Ok, did a lot more testing with Plex and it would seem my cpu can't get the job done using the Rolu 2 plex  client or a Win8 running Plex (purchased app).  It must be the transcode crap.  If I try either of those, my server cpu goes to 100% and thus crapy playback. 

Plex PMS playback on the server using IE works just fine.

Plex playback from my server to my ipad works just fine.

On my win8 HTPC running xbmc, all plays just fine.

 

So, I guess I need to upgrade my motherboard / cpu on my unraid server before Plex will be happy, as I don't think there are any settings to resolve this issue.  I won't settle for anything less than 1080p on my 65" tv.  I will just use xbmc on the HTPC.  Unfortuanly, there is no xbmc on the Roku.

 

I will just use xbmc on the HTPC.  Unfortuanly, there is no xbmc on the Roku.

 

See my last post. Plex is working on an OpenElec client. You mentioned before you were interested in OpenElec.

how would that help?  I still have a cpu issue with Plex clients.  Are you saying that a OpenElec Plex combo would not have the same transcode issue?  Also, with a openelec install, I would need to build yet another system (box).  I had tried xbmc with openelec and it worked just fine.  But with the HTPC running xbmc, I get more, like Netflixs.  So I voted for the HTPC with win8 64bit, loaded Netflix and just installed xmbc.

 

If the Roku had xbmc as a offical channel / app, that might be worth it.

 

 

Sorry, no. You said you were going to have to use XBMC on your HTPC and therefore would no be able to use your Plex library. What I meant was once the OpenElec client is out you could either boot directory to that and forgo Windows and XBMC or you could build youself a very small HTPC to use with it.

Have you tried to lower the quality to rule out any bandwidth issues? If its playing fine on other devices I would think its not bandwidth but its good to rule out.

 

Also, try setting the local quality to the max so plex won't transcode it at all, and enable direct play as well (although it most likely will not direct play to the roku)

 

Its possible the ipad was taking the 1080 video and downscaling it locally, although I don't have one to test. That would explain why it worked fine when other options didn't.

 

In the end, you can just send me your roku,

 

Or you can just upgrade the CPU, you can pick up a used Core 2 Quad or Core 2 Extreme for a decent price. $50 on this one:

Q8200 Core 2 Quad

 

 

Switchblade,

 

I am running pms on athlon ii x2 4450e (which is an unlocked dual core version of the sempron 145) that is less powerful than your cpu. (Based on benchmarks)

 

I am running a ton of plugins including a virtualbox winxp client that is taking up 40% of the cpu at all times (BlueIris security cam software)

 

I just tested running 2 simultaneous 720p streams, both transcoded to 3Mbit/s 720p streams and it handled just fine.

 

The main difference is that I have pms data folders on the cache drive. You have yours on the data drive, meaning every time pms writes something, the parity has to be calculated so the parity drive can be updated. That causes extra cpu cycles and might result in your sluggish performance. Try running it off of the cache drive and see if it fixes the problem.

 

PS. I also tried the roku HD at remote locations with transcoded streams up to 3-5 Mbit/s and no problems

Try running it off of the cache drive and see if it fixes the problem.

Or mount a drive yourself if you don't want a cache drive.  I have plex installed on my apps drive, and haven't had an issue yet.

 

Plex has been great so far after I resolved the issues I had with permissions on my apps drive.  The content displayed on my LG TV is way above the offering from any DLNA player for eye candy!  It's a shame there is no plex app for the WDTV or I would be in heaven.

 

Also thanks for Benni-chan for his update plugin.  Works a treat.

Thanks all!  A little more info and some answers to your questions.

 

I already moved my PMS stuff to the cache drive a few days ago per this thread.  I also just upgraded to 0.9.7.12.407, which came out today. (thanks Benni-chan!)

 

It's not a bandwidth issue, as I can play anything using xbmc, popcorn hour, etc.  I run gig switches, although some devices connect at 100.  I do not use wireless for any of this, except for my ipad2.  Oh, and my ipad 2 plays 1080p.  I should have mentioned that, as the ipad 1 didn't.

For PMS settings, I didn't change any of the defaults.  Direct Play is checked, and Streaming Quality is set to max - 20mbps 1080 for both local and remote.  Transcoder settings all default timeout settings.  Transcoder Temp directory box is blank.

 

Let me know if I should change any of the PMS settings, as that is about all that is left to try.

 

I'm going to research and see what's the fastest cpu I can just drop in my existing mb, and may try that too.

 

Thanks!

Aptacla (i think that's right), your lucky, I had the unlocked sempron and it wouldn't handle plex transcoding. It was powerful enough to transcode without having to buffer a lot, but gave one hell of a messed up picture. To see what I mean look a few pages back in this thread, I posted a screenshot.

 

Upgraded to a quad core and no issues since.

