Use hardware-accelerated video encoding got broken with the latest update

Plex Media Server
1

Server Version#: 1.30.1.6497
Player Version#: 4.96.3

Since the last update, I’ve noticed that some videos 720p with HEVC hangs if the “Use hardware-accelerated video encoding” is activated. I cannot watch videos with the browser as I used to do.

The weird part, the “decoding” works with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650. I have Plex official docker working in Unraid.

Reverting to Plex Server 1.30.0.6486 fixes the problem. I mean, I can use the “Use hardware-accelerated video encoding” without problem

2 Likes
2

Hey @resuarez I just installed a 1660 super and am seeing the same thing. Only in plex web, certain files will not play if I select 720p. Just hangs and nothing happens. However, in other players, like android or plex media player for windows. I can select 720p and everything works normally.

I have the lsio docker currently and reverted back 1.30.0.6486 as you suggested but no luck.

The weird part for me is in attempting to figure this out I moved the 1660 to my backup server, setup the lsio plex docker, copied over the same video file, and it played from that server in plex web at 720 and every other quality without and issues. During this same time, I also installed a 960 in my main server to test and same thing, 720 and every other quality works fine.

So for me it seems to be a combination of my primary server hardware and the 1660 but super weird it only happens in plex web.

3

Yeah it is really weird. Specially if you got back to the server version. Ive found initially that un selecting the encoding option will allow to play those files.

However, it makes the processor to encoding. In my case, I know that it is encoding to h264.

I know that some people is having trouble with 4k files too. Hopefully, plex will fix that soon.

4

the minimum nvidia driver has been changed, you may need to update your drivers.

See notes @ Plex Media Server - #547 by gbooker02

5

On v525.60.13 currently.

6

Yes, we have the latest driver. I am reading that some people has problems with the 4k. I don’t know if it is related

7

welp, as they say, server logs + sample file that can reliably reproduce the issue will go further in getting it resolved.

8

Plex Media Server Logs_2022-12-17_09-45-42.zip (1.9 MB)

I need to create the same file. But, it is possible that you find something already in the logs.

From the Plex media Server.log

Dec 17, 2022 09:45:25.483 [0x145a7202db38] DEBUG - Request: [127.0.0.1:52062 (Loopback)] POST /video/:/transcode/session/9kr101v9c6voyvd0heqbkcs5/c707ca7a-b34f-404f-bb88-b8aa53a667c3/progress/log?level=0&message=%5Bhevc%20%40%200x150db7914040%5D%20decoder-%3Ecvdl-%3EcuvidDecodePicture%28decoder-%3Edecoder%2C%20%26ctx-%3Epic_params%29%20failed%20-%3E%20CUDA_ERROR_INVALID_VALUE%3A%20invalid%20argument (13 live) #1bbc8 Signed-in Token (user) (range: bytes=0-) / Accept => / / Connection => keep-alive / Host => 127.0.0.1:32400 / Icy-MetaData => 1 / Range => bytes=0- / User-Agent => Lavf/LIBAVFORMAT_VERSION / X-Plex-Http-Pipeline => infinite / X-Plex-Token => xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx4a5e-a1d6-a5213d0992e2
Dec 17, 2022 09:45:25.483 [0x145a7202db38] ERROR - [Req#1bbc8/Transcode/9kr101v9c6voyvd0heqbkcs5/c707ca7a-b34f-404f-bb88-b8aa53a667c3] [hevc @ 0x150db7914040] decoder->cvdl->cuvidDecodePicture(decoder->decoder, &ctx->pic_params) failed → CUDA_ERROR_INVALID_VALUE: invalid argument

1 Like
9

I see similar behavior on my system (ubuntu 22.04, .deb plexmediaserver version) with the latest beta (v1.30.1.6497-5fc2e0894). It was working perfectly fine before updating. It somehow also only affects h264 Bluray rips, those fail to use my gpu, the transcoder falls back to sw transcoding. Other h264 files work as well as 4K HDR hevc files.

Plex Media Server Logs_2022-12-18_16-34-59.zip (1,7 MB)

Screenshot 2022-12-18 161749
Screenshot 2022-12-18 1617491972×254 147 KB

10

@resuarez are you starting the video, then selecting the quality? Or is the quality preset in settings prior to starting? I noticed this weekend if I pre-set the quality in settings for plex web, uncheck play smaller videos at original quality and home streaming use recommended, and set the remaining two fields to 720p. The video will start and play fine, transcoding verified via gpu.

If I revert these changes, start the video, then change the quality it will hang and video will not play.

1 Like
11

The quality preset is configured in the setting.

But, the problem is bigger, I have a friend with Roku player and he is having the same problem.

