Remote access for dummies

[bluefrog10]

As being relatively n00b to the intricacies of networking, could some one here explain to me very simply how Plex remote access actually works without doing any advanced configurations?

I’m perplexed since it was so easy to set it up and it worked after just clicking the remote access on. I have a Asus RT-AC68U router connected to a cable modem and the router also has firewall on with the default settings. No VPN. This “bypassing” of the FW really puzzles me, but that said, I haven’t done any real analysis how the packets flow.

Does Plex create a tunnel somehow using Plex credentials between different networks where data flows over https via Plex servers or directly between server/client … or how does this thing really work??

[OttoKerner]

How does remote access work

I have searched these forums and on the internet generally but cannot find a comprehensive article or document explaining how remote access works in practice. There is lots of information on setting up remote access on the server and how to invite friends to share your content but very little on what those “Guest” people need to do to access the server. Please could someone point me to any information where this is explained. If not can you answer the following. When an invitation email is se…

I’m happy to answer additional questions, after you have read the above link.

[bluefrog10]

Thanks Otto! That was quite comprehensive and if I understood it correctly plex.tv just acts as an intermediary providing all necessities for creating a point-to-point encrypted http tunnel between the server and the client regardless of what networks they use - is my understanding correct?

[OttoKerner]

Pretty much, yes.