Remote Access -- Endless Troubles. HELP!

Plex Media Server Desktops & Laptops
1

I have been attempting to setup remote access for weeks. I’ve read every forum and followed all the instructions correctly (to the best of my knowledge). From time to time it will give me a green checkmark, and I will feel as though I have finally solved the issue, then within an hour or two it switches back to red with “No outside access.”

PLEASE help. I have only one day left here where my home server lives, then I will be traveling for months and will be so sad if I can’t use my server abroad.

SPECS:

Computer: iMac
Internet: ATT Uverse
Router: Motorola BGW210-700
Server Version# 1.13.5.5332

I followed these steps to forward on my router:

  1. clicked “Firewall” tab
  2. clicked NAT/Gaming tab
  3. clicked “custom service” button
  4. added the following
    -name: Plex
    -Global port range: 32400 - 32400
    -Base port: 32400
    -Protocol: TCP/UDP
  5. clicked add
  6. clicked “return to NAT/Gaming”
  7. Under Application Hosting I entered
    -Service: “*Plex”
    -Needed by device: My iMac
  8. Clicked “Add” button

---- What am I missing? ----

2

Seems like your doing it correct, you can install TeamViewer to help because then you can remote in and click retry to make your server “visible again”.

Lol funny thing is i got tired of having to do this myself so i downloaded a mouse mover app and set it up to click retry on the plex page (leave the browser page open) every 15 minutes to keep the server checking to keep it “alive”

3

Is the local IP Address fixed ? DHCP reservation?

Get some server logs - there may be some clues there

Ensure debug logging is enabled
See https://support.plex.tv/articles/201643703-reporting-issues-with-plex-media-server/

Restart the server to get new logs and to see the start up sequence
With remote access enabled and working - wait for it to drop out and then get into the server and capture the logs
See https://support.plex.tv/articles/200250417-plex-media-server-log-files/

4

I think the issue is with AT&T. I have Uverse (fiber) as well and had 0 problems for many months then all of of a sudden it stopped working a week or two ago. From what I can figure out they are blocking ports but they will unblock the port for the low low price of $49!
That’s right, after blocking your service they will now fix it for you! how nice.

-edit-
I would try AT&T and give them a ration of s&%t for this. I am going to be harassing them again about it.

5

I am also having a whole lot of trouble with ATT and this router. Unfortunately there isn’t much documentation on this router as it is new. I just powered my server down for the last month and just avoided dealing with it because I’ve found it so frustrating. I’ll check back on here this week when I try again… hopefully someone can come up with something.

6

Thank you for this info! The IP is not fixed, and I am unfamiliar with DHCP reservation (so assuming no to that also). I am going to do some research to figure out how to do this. I assume I do this on my BGW210-700 router. Any step by step or general info on this would be very appreciated!

7

normally web search like how to use dhcp reservation on xxxxxx router

Alternatively just read the user guide for the router

9

great. This may be a dumb question, but do I need a specific Static IP or do I just set it and enter this info somewhere?

10

whatever IP address is set now, choose that as the DHCP Reserved IP

That is the easiest - then reboot router and server machine to confirm it still picks that IP on renewing the IP

11

OK Static IP in place, still no dice. I have the logs but can’t make heads or tails of it… Any other ideas?

12

Could you help me interpret the logs?

13

so you have a static ip address or dhcp reserved ip and the port forward of public port 32400 is to local port 32400 for this IP address

on the server setting for remote access with show advanced, have you ticked manually specify port and entered 32400 in the box and clicked retry?

you can attach the logs zip here and screenshots of the router port forward and dhcp setup

and please disable the other network interface on the mac

14

This same problem was driving me insane and it turns out that you just have to roll back AT&T’s garbage firmware update for the BGW210, no need for any DHCP rejiggering or IP passthrough or whatever desperate fixes people have tried. Hope it works for you too:

15

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