Plex "Indirect Connection" when connecting outside of network

Qwenton · September 13, 2023, 12:59am

I am having issues connecting to Plex outside of my home network, though I am able to reach it outside of home network. It is always flashing “Indirect Connection”. This limits my quality settings in plex to 720p when connecting outside of my home network. Plex also seems to be generally unstable with network connectivity. I read through some articles from Plex and “DNS Rebinding” was thrown around. I feel this is something really simple I am missing. I am very new to Router OS having just gotten it up and running last week. Let me know if anything else is needed for troubleshooting.

Here is my current configuration. Any support / help is appreciated

Config Export

[admin@MikroTik] > export compact hide-sensitive
# 2023-09-12 19:48:29 by RouterOS 7.11.2
/interface bridge
add admin-mac=78:9A:18:27:17:59 auto-mac=no comment=defconf name=bridge
/interface list
add comment=defconf name=WAN
add comment=defconf name=LAN
/interface wireless security-profiles
set [ find default=yes ] supplicant-identity=MikroTik
/ip pool
add name=dhcp ranges=192.168.50.2-192.168.50.254
/ip dhcp-server
add address-pool=dhcp interface=bridge name=defconf
/port
set 0 name=serial0
set 1 name=serial1
/interface bridge port
add bridge=bridge comment=defconf interface=ether2
add bridge=bridge comment=defconf interface=ether3
add bridge=bridge comment=defconf interface=ether4
add bridge=bridge comment=defconf interface=ether5
add bridge=bridge comment=defconf interface=ether6
add bridge=bridge comment=defconf interface=ether7
add bridge=bridge comment=defconf interface=ether8
add bridge=bridge comment=defconf interface=ether9
add bridge=bridge comment=defconf interface=ether10
add bridge=bridge comment=defconf interface=sfp-sfpplus1
/ip neighbor discovery-settings
set discover-interface-list=LAN
/interface list member
add comment=defconf interface=bridge list=LAN
add comment=defconf interface=ether1 list=WAN
/ip address
add address=192.168.50.1/24 comment=defconf interface=bridge network=192.168.50.0
/ip cloud
set ddns-enabled=yes
/ip dhcp-client
add comment=defconf interface=ether1
/ip dhcp-server lease
add address=192.168.50.5 client-id=1:74:56:3c:40:9f:e mac-address=74:56:3C:40:9F:0E server=defconf
add address=192.168.50.4 client-id=1:a8:a1:59:f6:ef:dc mac-address=A8:A1:59:F6:EF:DC server=defconf
add address=192.168.50.2 client-id=1:3c:7c:3f:40:f9:20 mac-address=3C:7C:3F:40:F9:20 server=defconf
add address=192.168.50.3 mac-address=B4:2E:99:C8:A9:62 server=defconf
/ip dhcp-server network
add address=192.168.50.0/24 comment=defconf dns-server=1.1.1.1,1.0.0.1 gateway=192.168.50.1 netmask=24
/ip dns
set allow-remote-requests=yes servers=1.1.1.1,1.0.0.1
/ip dns static
add address=192.168.50.1 comment=defconf name=router.lan
/ip firewall address-list
add address=TEST.sn.mynetname.net list="WAN IP"
/ip firewall filter
add action=accept chain=input comment="defconf: accept established,related,untracked" connection-state=established,related,untracked
add action=drop chain=input comment="defconf: drop invalid" connection-state=invalid
add action=accept chain=input comment="defconf: accept ICMP" protocol=icmp
add action=accept chain=input comment="defconf: accept to local loopback (for CAPsMAN)" dst-address=127.0.0.1
add action=drop chain=input comment="defconf: drop all not coming from LAN" in-interface-list=!LAN
add action=accept chain=forward comment="defconf: accept in ipsec policy" ipsec-policy=in,ipsec
add action=accept chain=forward comment="defconf: accept out ipsec policy" ipsec-policy=out,ipsec
add action=fasttrack-connection chain=forward comment="defconf: fasttrack" connection-state=established,related hw-offload=yes
add action=accept chain=forward comment="defconf: accept established,related, untracked" connection-state=established,related,untracked
add action=drop chain=forward comment="defconf: drop invalid" connection-state=invalid
add action=drop chain=forward comment="defconf: drop all from WAN not DSTNATed" connection-nat-state=!dstnat connection-state=new in-interface-list=WAN
/ip firewall nat
add action=masquerade chain=srcnat comment="defconf: masquerade" ipsec-policy=out,none out-interface-list=WAN
