So I have a Windows 10 PMS 1.6.1.3722 release on intel 3770k, 32gb of ram, SSD transcode drive, 110Mbps down 15Mbps up internet connection, and until recently had never had a problem with my plex server setup streaming to external devices regardless of format.
Probably in the last 3-4 weeks I now am unable to stream the same exact files that before had no issue at all, at the same quality if at all to remote devices. The majority of my content is mkv 1080p and 720p videos. Local playback works fine, but on any external device whether it be a Plex Media Player on a computer, mobile device, PS4, or Roku I am often unable to get the content to stream at all, and if I can I usually have to degrade the stream quality sub 480p to keep buffering to an even usable level where as before I had no issues at all.
Any external stream is now often either buffering for ages and often prompted with the message that the connection to the server is not fast enough for playback, or simply never starts playback at all and just remains in a buffering state forever. I have not changed any hardware, server settings (bar updates from Plex) are unchanged, and I’ve ran multiple traffic and connection tests to be sure I don’t have any bad hops or connection issues and have run out of ideas as to what could be the issue.
Any ideas/thoughts/suggestions would be much appreciated.
@Garnet1985 it sounds like maybe these files were direct playing before but now require transcoding and maybe your CPU isn’t up to the task?
Could you try to playback a file and let it start and as soon as it doesn’t stop the playback. Go to /settings/server/help and grab the ZIP log file then post that here (drag the zip file into the message).
Tell us the TIME and movie/show name that was played. We can then take a look at the logs to try and determine what’s going on.
Spun up one of the files that plays back and can be transcoded/viewed just fine on local playback, even transcoding it up, but does not play back on any viewable level from remote play. It’s pretty much every file in my library doing this, so if I need to I can get another log with another file.
Start time was at 9:28 file was Granblue Fantasy the Animation episode 6, 1080p mkv I tried with both subtitles on and subtitles off with no change.
@Garnet1985 said:
Spun up one of the files that plays back and can be transcoded/viewed just fine on local playback, even transcoding it up, but does not play back on any viewable level from remote play. It’s pretty much every file in my library doing this, so if I need to I can get another log with another file.
Start time was at 9:28 file was Granblue Fantasy the Animation episode 6, 1080p mkv I tried with both subtitles on and subtitles off with no change.
You cut out the start of playback in those logs. Wipe them clean. Restart Plex, leave for one minute then repeat the issue.
I am not really sure, but could it be that direct play is disabled by the client?
MDE: analyzing media item 38079
May 22, 2017 10:12:52.583 [9332] DEBUG - MDE: E6 - Episode 6: Direct Play is disabled
May 22, 2017 10:12:52.583 [9332] DEBUG - MDE: E6 - Episode 6: no direct play video profile exists for http/mkv/h264
May 22, 2017 10:12:52.583 [9332] DEBUG - MDE: E6 - Episode 6: no direct play video profile exists for http/mkv/h264/aac
May 22, 2017 10:12:52.583 [9332] DEBUG - Codecs: testing aac_mf (decoder)
I would agree if the server wasn’t reporting that the transcoder is sitting throttled all the time. It really seems to be an issue with the interaction between the player and the server, the server seems to be sending very little data to the client, I’m not seeing nearly as much network traffic as I was previously for some reason. I have plenty of bandwidth to spare and the transcoder is reporting throttled on the server/player but it’s still buffering relentlessly.
First of all you are not using a current release. 1.6 is in pre-release as far as I know.
It’s great you are reporting a potential problem with 1.6.
I hope Plex takes note of it.
PMS 1.4+ was released with similar problems but eventually got fixed in 1.5.4
I suggest you install current version 1.5.5 and see if that does not fix your problem.
Running version 1.5.6.3790 and can’t get any videos that are 1080p to load remotely. Play fine/lossless via web player. Steamed the same file from friend’s server to iOS app without issue. Waiting to confirm what PMS version he has.
@jjrjr1 said:
First of all you are not using a current release. 1.6 is in pre-release as far as I know.
It’s great you are reporting a potential problem with 1.6.
I hope Plex takes note of it.
PMS 1.4+ was released with similar problems but eventually got fixed in 1.5.4
I suggest you install current version 1.5.5 and see if that does not fix your problem.
I’ve actually tested the whole setup on every version from 1.5.1 → 1.6.1 with the same results. Server is accessible remotely, however any content played remotely is buffered at all quality levels to basically uselessness.
Fresh logs, updated to 1.5.5, same file Granblue, start time 13:48, exact same behavior both through the web client and the PMP client tested just to be sure. Have verified the newest iOS client also had no changes.
Can upgrade back up to 1.6.1 as well if anyone thinks having logs of that version will help or I can pick a different file, as it does this with any file in remote access.
I am having the same exact issue, I cannot stream movies that I was able to before, quite a lot of movies will not go past 13 or 33% this happens on both PC and Roku. I am going to see if I can get some logs pulled
Tried streaming while at home and no high bitrate movies will play on local network to iOS device. Never had a problem before - not even with my lossless +30 Mbps bitrate files. Gotta be PMS…
1.7 is definitely a HUGE improvement, network bandwidth usage is MUCH better and am able to get media playback where before I could not. Files that were able to stream at Original quality are still having issues, but it is not nearly as bad as before. Definitely a step in the better direction.
