Dropbox Sync playback/file overwrite issues

[M4TTD9TX 5]

Hi @@Luke & @@hamstercat,

 

Currently running Emby Server v3.6.0.2 Beta & Dropbox plugin v3.2.0.0

 

Firstly thank you very much on all your support to get Dropbox syncing working again, however, the sync now seemingly works as far as transcoding and subsequently transferring the files to Dropbox, although the files aren't being utilised when being streamed from our server, which does an on-the-fly transcode again for that user.

 

Previously (before the new API issues you guys had) when syncing in different bitrates, there would be different [quality] folders in Dropbox, but now it just overwrites the existing files, but still shows the various sync jobs in Emby.

For example Emby has transcoded/uploaded the TV show "Elementary" @4mbps for each episode on one sync job, but another instance was created by us @1.5mbps, to help mobile device users (which is what they tend to stream from us at).

Emby/Dropbox plugin overwrote the 4mbps files with the 1.5mbps versions, rather than create another instance of the file.

I have since removed the 1.5mbps sync job and restored the 4mbps files directly in Dropbox.

 

Regardless, nothing is being streamed from Dropbox and I've noticed a Dropbox JSON file isn't there any more (was on previous plugin versions?).

 

All users have permission to sync from the Dropbox resource.

 

embyserver log attached, but if you need anything else, please let me know.

 

Many thanks

embyserver.txt

[Luke 42077]

Please try again with the next release of Emby Server as there have been a number of improvements to this. Thanks.

[M4TTD9TX 5]

Hi @@Luke

 

Thanks, I've been checking it out recently since the latest updates, and I've now updated both the server and Dropbox plugin to v3.6.0.34 Beta & v3.2.2.0 respectively, but there are still issues.

 

Nobody is streaming from Dropbox, regardless of bitrate or codec request; Emby always transcodes. Is there a client-side setting that's stopping them from streaming from Dropbox?

There are various devices connecting, from Android and Apple, to web browsers and Amazon products too. This was seamless this time last year, regardless of device...

 

Anything over 1.5-2GB seems to fail the transfer to Dropbox, i.e. movies transcoded at the 4mbps setting, which produces a file 3.4GB file, failing around half way (but the green transfer line shows various percentages - nothing in Dropbox however). TV episodes around 1.2GB are transferred with no problem.

 

Bizarre transfer percentage progress rates displayed sometimes too, i.e. -24.999487265128216345%

 

Thanks for all your efforts, it's really appreciated as always!

 

P.S, on another note, a user was streaming all night on to an Amazon FireTV stick, but I actually found out the following morning (I was hoping to restart Emby for an update), but they had actually turned it all off (stop/tv power) and gone to bed early that evening!

I checked out the "Are you still there" post, but I'm wondering why the stream wasn't cancelled as usual, regardless? It hasn't done it since, so maybe it was their end, but thought I'd mention it in passing. A four-hour pop-up question to users would be handy....

 

Another log file attached in case you need it.

 

Thanks!!!!!!!

embyserver.txt

[Luke 42077]

Thanks for the report. We'll take a look.

@@softworkz

[M4TTD9TX 5]

All up to date again but it's still transcoding by default (see below).

 

However! I've just noticed there is an option on the apps (if I leave it a few seconds to update - a remote user wont!) about playing the version from: [original source] or [Dropbox name]

 

Can it be made to stream from [Dropbox name] by default if it exists 'in the cloud' please?

 

When streaming from [Dropbox name] it works as intended, however, thank you!

[Luke 42077]

The apps should auto-select that one if it will direct play.

[M4TTD9TX 5]

A Firetv user says it's not showing the option, thus transcoding from me, instead of direct playing from dropbox.

The apps don't seem to default to the second one in the list, which is the dropbox version.

Nothing seems to play it from dropbox by default, but plays it fine if available to select.

