Server Version#: 1.18.9.2578
Player Version#: 1.18.9.2578
Hi there, my server PERMANENTLY says it is unavailable, I tell it to enable remote access, it flashes that it worked, then within a 2 seconds it disables it. OR so it seems, however despite it saying that it has disabled it, half the time it is still infact active and remote access in working perfectly fine. BUT the issue with this is the other half of the time remote access is actually disconnected. This has been an issue I have been having for close to a year now, everytime an update has come out I have immediately updated in the hopes that itll be fixed, and everytime I am dissappointed. I never used to have this issue before then.
I have followed every tutorial and instructional thing I can find on this and no luck. I have port forwarding set up and firewall exceptions (even disabled the firewall and no difference), I have a wired connection, my network does NOT use double NAT, all my settings are the same as they were before this issue started occuring.
To make it more inconvienent the times were it is enabled (despite telling me it isnt from my side), it will random disable at any point from 5 minutes to 12 hours later. The end result is my server is completely unusable from any but the one it is installed on.
My experience has been identical to that described by @Specimen1334, with the following exception. In Network Settings I have enabled the relay function so users outside my network are still able to reach my NAS and share my content.
Based on information I’ve seen in Plex articles, this method allows users to connect to a Plex server that is otherwise unreachable by directing the user to Plex direct servers which have bandwidth restrictions. In addition, although Plex explains that our privacy is important, it does result in a situation where a Plex server sharing content can only do so when Plex direct is involved.
I’ve attempted two methods of validating custom certificates in the Plex server network settings in order to confirm that my configuration is working properly.
Self-signed Certificate
I created a Openssl pcks12 file (pfx) using self-signed certificate, key, and CA (Certifiate Authority) chain certificates. The certificates were all valid and allow my server to be otherwise visible with no issues or warnings in any browser. The browser always indicated that the server certificate was valid, encryption was enabled and any transactions with the server was safe.
I went one step further and validated that I could access the Plex server via external devices (mobile phone with WIFI disabled, connecting by means of mobile data connection). My server was available remotely with no issues. I was able to stream content to the mobile phone securely, even though Plex indicated Remote Access was disabled. This led me to believe that the issue is that Plex is expecting the CA to be a Top Trusted CA. Self-signed certificates didn’t qualify. So, I switched to Let’s Encrypt.
Let’s Encrypt certificate
I created an Openssl pkcs12 certificate as indicated in step 1 using Let’s Encrypt certificates. Once again, my NAS provided a secure, encrypted connection as it did with a self-signed certificate. The only difference is instead of using a self-signed CA that is installed on my devices, it’s using the Top Trusted CA provided by Let’s Encrypt. I was able to connect to my Plex server using my mobile data connection although the Plex server indicated that remote access was disabled.
This leads me to believe that the issue lies with the Plex software. I’m no expert, but my guess is although Plex server successfully uploads the pcks12 certificate enabling secure, encrypted connections that allow a server to stream to remote users, the Remote Access portion of Plex Server isn’t properly managing the pcks12 certificate data and reverting to either no connection as indicated by @Specimen1334 or sending users through the Plex Direct servers in my case.
I’ve already confirmed with my friends that they can stream my content although the Remote Access is showing disabled. Fortunately, they’re unaware of the issue and it appears that everything is working appropriately on their end. Based on the information provided accessing a server through relay support page (https://support.plex.tv/articles/216766168-accessing-a-server-through-relay/) users will have a better experience if remote access is enabled and working properly. Anything the @Plex Team can do to investigate issues related to remote access handling custom certificates would be appreciated.
I have noticed this same issue for the past one or two weeks, never noticed it before but on the other hand I was not really paying any attention to it.
I tried several of the suggestions I found on the related help pages but to no avail, remote access remained mostly unavailable. When I disabled UPnP in the router settings and enabled it again, remote access was available for a while, but when I rebooted my PC it was unavailable once again.
However, I found that signing out of my Plex account and signing in again does the trick, at least until the next shutdown/startup.
Hope this helps until a permanent solution is found.
Server Version#: 1.18.9.2578
Update: a few minutes ago remote access disconnected by itself, so this is no solution.
Also seeing this, Server indicates not available outside the network, however remote users can still access server. just fine from differing types of clients.
