Emby Server running = slow scenes in Home Automation controller (Vera)

[cw-kid 192]

Hi

 

OK this is a weird one. I use Vera which is a Z-wave Home Automation controller. You can control your lights and appliances in a web browser GUI and on mobile devices etc.

 

For the last several months when I use the Vera web browser GUI to run home automation scenes there is a massive delay of several minutes until the scenes are run and the lights are operated etc.

 

I have just had Vera Tech support send me this message:

 

I've scanned your network and noticed that this IP address 192.168.x.x is keeping the Vera web port busy and thus causing delays in how it operates. Can you please let us know what is the device with this IP address in your network ? Does it have any type of network auto-discovery feature activated by default ? If so can you turn it off and check your unit again ?

 

That IP address is my WHS 2011 box running Emby, I did this and turned off Network Discovery in Windows and by chance at the same time I also had the Emby server NOT running in the system tray.

 

My scenes in the Vera web GUI then ran instantly again as they should do.

 

However when I launched Emby server software again, the Vera scenes then started running slowly again with big delays, even though Network Discovery was still turned off in the Windows sharing settings.

 

In fact if I turn Network Discovery back on in Windows and if Emby is not running the scenes in Vera run instantly. But if I then launch Emby server the scenes run delayed again. so its certainly something to do with Emby. Or a combination of both Emby and Network Discovery.

 

Anyone else using Vera and Emby, seen similar issues?

 

I have no idea why Emby would affect Vera in this manner?

 

But it kinda makes some sense now as this problem with Vera started a few months ago and that is about the same time I first installed Emby server.

 

Here is the thread about this problem on the Micasverde forum.

 

Thanks.

Edited September 18, 2015 by cw-kid

[Xzener 729]

@@chef I'm sure you can help out.

Edited September 18, 2015 by Xzener

[cw-kid 192]

Its also worth noting that I have NOT installed the Emby Server plug-in for Micasaverde Vera for integration with Emby playback.

 

In fact Emby and Vera are not integrated in anyway which makes it all the stranger.

[Vicpa 611]

Hi cw-kid

 

I have a vera (vera-lite) running the latest vera firmware and of course emby server. I can't say I have any problems. My server is running on win 10. That seems to be a difference.

 

Sorry I can't help, other than it doesn't seem to be an endemic problem. 

 

-vicpa

[techywarrior 689]

You can try turning off the DLNA server in Emby. It sends out network auto discovery messages every 60 seconds (by default) and could be causing the problem.

 

Go to the Emby dashboard then DLNA and turn it off. See if that makes a difference.

[chef 3810]

I think that techywarrior is onto something there.

 

I am just glad that it isn't the plugin

 

I haven't noticed any lag in particular.

Some of my devices don't dim at the same time.

 

It seems random how each device dims.

 

Sometimes "Light1", "Light2", then "Light3". Sometimes they are all mixed up, sometimes all at once.

 

I hadn't given much thought about it, it seemed kind of cool actually.

 

Let us know CW what you find out!

 

And try the plugin!! I think you'll like it

Edited September 18, 2015 by chef

[cw-kid 192]

Hi guys thanks for the suggestions I will turn off DLNA and report back.

 

Main reason I haven't tried your plug-in is because I am using Kodi HTPCs round the house and on the one in my living room, I am using the KodiRemote (XBMCState) add-on for Kodi and its plugin for Vera.

 

So when I pause a movie the lights auto brighten up and when I play they auto dim down, etc. It also closes my curtains if I start playing a movie and its dark outside and the curtains are still open.

 

So what else can the Emby server plug-in for Vera do? Work with other types of Emby clients I guess.

 

Cheers

[cw-kid 192]

Hi cw-kid

 

I have a vera (vera-lite) running the latest vera firmware and of course emby server. I can't say I have any problems. My server is running on win 10. That seems to be a difference.

 

Sorry I can't help, other than it doesn't seem to be an endemic problem. 

 

-vicpa

 

I didn't say but I am using a VeraLite with the UI5 firmware.

 

I am thinking of buying a Vera Edge soon and moving to UI7. 

[cw-kid 192]

The default is blast alive messages for the DLNA server every 30 seconds. 

 

I have now turned off the DLNA server in Emby and restarted it for good measure. 

 

It doesn't seem to make the scenes in Vera web GUI run any quicker though. 

 

But if I RDP in to the WHS 2011 box and exit the Emby Server from the system tray and I also have to turn off Network Discovery in the Windows advanced sharing settings. 

 

Then the scenes in the Vera web GUI run instantly and have no delays at all. 

 

A bit later I can then turn back on Network Discovery and the scenes still run with no delays. 

 

However if I then launch Emby server again, then the scenes are slow again. 

 

I've also tried re-launching Emby whilst the Network Discovery setting is still turned off and again when Emby is running the scenes go slow again. 

 

So it seems linked to Emby and this Network Discovery setting also some how. 

[chef 3810]

What emby plugins do you have installed?

