how to backup Plex from a Western Digital My Cloud PR4100

Plex Media Server NAS & Devices
1

I am being shipped a new NAS because mine is defective. I need to reinstall everything from scratch because WD does not have a method they will share with me that will allow me to clone the current NAS to the new one. The one thing I was not able to backup is my Plex Database which is located in /mnt/HD/HD_a2/plex_conf/Plex Media Server. I have no way to get to that even from my macintosh. I can see everything but the root of the NAS. I was able to grab this file “Plex_Backup.sps” from the NAS and not even sure what this file is but it appears to be a Plex 5MB backup file and if it is the critical file I need I do not know how to get it back on the new NAS into the correct folder. I don’t want to lose the indexing that I have if possible. Is there anyway to export the critical media server files by using the web enabled version of Plex or by any means?

2

Within the PLEX application if I go to add a new Library such as Music it allows me to browse to the " /mnt/HD/HD_a2/plex_conf/Plex Media Server." folder but I cannot copy or paste anything. There must be some application that I can install on the NAS that will allow me the same Root access to all folders.

3

I solved this mostly. For anyone who need to copy their Plex Database files here is what you need to do.

  1. Enable NFS Server on your MyCloud NAS. Give it a password. You need to remember that. Even though it does not tell your username is “root” and your password is whatever you give it when you enable it.
  2. On a Windows Computer Download Free application called WinSCP. Can be obtained from https://winscp.net/eng/index.php
  3. When it prompts you what type of connection you are going to make select SCP.
  4. Enter your username “root”. Enter your password (whatever your NFS password is).
  5. It will let you split screen and you will be able to save any of NAS hidden files to your local computer. If you are copying the Plex databases make sure you shut plex down or they will be in use.
    .
    My only question is what file(s) in the “databases” folder do I need to backup and restore so I don’t lose any of my information such as my Metadata and index of original date of when my content was added.
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4

Did you figure it out?

5

Not exactly. I copied everything and it worked. Would be nice to know which file is the critical one.