Wake for network access with plex

[jata1]

hi all,

I have a late 2012 macmini that I use primarily as a media server running plex.

Generally everything works great apart from waking for network access. I use a Timecapsule 4th gen as router also have the new Apple TV so apple sleep proxy definitely supported and available.

I have latest el cap but my Mac is connected over wifi. The connection is strong and fast 450mbps. Internet connection also good 40mbps down and 10 up.

Here are the issues:

• Doesn't work unless powernap is switched on with wake for network
• Wake for network access works sometimes but often fails
• Network drives that are mounted for plex sometimes disconnect (separate but related issue)
• Mac sometimes goes to sleep and doesn't wake when watching plex on appletv

I have spent weeks trying to solve this. Including a complete and clean OS X install. I think the issue is wifi as a ran a test using Ethernet and it was better.

Any suggestions appreciated. I have set the Mac to not sleep and everything is perfect so this is a good solution but not sure how much additional power this uses and the fan is running very slowly all the time.

 

[BurgDog]

I saw the same problems, gave up on trying to fix it, and just don't let my mac mini sleep at all so I can have a usable Plex server. Wake on network access is also flakey on my Mac Pro, works sometimes but not reliable. I've just given up trying to use that feature.

 

[slapppy]

Doesn't work reliably. You have yo leave everything on and waste power.

 

[BurgDog]

As far as I can tell, when wake on network access occurs (when it works) the system does not fully wake and will go back to sleep after a bit if network activity ceases. Generally a good idea but Plex gets a buffer full of video, displays from that buffer, in the meantime the Mac sees no activity and goes back to sleep. Plex tries for the next chunk of data, wakes the Mac for it, but runs out of video buffer to display while waiting for the Mac to wake up causing the video to pause. Makes viewing video pretty much pointless. Gave up trying to work around this and just left my Mac Mini on all the time so Plex would be usable. Doesn't use a lot of power when idle so not a lot of cost to trade for the convenience.