add action=masquerade chain=srcnat dst-address=192.168.50.0/24 src-address=192.168.50.0/24
add action=dst-nat chain=dstnat comment=Plex dst-address-list="WAN IP" dst-port=32400 protocol=tcp to-addresses=192.168.50.3 to-ports=32400
add action=dst-nat chain=dstnat comment=Plex dst-address-list="WAN IP" dst-port=32400 protocol=udp to-addresses=192.168.50.3 to-ports=32400
add action=dst-nat chain=dstnat comment="Minecraft TCP" dst-address-list="WAN IP" dst-port=25550 protocol=tcp to-addresses=192.168.50.4 to-ports=25550
add action=dst-nat chain=dstnat comment="Minecraft UDP" dst-address-list="WAN IP" dst-port=25550 protocol=udp to-addresses=192.168.50.4 to-ports=25550
add action=dst-nat chain=dstnat comment="UNRAID VPN" dst-address-list="WAN IP" dst-port=51820 protocol=udp to-addresses=192.168.50.3 to-ports=51820
add action=dst-nat chain=dstnat comment=HTTP dst-address-list="WAN IP" dst-port=80 protocol=tcp to-addresses=192.168.50.3 to-ports=8181
add action=dst-nat chain=dstnat comment=HTTPS dst-address-list="WAN IP" dst-port=443 protocol=tcp to-addresses=192.168.50.3 to-ports=4433
/ipv6 firewall address-list
add address=::/128 comment="defconf: unspecified address" list=bad_ipv6
add address=::1/128 comment="defconf: lo" list=bad_ipv6
add address=fec0::/10 comment="defconf: site-local" list=bad_ipv6
add address=::ffff:0.0.0.0/96 comment="defconf: ipv4-mapped" list=bad_ipv6
add address=::/96 comment="defconf: ipv4 compat" list=bad_ipv6
add address=100::/64 comment="defconf: discard only " list=bad_ipv6
add address=2001:db8::/32 comment="defconf: documentation" list=bad_ipv6
add address=2001:10::/28 comment="defconf: ORCHID" list=bad_ipv6
add address=3ffe::/16 comment="defconf: 6bone" list=bad_ipv6
/ipv6 firewall filter
add action=accept chain=input comment="defconf: accept established,related,untracked" connection-state=established,related,untracked
add action=drop chain=input comment="defconf: drop invalid" connection-state=invalid
add action=accept chain=input comment="defconf: accept ICMPv6" protocol=icmpv6
add action=accept chain=input comment="defconf: accept UDP traceroute" port=33434-33534 protocol=udp
add action=accept chain=input comment="defconf: accept DHCPv6-Client prefix delegation." dst-port=546 protocol=udp src-address=fe80::/10
add action=accept chain=input comment="defconf: accept IKE" dst-port=500,4500 protocol=udp
add action=accept chain=input comment="defconf: accept ipsec AH" protocol=ipsec-ah
add action=accept chain=input comment="defconf: accept ipsec ESP" protocol=ipsec-esp
add action=accept chain=input comment="defconf: accept all that matches ipsec policy" ipsec-policy=in,ipsec
add action=drop chain=input comment="defconf: drop everything else not coming from LAN" in-interface-list=!LAN
add action=accept chain=forward comment="defconf: accept established,related,untracked" connection-state=established,related,untracked
add action=drop chain=forward comment="defconf: drop invalid" connection-state=invalid
add action=drop chain=forward comment="defconf: drop packets with bad src ipv6" src-address-list=bad_ipv6
add action=drop chain=forward comment="defconf: drop packets with bad dst ipv6" dst-address-list=bad_ipv6
add action=drop chain=forward comment="defconf: rfc4890 drop hop-limit=1" hop-limit=equal:1 protocol=icmpv6
add action=accept chain=forward comment="defconf: accept ICMPv6" protocol=icmpv6
add action=accept chain=forward comment="defconf: accept HIP" protocol=139
add action=accept chain=forward comment="defconf: accept IKE" dst-port=500,4500 protocol=udp
add action=accept chain=forward comment="defconf: accept ipsec AH" protocol=ipsec-ah
add action=accept chain=forward comment="defconf: accept ipsec ESP" protocol=ipsec-esp
add action=accept chain=forward comment="defconf: accept all that matches ipsec policy" ipsec-policy=in,ipsec
add action=drop chain=forward comment="defconf: drop everything else not coming from LAN" in-interface-list=!LAN
/system clock
set time-zone-name=America/Chicago
/system note
set show-at-login=no
/system routerboard settings
set enter-setup-on=delete-key
/tool mac-server
set allowed-interface-list=LAN
/tool mac-server mac-winbox
set allowed-interface-list=LAN