Right now, using the previous Plex Server version is working without problem, though

12

I’m seeing issues on my system that does not have a GPU or hardware encoding.
Without transcoding, everything is fine. Files that are transcoding show up blank on my Android TV.
Trying to play Live TV via Firefox gives the error:

Error code: s1001 (Network)

Rolling back to 6364 makes everything work properly.

13

I’m having the same issue here running plex on a container in truenas scale. My logs look identical to ones posted in this thread by Mitzsch

14

My Windows 10 server was also crashing but it was related to the hardware acceleration setting in transcoding. I’ve had that setting turned on for years and it’s worked great. Only with a recent update in the past week or so has it been a problem. Anytime a video was played with hardware transcode on the computer would lock up with a black screen and would have to force power off/on. I turned hardware acceleration off and now no problems. Recent update broke it. Hoping it’ll be fixed.

15

I too am having issues with “some” Blu Ray rips. Doesn’t matter if I use hardware or software transcoding. Plays for a couple of minutes then just freezes.

Edit to attach logs.

Server version Windows 64bit 1.30.0.6486.
Plex Media Server Logs_2022-12-22_13-16-39.zip (3.8 MB)

16

I can concur sometime in the last week an update broke hardware acceleration. As soon as someone attempts to watch media on Plex the computer that serves as the Plex server crashes and it loses video signal. Then Plex is down. I have to force reboot but happens again as soon as someone watches a video. I turned off hardware acceleration and problem is fixed.

17

Sorry for pinging you @ChuckPa on this (by now “old” post) but you seem to be the person when it comes to PMS and Nvidia GPUs.

Maybe you can take a look at this issue?

