TrueNAS Plex performance, unable to stream, network to slow?

So thanks to @HoneyBadger, I now have Plex up and running and reading media. After setting it up, I went downstairs to my AppleTV, installed the Plex app, and connected to my Plex Server. It showed the media, and lots of meta-data, which was cool (it must have figured it out). However, when I went to play one of the episodes, it started (kinda blurry… but even Netflix does that) … and then it cleared up slightly, but if I attempt to fast forward or rewind, it just froze and a about 5-10 seconds later … it said it could not play it because the network throughput was too slow.

I thought that was odd… and I used VLC, and connected to the SMB volume where the media was stored and played the episode from there… worked perfectly… could fast forward and rewind, stop and play another episode, etc… all working like I thought it would do in Plex.

I have the ZimaCube with TrueNAS installed attached to a gigbit switch, and I have fast WiFi router. I am getting 30 MB/s write and 51 MB/s read over WiFi.

Why the heck is Plex complaining… what should I be looking for? Tweaks I can make?

Is this on Dragonfish or Eel?

What was the bit rate of the video you were trying to play?

Was Plex transcoding?

And if it was, do you have a Plex Pass @jewettg ?

What system did you use to play them when testing with VLC? The same Apple TV?

@Tyler_Shield and @HoneyBadger

I have updated the installation (brand new) the latest available (outside of beta releases): TrueNAS SCALE Dragonfish 24.04

Video “Info”:

  • Duration 39:44
  • Bitrate 2462 kbps
  • Width 1280
  • Height 720
  • Aspect Ratio 1.78
  • Video Resolution 720p
  • Container MP4
  • Video Frame Rate 24p

I do not have Plex Pass. Is that required?

The AppleTV was used for BOTH the VLC and Plex. The AppleTV is hooked up to my home network via Ethernet ( ≥ 100mb connection ).

Transcoding Screenshot:

-=-=-=-=-

Here is the kicker … I can from my computer (on WiFi), play the video via my web browser … in Plex … and it plays just fine… FF and REW, etc… no issues, and starts quickly.

The Plex app on AppleTV is hot garbage. There’s nothing wrong with your network. You might want to try and get a Plex pass so that you can use hardware transcoding if you must use the Plex app on AppleTV. For me, I have been using the Infuse app and it ‘just works’. No transcoding. No issues. Even my 4K content. AND I don’t have a Plex pass. I don’t transcode anything. My NAS is using a tiny little Atom processor with no dedicated GPU. One needs to transcode because the Plex app can’t play a simple file without doing something to it. Took years and different hardware, GPUs, plex passes to figure this out. It’s the Plex app. Not you.

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@nihil2040
Oh my! I am starting to think that as well. Since I just noticed that if I play the videos via the web, in Plex via my Mac on WiFi, it works just fine.

I “thought” that Plex would be the solution I was looking for… since I have friends who use it and say good things about it… maybe not? I have no interest in paying for something unless I KNOW it works well, regardless of platform.

I have a bunch of personal content that I want to have accessible without a bunch of technical work necessary to make it available. My objective would be easy operation (kinda like Apple TV+, Disney, Netflix, Prime, etc…) that my wife can use to watch the videos. A bonus would be something secure enough that I can give kids access so they can view the content.

Any thoughts on a cross-platform (Apple, WinOS, Linux, Web, etc…) that is available that has a easy-to-use platform? I would also like to have it be an app or something that I can run on my TrueNAS platform, so I do not need another server or anything to make it work.

Jellyfin is a Plex like app that I have used. It is a solid option that is free and open source. One can use Jellyfin and have hardware transcoding enabled without having to pay a subscription fee. Many TrueNAS devotees use it instead of Plex.

If you are looking for a barebones no frills experience, Infuse could be an option for you as a player (like VLC). All you have to do is set up your SMB share and point Infuse to it. Infuse will play ANYTHING you throw at it.

For us, we use TrueNAS as a file server. Plex in a container on TrueNAS. To play our content we use Infuse on our Macs, iPhones, AppleTV, and iPads. It’s been solid for us.

Do some research on Jellyfin, Infuse, and Plex. Hopefully you’ll find a good solution that works for you. Good luck!

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Count me among the Jellyfin userbase. Free, open-source, seems like it’s the perfect fit for TrueNAS media server functionality.

I can’t speak as to the Plex app’s functionality but it seems like @nihil2040 has some “prior history” with it :sweat_smile: If playback works via alternate apps and clients then it’s unlikely to be a problem with the network bandwidth.

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Jellyfin … here I come!

Plex often has issues with DNS rebinding and will treat LAN traffic was WAN traffic. I suspect you Apple TV was treated as a WAN connection and the limiting rules were applied. In the Plex Media Server under Network there is a check box for " Treat WAN IP As LAN Bandwidth" look in advance setting if it doesn’t appear by default and make sure it is checked.

From the Plex Support site:

Treat WAN IP As LAN Bandwidth

This will be set by default. It allows incoming requests from this network’s WAN IP address to be treated as LAN requests in terms of bandwidth. This often occurs when DNS rebinding protection is in place and clients on the LAN cannot contact the server directly but instead have to go through the WAN IP address.

I might revisit Plex if other solutions do not work. Thank you!

Agree, while I do not use Plex, same idea with Emby. Infuse just works and uses the Emby metadata when using direct mode (better than SMB, etc) which I assume exists with Plex as well AFAIK. There is no need for a GPU and the constant hassles posted in this forum, no transcoding necessary, it’s wonderful.