joegoldman · September 13, 2023, 1:32am

When you do the port check inside plex admin panel does it say its OK?

Do you get a direct public IP?

When you load plex outside of the network, inspect the traffic on the network tab in the dev tools on your browser - one of the URL’s it tries to connect to will be a .something.plex that will resolve to your network public IP - what do you get on that link? A timeout? An error etc?

Qwenton · September 13, 2023, 2:42am

Yes everything says it is ok when accessing locally from Unraid Server.

When access from app.plex.tv it now shows “Not available from outside your network” despite being able to play movies just fine… After trying a few more times. It then reverts back to looking like the first screenshot. Just seems shotty.
I seem to get a direct public IP. See above screenshot
I don’t know what I am looking for here. There are some errors when running that but I dont know if anything is related. I have some friend sharing there stuff with me as well. I would like to share this log with you without doxing myself lol, but do not know the best way to do that. I started the log, accessed plex.tv, typed in my pin, then went to my Movies directory.

Does anything in my configuration posted look wrong?

jvanhambelgium · September 13, 2023, 9:59am

Are you sure it’s a public IP ? And not something like 100.64.x.x ?
Your screenshot with the blurred out IP says “0” as port-number and that is not correct.
I have there nicely 32400

Try the “manually specify public port” setting and put 32400 in there + Apply. See what that does.
I use that option too.

Qwenton · September 13, 2023, 2:27pm

I changed my plex port to manual from work and can no longer connect “securely”. When I get home from work I can do more troubleshooting. My public IP starts with 172.x.x.x. Does that sounds right? I recently switch from an ASUS router / ap / switch combo box and now have a RB4011. I don’t think Allo would would have messed my public IP up since then as I can still use all of my services, except plex, from outside my home network. Thank you for the continuing help. I really appreciate everyone on this forum who takes time to help beginners.

jvanhambelgium · September 13, 2023, 3:36pm

Beginning with 172.x.x.x MIGHT be OK
Is the IP address on the range below ? If so, then you do not have a public IP.

172.16.0.0 to 172.31.255.255

Under “Settings” , then “Network” I also filled in the field where you put a URL that points back to you.
In my case for example there is http://plex.mydomain:32400 in there.
This value is published to “plex.tv” to aid in server-detection. Obviously will only work with a public IP

Anyway my setup works for years stable. I even whitelist the AWS-server from which Plex performs checks so my Plex is certainly not “world accessible” (only through Wireguard VPN)

Qwenton · September 13, 2023, 10:25pm

Thank you for the information. My public IP does fall within that range so I think I should be good! After applying a manual port, it seems to be working now. I feel stupid now! I did not think that would matter. Thanks for all the help. I will use the other knowledge you provided and add to my troubleshooting database.
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jvanhambelgium · September 14, 2023, 5:46pm

Hmm, [u]if your IP falls in the range 172.16.0.0 to 172.31.255.255** you DO NOT have a true public IP ![/u]**