Guys,
Just a heads up as I've seen a couple threads on here for the same issue.
I just installed PMS on a headless server running Ubuntu 12.04 (on a VPS) with no issues UNTIL I attempt to "manage" the server from web browser not on the local network. I spend the bulk of the day trying to get a SSH tunnel to the server to fake it as a local browser. I never could get it to take.
I finally decided there had to be a better way so I fired up a Ubuntu VM and installed the PMS there. That VM has a GUI and a web browser so I was able to "configure" that instance of PMS. Then snooping around I found the file with the freshest time stamp.
Location is:
/var/lib/plexmediaserver/Library/Application Support/Plex Media Server
File is:
Preferences.xml
Comparing the files from the headless server and the VM than HAD been configured I arrived at the following edit.
Before edit the file on the headless server contained (some info has been overwritten with xxx's but you get the idea:
<Preferences MachineIdentifier="xxxxxxxxx-xxxxxx-49b1-9fd0-512b5436be8e" ProcessedMachineIdentifier="xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx97f354ff6836279ec72ed40ec"/>
After edit it was:
<Preferences MachineIdentifier="xxxxxxxxx-xxxxxx-49b1-9fd0-512b5436be8e" ProcessedMachineIdentifier="xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx97f354ff6836279ec72ed40ec" AcceptedEULA="1" FirstRun="0" collectUsageData="0" PlexOnlineMail="user id" PlexOnlineToken="xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx" PublishServerOnPlexOnlineKey="1" PlexOnlineUsername="user id" ManualPortMappingMode="1" ApertureSharingEnabled="0" iPhotoSharingEnabled="0" iTunesSharingEnabled="0" DlnaEnabled="0"/>
A quick reboot of the server and a remote browser works a treat! I was able to change several settings and to begin adding folders.
I don't know how to tell you to get the PlexOnlineToken without utilizing the virtual machine technique, but it may not be required. I'm guessing the AcceptedEULA="1" FirstRun="0" parts may be enough to get past the "local only" restrictions. Someone should try it and post the results.
NOTE there are NO CARRIAGE returns at all in the xml file it is all one long line.
Cheers,
Cardoc