I lost my Plex/Nvidia transcode settings after making other changes.

Precursor, to why this post will be long, I have a tenancy to over explain as I feel details are important and can avoid answering questions to things I already did to trouble shoot.

So here is a TL;DR version: I had Plex server (official Linux repository) working, and the Nvidia plugin configured and showing in my Plex settings page. But after months on Plex being the only Docker I was using, I decided to move all my usenet/arrs from my Windows PC, to all be running off my Unraid NAS. During this time and lots of trial and errors and new cache set-ups, I broke something, and now Plex has no transcode or Nvidia Visible Devices as options in my Docker setup page (Advanced view). Please read on. If not, you can skip to Stage 3) at the bottom and the images I shared of my dashboard and Plex's current settings if you feel you can help me out.

Full disclosure; this is my first dedicated server/NAS and also my first experience using and learning a Linux based system. It's why I went with Unraid, as I knew for a n00b like me, it would be the easiest to learn and know it has great support as I have already utilized like here, reddit & Discord. I have already received much love and support on all those platforms since I first set it up August of 2024.

Fast forward to now.  My setup is installed on a prebuilt rig that I bought specifically for this NAS, and mainly for the GTX GeForce 1080 GPU as I knew I wanted to set it up for transcoding in Plex. Below is a screenshot of my specs. Bear in mind, some of this may be upgraded or added to later like RAM to 32GB, a bigger or 2nd SSD/Cache drive, and a larger/2nd pool drive than the 8TB I have now that is already half full. 

Stage 1) After I installed Unraid and had it up and running on this rig (still on a 30 day trial) I then moved my 3.2TB's of media to my array (basically only TV Series and Movies). I then wanted to move my Plex server previously running on a Windows System to run from this more robust rig, and with the ability to now transcode potentially bigger files like 4k that I typically never had in my collection. If I recall, followed the official guide HERE, as well as more than a few videos found on YouTube. I had it all set up to the point my settings in Plex saw my GPU as an option in the Transcode settings .  I can't say the transcode was working as it should, but I was seeing "Transcode" on my Plex Dashboard when playing videos. However, I use a FireTV on both my TV's when at home, and the Plex app from my phone when on the road and those devices convert the media just fine and unless I was playing media on the official Plex app on Windows HTPC, Transcoding wasn't needed. S I put a pin in it, and never went any further. Mainly because at that point I wasn't using my 500GB NVM SSD as a cache. So basically, it was getting no use. 

Stage 2) I wanted to move all my operations from my old HTPC where my Plex server used to live, as well as the media is read, and for my usenet/arr apps.  I started first by setting up my Cache and shares to now use my SSD for temp read/write files like for my Docker config and appdata. At this time the only Docker I had was Plex, and the Nvidia plugin. So next step was to add Sonarr, Radarr and NZBGet (being used at that time) and SABnzb. This took some time, and a lot of trial and error. I eventually got this all working as it should using the Thrash-Guides setup, and I owe it all to a helpful reddit user, who after a few back and forth comments and DM's, suggested we connect on Discord. When we did, he kindly spent 2.5 hours with a screen share a live chat. I owe him dearly. All arr programs and SAB are not only working flawlessly, but my speeds using the same 1G ISP service I have for years, were like upwards of 12x faster. To compare when running usenet on my Windows HTPC, then processing and sending the media through my network to my NAS array, my average speeds were 6-12MB/s, compared to now I have capped as high as 110MB/s. I can't believe I lived with my downloads that slow and for all 14 years (circa) in the usenet metaverse. But some of this was setup errors on my end, mostly because I was writing my temp NZBget downloads to an external 320GB old 5400RPM, Micro USB connected HDD. Yes, one of my biggest blunders, and I accept my stupidity as a hard lesson learned.  

Stage 3) During my trial and errors, before I got help from the kind 'reddit_user'  on Discord I was having an issue where Plex wasn't loading and in the setup page it was no longer showing an IP:port. It may have been a simple fix, but everything I tried wasn't working so I decided to uninstall it, and reinstall. Only thing is, I forgot per the official tutorial on the forum, I was using the Linux Repository Plex Docker and it was already preconfigured and supported to use the Nvidia plugin showing my GPU on my dashboard and in Plex. So when I reinstalled Plex, I forgot I used the Linux version and per the tutorial it matters, and mistakenly installed the binhex-plexpass. I used that version mainly as I am using all binhex repository Dockers for my arr's; Radarr, Sonarr, and installed, but not set-up, Prowlarr just to stay consistent and they seem to be the most popular and recommended. I quickly realized in the setup page I wasn't seeing the options in the for Transcode: and Nvidia Visible Devices: So I re-read the tutorial and installed the official Linux one (again). So technically, I currently have 2 Plex dockers binhex and the Linux version with the Linux reconfigured to handle my media, and the binhex still installed, but is stopped/disabled. Once I got the Linux Plex up and running again and working with my library I quickly found out although Plex was working fine, and seeing my media (and my GeForce GTX 1080 in the transcode settings page) , it would not play any large files using the WEB GUI (movies in the G's size range), but could play smaller files like tv shows.  It would just hang-up on the loading screen and never play. So to test Plex was working fine I played those same movies from my phone and my 4K FireTV and they worked just fine. So at this point I knew I broke something in my Plex setup. II decided to ignore trying to get the Transcode/Nvidia setup working since I temp disconnected all my Plex user shares, and the media all plays fine for me using the 4K FireTV that is connected to my home theater, and what I prefer to use for my entertainment, for now. 

So that's why I am here. What I am not sure of is, the videos and tutorial all stress to install the Nvidia Driver plugin first, then reboot the server, then install the Plex Docker.  Is this my issue, do I need to removed both Plex Dockers, and reboot, or both Plex, and Nvidia plugin/driver and reboot, reinstall Nvidia, then Plex (Linux) for it all to work like it did the first time?  

Please note, I added in yellow text the Extra Parameters: per some YouTube I wathced. But I didn't have to do this the first time, the Plex Docker already had them in place. 

Thank you in advance 

Edited February 3, 20251 yr by SmirkAction