[NoMoreNicksLeft]

Going to hijack a thread... is there any chance one could point a Plex server at a different backend (in the hosts file) and then emulate Plex's own functionality? So tired of the internet going down and not being able to log into my own shows.

[mapontosevenths]

Use Emby or Jellyfin instead. Neither require internet access and both do the part of Plex you actually want without the garbage.

Jellyfin is free, but I prefer Emby and bought the lifetime license on sale.

[Xiol]

I've used a local server and just DLNA for over a decade and that's been fine on almost every device I've used it on.

There's also Jellyfin if you're really into the whole Plex thing.

[mapontosevenths]

There's also Kodi if you use Android based devices and only need local playback. NFuse works similarly for Apple.

They just stream straight from the file share. No transcoding nonsense or server necessary.

[NoMoreNicksLeft]

DLNA doesn't do me much good... I need the parental restrictions and other such features.

[compsciphd]

you can just got to http://local_plex_server_ip:32400/

[heavyset_go]

Jellyfin + Wireguard/Tailscale

[danielheath]

Jellyfin?

[cyberax]

Uhhh... Plex works fine without Internet?

[dewey]

There’s maybe some way to make it work, but by default it’s not so easy. I once had an internet outage and had to play the files with VLC as I wasn’t able to log into Plex on my NAS.

[NoMoreNicksLeft]

You don't know much about it. When you connect to a Plex server, you have to log into their backend, or it doesn't even know how to connect. It also does all the accounts/permissions stuff. An internet outtage is, unfortunately, a Plex outtage.

[bcraven]

https://support.plex.tv/articles/200890058-authentication-fo...

In rare cases, you may decide that you wish to allow very specific access from the local network without authentication. You might do this if using a third-party Plex app, which doesn’t support authentication, for instance (though all modern official and third-party apps should already support authentication).

To make an exception, look in your Plex Media Server’s advanced network settings, under Settings > Server > Network > List of IP addresses and networks that are allowed without auth.

Here, you can specify LAN addresses as either a specific IP or a IP/netmask (to specify a range). Separate multiple values by a comma and be sure not to include any whitespace (e.g. spaces).

[bigstrat2003]

That isn't true. There's a setting in the server for networks which are allowed to access without authentication.

[cyberax]

I have never set up a remote connection. My phone and laptop have a VPN connection back to my home network, and Plex just works. My TV also uses a local connection.

I believe that the regular "external" connection requires a STUN server, so it will fail without Internet.