I just tried @ChuckPa’s solution, which is found in another thread. At first, it didn’t appear to work, but, after a few minutes, my server is now showing that Remote Access is available. It’s worth checking out.
Thanks @Chritipa for the suggestion. I have done this and confirmed my port is infact open. Which I expected to be the case, as people are able to acces my content from time to time.
I believe that your assessment that it is on their (plex’s) end is accurate. I hope they fix this issue fairly soon, as what is the point of a having a server if you cannot access it remotely, may as well just have VLC player.
Additionally thank you @pguest099 for your suggestion of setting up a relay, I shall have to look into this for the interim, and I shall also look at @ChuckPa’s solution as suggested. Fingers crossed I also have luck with it.
Hi there,
My apologies, I have absolutely no idea how to install or find Qnap text editor, I googled for it and get taken to a website https://appcenter.qnap.com/eng/qpkg/overview/TextEditor.
However there is no way to download it from that, unless I have blindly be staring at this page for the past 10 minutes. (There are buttons that say download on this page, I am aware. But they take you elsewhere and are not helpful.)
I also tried just searching for QNAP store, and got taken to a bunch of places selling PC parts, but no text editor.
I have a feeling i’m missing something, since when I have also searched for how to instructions regarding this they are all just about how to use the text editor, not how to obtain it in the first place.
Ah I see, that would explain it, I do not have that. I just went to download it but it wants to know my QTS version etc.
However I am not using a NAS nor running QTS.
I am just using my desktop running windows 10 pro for the plex server. Is it possible to do this on windows?
I’m sorry. Somehow Synology and QNAP got into a Windows thread and I didn’t catch that.
I can’t be of much help here. I haven’t used Windows in ages. (Linux guy)
Windows uses a registry. You would need to edit the values out of the registry (Delete the specific named keys?) but follow the rest of the plex.tv portion of the procedure.
If You do have a Preferences.xml file in your Plex Media Server directory, then please do edit those values out of it with WordPad (not NotePad). NotePad will mess it up.
The Plex.tv portion of the sequence is still valid. The only issue here is dealing with the individual Platform specifics.
For when you wake, or if anyone else is reading here.
I did find the entries, and followed the procedure, I reclaimed the Server, however this did not solve my issue, I hit enable remote access. It goes green, then within 3 seconds is red again, and I tried a few times to reenable it.Again half the time it was actually working despite telling me it wasnt.
To clarify that.
On the server side it says remote access is disabled, however externally I am able to connect perfectly fine and have a remote connection with full speed. HALF the time, the other half the time the server side is telling the truth and it is actually down.
The main issue is I never know when it is telling the truth about being down, and when it is only saying its down but is actually up, and I cant just test it then leave it, as it will given a little time disable itself and stop working.
Hey @ChuckPa,
Thats what I am saying, I let it go green, then it goes red. then I DO test it from outside, and it works perfectly. (sometimes), so like you say, it is lying and is infact working perfectly fine. that is not my issue.
The issue is I dont know which times are the ones where it has worked perfectly and which are the ones where it isnt actually working, and testing it from outside EVERY time is a major drag.
This would be fine if I could test it once to see, leave it there and itll keep working. but that is not the case. it will be working then maybe an hour maybe 6 later itll randomly disconnect. Then I have to go back to the server and tell it to reconnect, then log in from a seperate internet connection (aka outside) to test if it is working.
When i should just have a green tick letting me know that its working.
Though its not a browser lying to me (granted the browser does lie to me as well)
But ive tried using the plex media player app on the same desktop as the server to press enable remote access and it gives me the same thing. So the plex media player is also lying to me.
So PC1 - has plex player and plex server on it, both the browser and the player say remote access is disabled.
PC2 - is on a totally different network (AKA outside), and it can connect to the server on PC 1 PERFECTLY, no issue.
however randomly the server on pc1 will for REAL disconnect, but since it always says its disconnected, i dont know when it has for real disconnected. which results in either me constantly hitting the enable button just in case, or results in the server being down all the time, unless i get a message asking me to enable it.
So basically i want to know. Why does the plex player and browser on PC1 lie to me and tell its remote acces is disconnected, and how do i get it to stop lying to me.