 

There is something that is running in emby which is hogging network resources.

[cw-kid 192]

If I try it kinda the other way round, say I have Network Discovery already turned OFF in Windows and Emby is running, I get scenes running slowly. 

 

If I exit Emby then immediately the scenes run instantly and the lights respond much much faster.

 

The delays when Emby is running can be up to two minutes and Vera tech support have confirmed its something running on the WHS 2011 box that is keeping the Vera web port busy and causing these delays. 

 

Emby being the prime suspect. 

[cw-kid 192]

What emby plugins do you have installed?

 

There is something that is running in emby which is hogging network resources.

 

Autobox sets, the DVBLink TV plug-in, the Kodi fast sync plug-in and Dropbox which I am not really using now. 

[cw-kid 192]

Well its not the Kodi Sync Queue plug-in I just uninstalled it and restarted Emby server, still slow scenes. 

[techywarrior 689]

I have the same setup as you (Vera Lite, UI5) and have no slowdown so I am sure this is solveable.

 

What about realtime library scan. Try turning that off and see.

 

I know that lots of people have had issues with the Vera and network traffic but from what I remember it was usually caused BY the Vera. Not the other way around. I can't remember the details off the top of my head but you may want to poke around the Vera forum just in case that can give some clues.

[cw-kid 192]

I've turned off library real time monitoring and restarted the Emby server, which doesn't cure the problem. 

 

I am using beta Version 3.0.5724.3 of the Emby server btw. 

 

And if I exit Emby from the system tray (had to also reload Vera this time) then Vera runs scenes immediately everytime. 

 

It certainly seems related to Emby and I only get slowness in scenes when Emby is running.   

[chef 3810]

Autobox sets, the DVBLink TV plug-in, the Kodi fast sync plug-in and Dropbox which I am not really using now.

Silly question but do you have any sync jobs running? Maybe by accident trying to sync to Dropbox, maybe? Or to another device? I though it might be the fast sync plugin, but that isn't the culprit...

Edited September 18, 2015 by chef

[cw-kid 192]

I did setup the Dropbox plug-in to sync some of my home videos up to the cloud as a backup. If I look in sync now they are all green and say synced. I can't see a queue or anything? 

[cw-kid 192]

 Also if I ssh in to the Vera box the mem usage for LuaUPnP when Emby is not running stays around 150% when Emby is running it seems to be more like 183%

 

I dunno just doesn't make much sense. 

[cw-kid 192]

After starting the Emby server, in short time later you can watch the mem % climb up on the Vera box. 

 

I am using the Vera UPnP Event proxy and the DLNA plug-in for Vera, which is used for my Kodi HTPCs so I can control them in Vera and have basic transport controls. Might not be related, but could be?

 

EDIT: I also use the Vera DLNA plug-in to send Google Text to Speech announcements to the Kodi PCs. 

 

I might try uninstalling these plug-ins from Vera. 

Edited September 18, 2015 by cw-kid

[chef 3810]

Well Vera runs on port 3480 in most standard setups and emby runs on 8096 as default.

 

I wonder why micasaverde is saying the ports are being used?

 

Makes me wonder if it has something to do with all the Kodi tie-ins...

[cw-kid 192]

Yes my Vera is heavily integrated with Kodi, even down to my none Z-wave Logitech Harmony universal remote having buttons on it to run Vera scenes. However its been integrated this way for a very long time and this issue has only started in the last few months.

 

Vera tech support just said something on the WHS server is keeping the Vera's web port busy and causing the delays, from this I then figured out it was seemingly Emby doing it. 

 

I just tried uninstalling the UPnP Event Proxy plug-in on the Vera box but its not the cure. I could try uninstalling the DLNA plug-in for Vera next but I'd lose a lot of setup doing that. But I may have to try it unless there are any other ideas. 

 

Cheers

[cw-kid 192]

Well Vera runs on port 3480 in most standard setups and emby runs on 8096 as default.

 

 

Those are the port numbers yes and Emby also uses 8920 for HTTPS. 

[cw-kid 192]

This is a bit strange, I just uninstalled the UPnP Event Proxy plug-in from Vera but in ssh top I can still see

 

 1969     1 root     S     2284   4%   0% /usr/bin/lua /tmp/upnp-event-proxy.lu

[chef 3810]

 

This is a bit strange, I just uninstalled the UPnP Event Proxy plug-in from Vera but in ssh top I can still see

 

1969 1 root S 2284 4% 0% /usr/bin/lua /tmp/upnp-event-proxy.lu

Maybe some sort of backup from the plugin?

 

 

How bad is the delay? Is it more then five seconds?

[cw-kid 192]

Please see here I messed up the UPnP Event Proxy plug-in un-installation still struggling. And I can't re-install it as the mios app store only gives me an uninstall option. 

 

http://forum.micasaverde.com/index.php/topic,33924.0.html

 

The delay ranges from 40 secs to 2 mins I would say. 

Edited September 18, 2015 by cw-kid