Retrieving/downloading external content is extremely slow

Plex Media Server
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1

Recently I changed internet providers (cable internet to fiber), and from the start my Plex app(s) were unable to connect to my PMS running from my Synology NAS.

After forwarding the 32400 port to my NAS’ IP in my new modem’s settings this problem was solved. However, my PMS still has a lot of problems retrieving external data. I.e. downloading meta data, which goes extremely slow, as well as displaying all posters (and downloading the selected one) from the Edit popup. Same goes for searching and downloading subtitles (from Opensubitles), displaying the actor photos, Tidal music suggestions, etc.

Especially displaying posters and downloading subtitles gives the poorest performance, presumably because the’re most data intensive. In fact, sometimes PMS is unable to show any posters or subtitles at all.

Did I miss a setting somewhere or is this something that is unrelated to Plex/PMS? By the way: watching/streaming movies goes perfectly well, it’s really just the stuff my PMS needs to retrieve from the internet I guess…

2

Which Syno please? Model and DSM version?

If you have an ARM based system, you won’t have hardware transcoding.
If you need to burn subtitles during the download, it will be painful (Synology machines have weak CPUs for burning. – It’s a NAS not a general appliance to them)
Normally, An Intel-based Syno can saturate gigabit ethernet.

3

DS918+ with DSM 7.1.1-42962 Update 3.
But playback goes perfectly fine, it’s basically the retrieving of meta data, cover and subtitle searching and downloading, etc.

4

The J3455+ CPU in that nas is pretty good.

Retrieval of external metadata / posters is subject to a lot of thing mostly driven by the internet speed. (up is as important as down)

5

Definitely! But I currently have a fiber connection of 200mbps up and down (although LibreSpeed (speed test) on my NAS is currently telling me that upload speed is 60 mbps. Still, that is more than enough to retrieve external metadata I would say…

6

@marcospank

You must have an asymetrical fiber connection if you are getting 60mbps on a 200mbps internet. I have a symetrical 1gb connection that gives me an avg 945mbps dn/up speed. I used to have a DS918+ and not had your type of issue with metadata. it could be the internet source your getting the data from is slow at times possibly to many connections on their side at that time or just high latency
.

7

200/60 is asymmetric service.

Measuring your internet is best done via a command line tool with minimal interference from other factors (java / web browser page operation)


   Speedtest by Ookla

     Server: Elevated --redacted--
        ISP: Comcast Cable
    Latency:     6.03 ms   (1.74 ms jitter)
   Download:  1414.84 Mbps (data used: 1.5 GB )                               
     Upload:    41.74 Mbps (data used: 18.8 MB )                               
Packet Loss:     0.0%
 Result URL: https://www.speedtest.net/result/--redacted--
[chuck@lizum ~.2002]$

The local telco is expanding . 1Gbps symmetric is almost within reach.
They will be offering 2 Gbps this coming summer

8

Thanks guys, but perhaps you couldn’t get that out of my original post that my previous internet connection (which was way slower by the way), my NAS/PMS had no problems accessing and downloading external content.
So that’s why I was wondering that I missed a setting somewhere (on my Synology or perhaps modem).
Also good to know: all my other devices (both connected via ethernet or wifi) have no issues with accessing stuff from the internet, streaming, etc.