Third embyserver instance while scanning library

[jmariani 21]

Usually, Emby starts two "embyserver" instances on MacOS.

From time to time, while scanning a library, a third embyserver instance starts.

When this happens, scanning seems to lost track, and the library ends unfinished (see the two tracks to the right)

 

embyserver.txt

[Luke 40136]

Hi, are you sure it had completed by then? I don't see any mention of those two files in this log, so are you sure that it's the right one?

[jmariani 21]

Yes. It's the right one.

That's what happens. Suddenly a new instance of embyserver starts, and the library scan stops. This new instance apparently does not write to the log.

[jmariani 21]

Also, it's completely random. Sometimes doesn't happens, and other days happens all the time.

[Luke 40136]

Are you experiencing any specific problem?

[jmariani 21]

Yes. A third instance of embyserver is spawned at random times while scanning music library and then the scanning process goes to a limbo and leaves orphaned tracks. Nothing is written to the log.

The workaround so far is to kill the "embyserver" instances, restart the server and launch a new scan. Sometimes I need to do this process three or four times per scan.

Sometimes, the scan performs flawlessly.

Screenshot and log were attached when I started the post.

[Luke 40136]

Hi, what do you mean by limbo?

[jmariani 21]

I mean, when the third instance is launched, you can't tell if the scanning process ended, aborted or went to an infinite loop.

The log file doesn't get updated and there are orphaned songs left.

I once left it overnight to see if something changes, but there was no change.

[Luke 40136]

HI, are you still having an issue with this?

[jmariani 21]

Hi. Every time I scan the library.

[jmariani 21]

1 hour ago, Luke said:

HI, are you still having an issue with this?

Just now.

embyserver.txt

[Luke 40136]

Hi, have you updated to Emby Server 4.8.11? Has that helped?

[jmariani 21]

Upgraded to 4.8.11 a couple of days ago. Still happens.

[Luke 40136]

4 minutes ago, jmariani said:

Upgraded to 4.8.11 a couple of days ago. Still happens.

What exactly are you seeing in Emby?

[jmariani 21]

Embyserver is running, and I can see two (2) "EmbyServer" running in Activity Monitor

Then, I start a Library scan.

Emby, after a long while, starts processing files with ffprobe.

Sometimes (most of the times) stops processing. This spawns a new "EmbyServer" process and then I can see three (3) "EmbyServer" processes in Activity Monitor. 

I then kill the three processes, find in the log the offending file, start EmbyServer again and go to "Songs" tab. Find the track, and do a "Refresh metadata". Emby, after a long while, processes the file and after another long while, starts processing pending files. Sometimes this finishes ok, sometimes it stops in another file.

Attached log and image. It just happened.

And again.

embyserver.txt

[Luke 40136]

But what problem in Emby are you having?

@sa2000have you seen this before?

[jmariani 21]

Problem in Emby? Isn't what I described a problem to you?

My problem is I'm paying for an app which fails.

Edited March 18 by jmariani

[sa2000 424]

5 hours ago, Luke said:

have you seen this before

I see a couple of PIDs on my MacBook Pro - and when viewed in ActivityMonitor hierarchically one shows as being the parent 

 

7 hours ago, jmariani said:

Sometimes (most of the times) stops processing. This spawns a new "EmbyServer" process and then I can see three (3) "EmbyServer" processes in Activity Monitor

The % CPU is high. I wonder if MacOS is restarting the process after attempting to kill it

You could look for any crash reports / diagnostics / logs created by MacOS - Open /Applications/Utilties in Finder and open the Console.app and see if there is anything relating to Emby Server in Crash Reports, Diagnostics or system log.

Also would like to know how these processes show in Activity Monitor when View All Processes Hierarchically is selected

And with processes going back many hours, would be useful to look at the contents of the whole logs folder. 

 

[Luke 40136]

13 hours ago, jmariani said:

Problem in Emby? Isn't what I described a problem to you?

My problem is I'm paying for an app which fails.

I'm just asking you to tell us what you're seeing in Emby without looking at activity monitor.

[jmariani 21]

I am able to play songs, see album, song, artists etc. lists.

Library scan is disabled (I mean, does not work). Logging doesn't work either.

And I can see the unprocessed songs like the image attached.

Edited March 19 by jmariani

[Luke 40136]

hi, what makes you think logging doesn't work?

[jmariani 21]

Because file "embyserver.txt" doesn't get updated.

[Neminem 900]

That would suggest permissions issues

[Luke 40136]

1 hour ago, jmariani said:

Because file "embyserver.txt" doesn't get updated.

what were you expecting to see in it?

[jmariani 21]

Log stuff, like scan library progression or playing progression, like it usually does before the "three instances situation" happens