Dec 18, 2022 16:33:07.747 [0x7f7350f8cb38] DEBUG - Completed: [10.18.0.3:64886] 200 GET /status/sessions (15 live) TLS GZIP 3ms 6161 bytes (pipelined: 57)
Dec 18, 2022 16:33:07.827 [0x7f734c142b38] ERROR - [Req#67a/Transcode/kk8k4t7glbec6zufw1ueikww/118ce6fb-9b63-43a9-a2c2-364f246e4184] [h264 @ 0x7f6515064e00] No decoder surfaces left
Dec 18, 2022 16:33:07.828 [0x7f734e64eb38] ERROR - [Req#67f/Transcode/kk8k4t7glbec6zufw1ueikww/118ce6fb-9b63-43a9-a2c2-364f246e4184] Error while decoding stream #0:0: Invalid data found when processing input
Dec 18, 2022 16:33:07.834 [0x7f734d7fcb38] ERROR - [Req#680/Transcode/kk8k4t7glbec6zufw1ueikww/118ce6fb-9b63-43a9-a2c2-364f246e4184] [h264 @ 0x7f6515064e00] No decoder surfaces left
Dec 18, 2022 16:33:07.834 [0x7f734e196b38] ERROR - [Req#681/Transcode/kk8k4t7glbec6zufw1ueikww/118ce6fb-9b63-43a9-a2c2-364f246e4184] Error while decoding stream #0:0: Invalid data found when processing input
Dec 18, 2022 16:33:07.836 [0x7f734d090b38] ERROR - [Req#682/Transcode/kk8k4t7glbec6zufw1ueikww/118ce6fb-9b63-43a9-a2c2-364f246e4184] [h264 @ 0x7f6515064e00] No decoder surfaces left
Dec 18, 2022 16:33:07.836 [0x7f734bf3fb38] ERROR - [Req#683/Transcode/kk8k4t7glbec6zufw1ueikww/118ce6fb-9b63-43a9-a2c2-364f246e4184] Error while decoding stream #0:0: Invalid data found when processing input
Dec 18, 2022 16:33:07.837 [0x7f734c142b38] ERROR - [Req#684/Transcode/kk8k4t7glbec6zufw1ueikww/118ce6fb-9b63-43a9-a2c2-364f246e4184] [h264 @ 0x7f6515064e00] No decoder surfaces left
Dec 18, 2022 16:33:07.838 [0x7f734e64eb38] ERROR - [Req#685/Transcode/kk8k4t7glbec6zufw1ueikww/118ce6fb-9b63-43a9-a2c2-364f246e4184] Error while decoding stream #0:0: Invalid data found when processing input
Dec 18, 2022 16:33:07.839 [0x7f734d7fcb38] ERROR - [Req#686/Transcode/kk8k4t7glbec6zufw1ueikww/118ce6fb-9b63-43a9-a2c2-364f246e4184] [h264 @ 0x7f6515064e00] reference picture missing during reorder
Dec 18, 2022 16:33:07.839 [0x7f734e196b38] ERROR - [Req#687/Transcode/kk8k4t7glbec6zufw1ueikww/118ce6fb-9b63-43a9-a2c2-364f246e4184] [h264 @ 0x7f6515064e00] Missing reference picture, default is 65550
Dec 18, 2022 16:33:07.840 [0x7f734d090b38] ERROR - [Req#688/Transcode/kk8k4t7glbec6zufw1ueikww/118ce6fb-9b63-43a9-a2c2-364f246e4184] [h264 @ 0x7f6515064e00] reference picture missing during reorder
Dec 18, 2022 16:33:07.841 [0x7f734bf3fb38] ERROR - [Req#689/Transcode/kk8k4t7glbec6zufw1ueikww/118ce6fb-9b63-43a9-a2c2-364f246e4184] [h264 @ 0x7f6515064e00] Missing reference picture, default is 65550
Dec 18, 2022 16:33:07.841 [0x7f734c142b38] ERROR - [Req#68a/Transcode/kk8k4t7glbec6zufw1ueikww/118ce6fb-9b63-43a9-a2c2-364f246e4184] [h264 @ 0x7f6515064e00] reference picture missing during reorder
Dec 18, 2022 16:33:07.842 [0x7f734e64eb38] ERROR - [Req#68b/Transcode/kk8k4t7glbec6zufw1ueikww/118ce6fb-9b63-43a9-a2c2-364f246e4184] [h264 @ 0x7f6515064e00] Missing reference picture, default is 65550
Dec 18, 2022 16:33:07.843 [0x7f734d7fcb38] ERROR - [Req#68c/Transcode/kk8k4t7glbec6zufw1ueikww/118ce6fb-9b63-43a9-a2c2-364f246e4184] [h264 @ 0x7f6515064e00] reference picture missing during reorder
Dec 18, 2022 16:33:07.844 [0x7f734e196b38] ERROR - [Req#68d/Transcode/kk8k4t7glbec6zufw1ueikww/118ce6fb-9b63-43a9-a2c2-364f246e4184] [h264 @ 0x7f6515064e00] Missing reference picture, default is 65550
Dec 18, 2022 16:33:07.864 [0x7f734d090b38] ERROR - [Req#68e/Transcode/kk8k4t7glbec6zufw1ueikww/118ce6fb-9b63-43a9-a2c2-364f246e4184] Impossible to convert between the formats supported by the filter 'Parsed_scale_cuda_1' and the filter 'auto_scale_0'
Dec 18, 2022 16:33:07.864 [0x7f734bf3fb38] ERROR - [Req#68f/Transcode/kk8k4t7glbec6zufw1ueikww/118ce6fb-9b63-43a9-a2c2-364f246e4184] Error reinitializing filters!
Dec 18, 2022 16:33:07.865 [0x7f734c142b38] ERROR - [Req#690/Transcode/kk8k4t7glbec6zufw1ueikww/118ce6fb-9b63-43a9-a2c2-364f246e4184] Failed to inject frame into filter network: Function not implemented
Dec 18, 2022 16:33:07.865 [0x7f734e64eb38] ERROR - [Req#691/Transcode/kk8k4t7glbec6zufw1ueikww/118ce6fb-9b63-43a9-a2c2-364f246e4184] Error while processing the decoded data for stream #0:0
Dec 18, 2022 16:33:07.936 [0x7f73513c9b38] DEBUG - Jobs: '/usr/lib/plexmediaserver/Plex Transcoder' exit code for process 3996 is 1 (failure)
Dec 18, 2022 16:33:07.936 [0x7f734ae1bb38] DEBUG - Streaming Resource: Changing client to use software decoding
Dec 18, 2022 16:33:07.936 [0x7f734ae1bb38] DEBUG - Found session GUID of kk8k4t7glbec6zufw1ueikww in session start.

Unfortunately, the issue is still present (in 1.30.3.6509-ea6337004 at least) and it is really weird, as some h264 files and all hevc files work (=hw de and encoding) but the majority of my h264 rips do not. They worked fine in earlier versions of PMS. The system is up-to-date…
Do you have a clue what the issue could be?

18

There are problems with PMS 1.30.x and the newer SDK (12.0)

Reinstall PMS 1.29.2 image and retest.

2 Likes
19

I have been on 1.30.2.xxx and rolling back to any earlier version (docker on unraid) makes the server crash during startup. Reinstalling 1.30.2 makes the server work again.
Did you change anything in the database older versions have trouble with?
For the time being I deactivated HW transcoding, enough cores left to handle SW transcoding for a while.

20

Thanks for your answer. I guess then downgrading to an earlier nvidia driver with nvenc/nvdec SDK 11.X is also an option?