Can anyone say if running plex behind a VPN makes client-side streaming slower/laggy?
I happen to do my downloading on the same machine I use as a server, and thus have VPN on all the time. Port forwarding is taken care of, not an issue. But I have people tell me they sometimes can barely watch because of how slow the buffering is.
I know there are many factors…bandwidth, server power, etc… I’m just wondering if maybe the VPN contributes to some lag.
I’m in FL, USA and have my VPN pointed to Sweden. FYI
If you are tech savvy enough, a docker environment with solve all your problems. Runs everything like a champ and you can route only specific services/containers through the VPN. Or perhaps your VPN has split tunneling.
I have my server behind a VPN. I limit remote play to 1080p. Most of my users get direct play on Roku and FireTV devices. So no lag at all. I have the VPN pointed to US server
Most VPNs allow split tunneling so you can exclude Plex (or only include P2P apps)
Eithwr way, the answer is, it depends on the VPN connection quality? I run my server through a VPN with port forwarding as a way to bypass my ISP CGNAT configuration and can easily stream 4K remuxes
I have my Plex server on a Windows PC, also where I do my downloadin’. I use an Apple TV locally to stream from my server. Oftentimes I’ll turn on my VPN (usually Swiss) on the PC to do some DL’in and it doesn’t cause any issues with a video currently playing on the AppleTV. I don’t have remote play enabled.
Might be a different case with streaming externally, though.
I use a port forward on my Airvpn connection to run Plex inside the firewall.
I can’t speak to 4k stuff, but normal transcoding and streaming with 3 users works just fine behind the vpn.
As to VPN location, you want your exit point to be as low a ping and as high a data rate as possible (especially for streaming). Unless you need region-specific locations (for watching certain programs) then using a VPN doesn’t need to go outside of the country you are in to work.
As to keeping your info safe, a good VPN doesn’t keep logs. Airvpn is one of those and I have ZERO issues using their service in the same geo-location.
This is basically the SAME set up I have. But “my customers” lol report lagginess/buffering issues. I mean, it could just be my ISP throttling outgoing packets?? Is that possible??
How did you setup port forwarding in your vpn to allow direct play from remote connections? I’m trying to get this setup with PIA because my ISP is blocking remote connections to my PMS from within the ISP. Both me and two of my friends have the same ISP, neither of them can direct play. The other 6 friends I have that don’t use The same ISP can direct play without issues.