It must be the transcode crap.  If I try either of those, my server cpu goes to 100% and thus crapy playback.

Actually, this how it's supposed to work. It'll use as much CPU as available to create a lower bandwidth stream as far ahead as possible. Even if you got a much faster CPU, it'll still hit (near) 100% when transcoding. I'd look into bandwidth issues.

my server is connected at 1000 and my Roku 2 at 100.  How can it be a bandwidth issue?

I would agree, if your network can stream 1080 to your iPad, it will surely handle the roku  hardwired just fine.

 

Have you changed out network cables to rule that out? If you have a more powerful pc try installing PMS and a few of the video files you are having issues with on it and try from there, if possible with the same cables and running through the same switches the server is.

Thanks - as mentioned above, I built a win 8 HTPC, and installed plex client, but still connected to my PMS.  This is on a new box that has enough horse power.  Plugged directly into the same gig switch as my server, same results.  And, I used the same network cable, same video files.  I just didn't install the PMS on another box, which isn't a bad idea for testing, just a pain.  I may try that next.

 

About the only thing that makes sense to me at this point is that my PMS is just too dam slow to handle the transcoding.  I say that because all other playback works just fine, xbmc, direct file play with pch, ipad 2, etc.  The only thing that won't play is the roku and my HTPC running Plex client.  The only relation is the transcoding, unless I'm missing something.

 

Thats the end result I've come to,  because the win8 plex client is not aware of installed codecs so it has to transcode almost everything.

 

Installing PMS will be a bit of a pain. Not much though, and if it works without the stuttering you will know its your server

Thats the end result I've come to,  because the win8 plex client is not aware of installed codecs so it has to transcode almost everything.

 

Installing PMS will be a bit of a pain. Not much though, and if it works without the stuttering you will know its your server

true - I have to decide which is less pain, just buying a Intel Core 2 Extreme QUAD CORE QX9650 and dropping that in, or finding another box to build up a new PMS for testing...

Thanks all!  A little more info and some answers to your questions.

 

I already moved my PMS stuff to the cache drive a few days ago per this thread.  I also just upgraded to 0.9.7.12.407, which came out today. (thanks Benni-chan!)

 

It's not a bandwidth issue, as I can play anything using xbmc, popcorn hour, etc.  I run gig switches, although some devices connect at 100.  I do not use wireless for any of this, except for my ipad2.  Oh, and my ipad 2 plays 1080p.  I should have mentioned that, as the ipad 1 didn't.

For PMS settings, I didn't change any of the defaults.  Direct Play is checked, and Streaming Quality is set to max - 20mbps 1080 for both local and remote.  Transcoder settings all default timeout settings.  Transcoder Temp directory box is blank.

 

Let me know if I should change any of the PMS settings, as that is about all that is left to try.

 

I'm going to research and see what's the fastest cpu I can just drop in my existing mb, and may try that too.

 

Thanks!

 

Did you try a lower bitrate like 5Mbit/s

 

What if the 20Mbit/s stream is too much for Roku's measly ARM processor. It might not be PMS after all. I would start with a lower bitrate and do incremental increases. (I never tried over 5Mbit/s on the roku because I always did remote streaming with it and my upload speed maxes out at 6Mbit/s)

 

And mr. sparkle is also right. PMS when transcoding will *always* max out the cpu no matter how powerful it is, because it always moves ahead as far as it can and caches to prevent buffering due to less than sufficient cpu power later on

The roku handles 20 mbit iirc, we tested it when setting up a friend's server about a month ago. I'd double check with him but he's out of town at the moment.

Ok, so you are saying I should lower Streaming Quality to see if that helps.  I haven't tried that, so ok.  As long as I can get 1080p, I don't care.

 

I'm also interested in what Infuencer comes back with.  If his roku works at 20 mbit, then it must be my processor.

Hi,

 

Im new to Plex on Unraid and wonder if someone can help.

 

I can get the "Plex Media Server" option to appear under settings.  I then define my directories as follows:

 

Library directory: /mnt/cache/Plex

Temp directory: /mnt/cache/Temp

 

I then apply and try to start the server.  It doesnt work and just remains as "Stopped".

 

I have looked at the syslog and get the following:

 

Feb  1 14:29:50 Tower pms: Starting Plex...

Feb  1 14:29:50 Tower su[15480]: Successful su for root by root

Feb  1 14:29:50 Tower su[15480]: + root:root

Feb  1 14:29:52 Tower pms: Check 1: Plex has NOT started yet, something is maybe wrong!

Feb  1 14:29:55 Tower pms: Check 2: Plex has NOT started yet, something is maybe wrong!

Feb  1 14:29:58 Tower pms: Check 3: Plex has NOT started yet, something is maybe wrong!

Feb  1 14:30:01 Tower pms: Check 4: Plex has NOT started yet, something is maybe wrong!

