Okay, I have spent two days trying to find a way to fix this issue but no luck.
I found out that when I watch shows and movies on Plex it is hitting my bandwidth.
I have a Plex media server upstairs and a HTPC downstairs hooked up to my television.
I watch media on the HTPC using Plex.tv web site and it seems that I am being hit for the media going out to the internet and then again coming back. My internet usage is nearly 1.4TB a month!!!
I have both machines on the same wired network using those Powerline wall plugs.
I thought that it would just stream over my local network, apparently I am doing something wrong or I misunderstood something.
I’ve had Plex occasionally (rarely) indicate that it couldn’t make a direct connection when watching on my roku or laptop at my house where my Plex server (desktop PC) also resides, both connected to a single home router. I was under the impression that no direct connection means sometimes Plex is sending video packets back to a Plex server and then back to my home when there is no “direct” connection.
Is that correct?
If so, could that be what is happening for auge28?
@trumpy81 said:
Every time you add a file to Plex, plex reaches out to find metadata and posters and ratings and various other things. During maintenance, Plex reaches out for updated metadata, posters and ratings and various other things. Multiply that by the number of files you have.
But that still would not add up to 1.4TB a month I can assure you of that. If it was Plex, you’d be running out of disk space very, very, quickly and I doubt that is the case.
Plex does not send your media across the internet unless you request it to do so. Are you sure you have your PMS secure, not sharing with anyone else?
If I were you, I would be setting up a network monitor of some description and keep a close eye on exactly what is using your bandwidth, I very much doubt it will be Plex though.
Yes, I agree that it is not the normal library stuff.
There are tons of people with a similar question on the internet, I am not the only one who believes this is happening.
Most of the solutions seem to be “Make sure both machines are on the same “Subnet”, I am not sure what exactly that means and can find nothing about it in Plex help pages.
I would think that if this was a big deal that it would be there someplace.
I am sharing with friends but I cannot imagine the usage being large with half a dozen people watching an episode or a movie a day.
However, we do watch content inside my home on three PCs using the Plex.tv web app.
Oh, also…
When I unplug my modem I cannot use Plex.tv.
I can however use the URL that is recommended to directly connect to the server and the Plex app can as well: This (http://(your_plex_server_ip):32400/web/ ).
Both of these will only let the primary user sign on and not the wife or son or even the ‘Plex Home’ account.
You Need to have an Internet Connection to use Plex. except for the “admin” User for your Server and lock on via web ( (http://(your_plex_server_ip):32400/web/ )
@Cabel330 said:
You Need to have an Internet Connection to use Plex. except for the “admin” User for your Server and lock on via web ( (http://(your_plex_server_ip):32400/web/ )
Okay good,
I just thought I would mention it to see if it lead to anything.
I am happy that it is expected behavior.
Hmmm, I did some math and some reading.
It seems that Plex may not be the culprit.
I have 5-year-old twins and they watch Netflix, between them and the son we probably use Netflix about 4-5 hours a day. On the low side that’s about 120GB a month.
My son games using Steam, I can only assume that it uses the bandwidth as well.
Regular internet usage like Youtube, streaming music . . . et al.
Add the way that I get the media for Plex.