 

Edit: A test with the Android app shows it could possibly be working, but rather than Emby server showing "direct play" as last year when streaming from Dropbox, it shows the transcoding rate etc which might be causing the confusion?

Would the app remember my preference by playing locally or remotely (depending on how it connects to Emby as the deciding factor?), as it seems to prefer the non-streamed version.

 

As test, I have played a known file to be on Dropbox via Emby and when it starts playing, I've shutdown Emby and waited. It carries on playing, but it can't forward/rewind etc; it just hangs. Presume that's because Emby server instructs the apps of the timecode placement?

 

Let me know what logs you want, if any.

 

Thanks!

Edited September 11, 2018 by mediaflix

[Luke 42077]

Can you try the web app? thanks.

[M4TTD9TX 5]

Now on version 3.6.0.40 beta

 

I've tried all the apps, devices and web interfaces we can, referring to Emby activity at the time, including performance manager in Win 10 X64 for a deeper inspection.

 

I really want to say they are possibly streaming from Dropbox automatically by default, however, the information in Emby is that it's transcoding, yet the codecs reportedly being used are similar to the "mobile" profile in sync, so not sure whether it's transcoding/transferring or reporting what the Dropbox file is all about.

There is traffic from Emby and my server/system anyway, so it's difficult to ascertain.

 

Stats for nerds show a higher bitrate than what Emby is reporting too, so not actually quite sure what is right and what is wrong, i.e. files on Dropbox are synced using "mobile" @ 4mbps, but Stats for Nerds show 8 or 10mbps, with Emby showing transcoding @ 3mbps! Confused.

 

Can Emby report "Direct Play" when streaming from Dropbox, as it used to? Unless indeed it is actually transcoding and not direct playing?

 

Large files are still not transferring to Dropbox, either. 1+GB files transfer, but a 3+GB file bombs out at some point (Dropbox API timeout or something?)

Let me know if you need some logs, thanks

[Luke 42077]

Yes it would be helpful to look at an example. Thanks.

[M4TTD9TX 5]

Emby log attached
 

embyserver.txt

[Luke 42077]

What time was the playback attempt? There are some transcoding sessions here but i don't know if they're relevant or not.

 

And yes, if you sync at 4mbps, and the user plays at 3 mbps, then that will cause transcoding, because 4 mbps cannot fit into 3 mbps.

[M4TTD9TX 5]

There are many users connected at the same time sometimes, which is why we're keen to get the dropbox streaming sorted.

 

There are loads of transcoding sessions going on due to that, plus what's in sync.

 

Emby is set to 3mbps for internet streaming, so this affects cloud streaming too?

Users have their settings set to auto, so one would've thought if they can pull a 4mbps file from dropbox, Emby would allow it?

 

Or is this not the case? I have tried setting 4mbps globally too, but it still says transcoding.

[Luke 42077]

 

 

Emby is set to 3mbps for internet streaming, so this affects cloud streaming too?

No, this wouldn't affect cloud streaming. Users might have their setting on auto but are you sure they didn't change the quality in the video player? That may cause transcoding as well.

[M4TTD9TX 5]

As far as I can tell from what they tell me, everything is as when they first installed the apps etc.

Most didn't even know they had settings they could play around with!

Anyway, trying Emby streaming set to 4mbps per user again seems to fix it somewhat!

 

I get "direct play" on known dropbox media, however, some frontends still aren't selecting it as default. One has to go into an episode and wait a few seconds to see if the alternative source is available, whereas clicking play all from the home page on a tv show defaults to playing from Emby.

 

Still can't transfer anything 2GB and above via sync.

[Luke 42077]

We'll look at the large file transfer. thanks.

[M4TTD9TX 5]

It seems to work, yay!!!

Emby v3.6.0.44 beta & Dropbox plugin 3.2.4.0

 

Large files are now seemingly transferring, so thank you very much all involved, it's very much appreciated

[Luke 42077]

Thanks for the feedback.