First of all - do NOT call your ISP.
As a rule of thumb - they are useless. Only slightly less useless (and I do mean slightly) are these self-help forums - because there are virtually limitless different devices, settings, etc. and there is no one size fits all for these settings.
With that said, here’s my attempt to show you how I connected my plex server to remote when using Google Wifi.
First, some houskeeping.
I have a Verizon Fios Quantum Gateway G1100 Cable Modem / Router being used. It is approximately 1 year old as of the writing of this reply. Moving forward, I will call this device the Verizon shitbox.
I have brand new google wifi. Using multiple access points. The main access point is connected to the LAN1 slot of the Verizon shitbox. That is all that is connected to verizon shitbox. Everything wifi in my house runs through the wifi access points from google. You will be well served by minimizing the use of anything verizon in your home/office.
Anyway, moving on.
You’ll need to access your verizon router admin settings. You typically do this by visiting the web address 192.168.1.1 in a browser on a computer or device connected to your network. If you are outside your network it will not work. If you setup your verizon device or the verizon monkeys set up your device initially using a different IP address it will not work as above. you need to know the device address to access admin panel. You could look at your network configuration to figure that out - but it’s beyond scope of this post. 192.168.1.1 is standard. it should work for you. This Ip should work for most other devices as well - not just verizon.
that will bring you to login panel for verizon router.
Login using admin and your password. If you forget the password you’re kinda SOL here. You may be able to reset your router, and then use the admin password from start, this is usually written on the router device itself. Maybe you didn’t change it when you started, that would make this easier.
Once you have access to verizon router admin go to Advanced settings. This verizon router is denoted by a person icon with a lightning bolt.
If your’e using another router, what you’re looking for is IP Address distribution. This is the area that shows you the devices connected to your network.
In my case, the only thing that shows up is HOME/NETWORK. There is a button that says CONNECTION LIST. Clicking that shows me the one and only device connected to the router- my google wifi device. Yours might be named something different. Essentially you need to find the device that is the google wifi main hub. You can confirm the correct one by looking at the MAC adress listed here and confirming the same MAC address on your google wifi device - printed on lable on bottom side of device.
Back on router settings screen we were just looking at - It shows an IP address, 192.168.1.151 (Yours may be different - but will follow same format xxx.xxx.x.xxx most likely. Note this IP somewhere. Write it down, etc.)
To the right side of this table you see a table heading ACTION, and under that is a pen icon. Click that - The host name will be lsited, IP address (Same as one you just wrote down) mac address of that device and then a check box for STATIC LEASE TYPE. Make sure that check box is SELECTED.
Then Click APPLY.
Keep in mind, your router may not have this setup described above. The basic idea is you want to make static the ip of the google wifi main hub point device. You need to find the area of your router that lets you set static IPs. You need to relate that device with the static ip. I use the ip that is already assigned to the device as the static IP. no need to change it if it’s working. You may need to call your ISP to find out how to do this or just search your model number in google along with create static IP. usually there is a table of devices or an area where you can create or set a static IP and then assign a device to it. If you have to go that route, set the IP then assign the googl wifi device to it.
Okay, back at Verizon shitbox main settings area - go to FIREWALL SETTINGS. If you don’t have that exact title, look for your firewall type security settings.
Find DMZ HOST menu item in left sidebar area. Again, yours may not be called DMZ host, but it will have DMZ in the name. The idea here is to add that static ip to the DMZ so find this area on your router settings.
It will likely be disabled by default. click ENABLE
Under IP Address - enter the IP address you noted earlier. this is the IP of the main google wifi point. IN my case it was 192.168.1.151 - again - it will likely be something different on your end.
Click APPLY.
If you want to confirm you’re using the correct IP, you can open your google wifi app on your phone, then go to network settings, then advanced networking, then WAN. Use the WAN IP shown there. It should be one and the same as IP entered above. If not, youve done something wrong. Go back and start at top and follow directions.
Stay in google wifi app now - we’re done with the verizon shitbox or whatever router you use.
Go back to main settings area.
Select ADVANCED NETWORKING
Now selection DHCP IP RESERVATIONS. We’re going to reserve the ip address of the plex server device so it doesnt change when your router/modem or google wifi assigns dynamic ip addresses.
Touch Plus (+) icon in lower right of screen
You should see a list of devices on google wifi. These are all the devices plugged into your google wifi devices.
Choose the device running the plex server. This may or may not have a name set already.
Click next
You’ll see an IP address here. This will be the IP Address of the device running the plex server. It will be different than the Google Wifi point IP address weve been using up to this point. You dont need to do anything here. this is just a confirmation screen for the IP Address.
Click next again
Will get green check mark showing the IP Address has been reserved in the google wifi app. this will make sure that google wifi reserves that same IP address for your device running the plex server so it doesnt change.
Click done
At top of screen you’ll see the title heading of area you’re in. Click left arrow to go back to advanced network settings.
Now select PORT FORWARDING settings in google wifi app.
Click Plus (+) icon
Select device (again this is the device running your plex server). It should be listed there, perhaps as the only one in the list.
Click NEXT
The screen will ask you for a port number.
Enter 32400. This will mirror the number for internal and external (will do it automatically)
Keep TCP selected (should be by default - this is what plex uses)
Click DONE
This takes you back to port forwarding main settings, click back arrow on top again to go back to main network settings.
Now, if you’re plex server device is connected to google wifi point by ethernet, pull it out. leave it out for about 10 seconds then reconnect it.
One google wifi app wait until all wifi points are re-established and confirmed working.
Double check plex app from your brower - either on the server device or another computer on the network. Go to remote area - refresh the screen. it should allow remote connection now.
You should not need manually specify a public port.
But you will need the info above that.
You’ll see something like this:
Private 192.168.86.48 : 32400 Public XX.XXX.XXX.XX : XXXXX Internet
I X’d out the public part because that is my public ip. Sorry.
You’re numbers will follow a similar format.
If you go to a browser (not on your network) enter that public IP and use the port too.
So it would be something like 91.221.555.12:16229
That will load the plex server login page on that device.
Use your username and password to login - you’re all set.
Good luck!
