FFMPEG overload

[jfarre20 3]

I've noticed the last few days, that my emby server seems to slow down after a while - and eventually is unable to playback video. 

 

When looking in task manager, I see the CPU at 100% with 8 or more ffmpeg processes running. 

 

It seems that quickly seeking thru video on a browser or windows 8 emby app causes new ffmpeg processes to start without stopping the old ones. 

 

In the logs i see FFMpeg exited with code 1

 

I have quick sync encoding enabled, but it doesn't seem to be using it - cpu usage is the same with quick sync on or off.

 

Server Version 3.0.5805.0

[Luke 42083]

Hi there,

In order to best help you, please see how to report a problem so that additional information can be provided. Thanks!

[jfarre20 3]

Attached Logfiles. Issues start around 19:00:00

 

While I was getting the logs, I noticed 8 ffmpeg processes start and overwhelmed my server. No media has been added recently, and the only usage at the time was from a WMC direct play client. 

 

I also noticed a ton of files in transcoding-temp. Shouldn't that empty itself when playback has finished for the client?

Edited January 11, 2016 by jfarre20

[jfarre20 3]

I had this happen again, 20-30 ffmpegs in my taskmgr, 100%cpu, and a bunch of angry family members asking why they cant watch anything. 

 

Can anyone help?

[Luke 42083]

Hi,

Can you please try to create this situation one time, then discuss what you did, for example, what app were you using, what buttons did you press, etc.

[MSattler 390]

I had this happen again, 20-30 ffmpegs in my taskmgr, 100%cpu, and a bunch of angry family members asking why they cant watch anything. 

 

Can anyone help?

 

By any chance, were any scheduled tasks set to run at that time?  I have not seen this with ffw/rwd transcoded content, however, I had an occurence the other night where I went to run the media scan, and the web ui started freezing, not realizing that, I clicked on the media scan button a couple more times to manually run the task.  When I logged into the server I had 8-10 processes running.  Am curious if you had something like that going on?

[jfarre20 3]

I just had more people complaining, I RDP'd into the server and once again - overloaded cpu with 7 ffmpegs running. 

 

All scheduled tasks completed hours ago.

 

The only access to my emby server since last night has been 1 person via the web interface thru google chrome.

 

I've noticed that when tapping play on a show (via the web ui), you can press it multiple times (while its starting) and it starts multiple ffmpeg processes.

 

Update: I talked to the one user who was using my server, and they told me they were binge watching a show. They got thru about 6 episodes before it started to lag on the 7th. They are using the play all feature to automatically start the next show.

 

I think the ffmpeg process isn't stopping when play all is used. 

 

I hope this is helpful information.

Edited January 12, 2016 by jfarre20

[MSattler 390]

I just had more people complaining, I RDP'd into the server and once again - overloaded cpu with 7 ffmpegs running. 

 

All scheduled tasks completed hours ago.

 

The only access to my emby server since last night has been 1 person via the web interface thru google chrome.

 

I've noticed that when tapping play on a show (via the web ui), you can press it multiple times (while its starting) and it starts multiple ffmpeg processes.

 

Update: I talked to the one user who was using my server, and they told me they were binge watching a show. They got thru about 6 episodes before it started to lag on the 7th. They are using the play all feature to automatically start the next show.

 

I think the ffmpeg process isn't stopping when play all is used. 

 

I hope this is helpful information.

 

I was able to verify that if I click the play button multiple times in a browser it will kick off 3-4 ffmpeg processes.  It actually got interesting in that the movie then starts playing back in the browser.  Checked my emby server and 4 instances off ffmpeg were running.  So I stop the movie, and go back to the movie details screen.  I see an ffmpeg process die off, but continue to see the rest end, and I continue to get the audio from the movie after a brief skip.

 

Is there a way to lock the playback button after it has been hit once?

 

Jffare, what client is the remote user using?

[jfarre20 3]

Jffare, what client is the remote user using?

 

 

Standard web client - reports as Chrome 47.0.2526.106

[morg1142 0]

I hate to dig up an old thread but I am experiencing similar issues with Emby only for external clients using the new Apple 4 tvOS.

 

Interesting enough they can use Ipad's (iOS) just fine and it will only bring one instance of FFMPEG, yet when using the Apple 4 tvOS it creates multiple upon multiple instances of FFMPEGs (I counted 10 once)to the point where my poor 2500k was straining and I can't even check my email in the background.

 

I have and have had a 5mb/sec limitation on all external users and this only began to happen about 2 weeks ago.

 

I tried scouring the forums for people experiencing similar issues and this was the only thread that was similar in problems.

 

Any help is greatly appreciated, again my apolgies for digging something up this old but I wanted to use it as a reference.

 

Happy Holidays!

[Luke 42083]

I hate to dig up an old thread but I am experiencing similar issues with Emby only for external clients using the new Apple 4 tvOS.

 

Interesting enough they can use Ipad's (iOS) just fine and it will only bring one instance of FFMPEG, yet when using the Apple 4 tvOS it creates multiple upon multiple instances of FFMPEGs (I counted 10 once)to the point where my poor 2500k was straining and I can't even check my email in the background.

 

I have and have had a 5mb/sec limitation on all external users and this only began to happen about 2 weeks ago.

 

I tried scouring the forums for people experiencing similar issues and this was the only thread that was similar in problems.

 

Any help is greatly appreciated, again my apolgies for digging something up this old but I wanted to use it as a reference.

 

Happy Holidays!

 

Hi there @@morg1142, we're sorry to hear about this. In order for us to best help you, please provide the information requested in how to report a media playback issue. thanks !