Feb  1 14:30:04 Tower pms: Check 5: Plex has NOT started yet, something is maybe wrong!

 

I tired changing settings.ini to have

RUNAS="root"

 

This did not work.

 

I am on RC8a

 

Any help appreciated.

 

 

 

 

Hi,

 

Im new to Plex on Unraid and wonder if someone can help.

 

I can get the "Plex Media Server" option to appear under settings.  I then define my directories as follows:

 

Library directory: /mnt/cache/Plex

Temp directory: /mnt/cache/Temp

 

I then apply and try to start the server.  It doesnt work and just remains as "Stopped".

 

I have looked at the syslog and get the following:

 

Feb  1 14:29:50 Tower pms: Starting Plex...

Feb  1 14:29:50 Tower su[15480]: Successful su for root by root

Feb  1 14:29:50 Tower su[15480]: + root:root

Feb  1 14:29:52 Tower pms: Check 1: Plex has NOT started yet, something is maybe wrong!

Feb  1 14:29:55 Tower pms: Check 2: Plex has NOT started yet, something is maybe wrong!

Feb  1 14:29:58 Tower pms: Check 3: Plex has NOT started yet, something is maybe wrong!

Feb  1 14:30:01 Tower pms: Check 4: Plex has NOT started yet, something is maybe wrong!

Feb  1 14:30:04 Tower pms: Check 5: Plex has NOT started yet, something is maybe wrong!

 

I tired changing settings.ini to have

RUNAS="root"

 

This did not work.

 

I am on RC8a

 

Any help appreciated.

 

 

 

 

 

Try running the New Permissions utility, under Utils tab.  Make sure you leave your browser window open until it says it finished, otherwise closing the browser window cancels the job.

 

I assume you have  tried a reboot?

 

Hi,

 

Im new to Plex on Unraid and wonder if someone can help.

 

I can get the "Plex Media Server" option to appear under settings.  I then define my directories as follows:

 

Library directory: /mnt/cache/Plex

Temp directory: /mnt/cache/Temp

 

I then apply and try to start the server.  It doesnt work and just remains as "Stopped".

 

I have looked at the syslog and get the following:

 

Feb  1 14:29:50 Tower pms: Starting Plex...

Feb  1 14:29:50 Tower su[15480]: Successful su for root by root

Feb  1 14:29:50 Tower su[15480]: + root:root

Feb  1 14:29:52 Tower pms: Check 1: Plex has NOT started yet, something is maybe wrong!

Feb  1 14:29:55 Tower pms: Check 2: Plex has NOT started yet, something is maybe wrong!

Feb  1 14:29:58 Tower pms: Check 3: Plex has NOT started yet, something is maybe wrong!

Feb  1 14:30:01 Tower pms: Check 4: Plex has NOT started yet, something is maybe wrong!

Feb  1 14:30:04 Tower pms: Check 5: Plex has NOT started yet, something is maybe wrong!

 

I tired changing settings.ini to have

RUNAS="root"

 

This did not work.

 

I am on RC8a

 

Any help appreciated.

 

Plex should not be running as root.

Yes, the user should be unraid-plex

 

Also, unless you go into the unraid gui > shares and specify those two locations as cache only, they will be moved to the array and plex will not work correctly. I recommend making an "apps" share and putting those directories inside of it and specifying the apps share as cache only. This will 1) keep your shares tidy and 2) any further apps you install can be placed inside of that share without you having to change settings again.

Is anybody having issues with Plex not emptying it's trash in the new version? If I delete a folder, it doesn't update to reflect the change so I am left with unavailable media.

 

How can I safely delete media and have plex reflect the change?

Is anybody having issues with Plex not emptying it's trash in the new version? If I delete a folder, it doesn't update to reflect the change so I am left with unavailable media.

 

How can I safely delete media and have plex reflect the change?

 

Not sure what you mean by empty trash.  I'm assuming you mean clean up the library = remove metadata and icons for movies you have deleted.

 

Did you configure PMS to do that?  Go to unraid - settings - plex, then click on the word RUNNING, which is a link to your PMS.  there are other ways to get there ,but that works.  Then click on the Settings icon top right, little wrench.  Then select Library on from the list on the left.  Ensure the top 3 boxes are checked and select how often the libarary should update.  That should keep things clean.  I know for sure this works in this version because I have added and removed movies and the library is up to date.

 

You can also force a clean up by going to your library, for example "Movies" or whatever you named it, again from the same link as above.  On the top right there is a MORE drop down.  Select "Force Refresh".  I have tested this in this new version, works fine.

I have all those options checked which is why I can't figure out the problem

 

I have the Plex Library at "/mnt/cache/apps/Library" and the temp directory at "/tmp"

 

All my TV Shows are at "/mnt/user/TV Shows"

 

Plex is installed per the install instructions so I'm not sure where the fault lies.

 

Thanks for you help.