Troubleshooting PlexConnect on my ATV3 - Please Help

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1

• 2 - ATV3s Running iOS 7.0.3

• DNS: 192.168.1.110

• The local IP address for the machine running PlexConnect: 192.168.1.110

• 17-inch “White” imac upgraded from a Core Duo to a 2 Ghz Core 2 Duo with 2 GB 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM running OS 10.7. and Python 2.7.9

• Same machine for PlexConnect and PMS

• PMS Version 09.12.14.1192-9a47d21

• PMS machine IP: 192.168.1.110

• PlexConnect Version: 0.5-dev-020615

Settings.cfg:
• [PlexConnect]
• enable_plexgdm = False
• ip_pms = 192.168.1.110
• port_pms = 32400
• enable_dnsserver = False
• port_dnsserver = 53
• ip_dnsmaster = 192.168.1.1
• prevent_atv_update = True
• enable_plexconnect_autodetect = False
• ip_plexconnect = 192.168.1.110
• hosttointercept = trailers.apple.com
• port_webserver = 80
• enable_webserver_ssl = True
• port_ssl = 443
• certfile = ./assets/certificates/trailers.pem
• allow_gzip_atv = False
• allow_gzip_pmslocal = False
• allow_gzip_pmsremote = True
• loglevel = High
• logpath = .

I’ve been running PlexConnect for years and on the whole it has worked pretty seamlessly. Any problems in the past have been resolved by creating/installing new certs, or at most installing a fresh copy of PlexConnect. However the other day the trailers app became mysteriously unavailable, and since then I’ve had a hell of a time trying restore services.

For awhile I was having issues with Ports. It seemed a webserver was running on ports 80/443, but I do not have any webservers knowingly running. When I traced the PID back to the service using the ports it showed up as … PlexConnect. This was happening even after shutting PlexConnect down. It was seemingly random and I couldn’t seem to get around the odd network behavior. I was having some other issues as well on my trusty old iMac (The server running PMS and PlexConnect), so I decided to start from scratch.

I have erased the HD of the server and installed a fresh copy of OSX 10.7.4, and installed fresh copies of PMS and PlexConnect. I use the server do download as well, so I also did new installs of SABnzbd and SICKRAGE.

When I startup PlexConnect everything seems to be fine. As you can see I have altered my settings.cfg to allow more smooth operating because my server is connected to a VPN. This has always worked in the past. Not sure if there is a problem therein or not.

When I attempt to upload the certs to the AppleTV, if I use http://trailers.apple.com/trailers.cert - it spins and fails. If I use 192.168.1.110/trailers.cert it uploads the cert quickly. However when I go to trailers, it times out and I get the trailers unavailable message.

I’m really at a loss here as to what the problem is. It really was like one day everything was fine, and the next there was chaos. I would greatly appreciate any insights anyone may have. If you provide suggestions please also include how to do what is it you are suggesting, as I am a copy & paste level Terminal user.

• Log File: http://pastebin.com/NUuagkQk

2

Have you reset the machine loaded up PlexConnect then rebooted the aTV then tried your hijack to see if it fixes it? Are you using the Daemon or running PlexConnect manually?

3

I have rebooted the server machine many times in the past day. I have rebooted the ATV as well. I don’t know if I have done it cleanly to be honest, I got a bit loopy after a while. I will try and let you know.

I have tried starting with Daemon and manually.

4

Sorry it took me a bit to respond, here are my latest steps:

First assured no Daemons present:

cd “/Applications/PlexConnect-master/Support/OSX”
sudo ./uninstall.bash

Returned:

Uninstalling PlexConnect…
launchctl: Couldn’t start("/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.plex.plexconnect.bash.plist"): No such file or directory
nothing found to unload
rm: /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.plex.plexconnect.bash.plist: No such file or directory

Reboot machine (192.168.1.110)

Start PlexConnect:

sudo /Applications/PlexConnect-master/PlexConnect.py

00:54:32 PlexConnect: ***
00:54:32 PlexConnect: PlexConnect
00:54:32 PlexConnect: Press CTRL-C to shut down.
00:54:32 PlexConnect: ***
00:54:32 PlexConnect: started: 00:54:32
00:54:32 PlexConnect: Version: 0.5-dev-020615
00:54:32 PlexConnect: Python: 2.7.9 (v2.7.9:648dcafa7e5f, Dec 10 2014, 10:10:46)
[GCC 4.2.1 (Apple Inc. build 5666) (dot 3)]
00:54:32 PlexConnect: Host OS: darwin
00:54:32 PlexConnect: PILBackgrounds: Is PIL installed? False
00:54:32 PlexConnect: IP_self (from settings): 192.168.1.110
00:54:32 WebServer: started: 00:54:32
00:54:32 WebServer: ***
00:54:32 WebServer: WebServer: Serving HTTP on 192.168.1.110 port 80.
00:54:32 WebServer: ***
00:54:32 WebServer: started: 00:54:32
00:54:32 WebServer: ***
00:54:32 WebServer: WebServer: Serving HTTPS on 192.168.1.110 port 443.
00:54:32 WebServer: ***

Reboot ATV3

Configure DNS to 192.168.1.110
Attempt to install Certs using “http://trailers.apple.com/trailers.cer”
Failure
Attempt to install certs using 192.168.1.110/trailers.cer
Accepted

Attempt to open trailers app on ATV
“Trailers app not available at this time. Try again later.”

Additional notes:
The ATV remained unconnected to the internet as long as the DNS remained 192.168.1.110. When DNS was returned to automatic, ATV once again had internet services. I can connect to websites on the server. However as I mentioned it (WebServer) is routed through at VPN.

Latest Log: http://pastebin.com/Jx4hyFBx

5

Isn’t there supposed to be a line showing ‘Serving DNS on 192.168.1.110 port 53.’ ?
Try re-editing Setting.cfg: ’ enable_dnsserver = True ’

6

Yep, that’s all it took. Don’t know how I missed that. Thank you!