Yup…
and:
In that case it seems like there’s a conflict between the statement you got in your support call vs. what you experience – somebody or something is blocking the communication from outside your home network to the port you’ve published; otherwise canyouseeme.org should be able to confirm the port is open.
The only other option coming to mind could be your server’s Windows network configuration blocking the communication (e.g. if the device is configured as a “public” environment, in which case Windows is more restrictive).
Yea… I wondered about that - and although I did test early-on while turning off the firewall completely, just before I tested this afternoon - and uploaded those images - I turned off all firewalls and did a “Retry” on Plex and a “Check Port” on CanYouSeeMe.org. Those results are what you see above…
It would not surprise me that Cogeco would lie; they did it in the past when the practiced throttling during Prime Time hours.
Just thought of something. What about using my android cell phone to circumvent my ISP and tether it to my MODEM. I can set up a secondary internet connection on my ASUS router and have used this in the past…
Any experience on port blocking for mobility data providers?
I’m having the same problem. Noticed Plex was longer to boot up, then yesterday was only accessible in relay mode. Checked settings, went through the linked troubleshooting, configured manual port forwarding, checked all settings on the router that could affect.
Still, it will fluctuate as being accessible and then not on the remote access settings page.
Saw another person above mention that they are on Cogeco in Burlington. I’m on Teksavvy in KW, but I think this would be the same cable network. I have been noticing internet issues over the past couple weeks with tracerts failing and certain sites having intermittent access. Have called my ISP several times but thought I’d mention in case it helps with the diagnosis of this issue as some are saying it could be isp related.
Many mobile network operators use CGNAT to assign IPv4 addresses. If yours does so, you’ll end up in a double-NAT situation.
Not sure about providers in Canada, but in the US, AT&T, T-Mobile, & Verizon all use CG-NAT addressing.
Double check the server version. It should be 1.31.x.yyyy, 1.32.x.yyyy, etc.
4.100.1 is the version of Plex Web.
Thanks for the heads-up. I’ve revised the initial post to show the current server and player versions
OK… a major update here. As mentioned above I went on two weeks holidays where I could not remote access at all. Tried it at least a half dozen times; quite frustrating. When I returned of course, Plex had a red circle on Remote Access and showed:
Not available outside your network
Your server is signed in to Plex, but is not reachable from outside your network.
Today, I had two of my buddies test it and it works; even though Plex continues to report the above. So what gives?
This is flaky as hell and I just put my ISP through the wringer; with threats of moving to another service because they are messing with my internet never mind implying that they were lying about it.
How can ANYONE troubleshoot anything on Plex if we cannot trust the feedback it gives???
(Never mind the tools you suggest I use to check open ports: CanYouSeeMe.org )
The tool works fine. Your port is blocked if that’s what it’s showing
https://support.plex.tv/articles/216766168-accessing-a-server-through-relay/
So if that’s the case, then how did a friend just stream a concert from my server and when I went to the Dashboard, I could see the stream?
Sorry, but both things cannot be true.
When you go to the dash board you can see your friend stream the concert
Instead of “remote” next to his stream you will see “indirect”
That indeed was the case… I have also read that post.
After reading it, I thought I should disable Relay so I don’t get confused on this point again… but it seems that I cannot. Is that correct? If I have Remote Access enabled - then relay is active?
If this is true, then I have to ask: why were all my attempts to play something while on holidays, not relayed?
So the assessment here is that my ISP is still messing with something?
Yes, if you turn the relay off in the server settings your friend will not be able to stream anything
I can’t tell why you couldn’t watch something while on holiday. When something gets converted to 2mbps it may just have to do with the quality of the content you’re trying
In other words a file that needs 3mbps to stream can work ok on a relay because it’s only getting knocked down to 2mbps. If you try to stream something that needs 30mbps and you knock it down to 2mbps it may not even start to play
When you try to play something inside your network does it says “local” in your dashboard?
THanks JaysPlex7:
Its not clear to me how to disable Relay while keeping Remote Access active (although not working.) I’m OK with blocking my buddies; they are aware I’m troubleshooting things right now.
While I was on holidays I tried to just play music and it didn’t work; and more often then not, I could not even load metadata to populate items to play. That included using Plexamp where tapping the Library icon showed no Artist, Albums, etc. I was essentially locked out of everything.
FYI: I just now played some music on my Android phone via network. (Turned off Mobile Data) and Server Dashboard says “local”.
So - any instruction on how to disable Relay until I establish I can get Remote Access working properly?
Found it: Network Settings near the bottom.
Settings → Network
Do you have any 3rd party anti-virus software? Besides a firewall or VPN issue that’s the only thing I can think of offhand that might be causing a problem if everything is configured properly
My server has no 3rd party anti-virus or VPN.
It has very little beyond W10 Pro installed - no other major applications beside My Movies and Plex. It has some other minor utilities like mp3tag, WINRAR, Hard Disk Sentinel, Media Info, dBpoweramp and Second Copy. It was a new clean build from scratch.
I’ve breiefly tried disabling Windows Firewall completely… Private, Public and Domain. Both Plex or any of the on-line port sniffing tools still failed. Then I turned it all back on.
So - without relay on, and now with the confirmation that it only worked because of that mechanism, I am back to the ISP. I will advise when they reply to my admittedly terse email.
Thanks to all who have supported and shown patience with my frustrations… back as I can.
Still waiting for a response from my ISP but decided I do some more tests and went to my ASIS router. I just noticed that my WAN address is 192.168.0.2. Wow… a class C private address.
The router is a Sagemcom f@st3896; its pretty new on the market and I cannot find a manual for it anywhere. I’ve put in another call with Cogeco support and waiting for a call back…
OK… so this new modem has a full router in it. I told the ISP to disable the Wi-Fi when I ordered it; since I have an ASUS mesh here… obviously they did not. So once I realized what was going on, I asked them to put it in bridge mode and now everything works. Port sniffers work and more importantly Remote access has been solid green and “Fully accessible outside your network.”
I’ll restate again; thanks for the support here folks and the patience too; I do appreciate it. I have learned a lot on this part of Plex.
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