plex, it had no affect.
So I made a backup of the Preferences file and created a new one with just the 0 field for IPv6 as above and then It started listening on 32400 and 32400 on tcp4.
I copied the old Preferences file back and added the EnabledIPv6=“0” and things started with v4 capability

I can now do the ssh root@XYZ -L 8888:127.0.0.1:32400 and got to the site on my local machine but its now wanting to setup as a brand new Plex, all my libraries, all the files I’ve already watched forgotten etc.

So I guess I could set this up brand new but then everyone has to work out what they have watched and haven’t; is there an easy way to fix this?

[icepicknz]

My apologies for hijacking the thread, at first it appeared my issue was similar…
Mine is a WAN in DC, running linux.

Have got it to a point where its now calling Plex home and I can reach it through the Plex.tv however its like its a brand new install and has forgotten my libraries and what people have watched and all my settings. I believe I had enabled the option for backup so hopefully my settings can be restored somehow and the records of what’s been watched will also be restored?

[icepicknz]

Seems like I have finally fixed it using https://support.plex.tv/articles/202485658-restore-a-database-backed-up-via-scheduled-tasks/ ; not sure what will be missing from the restore but hopefully that’s enough to get me going, thanks

[ChuckPa]

@icepicknz

I’ve moved our portion out here so some sense of sanity can return to my mind (I have so little )

Are you all good & working now?

[icepicknz]

yes all working, I apologise for the thread hijack

[ChuckPa]

No problem. I have extra duct tape here for my sanity.

[icepicknz]

I found the cause, after a suggestion from https://forums.plex.tv/search?q=Preferences.xml%20topic%3A221550 I added TranscoderCanOnlyRemuxVideo=“1” to Preferences.xml and this seems to cause the whole process to do some weird things. Lucky this time I had a backup of preferences.xml and just restored it.

Is there any other way to disable transcoding on a per user bases or just in general?

Most people don’t modify their clients to run original direct stream so everything has been transcoding and causing my server to have very high CPU

[ChuckPa]

Settings - Server - Transcoder - Show Advanced

Disable video stream transcoding

Disable transcoding of the video stream in transcoder operations. With this set, the transcoder may still transcode audio as well as remux video.

[TeknoJunky]

be advised, if you disable transcoding, then a lot of your clients may not play at all. (the ones that require transcoding)

also keep in mind, clients on cellular or with low speed internet, may not be able to direct play all content even if configured to (due to bandwidth limitations).