Server Version#: 1.18.8.2527-740d4c206
Player Version#: 2.2.0 (LG webOS)
Logs & crash reports: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1V72j5sT39suR0mUQdfXar-GA_ypZ4J0N
I’m running Plex media server on a Raspberry Pi 3a+. It has been by and large a smooth experience, where most of the time while playing content I can go through a movie or multiple episodes of a show without issues, but there have been intermittent issues where the client suddenly starts “buffering”, which never stops, then the library can’t load at all. I’m in a bit over my head with troubleshooting this!
Is there anything obvious I’m missing? Please let me know if I should provide more details.
Sam
@ChuckPa here’s the independent thread!
Sam,
In your logs, the network adapter keeps thinking it is changing. It always returns to previous state but that interruption does interrupt what it’s doing.
Mar 21, 2020 19:45:15.878 [0x6bcfb450] DEBUG - Request: [127.0.0.1:59832 (Loopback)] GET /library/sections/1/actor/9591 (4 live) GZIP Signed-in Token (sam.mccants1@gmail.com)
Mar 21, 2020 19:45:15.914 [0x70efe450] DEBUG - Completed: [127.0.0.1:59832] 200 GET /library/sections/1/actor/9591 (4 live) GZIP 36ms 1296 bytes
Mar 21, 2020 19:45:16.043 [0x6b4fa450] DEBUG - NetworkInterface: received Netlink message len=56, type=RTM_NEWLINK, flags=0x0
Mar 21, 2020 19:45:16.043 [0x6b4fa450] DEBUG - NetworkInterface: Netlink information message family=0, type=1, index=2, flags=0x11043, change=0x0
Mar 21, 2020 19:45:16.043 [0x6b4fa450] DEBUG - Network change.
Mar 21, 2020 19:45:16.043 [0x6b4fa450] DEBUG - NetworkInterface: Notified of network changed (force=0)
Mar 21, 2020 19:45:16.045 [0x6b4fa450] DEBUG - Network change notification but nothing changed.
Mar 21, 2020 19:45:16.850 [0x654ee450] DEBUG - Request: [127.0.0.1:59834 (Loopback)] GET /library/sections/1/actor/5343 (4 live) GZIP Signed-in Token (sam.mccants1@gmail.com)
Mar 21, 2020 19:45:16.897 [0x70efe450] DEBUG - Completed: [127.0.0.1:59834] 200 GET /library/sections/1/actor/5343 (4 live) GZIP 46ms 2428 bytes
This is like DHCP sending a refresh or the link light on the connection blinking.
I’m sorry Chuck, I don’t really understand. Is it clear to you what the cause of the disconnects might be? It happened yesterday, 21 March at around 19:17. For the 30 minutes or so after that, I was trying to reconnect and restarting the pi a few times to try to get it working.
I can only see what is shown there.
There is something external making the ethernet interface change.
Maybe it was you and the connectors (loose?)
Maybe it was IP address changes.
PMS can only detect the ethernet adapter went offline then back online.
Okay, I think I understand a bit better. The server and the client are both still running fine, but the connection between the two has been interrupted somehow. The Raspberry Pi is connected via wifi, as is the TV that I was viewing on; with that in mind, is this likely an issue with some setting on my router? I’m using the standard Hub 3.0 router that came with my Virgin Media broadband.
The Raspberry Pi has a static IP address.
I recognize that this is getting away from the types of question that you’re the professional expert on, but I’d appreciate if you have any tips on how I can solve this! Thank you very much for the help that you’ve given to me so far.
Sam,
If both are absolutely, 100%, known working solid,
what’s between them? switch, modem, multiple routers, or (gasp) wifi ?
Prepare to gasp, it is wifi.
Raspberry Pi server - (wifi) - Hub 3 modem/router - (wifi) - LG TV client
To be clear though, I’m not 100% sure that they’re both working perfectly; I thought that’s what you were saying the logs suggest.
Shame on you! 
Plug the server (ethernet) into the modem/router. That will improve your performance also, remove half the uncertainty about who is disconnecting due to (wait for it…) WIFI interference. 
I would love to, but unfortunately it’s running on a Raspberry Pi 3a+, which doesn’t have an ethernet connection 
Then you are at the merci of that $39 hardware.
For $55, you can have the 64 bit Pi 4B.
Yeah, I definitely want to upgrade the hardware when I have a bit of spare cash. Do you think it’s unlikely I’ll get it to work on this one then?
Also, when I do manage to get the Pi 4, will 4GB RAM vs 2GB make any noticeable difference for this application?
Yes, it will make a huge impact:
- I won’t ridicule you as much
- You will have a significantly stronger processor which can actually do some transcoding
- It will have wired ethernet
- Get the 4GB. 4GB NAS boxes do FAR better than 2GB NAS boxes.
Seriously? Asking a microcontroller board (32 bit) to be a media server is a bit of a stretch, isn’t it?
I don’t know man, I’m new to this stuff! Server stuff and networking are not my strong suit.
I’ll go for the 4GB Pi 4 when I can, then. I really wouldn’t have expected it to be able to transcode at all!
Thank you again very much for all your help.
The ARMv8 (which is what the Pi4b is) can handle up through about 20 Mbps of 1080p video.
As a normal server, DirectPlay (no changes) or DirectStream (audio change only), it’s a good little box.
As in the bitrate of the video needs to be less than that? Again, this stuff is not my forte, but that seems like a lot! Just checking a few of my videos, none had a bitrate of higher than 5000 kbps. So by that metric, would the Pi4b be able to transcode pretty much any 1080p video?
20 Mbps is the practical limit I tested to. Above 20 Mbps, it started having trouble.
If you’re using a tool such as HandBrake, H.264 video profile 4.0 is the maximum.
That is awesome. I was under the impression I would need to get a NAS drive costing at least a few hundred pounds to be able to transcode like that.
NAS drives are for storage. That’s a separate issue entirely.
Be advised however; For the price of that device, Do Not expect more than 1 video at a time. Do not expect it to ingest media while playing.
Alright, that’s not an issue at all.
My understanding was you could set up PMS natively on a NAS drive. Are you saying people use a NAS drive just for storage and then have PMS running elsewhere connecting to it? I’ve just been hooking up a hard drive via USB to the Pi.
